Page 36 of Trapped By the Maharaja
“Maharaja has requested your presence for breakfast.”
Sanjana highly doubted that Ram had requested her presence. He most likely commanded that she be brought to him.
Taking a deep breath, she followed the women out of the master suite and down the hall, making a note of the direction since the palace was big enough for her to get lost easily.
When they reached the dining area, her heart leapt at the sight of Ram. Her dream from earlier that morning made her remember Ram from the past with a slow smile on his handsome face.
He is no longer that Ram.
He was now the cold, ruthless Devara maharaja. Her contract husband.
He was seated at the dining table, reading from a sleek tablet with a gold-rimmed cup of steaming coffee next to him. He was wearing a charcoal business suit, which meant he got ready somewhere else.
He looked up when she entered the dining area. His eyes swept over her, taking in her simple blue dress and ponytail. He didn’t greet her or say a word.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled out a chair opposite him and sat down. Silver platters lined the table, filled with fruits, breads, and several steaming breakfast dishes.Her stomach growled with hunger because she hadn’t eaten well the previous day.
Ignoring his presence, she served a little bit of everything onto her plate and began eating.
The silence stretched, and it wasn’t a comfortable silence. Her stomach fluttered nervously as he watched her while she ate.
Finally, she spoke, trying to keep her tone neutral.
“I’d prefer to live in my apartment,” she said. “It’s closer to the hospital. I’ll commute here for… whatever royal duties I’m expected to fulfill.”
“No.”
Sanjana’s back stiffened at his curt reply. “No?”
“You’ll stay here with me,” he said.
Her eyes flashed. “I signed a contract, not a prison sentence,” she snapped. “I still have a life and a job. The contract says I can work full-time, which is impossible since it will take at least two hours to get to the hospital from here.”
Ram met her gaze.
“You can still go to the hospital,” he said. “A helicopter will take you to the city each morning. A car will be waiting to drop you.”
Sanjana blinked. “A helicopter?”
“Yes.”
“That’s ridiculous! I can’t go to work each day in a helicopter!” she said.
“You can and you will,” he replied. “There will also be security with you.”
Her jaw clenched. “No, I won’t agree to causing a spectacle at my workplace!”
“You are my wife,” he stated, his tone hardening. “For the next three years, you will allow the security to follow the royal protocol.”
Anger bubbled inside her chest. Even though she felt a strong urge to shout and argue, she controlled herself.
“No one knows yet,” she said carefully.
He didn’t say anything, only waited, his eyes steady on her.
Taking a deep breath, she continued. “Until there’s a formal announcement, no one needs to know about our marriage. I… need time to adjust before people find out.”
She could see a flicker of displeasure on his face.
