Nevertheless, Hera did follow the duke up to his suite. She was baffled as to how he could possibly help her but she'd figured that she hear him out. It's not as if she had any other great grand plan.

Daman ordered for a pitcher of Limonana to be sent up to his suite along with a bowl of dates and a mezze platter consisting of flatbreads and hummus.

He'd guided Hera to sit down in the lounge area of his suite and he sat close to her. Once his refreshments were delivered, he gestured for her to have her pick.

"So then you are jobless, in debt and almost without a roof over your head, correct?" Daman began straight to the point.

Hera nodded as she popped a juicy date into her mouth.

"Why didn't you ask your father for help?"

The million dollar question Hera thought. She proceeded to explain her reasons for not doing so.

"Your mother?" Daman further asked.

Hera didn't want to get into the details of it, at least not yet. "She and Asim are a normal middle class family. It was wrong of me to ask her in the first place."

The duke had taken out his phone and went on his gallery app. Finding the picture he needed, he tapped on it and faced it towards Hera.

A woman of stature and class was displayed, she was the epitome of beauty in Hera's eyes. Beautiful light brown hair that almost looked golden, bright green eyes and fair, porcelain skin without a blemish was the woman in the picture.

"Oh my," Hera whispered in awe.

Daman was aware that Amaani Zara had the devilish power to intimidate women yet he wasn't one for her beauty. It was a puzzle to Daman because middle eastern men worshipped her yet he couldn't even bring himself to be fascinated by her beauty. No, he only like the Indian beauty in front of him. Hera was the complete opposite of Amaani in every sense and with every feauture, but Daman eyes preferred her appearance over any woman the world had to offer.

"This here is Amaani Zara, Princess of Ajmal, a neighbouring island of Doulah." Daman was curious to see where Hera's brain would take her and lead to the assumptions, but he was surprised to see Hera waiting curiously for him to elaborate.

"My grandmother who is the current Queen of Doulah along with the King of Ajmal have created an alliance. She is to be my wife." Daman finished off with an incomprehensible amount of distaste. He did not ever want to marry Amaani.

For some reason, Hera's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach and landed with a painful thud.

"Uhm..."what was Hera even meant to say in a situation like this? "Congratulations?"

Daman scoffed out rather abruptly and unsophisticated. "She and I do not have the same values when it comes to a lot of worldly aspects. Amaani is very kind and generous. I've known her since I was a toddler. She is a wonderful woman but she is more like a sister to me and I refuse to see her in any other way. There is absolute no way in hell that we'd be happily married."

Hera's confusion was spiraling every since she entered this suite. "Okay." What was Daman planning? Why is he telling her this?

Just then a text signaled on Daman's phone and speak of the devil and she shall appear. Hera had noticed the text from Amaani as well.

Daman wanted to be honest with Hera in this aspect so he made a show to open the text message while Hera was watching. There was an address and location provided from Amaani along with a picture of herself making a funny face.

Hera had taken note of the red eyes and disheveled hair that Amaani had in the picture and noticed that it was a club scene behind her.

"As you can see, Amaani is a wild one. An avid party goer. She is currently at Oxford doing her MBA."

Hera simply nodded at the duke. Amaani Zara was perfection in her eyes - beauty, brains and a title.

"Why has she sent you a location?" Hera questioned timidly.

Daman placed his phone back into his pocket and took a sip of the Limonana to combat the dryness of his throat. He was nervous to present his proposition to Hera. If she refused, then he'd be made a fool of.

"It's for safety. Amaani enjoys her one night stands so she sends a location just in case something goes wrong. We've known each other since we were babies hence she trusts me more than anyone."

Hera sighed and wanted to get this over with. She had terrible insecurities that were proving to be her downfall and discussing the stunning princess of Ajmal wasn't doing her any good. Compared to all the women around, Hera was the least impressive.

"What's the point of all of this, Daman?"

The duke was indeed stalling. He had closed a lot of deals off in his life, but this one was the hardest.

"I don't want to marry Amaani. I can't possibly marry her. I've relayed this to my grandmother, and I have an ultimatum."

"Which is?"

Daman inhaled a deep breath wondering if what he was going to propose would be right. It was a long shot that Hera would agree, but just as she wasn't above begging at this point, neither was he.

"I have 30 days left to bring home a fiancé. I need to be engaged and ready for marriage, or else Amaani and I would be bound. It was a no negotiation deal amongst myself, my grandmother and the heads of the Doulah institution.

