Faking It With a Billionaire || MaAn

Chapter 4 | Anupama

The words churn inside me, a chaotic jumble that refuses to escape my lips. It's a rare occurrence, but he has left me utterly dumbfounded. Anuj's grin is sinister, as if he's caught his prey off guard. His response has left me completely stunned. I feel trapped and unsure how to escape from this situation. As I watched him recall my favorite creative outlet, I was taken aback. Vanraj had always told people that I painted, despite never witnessing me touch a paintbrush throughout our entire relationship. So I hadn't expected Anuj to remember something so personal to me. I'd just assumed that's whatAnuj would've thought I did, too.

"Enlighten me about the role of being your assistant."  I cross my arms tightly over my chest. It's a futile effort, however, as the underwire of my bra digs into my ribcage, causing a sharp jolt of pain. I shift my hands to my lap, keeping my gaze fixed on Anuj with caution.

"Does it matter? You start Monday" 

"I haven't even agreed to it yet."

"Why even bother considering a 'no'? You're living paycheck to paycheck here, and this gig offers a serious cash upgrade. Plus, it'll finally get you out of this rat hole."  His finger loops in the air, bringing attention tothe lackluster conference room we're in.

"I don't think you want me to be in charge of the coffee around here. Trust me, it's not my forte." I argue. "Why don't you ask Annora about it?"

"You're only seeing the tip of the iceberg." Anuj's facade of confidence momentarily breaks, revealing a fleeting expression of apprehension. In a split second, I catch a glimpse of vulnerability before it disappears.

"Quit stalling and tell me what's going on," I demand with a sharp edge to my voice. As he sucks in a deep breath, his cheeks sink in, accentuating his angular cheekbones even further. 

"I need you to not only become my assistant but also my fiancée." The sound of the chair creaking fills the room as I jolt forward, my eyes widening in disbelief as I stare at him.

"I'm in a bit of a"—he picks at a non-existent piece of lint on his sleeve— "predicament," he finally finishes. "One I need your help with."

"You need me?" 

"I've made a mistake."  He keeps his voice level, but there's the smallest bit of vulnerability in his eyes when he looks at me. 

"A gossip site just published an article on me that included multiple pictures of me with different women in the previous month. Like, quite a few of them..." 

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I recall Vanraj's words about Anuj not being the type to commit to a relationship, intended as a jab at his brother. In hindsight, it appears that Anuj doesn't sugarcoat his intentions. Unlike his brother, he's brutally honest about his disinterest in settling down with any woman. Vanraj's the type to make all sorts of promises, but then go ahead and fuck them into oblivion behind your back.

"And that involves me how?"  

"The board is pissed. They think it makes our company look like shit."

"What's their deal? It's none of their damn business what you do outside of work." 

His eyes flutter, a subtle grin forming on his mouth. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Violet, but that's not how it works." 

With a hint of sarcasm, I lean back and dangle one leg over the other. "Enlighten me, how exactly do I fit into this little game of yours?" His fingers rhythmically drum against the table, seizing my notice. They're elongated, moderately wider around the knuckles. I wonder how they'd feel inside me. My eyes widen, and I shake my head vigorously. My thoughts are so fucked up, what the hell is even going on in my head?