Sanjana’s chest tightened as the maharaja’s trap grew closer.
CHAPTER 25
By the time Sanjana stepped into the Devara Palace, nighttime had fallen.
Lalita and Kumari approached immediately, bowing. “Maharani, the Maharaja has not yet returned. Will you be dining in the formal hall?”
Sanjana shook her head. “No. Please… bring something light to the master suite.”
She didn’t want to sit in the large dining hall all alone.
She went up to the master suite, and then straight to the bathroom. Stripping out of her hospital clothes, she stepped into shower. The hot shower was bliss, loosening her muscles and rinsing away the day’s exhaustion. But it didn’t completely remove her anger and nervousness.
After the board meeting, the congratulations continued along with speculation. She had ignored the speculation, but not the reason behind it.
Clenching her teeth, she stepped out, and towel-dried her hair. Leaving it loose around her shoulders, she wore pale cotton nightclothes instead of silk, since she wasn’t going to be dining in the formal room.
Feeling slightly calmer, she stepped out of the closet area, only to stop short.
Her heart began racing. Ram was back.
He was seated at the small dining table in the suite with his arms loosely folded and his eyes unreadable. Slowly, without greeting or acknowledging his presence, she took the chair opposite him.
Lalita and Kumari entered, placing bowls of fragrant rice, spiced vegetables and meat, and her favorite rice dessert on the table. Sanjana thanked them with a smile.
Smiling back at her, then bowing slightly to Ram, both women, closing the doors behind them.
Sanjana didn’t wait. “Why did you come to the board meeting today?” she demanded. “And why did you announce you will oversee the hospital expansion personally?”
Ram didn’t look up as he served food onto his plate. “Why not?” he asked in a casual tone. “The hospital belongs to me.”
Sanjana’s jaw tightened.
“I’m not a fool, Ram. Maharajas, who are also billionaire businessmen, don’t oversee pediatric wing construction at mid-sized hospitals in person. It’s not the norm.”
He finally looked at her. There was a quiet, dangerous glint in his eyes.
“I don’t follow rules or norms,” he said evenly. “And neither do you.”
Her cheeks heated.
“Don’t compare us,” she snapped. “We’re nothing alike. You are a maharaja who grew up in palaces, and I grew up at an orphanage. We don’t come from the same world!”
His reply was cool. “You are in my world now, Sanjana. As my wife.”
Her heart thudded at his reminder. “Only for three years,” she reminded. “You also promised that until the formal announcement is made, our marriage will be kept a secret at the hospital. But your visit to the hospital today has caused speculation.”
He didn’t say anything.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down. She knew he didn’t have to agree to anything that was beyond what was signed in the contract. But so far, he hadn’t brought that up or challenged her.
With her heart thudding, she dragged her gaze away from him and focused on her meal. She enjoyed her meal despite her stomach fluttering constantly at his presence.
When she was done with her creamy, delicious, subtly flavored rice dessert, she placed the spoon aside and looked at him. “I have to catch up on work,” she murmured.
Without waiting for his reply, she got up and went far away from his dominating presence, towards the sitting area in the suite. She picked up her files and began reviewing them.
Her heart thudded in nervousness and unwanted anticipation.