"Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like it's heaven on earth."

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I stared at the table cloth placed in front of me, cursing myself inwardly for making a fool of myself in front of Ranaji and his mother. I shot a discreet glance at Ranaji's mother who was now studiously ignoring the two of us and staring at her phone.

On the other hand, her son was shamelessly staring directly at me, daring me with his golden brown eyes to look up and face him. I was too much of a coward to rise to the challenge, so I continued staring at the tablecloth, stubbornly.

"Okay you kids will have to excuse me, I have to take a very important call." Ranaji's mother literally jumped from her chair and left us alone, making me squirm a little and curse my fate. "Look at me, Siya." Ranaji demanded sternly, his voice laced with impatience. I simply pursed my lips and continued ignoring him, after all it was his fault that I behaved badly in front of his mother.

"Siya I will not-"

Before he could complete, a middle aged servant entered the hall with a tray filled with various dishes, he gave a slight bow to Ranaji and stood near our table with his head bowed. I finally looked at Ranaji who was sitting with his jaw clenched, glaring daggers at the shivering man, anger emanating out of him in waves.

"Leave." He ordered, his voice eerily controlled and civilised, his eyes on the other hand were full of anger and irritation. The poor man with his head still bowed, rushed out of the room without uttering another word, I witnessed the entire scene with my eyes wide and mouth sealed, making sure to not move even my single muscle.

Suddenly the chair I was sitting on turned around abruptly, making me close my eyes and clutch the first solid thing I could get my hands on, to my horror which happened to be Ranaji himself, my hands holding onto his strong arms for dear life. I felt his arm move under my touch, very gently wiping the wetness from under my eyes, I didn't even realise when these silent tears slipped down my eyes.

I kept my eyes tightly closed, a little shaken by his aggression, I could literally hear my heart beating wildly against my chest, "Breath." Ranaji whispered calmly while placing his free hand against my racing heart. We both sat together in silence, waiting for my heart to get normal with our heads almost touching, I could feel Ranaji's calm heart beat and tried toning down my own to match his.

I opened my eyes after a while when I could breath again properly and looked straight into his now warm lion like eyes, "You scared me." I mumbled softly, not wanting to disturb the silence in the room. Ranaji smiled a little and cupped my face, his golden brown eyes still careful, "You scared me too." He answered softly, matching my volume.

************

Ranaji very delicately helped me stand as if handling a glass doll and escorted me out to a beautiful garden full of orchids, carnations, roses, gladioli, marigold, chrysanthemum and even tulips, "This garden is my mother's pride." He told me monotonously which made me tear my gaze from his mother's beautiful garden and look up at him.

Ranaji to my shock was staring down at me, assessing my every move and reaction, " You are so delicate." He stated as a matter of fact, " I am almost afraid for the first time in my life to break someone." He finished so softly as if talking to himself, I tried smiling and walked away from him to sit down on the grass next to the bright red roses, wanting to shake myself out of this mood.

"This garden is so beautiful.....I wish I could paint this beauty." I looked around in daze, trying to capture the image in my head, so that I could paint it immediately when I get back home. "You can paint it now." Ranaji replied while sitting down next to me, not caring about his formal black pant and coat, he simply removed his coat and gently draped it around my shoulder, making me clutch his coat tightly as the wind was getting chilly.

"We will have to get married, I can't hurt my papa by stepping out of this proposal........his emotions are involved." I told him, getting straight to the point and pressed my now cold cheeks against my knees while staring at Ranaji who was busy, rolling the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, looking as tempting as a sin in his rugged male beauty.

Ranaji suddenly looked up and caught me staring and raised his brows questioningly. This time I continued gazing at him, trying to be brave and getting used to his intimidating yet gorgeous aura, letting his predatory eyes read all my unguarded feelings and thoughts.

"So is mine."Ranaji answered as a matter of fact, his eyes hungrily reading my face as if memorising my features to his memory, making me tilt my body towards him, so that I could face him better, " So you knew...." I mumbled softly and titled my face up, making all my thoughts and emotions out there for him.

"My problems still stands......yesterday you offered to negotiate, I am curious." I whispered, biting my lips nervously, asking indirectly for his support and help, his outbursts a few minutes ago, preventing me from asking directly.

Ranaji simply leaned back on his forearms, staring straight at the clouds, his face emotionless and blank, "What are you asking from me, Siya Rajput? I have no problems with you completing your studies or even travelling for that matter......why do I feel you want something more than this." He hit the bulls eyes with his analysis, reading me like an open book, his face still averted and blank.

