Page 6 of Twisted Deceit
She looked in the opposite direction when she felt someone’s gaze on her, but he was nowhere in sight.
Why did it feel like he was observing her?
If he was, it was time for her to talk to him. With that thought, she made her way to the DJ’s table, scribbled a note, and handed it over to the man playing the music, along with a currency note.
Aadhya walked around the dance floor and headed outdoors, ready to take charge of her situation. She had spent too much time worrying about the alliance and didn’t want to spend another moment thinking.
“Mr. Thakur, you have someone looking for you. Please meet them in the garden outside the event center. I repeat…”
She heard the DJ announce the man twice, and she was sure the man would hear the message no matter where he was in the building, even in the restroom.
Time for her to take charge and make a deal with a stranger for a temporary marriage.
Chapter 4
Aadhya waited outside, hoping to talk to the man looking for a temporary wife. If only she could find him, she could convince him she was the one he needed for his brief marriage.
Minutes passed, but there was no sign of the man. She knew his name was Nakul from what the attendant at the front desk had said, and no other person was staying at the suite above her. If he had been at the party, he would have heard the DJ’s announcement and should have been out there to meet her, especially if he had been observing her as she suspected.
Feeling embarrassed about the announcement, she stepped away from the well-lit part of the garden and walked toward the water fountain. A heavy feeling like she had made a mistake was settling over her when she heard a male voice at a distance.
Her ears perked up as she picked up on the familiarity in the voice. She walked toward the voice that seemed to be coming from behind a large tree in the garden. She stuck her ear out as she moved closer, like she had every right to participate in the conversation.
She froze when she heard the man’s words. “What do you like to do for fun?”
“I’ll do anything you like to do,” a woman's voice said on the phone speaker.
Was he interviewing a potential fake wife candidate already? How did he find someone so quickly?
“What do you do for work?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m looking for a good role. I just finished acting school.” The woman had an American accent, too. What if the man was looking for someone from America? How could she convince him she was best suited for what he sought?
“Are you close to your family?” His question surprised Aadhya.
“Well, I don’t talk to my dad anymore because he is pissed that I went to acting school instead of pursuing engineering. And my mom—"
He interjected. “It was nice talking to you.”
Aadhya’s jaw dropped when she realized the man had ended the call. He was looking for someone who was genuinely close to their family. Good. Another point in her favor. She had a great relationship with her aunt.
But how was she supposed to approach him? She had to tell him she had overheard his conversation, which might ruin her chances with him since she was being nosey. An idea sparked in her mind just as she assessed her options.
As if that was her only shot at getting the man’s attention, she placed her phone to her ear and said, “Hi, Rajji,” She started the conversation, as she did with her aunt whenever she called her. “Yes, I’m having fun. You should have come with me too; it’s so beautiful here.”
She wasn’t sure if he was still on the other side of the tree listening to her. “I miss you too, Rajji. I can’t wait to be home.”
Even as she faked a conversation, she was focused on any movements on the other side of the tree. She didn’t hear footsteps recede, so he had to be there. “No, Rajji, I don’t want to discuss the marriage alliance.” Another long pause. “I need time. I’m not ready.”
She stayed quiet, listening to someone convincing her of an arranged marriage. “I’ll think about it, I promise.” She ended the fake conversation with those words and waited with bated breath.
What was she expecting from him? Propose a fake marriage? She knew he was desperate to find a wife. Why wasn’t he talking to her already?
Her heart beat rapidly when she heard footsteps, but then it dropped to her stomach when she realized they were receding from her. She walked around the tree and caught a tall man in a dark suit blending into the shadows. She stood frozen, unsure of her next steps.
Moments later, she took a few steps and sat down on one of the benches by the fountain, disappointed that her plan did not work. She didn’t know how long she sat lost in thought when her awareness snowballed. Her heart sped up like it did when she saw the stranger in the dark corner of the club.
A fresh masculine cologne filled the air before she heard the footsteps approaching her, and she looked up. A low gasp escaped her, and her lips parted as her eyes locked with dark, intense ones.
