Arranged for love

Chapter 5

Kiara's pov

"Oh well, as you wish, then. It's about time we started talking about business anyways, Ms. Grover," yeah I can talk business. I am the head of marketing department in Malhotra and co. and I know how to talk business very well.

"As per my recent information, you are looking to get married in the next 3 to 4 months. Right?" he asks me with a serious face. Is he for real? He is telling me details about my life which not even my closest people know with this much certainty and is expecting me to not throw my red wine on his pristine white shirt?

"What I do is suddenly your concern how?"

"Well, keeping in mind you would be marrying me in less than a month kind of makes it my concern, Ms. Grover, doesn't it?" I am so done with him and his games at this point that I can't help but laugh out loud. I start looking around to see where the hidden camera is.

"I didn't realise I was that funny or even that I said something funny to begin with," I give him a smile while still looking to see who is shooting us. I should have worn something better god.

"Do you have problem in remaining eye contact and keeping your neck still?" he asks me in the rudest tone but I still smile, it's all part of the play after all.

"No, silly stop it. Enough acting, tell me where the cameras are. I knew high school reunion was coming close but I didn't realise we had started doing pranks on each other as an invite," I have to say he is still acting so well, there is not a single crack in his stoic face mask.

"Who told you about the marriage thing? Karthik? How did you even contact him after all these years?" he didn't know Karthik very closely but they had met each other a few times when we used to be in high school. Him being my boyfriend and Karthik being my bestfriend had to meet each other eventually.

"Karthik, right. How can you have a conversation without bringing him up," and that wasn't a question he asked me but a statement he gave. And he was being a bit too rude.

"What is your problem?"

"You not taking me seriously is my problem as of now. I don't have the whole evening to sit here with you and explain you the difference between pranks and people for real being serious, Kiara," who the fuck does he think he is to be talking to me like that?? I need more wine, that one glass got finished way too fast.

I call the waiter over and order another glass of wine while he orders a whiskey. Of course. We stay silent, me ignoring his existence, until the waiter comes back with our drinks.

"How the hell do you expect me to behave right now? You dropped here out of nowhere asking for what? My hand in marriage? While you explain me nothing, give me no brief and god knows how you even came to know about this information in the first place. So as of now Mr. Roy my problem is deciding whether you are a stalker, a mere coincidence or an insane ex-boyfriend!" I don't even shout while saying this but I am fuming by the time I finish.

See, liquid courage is real.

"Marriage of convenience, that's what we'll be. You will be getting married because of your grandfather's wish and I have my reasons," he says ignoring my rant.

"How do you know about my grandfather and my situation?"

"I have my resources, Kiara, resources that I am not willing to disclose to you," and not once does he let any emotion show on his face.

"What are your reasons?"

"Again, not willing to disclose."

"I don't want to marry you."