The Enemy I Hate To Love

CHAPTER 10! 20 Crore

Michelle's POV

As I watched Emma storm off the stage and march toward me, her face flushed with anger, I couldn't help but smirk. This girl was full of surprises. The way she dragged me through the crowd like a woman on a mission-it was both amusing and intriguing. I let her pull me along, curious to see where this little tantrum would take us.
She shoved open a door to one of the private lounges, and as soon as we were inside, she slammed it shut behind us, glaring at me like she was ready to rip my head off.
"Shut up, Michelle. What is wrong with you? Why did you do that?!"
I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms and letting my smirk grow. She was fiery when she was mad. I liked that.
"Do what?" I asked, feigning innocence. "Announce the truth?"
Her eyes flared. "The truth? We are not dating! You can't just announce something like that in front of an entire club! And the press! You know this is going to be all over social media in minutes, right?"
That was the whole point, but I wasn't about to tell her that. Instead, I shrugged. "And?"
"And?!" she practically screamed, her fists clenched at her sides. "This is my life, Michelle! You humiliated me in front of everyone. What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking," I said, pushing off the wall and taking a step toward her, "that you'd be the perfect solution to my problem."
She blinked, her anger faltering just for a second. "What problem?"
I let out a sigh, dropping the playful act for a moment. "Look, Emma. I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend for six months."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"I need you to pretend to date me," I repeated. "Six months. I'll pay you."
Her jaw dropped. "Pay me? Are you serious?"
"Dead serious."
She stared at me, speechless, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. It wasn't every day someone offered you ten crores to pretend to be their girlfriend. But I wasn't going to let her think this was about money alone.
"This is for Vanessa," I said, my voice softening. "She's been on my back about settling down, and now that she's moving to New York in six months, I just need her to believe I'm with someone until then. After that, she'll be out of my hair, and we can go back to our lives. No harm, no foul."
Emma's brow furrowed as she tried to process everything. "So... you're doing this for Vanessa?"
"Yes," I said, stepping closer to her again. "She's my sister. She's the only family I have left, and I can't disappoint her. Not after everything we've been through."
Emma hesitated, her anger giving way to something softer, something more thoughtful. For a moment, I thought I had her. But then she shook her head, stepping back. "No," she said firmly. "I don't like you. I won't date you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
I stepped closer again, closing the distance between us. She was trying so hard to resist, but I could see the way her body reacted when I got close. Her breath hitched, her pulse quickened, and the fire in her eyes flickered with something else-something she didn't want to admit.
"You don't like being close to me?" I murmured, my voice low as I brought my hand up to brush her lips with my thumb.
Her eyes widened, her body freezing under my touch. I could feel the tension between us, the electric charge that seemed to spark every time we were in the same room. She didn't want to admit it, but I knew she felt it too.
"You don't like my touch?" I teased, watching as her breath came out in shallow gasps.
She didn't respond, her cheeks flushing pink as I gently ran my thumb across her bottom lip. She was trying so hard to hold it together, but I could see the cracks in her resolve. The way her body leaned into mine, the way her lips parted ever so slightly as if she was tempted to-
Stop. This wasn't the time.
I pulled back just enough to let her breathe, but not enough to let her off the hook.
"Really, Emma?" I asked, my voice soft, teasing. "You sure you don't like me?"
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and I could practically see her brain short-circuiting as she tried to come up with a response. But before she could say anything, I stepped back, giving her space.
"I'll double it," I said, watching her eyes widen in surprise. "Two hundred crores. Just six months. You pretend to be my girlfriend, make Vanessa happy, and then we both go our separate ways."
Emma stared at me, her mouth slightly open as she tried to process what I'd just said. Two hundred crores was no small sum. It was more than enough to solve any financial problem she might have. And she knew it.
For a moment, I thought she was going to turn me down again. But then I saw it-the flash of realization in her eyes, the memory of Vanessa's happiness. The one thing she couldn't deny.
She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're really doing this for Vanessa?"
"Yes," I said simply. "She's my sister. She's all I have."
Emma hesitated for a moment longer before finally nodding, her voice soft but firm. "Fine. I'll do it."
I couldn't help but smile, satisfied that I'd finally gotten through to her. "Good," I said, my voice dropping to a low, teasing tone. "You won't regret it."
She shot me a glare, clearly not convinced, but I knew I had her now. She'd agreed, and that was all that mattered.
As I watched her stand there, still flushed from our earlier encounter, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe this arrangement was going to be more fun than I'd initially thought. Emma was unpredictable, fiery, and more than a little tempting.
And for the next six months, she was going to be mine.