I let out the breath I was holding and pushed him a little, " Cheater....."I accused him with narrowed eyes and leaned back to copy his relaxed posture, "Can you please convince papa to let us just get engaged for now.....to give me more time to study and establish my career? I promise to marry you after 4 years but I want some time....you are the-"

"Only one who could buy you this time."Ranaji completed for me, I felt his fingers under my chin, very gently tilting my face up, making me look into his eyes which were shining with victory. He knew my situation from the beginning, he knew that my father was eager to secure my future for god knows what reason, being at his complete mercy annoyed me a little but I had this weird inkling that he will give me what I want.

Ranaji smiled devilishly and rested his head on my lap, unexpectedly making me jump a little, "I will talk to your father but I have a few conditions of my own. We both know that this marriage is inevitable so I would like us to be honest and open with our demands."he stated passively with his eyes closed which honestly gave me an opportunity to look down at his gorgeous face without being attacked by his lion like eyes.

"You already know what I want...."I muttered under my breath, feeling a little irritated, he was deliberately coercing me to lay it all bare while keeping his thoughts guarded. "Ask me."Ranaji murmured with his eyes still closed, still tight lipped.

"I already did!" I moaned and laid back on the grass, ignoring the warm heavy man who was using my lap as his pillow, I closed my eyes and pursed my lips, refusing to do all the talking alone.

"I will give you 2 years, you can enrol yourself in any university you want but I will advice you to pick Rajasthan, it will help with your father situation. You are a graduate so you can work as my assistant, help me manage and organise my day, that way you will automatically travel everywhere with me...... so here you go, problem solved." He finished, his voice still emotionless and formal as if striking a business deal but irrespective of this his words made me sit back up with a bright smile on my face, "Really? You will do this for me?" I asked him excitedly, still not believing how swiftly and easily he solved my problems.

It was then he opened his beautiful golden brown eyes, reading all my emotions while keeping his thoughts expertly guarded, " You are naïve." He stated and chuckled dryly while running his fingers through his thick slightly curly brown hair, pushing them back and taking a deep breath.

I remained seated in anticipation, not understanding his irritation, suddenly he got up and sat down in front of me, his face serious, staring directly at me, "Siya there's always a catch, people just don't give out favours. You need to always pay the price, nothing in this world is for free, one needs to earn it by hook or by crook." He explained gravely, his eyes turning darker.

I tried to avert my face, not liking where the conversation was going but he placed his strong big hands against my cheeks, forcing me to stare into his intimidating eyes, "Will you be mine? I promise to help you achieve whatever damn thing you want. I can give you 2 years before putting my ring on your finger and will act as your mentor for these two respective years but you must know what you are getting into." He laid out his terms, his face stern.

Although his tone was scaring me a little but I knew for a fact that he was being honest as he has not lied to me yet, so this little reassurance kept me rooted to my spot, listening to his every word and nodding dumbly.

"Use your words." Ranaji whispered and dropped his hands on the ground between us, giving me time to think properly without the influence of his addictive magnetic charisma that simply just effortlessly oozed out of his every word, dumbfounding the person, sitting at the receiving end.

"I will agree to your terms only if you promise to keep our engagement and whatever relationship we are a secret.......I want to be treated as a normal intern, I don't want anyone to think that my position in your company is because of my relationship with you. I want a career depending upon my own skill and hard work."I added my last final wish seriously, looking up at the formidable worldly man sitting in front of me, staring directly into his eyes, letting him know of my serious resolve.

Ranaji upon hearing my words smiled and dropped his head down, " yesterday I asked you to be careful of what you are asking from me...." He muttered softly, warning me but I pursed my lips stubbornly, I want to grow as a individual, not as his wife or fiancé. I want people to respect me because of my own professional credibility, his words did shook me a little but I simply raised my brows, demanding his final decision.

"For 2 years you will work under me as my Personal Assistant, I will help you finish your post graduation degree and I give you my word that our relationship will remain private between the two of us and our families.....but you will marry me after these two years, irrespective of everything."Ranaji repeated, loud and clear as if feeding it to my memory, a dangerous aura emanating out of him but ignoring Everything and trusting my gut I extended my hand between us, staring him dead in the eye.

Ranaji smirked wolfishly and grabbed my hand, almost caressingly, " Don't tell me I didn't warn you sweetheart as you have signed a deal with the devil."

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