Bound By Contract

Amayra's Pov

"No!" 

"Amayra-"

"I said no!"

"Come on, it's-"

"No, no, no-" 

"Just fucking listen to me!" I stop and glare at Rudra who is standing before me.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" I ask unbelievably.

"I know it seems a little strange-"

"Strange? No, no, no, Mr. Kapoor, it's not strange but stupid," I say correcting him and he sighs as he rubs his face in frustration.

"Think about it," he says as I give him a glare.

"Think about it? There's nothing to think about!" I say, equally frustrated, "This deal of yours is stupid," I tell him.

"It's beneficial for both of us! It's just one fucking year, Amayra," he says and I scoff.

"Yes, one year married to you, in what way do you think it's beneficial for me?" I ask unbelievable.

"I just said, I will invest in your company," he says and I roll my eyes.

"I'm capable of getting investors on my own, I don't need you to do it," I tell him.

"Amayra, stop overreacting and think about it smartly," Rudra says calmly as I glare at him.

"Overreacting?" I stop and look at him with raised eyebrows. 

"I'm just telling you to think smartly, it's beneficial for the both of us," he says and looks at me seriously, "With other investors you'll get a designated amount, but marry me for one year and use as much of my money as you want," he adds and my eyes widened.

"What!?"

"Yes," I could see a hint of pride now in his voice as if was successful in breaking my shell and I scoffed.

"Sir, you're literally asking me for a fake marriage," I say frustrated.

"It's not fake!" he steps closer, his voice growing louder. "We'd be married, Amayra, on paper, at least, and it would help both of us," he says as if his statement would change my mind.

"I just told you I want to fall in love," I say, my voice shaky as I glare at him.

"Fucking love!" he mutters under his breath as he walks towards me, "Fall in love after a year when we are divorced!" he says frustrated.

"Do you really think anyone would want to marry a divorcee? People will assume something's wrong with me for getting divorced after just a year," I counter back.

"Then let's make a deal to be married for three years," he says.

"Are you serious!?" I ask again as if I had heard it wrong.

"Amayra-"

"Three years? You want to trap me in this ridiculous deal for even longer now?" I ask, cutting him off as he sighs.

"It's not a trap, Amayra," Rudra says, his tone softening but still full of frustration. "It's practical,"

"Practical?" I scoff, crossing my arms. "Three years of pretending to be your wife for what? So people don't think something's wrong with me after a divorce? That's your solution?"

"Yes, three years is long enough for people to believe or whatever the fuck you're worried about," he says as I glare at him.

"And what about me?" I ask, finally, "Do you think I want to waste three years of my life with you over this marriage?" I ask.