Hera wasn't having any of this. She immediately shook her head in disbelief. There was absolutely no way the Duke of Doulah was asking her this out of all women in the world.

Hera opened her mouth to retaliate but Daman cut her off before she could even begin. "I know. I know what you're thinking. It's absurd I know. But I'm not above begging at this point, Hera. I need a fiancé. Even if it's a charade."

To be honest the duke wasn't all too against marrying Amaani. She was a handful but he could handle her. His grandmother did grant him a suitable amount of time to find a bride but he never acted upon it. He'd decided a few days ago that Amaani would do. She was a princess, decent in looks and ambition and even though he'd be miserable, it would be one less thing to fulfill in the role of his title. But now things have changed, Now Hera was in the picture.

Suddenly the atmosphere in the room was laced with tension. Hera had lied a lot, but she wasn't willing to go this far. Is that what Daman had made off her now? A perpetual liar.

"I can't do that. I can't lie to your grandmother and a whole damn country. You're crazy to ask me such!" Hera yelped out in shock.

Frustrated, Daman ran his hand over his face attempting to calm himself. "Listen, there are things in it for you as well. My best mate, Adam, is the managing partner for Stretson and Rothman. He's willing to give you a position on my account."

Daman intently looked at Hera watching her expression carefully. She didn't give her thoughts away immediately. Hera was stunned to hear that he was friends with Adam Meskin of Stretson and Rothman. It was the only law firm in London that dealt with extreme high profile cases and mostly associated themselves with the prestigious individuals in the country. It was even better than her previous company.

"Think about this, Hera. What I'm proposing is a win-win situation for both of us. You can build your entire career like this. Elevate in ranks that you didn't know was possible. Stretson and Rothman would be a massive career ladder for you. You simply need to be my fiancé. I'll provide everything for you, Hera. I will grant you with whatever you want."

That seemed to catch Hera attention. Saying it out loud made it all more real. Hera would die for an opportunity to work in such a company. They didn't simply hire anyone on the go. Even senior associates in other laws firms get downgraded to junior associates when they start at S&R. The prestige the company carried was exquisite.

"And if I don't agree, Daman? Then what?"

The duke had considered that possibility hence his nervousness if she did not agree. "I cannot force you to do anything you don't want to do, Hera. All I can do is ask."

"But you're based in the islands and Kuwait, and I'll be in London. It will never work."

It was a sacrifice that Daman was willing to make. He'd thought long and hard about it. Additionally, Hera was a perfect candidate to be his fiancé, and a location change was a price he was willing to pay. "As you know, I was brought up in London. It's not unfamiliar territory for me. I would have to move my employees from Kuwait to London which will prove to be a task but not impossible. But my headquarters would obviously stay on the islands."

Hera stood up from her seat and went towards the window lost in thought. She was a sore loser in her life. Nothing every worked out for her when she did things the right way. It was as if the universe had a vendetta against her. Everything was always bleak.

Now here the duke of Doulah was offering her the chance of a lifetime at a hefty price. Toying around with her family was one thing, but lying to a queen and to the world? How would this ever end well?

"What happened when they ask for a wedding date? Obviously an engagement cannot happen forever."

Daman also stood up and made his way to an unsettled Hera. He felt for her a little bit, he knew the turmoil she would be going through and he hated to be the cause of that, but he always thought long-term. His business instincts were telling him to present the deal well. There were profits to maximise.

"Would you not want to marry me?"

Hera gasped at the duke's straightforwardness. He always called it as it is and she wasn't sure whether she liked that or not.

"You cannot just ask such things!"

"I think we get along well, Hera. You are a remarkable woman who would look great by my side as I would next to yours. We need a team effort here, and I'm willing to give it a go. Should my grandma ask of marriage..." Daman trailed off as he pretended to be unsure of the answer, "Well then we'd cross that bridge when we get there."

Did it work? Daman was hoping he did it justice. "I'll let you sleep on it. You can take that room over there," Daman pointed to the second vacant room in the suite, "Let me know your answer by the morning."

All Hera did was nod. Was it madness that she was actually contemplating his suggestion?

Lemonade flavored with mint. It may be made with whole mint leaves, mint-flavored syrup, or pureed mint leaves, and may be served over ice cubes or blended with ice into a slush or smoothie.