Page 35 of The Royal Contract

Their eyes met, and something sizzled between them, and just as she thought her lungs were going to be deprived of oxygen, he looked away, making her gasp, taking in the much-needed breath of air.

What was that?

??

Chapter 14

The following evening, Sanjana was in Aish’s design studio at the palace as she watched her work on a new cut for a semi-traditional outfit for a man. “What do you think of the color combination, Sanjana?” Aish asked without averting her eyes from the fabric she was shearing.

Sanjana looked at the linen sports coat and the somewhat traditional pattern and nodded. “I like it. It’s very trendy with a classic touch.” She could not believe the ideas that just came to Aish’s mind. “How do you even come up with such ideas? It’s brilliant.”

Aish scoffed. “You’re kidding. Don’t call this brilliance, it’s just my weird mind at work.”

“You are too humble.” Sanjana let out a laugh. “You are famous now that your brand has global customers.”

Aish laughed. “You are too sweet. I need to make your dress for the upcoming event extra special. Do you know how many people wanted me to make that bottle-green dress for them, and I said I wouldn’t?”

“What? Why? You should.” Sanjana was taken aback that Aish had refused for no reason.

“Nope. That one was for you and only you.” She winked and added, “I might make something similar, but that design is only yours.”

“Thank you, and I can’t wait to see my outfit for the event.” The details of the actual event she had no idea. She knew it had to do something with the project Jai had been working on for weeks.

“You two will set the internet on fire again.” Aish laughed and asked, “Do you see all the posts and the comments below?”

Sanjana wanted to say no, but she could not get herself to lie to Aish. “I do.” She let out a small giggle. “I even read them.”

Aish laughed. “I knew it. You are a lurker.” She was about to say something when her phone started to ring loudly. “Oh, let me take this call.”

Sanjana nodded and was about to leave the studio when Aish gestured for her to stay. “Hey, Atul… good to hear from you.”

She sat in one of the chairs in Aish’s studio and slowly looked back at her sister-in-law seeming awfully quiet. Sanjana was surprised to see that Aish was still on the call with a shocked expression, and blood drained from her face.

After a prolonged silence, Aish said, “Okay, I understand.” With those words, she ended the call and closed her eyes, and that look on her face told Sanjana she was fighting back tears.

Sanjana was by Aish in a flash, an arm around her. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

She took a deep breath before opening her eyes. “I just lost the top model for my upcoming show, and many more may pull out.” She sounded dejected rather than angry.

“What? How can they do that? They were in contract.” Sanjana was taken aback and angry on Aish’s behalf.

“It’s no good. Looks like the media is making them heroes for dropping my show.” Aish was in tears at those words, and Sanjana put her arms around her.

“What happened, Aish?” Sanjana asked after a few minutes of silence, and Aish stepped back, wiping away her eyes.

“The outfits I designed last month were for a wedding of two men. All these so-called models think I design for gay men, and they do not want to be associated with my brand.” Aish’s voice shook as she spoke. “They are trolling me online for sharing the picture of my client’s wedding.”

“Ridiculous!” Sanjana was angry. “What’s wrong with—”

Before Sanjana could finish her sentence, the door to the studio opened loudly, and to her surprise, Bharath Devaraya stepped in, looking pissed. “Aish, do you need all this? Why even bother to do this kind of work?”

His voice was so elevated it triggered Sanjana. “Bharath, why are you yelling at your sister?”

His eyes shifted to her, level with her angry ones. “You. Stay out of this. This is a family matter.”

Aish gasped at her brother’s words but did not say anything, and that annoyed Sanjana even more. “I’m your brother’s wife and a member of this family. I will not stand around watching you yell at someone who is already under a lot of duress.”

As if their voices were heard by everyone in the entire palace, Jai walked in, looking equally pissed. Bharath looked at Jai. “Will you ask your wife to stay out of our family conversation?”

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