The billionaire deal

Part 8

Chapter 8: Getting to Know you

"Pooja.. I am a little confused," Mandira spoke over the phone the next day, "I just got a call from Kabir Mittal's office telling me that we should pay a visit to his office by the end of the week. That we can sign the lease and contracts on the new premises he found for us"

"Ah yes, that would be right," Pooja replied

"But I thought he was only going to let us have them if you agreed to marry him, did you get him to change his mind?"

"Not exactly," Pooja trailed off with a certain reluctance, not sure how she was going to break the news to Mandira, "Actually I was the one who changed my mind"

"What?" Mandira demanded, wondering if she had heard right

"Well the more I thought about it, it seemed the right thing to do," Pooja told her

"What, marrying a man who you hardly know?"

" Well now I will have all the time to know him better," Pooja pointed out

"But last night you talked as if he was the last person you wanted to be with" Mandira pointed out in bewilderment.

"Well, like I said, I changed my mind"

Mandira paused, "You don't have to do this, I told you, we can find another way"

"I know, but there might not be another way, I can't let the Refuge close. What would happen to all those women that need us?" Pooja replied, "Trust me Mandira, I know what I am doing; everything will be ok," she then tried to reassure her

Mandira sighed heavily at the other end of the line, "I can't believe you are going to go through with this, are you sure? He didn't force you into changing your mind?" she then asked in concern

"No, that was not the reason, in fact he was expecting me to say no and was very apologetic," Pooja replied, "I guess I just realised that maybe it I was a bit hasty in rejecting his offer, the more I thought about it, the more it started to appeal to me"

"And does Kabir Mittal appeal to you?" Mandira then asked

"What kind of question is that?"

"Well c'mon Pooja, the man wants you to have his kids. You are going to be getting more than a little intimate with him. You do realise that don't you?" Mandira demanded

"Yes, of course I do, I am not stupid," Pooja replied

"Well how do you feel about it?"

"Well I haven't given it that much thought yet, to be honest," Pooja admitted uneasily

"Well I think you had better, just so you realise you know what exactly you are letting yourself in for. He is not going to be happy marrying you, then you suddenly finding you are physically turned off by each other?"

"Well he would hardly ask me to marry him and have his children if he didn't think he could share his bed with me," Pooja pointed out

"True I guess, but what about you? Would you be happy sharing his bed?"

"Well like you pointed out last night, he is not exactly unattractive," Pooja replied defensively, " Anyway, I'll jump that hurdle when I come to it"

"Just as long as you know what you are doing," Mandira said, still not convinced

"I do, and I am sure everything will be fine," Pooja told her, uncertain if he was trying to reassure her friend, or herself.

But any doubts or worries Pooja felt, were banished a few days later when she had the chance to show her friend the new premises Kabir had offered them. The expression on Mandira's face alone made it all seem worthwhile