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“You will never understand what this initiative means to me, Jhanvi. Your Charity Trust is lacking resources and my company is ready to fill in those gaps. It’s not a favor or a way to bring you back into my life. I have other ways to do that if I want to.”

Really? And what does he mean by ‘if I want to’? He doesn’t want me in his life? He won’t try to force me back in his life in the role of his wife? I don’t ask that yet, as Aarav continues explaining.

“Maybe you mistook my intentions as I signed the cheque without speaking to you directly. If that’s a concern, I am ready for a detailed talk on how my company can help yours to fund and other miscellaneous support and if you think we are genuine, you can sign off this partnership. Or else I will be happy to walk out of London.”

Oh!! He made this sound so simple. All my anger, which I had so far, mellows down. I really don’t have good options if I deny Aarav from sponsoring, so maybe I will take this up. But doing a business like this with Aarav Raichand? Is that even possible when none of my friends, or staff has no effing clue he is also my husband? I have to think about it quickly and come up with a solution.

“Fine. In that case, there is only way we are going to do this together.”

Aarav doesn’t even listen to me completely before responding.

“I am in.”

“Always in a hurry,” I mock. “What if you don’t like what I am about to say? Hear me first.”

Now his grin is back.

“For the first time you are going to impose conditions on me and not vice versa. How can I not accept it? But I am not planning on ending things between us. So, don’t even suggest.”

I am too shocked to comprehend his words.

And I am blushing again. I need to do something serious about my cheeks changing their color every time he says a dialogue so intense. So, without beating around the bush, I come to my condition directly.

"No one will ever know here when we work together, and that you are my husband.”

Aarav’s upper teeth scrape on his lower lip and I see he’s about to use that cuss word but something stops him. That mere act warms my body again. I have tasted his lips and they are anything but ones to be forgotten.

“Done.”

He accepts my condition without much thinking, which is strange.

“Our relationship will remain discrete until you want it to be so,” he promises.

Wow!! As if I would ever broadcast it to my people here that he is my husband. I would never do it and be a mocking subject in the eyes of my friends and others that I let a man as powerful as him use me. He gets up faster than he had relaxed on that couch, to reach me and holds out his hand to shake with mine. I stare at his outstretched hand as it might bite me. But this is how we seal a deal, right? And Aarav has agreed to keep our marriage under wraps. Can I trust him? I have to if we plan to work on this initiative together. I reach out and shake my hand quickly. He grips my small, warm hand and I hold my breath for a second to quench the excitement coursing through my body.

“Good to have a partner like you,” he says.

My brows twitch high at his declaration.

“Working partners, Jhanvi,” Aarav clarifies, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

While he refuses to give back my hand, I yank it out of his and step away.

“Let’s catch up at my office tomorrow to discuss the other details.”

He nods promptly. I hope this is a new phase of our lives where I get to know more about Aarav Raichand and he sees the real me. I am not someone as easy as a pawn to play with, I want him to know that and the only way which can make him believe that is through my work. With my head high, I walk out of his room. Neither he stops me nor I expect him to.

CHAPTER 31

Aarav

Less than a day since we met and Jhanvi has already agreed to be my partner. Not a life partner but a working partner, which is fine for me. In the coming days, I’ll make sure she becomes everything I ever desired from her. With that hope, I walk inside her little office to discuss how we are going to work together. Sikand Charity Trust, as I investigated, is a well-established charitable organization in the UK and India, that is spearheaded by Jhanvi. She winded up her father’s business as running it alone wasn’t a cool option for her, but she could never ignore this foundation where she personally contributes and funds needy orphanages, old-age homes and other NGOs to fulfil their requirements. This time I am surprised she chose to do something for single mothers and it only makes me think she has prioritized it for me. I always wanted to do something similar in the name of my mother, so that women like her who have no support from their partners or families can get a means to run their life. When I heard Jhanvi chose an initiative exactly the same, I couldn’t resist being a part of it. Now I had two reasons to be in London. Woo Jhanvi and support her Charity.

“Mr. Raichand, hello I am Martha. Jhanvi Madam is waiting for you in her cabin.”

She escorts me to the cabin where Jhanvi is on a phone call, but she gestures to me to get inside. I don’t intrude on her discussion and focus on the cabin instead. But before that, I shrug my jacket and hang it on the hook aside. When I turn, Jhanvi is already staring at me. Oh yes, I can’t miss the fact that she’s begun to openly admire me and that’s a good sign. We are madly attracted, there’s no doubt now. All she has to do is admit and give in to this attraction permanently.

She forgets what she has to speak, and quickly diverts her gaze from me, apologizing to whoever she’s talking to on the phone and fixing up another call to discuss the further events. I take a peek at the trophies at the open rack to my left; the ones she has received for all the good work she’s done so far. Impressive.

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