I had faced ruthless boardrooms. I had negotiated billion-dollar deals without breaking a sweat. I had silenced rooms filled with men twice my age with just a few words.
But nothing-nothing-could have prepared me for this.
A date.
A forced date.
Two days before our wedding, my father, in all his wisdom, had insisted that Avni and I should "spend time together" and "get to know each other properly" before we were married.
As if we didn't already know enough. As if we weren't already aware that this marriage wasn't happening because of love or romance, but because of an unspoken debt between our families.
Avni, of course, had argued. Had tried to wriggle her way out of it. But my father? He had given her that look. And surprisingly, she had listened.
Which was why I was now sitting in the corner of a dimly lit café, watching as she showed up-ten minutes late, as expected-looking like she had been forced at gunpoint to be here.
She wasn't dressed up. No designer dress. No fancy heels. No styled hair.
Just a simple white kurti with delicate embroidery, her long hair pulled into a lazy ponytail, a few loose strands framing her face.
She wasn't trying to impress me. Wasn't making any effort to look good for this date. And yet-
My fingers curled into a fist on the table. Even like this, even when she wasn't trying, she was beautiful.
It was infuriating.
I watched as she walked toward me, her expression unreadable, her gaze flicking toward mine just long enough to acknowledge my presence before she slid into the seat across from me.
"Wow," she said, placing her bag on the chair beside her. "You actually showed up." I leaned back in my chair, smirking. "I could say the same about you."
She scoffed, picking up the menu. "Trust me, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be here."
I chuckled. "And yet, here you are, sitting across from your fiancé." Her lips twitched, but she didn't look up from the menu. "Don't remind me."
I should have been annoyed. Should have thrown some cocky remark her way. But instead, I just stared. And I hated the way that made me feel.
Just as I was about to comment on her mood, a voice interrupted. "Hey there. Ready to order?" A waiter. Young. Probably in his early twenties.
And staring directly at Avni like I wasn't even sitting there. Avni glanced up, seemingly oblivious to the way the guy's gaze was fixated on her. "Yeah, I'll just have an iced coffee."
The waiter grinned, leaning slightly toward her. "Good choice. Though I'd recommend the caramel macchiato-it's sweet, but has a little kick. Just like you." I stiffened.
Avni blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Uh-" Before she could respond, the guy actually winked at her.
My jaw clenched.
Avni, as usual, handled it with her usual indifference. "I'll stick with the iced coffee." The guy let out a dramatic sigh. "Ah, you wound me. But hey, I'll let it slide because you're too pretty for me to hold a grudge."
Was this guy serious?
I exhaled slowly, my fingers curling around the edge of the table. Avni, the ever-unbothered woman that she was, simply handed over the menu and gave him a polite smile.
And then, just as the guy turned to leave, he finally-finally-acknowledged my existence. "Oh, uh... what about you, man?"
I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table, my gaze directly on his. "An espresso," I said, my tone calm. "And if you flirt with my fiancée again, you'll be leaving this café with a broken nose."
The guy's eyes widened slightly. "Oh-uh-fiancée?" He glanced back at Avni, who was now watching the scene unfold with mild amusement. "Yeah," I continued, my smirk widening. "Two days from now, she'll have my last name."
I let the words sink in, let the weight of my stare make him shift uncomfortably. He quickly nodded, stammering out an apology before practically running to the kitchen.
Avni, meanwhile, just sighed, shaking her head. "You just had to be dramatic, didn't you?" I shrugged. "I don't like people touching what's mine."
She let out a short laugh. "Yours? Excuse me?" I tilted my head. "Legally, in two days, you will be."
She scoffed, reaching for the water on the table. "If you keep talking like that, I will throw this at you." I smirked. "Tempting."
She rolled her eyes, but I caught the way her lips twitched, like she was holding back a smile.
I wasn't sure what the hell this was between us. This push and pull. This constant challenge.
But for the first time in weeks, it didn't feel entirely forced.
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Double update!
Duh i am so excited to update next chapter too. Hehe :>
Vote and comment guys!!
Take careð