Contract Commitment ▪︎ARSHI▪︎

•Seven•

A question once asked, twice asked, thrice was: 'Well, why does she need to work when you earn so much money?' It was the kind of sentence littered over newspapers and glossy magazines galore, at first it was easy to ignore until one day, it wasn't. In an interview he'd said it as he believed it and quoted Tamara Mellon, 'It's important for women to work, they need to keep their independence, to keep earning and being challenged'. Stated more simply, she was his wife, she wasn't him and he wanted more than anything for her to keep her identity rather than lose it in the stream of his success.

Seeing her work had always been something he enjoyed, he admired her strong work ethic and her attitude to both her clients and fellow colleagues, what he also liked was how she twisted her hair up in a messy bun and stuck two pens in it to hold it in place, she seemed so unkempt and yet so put together and for that oxymoron he absolutely adored her.

Daniel swung his body around the desk, grin wide and teeth gleaming as he leant closer "Can I help you?"

Ripping his eyes from his wife, he smiled politely "I have a file for my wife, was hoping to give it to her in person?" He wasn't going to walk in like he owned the place, this was hers and it always would be, he'd do it by the book and wait patiently for her time.

"Oh yeah" he laughed, rounding the pile of boxes, "You're Arnav, right? Khushi's husband?" How had he missed that one? He was as much a fantasy for his boss as he was for him.

"That's me" he held his hand out, an odd feeling of pride surging through his chest when he realised the possibility of her speaking about him nearing more a reality than a fantasy.

Instead of shaking it, he held his hand and brushed his lips over his knuckles "It's a pleasure" he winked, shot his head up and screamed loudly "KHUSHI YOUR HUSBAND IS HERE".

Arnav looked down weirdly at his hand then covered his ears "Uh thanks".

Placing her hands on her hips, she blew a strand of hair from her forehead "Come in" gesturing to her office, she walked quickly back in. Usually, she'd be a bit nervous about seeing him after their rendezvous on the phone, but she was far too stressed to care. Falling sloppily into her chair, she crossed her ankles "All okay?"

He smirked, "Of course, can't say the same for you though, I assume you being this flushed isn't because of earlier?" His eyes twinkled.

"No it's not" standing once more, her eyes fell to the file, "Is that for me?"

He nodded "New additions to the contract, read through it and if you like it then we can make it official and if you have any additions or edits just note them down and we can discuss" placing it on the seat before him, he grabbed her hand causing her to flinch. "You okay? You seem stressed".

"Just a difficult client" Khushi shrugged it off. "Surprised you managed to find the time to come here, you could've sent your secretary you know" she hadn't meant to sound so bitey or maybe she had? She wasn't sure anymore, everything had become so confusing now.

"And miss out on seeing you? I don't think so and anyway, this was more pleasure than business".

Pursing her lips, she took her hand back and held it to her chest "Ever heard how bad it is to mix pleasure with business? This marriage is a business deal at best, we shouldn't confuse it as something romantically legitimate". Though what he'd said about wanting to see her made her heart miss a beat, she skipped over it entirely in her annoyance, there was no way she'd allow him to win her over with his cleverly selected words.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" He was worried, he hadn't seen her like this before, even when she was stressed she wasn't like this. He couldn't help but think he'd crossed the line somehow.

"Fine" she snapped. He was probably wondering what had gotten into her, but after the recent events, she couldn't help but feel sick with worry that she'd lose him faster than she got him.

Tipping her chin up, his eyes softened "This has never been merely a business deal for me, I'm sorry I didn't make that clear". Pulling her into his arms, he wound a muscular arm around her waist "Stop worrying about the maybes and focus on what we know" he spoke huskily into her ear causing shivers to drip down her shirt clad spine.

Pushing at his shoulders, she grabbed at a piece of paper atop the printer and shoved it into his chest where she had just been. "If this is more than a business deal to you then explain this" Khushi ordered.

Focusing on the black and white picture of him with his hands on a woman's hips while his tongue-tied with hers, a dark shadow loomed over his features making his eyes drown in black that poured down to the menacing anger so clear on his lips. "Where did you find this?" Though he sounded calm, he felt anything but.

"Was on my desk when I got back from the bathroom" her voice dropped as she fell away from his embrace. She hadn't meant to seem jealous, she wasn't, but he owed her more decency than to lie to her face like that, what they shared was business, why was he trying to make it into something it didn't need to be?

Shutting the door quietly, he offered an apologetic smile to her assistant then turned to face her "Khushi".

"What?" She snapped, cheeks red with anger that matched the bloody splashes over her irises.

"That's you" his smirk returned as he bit down on his knuckle to prevent the laughter he felt coming.

"What? No, it isn't" snatching the picture back, she frowned at it, lifted her gaze slowly then smiled sheepishly at her very big overreaction, in her anger she had missed it. "Whoops". Placing a hand on his chest, she leant up on tiptoes and kissed his jawline "Sorry" she squeaked, "You know me, speak first and think second".

"It's okay" he brushed his nose against hers. "I like a jealous woman".

Khushi gasped "I was not jealous".

"Oh, is that right?" His smile was mocking. Moving his hand down her back, he stopped it just beneath the curve of her bum.

"Yes, that's right" she scowled, "Anyone would think you want me to be jealous" she scoffed at the ridiculousness of her statement.

"I do".

Her eyes widened "You, you do? Why on earth for?"

"Because I would be too if I were you" not allowing her ample time to respond, he leant her backwards, he held her tightly. Looking down at her in humour at her surprise, Arnav warmed her lips with his own, the primal desire so prominent in his groans that slipped between her lips when his tongue invaded her mouth. Moving a hand to her hair, he allowed his fingers to wrap around her flowing curls as he pulled the pens loose.

Digging her nails into his shoulders, she pushed her chest against his, breathy gasps escaping her as he finally stood her up straight. Before she could say anything he was gone, leaving her exceptionally aroused and very unfocused.

•••

The Grandfather Clock had struck midnight by the time Khushi had found time to read through the new alterations, her head had been swarmed with concern the entire day and had only tripled since then.

The contract called for weekly efforts to try one activity from the Intimacy List, that she didn't mind, not all of them were sexual, some seemed more PG than anything, so she'd use those first and consider the rest.

Date night was also new, they didn't do dates anymore, they had before to make their relationship look realistic, but now their version of a date was a take out in pyjamas, not that she'd refuse the suggestion, she didn't mind dressing up to go to a nice dinner- it made her feel kind of special, especially since he was always the perfect gentleman.

Throwing the file to the side, she sighed loudly as she looked up at the window on the ceiling covered in pelting rain. "How easy it is to love you, perhaps that is what scares me most? That I will love you only to find my best friend a ghost, a disappearing spirit replaced with my betrothed". Allowing the tears to fall, her eyes shut to mask the pain of what she would lose if she continued on the search for something new to find.