Faking It With a Billionaire || MaAn

Chapter 22 | Anuj

She doesn't need to say a thing for me to read her mind. I've been expecting her to want to dive into our little chat back at the office. Hell, I've been itching for it, ready to renegotiate the ridiculous terms she's cooked up for herself in this whole deal.

I've always been a guy who takes what he wants, and right now what I want is...

Anupama Joshi.

That little taste of her was like a spark in a powder keg. My craving for her has only grown stronger, and that brief rendezvous in the dressing room barely scratched the surface. There's a world of pleasure I want to explore with her, and it starts with her acknowledging the electric chemistry between us.

"Go ahead, Anupama," I retort, my fingers tapping impatiently on the armrest as I brace myself for what's coming. I know she's prone to downplaying the magnetic pull we've got going on.

Anupama shifts in her chair, fidgeting like she's in a courtroom. She's got the worst poker face; every emotion is plastered on her face. Her gaze darts to the cityscape behind me, as if the damn skyline holds all the answers.

"Let's cut the crap, Anuj," she starts, her words laced with frustration. "I never saw this coming. Not this intensity, not this quickly. The tension between us, it's... it's off the charts."

I raise an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips. "You didn't?" I ask, my tone dripping with sarcasm. Hell, that night at the beach practically had fireworks.

She shoots me a look that says, "Don't play games," and I love that she's replaying the same memories as me. She huffs out a sigh. "No, Anuj, I didn't. You're you, and I'm me. Yeah, I agreed to be your assistant, and sure, we were going to pretend to be engaged, but I thought that's where it would end."

I lean in, locking eyes with her. "You've got no one but yourself to blame for that, sweetheart. I thought I'd made it pretty damn clear just how attracted I am to you when I laid out my proposition."

She chugs down half of her wine, the pour more generous than needed. "You're like this legendary womanizer billionaire, I figured that's just your default setting with women."

I lean back, a smug smile playing on my lips. "With the kind of women you're talking about, detailed conversations are usually optional."

A splash of white wine escapes her lips, staining her thin tank top. She wipes it away, a hint of irritation in her eyes. "Is it your thing to just blurt out whatever's in your head?" she asks.

I take a leisurely sip of my own wine. "Every now and then. The unfiltered thoughts in my head are usually way worse."

She shakes her head, a mix of disbelief and amusement in her eyes. "I don't even want to know."

Going back to her earlier statement, I nod. "Yeah, I've never been one for beating around the bush with women. No need for it. I presented you with an offer that could benefit both of us. The fact that there's an obvious mutual attraction is just a bonus. Why bother fighting it or pretending otherwise?"

"Easy for you to say. You're known for being cold and calculating. Some even wonder if you have a heart."

I raise an eyebrow. "Been reading my biography, Anupama?"

Her eyes roll. "Just an observation. People think you don't form attachments outside of your company."

"People don't really know me," I reply. "And I like to keep it that way. I can form attachments just fine; I'm just picky about it. Is there something wrong with that? Shouldn't we all be a bit discerning?"