On the way to Manor No. 1, Arjun and Ananya remained silent. Ananya knew Arjun wasn't being kind out of pity or affection. He had achieved immense success early on, making a name for himself on Wall Street at just 17. His orchestration of the Monster deal, a massive corporate merger, had reshaped the global business landscape. His rise was built on the backs of many, making him a hardened individual.
Ananya suddenly felt a chill and sneezed. A clean blanket was draped over her. She looked up to see Arjun with one hand on his knee, reading documents without acknowledging her.
"Thank you, Arjun," Ananya said as she took the blanket and dried her wet hair.
They arrived at Manor No. 1 soon after. Despite her worldly experience, Ananya was still captivated by the manor's grandeur.
The car stopped at the entrance of the manor, and the chauffeur respectfully opened the door. The cold wind gave Ananya goosebumps. She jogged after Arjun and asked with a hint of pride, "Arjun, am I the first woman to step into this place?"
Arjun abruptly stopped, causing Ananya to bump into him. He smiled slightly and pointed to a maid in the distance who was mopping up rainwater. "No."
Ananya persisted, "Then, am I the first woman to share your bed?" Arjun lifted her chin, making her look up at him. Ananya felt a sudden surge of anxiety. While she had initiated this game of revenge, was she truly in control?
"Yes," Arjun replied straightforwardly. Ananya was momentarily speechless. By the time she gathered her thoughts, Arjun had already walked ahead.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Ananya followed him and asked, "Will Arjun protect me considering our arrangement?"
Arjun entered the villa and loosened his tie with one hand. The black Buddhist bracelet on his wrist caught Ananya's attention. "Depends on how you perform."
Does this mean he wants to continue this arrangement?
The faint regret Ananya had felt vanished when she thought of Raj's repulsive demeanor. Raj found her dull, and his mother, Sushma, believed she was well-educated and sensible. The Sharma family thought she was meek and controllable. They were all mistaken—Ananya had a wild side.
"Arjun, don't worry. I'll make sure to meet your expectations," Ananya said with a confident smile.
Arjun raised an eyebrow, his eyes indifferent. He unbuttoned his shirt and picked Ananya up in a princess carry. "I'll protect you until I'm bored with you."
Ananya asked, "Arjun, don't mind that I'm inexperienced in bed?" She still held a grudge about his earlier comment.
Arjun: "…"
Ananya had finally gotten a win. She leaned into Arjun's embrace, not caring if her wet sweater dirtied his suit.
The next morning, Ananya returned to her apartment to freshen up before heading to the office. Her phone was filled with missed calls—some from the Sharma family and others from Raj's mother, Sushma.
The family banquet the previous night was obviously canceled due to Arjun's absence. However, as Raj's future wife, it was quite rude of Ananya not to attend.
Ananya returned Sushma's call. Before she could speak, Sushma's impatient voice came through. "Didn't I ask you to look after Raj? The office staff said he hasn't been in for more than half a month. Ananya, what kind of fiancée are you?"
Standing at the entrance of the Kapoor Corporation Group building, Ananya looked up at the towering structure. "Aunt Sushma, Raj isn't answering my calls either."
Sushma responded, "Don't you know to find him if he's not answering? Ananya, I thought you were smart. I arranged for you to be at Kapoor Corporation Group to keep an eye on Raj. With Arjun back, there will definitely be upheaval in the Kapoor family. As a top finance graduate from Delhi University, you should understand what that means."