Chapter 5 - The Game Begins

Adhya's POV

The next morning, I woke up with a single thought in my mind.

If I'm stuck with this marriage, I might as well make it interesting.

Riya's words from last night played on repeat in my head. Make Reyan Malhotra fall in love with you.

I snorted. As if that machine was even capable of love.

But the challenge...? Oh, that did sound fun.

I grabbed my phone and texted Riya:

➤ Adhya: I'm in.

➤ Riya: IN FOR WHAT?! 😧

➤ Adhya: The internship.

➤ Riya: GIRL WHAT

➤ Adhya: Operation: Make the Robo Billionaire Lose His Mind.

➤ Riya: Now this is gonna be fun. 😏

I smirked, tossing my phone aside.

Let's see how the mighty Reyan Malhotra handles me.

If I was going to barge into Malhotra Enterprises, I had to look the part.

I chose a fitted ivory blazer dress—sophisticated yet effortlessly chic. Paired with nude Louboutins and delicate gold jewelry, I looked like I had my life together... even though I was internally spiraling.

My hair cascaded down in soft waves, and a swipe of nude gloss completed the look.

This was war. And I was dressed to kill.

I walked into Malhotra Enterprises with all the confidence in the world.

And immediately lost half of it.

The place was intimidating.

The office was exactly what I expected—sleek, intimidating, and filled with people who looked like they didn't even breathe without Reyan Malhotra's permission.

I had an appointment. Reyan knew I was coming.

And yet, I had been sitting in the reception for the past forty-five minutes.

Forty. Five. Minutes.

I was two seconds away from flipping the sleek glass table in front of me.

The receptionist, a very polite but clearly terrified woman, gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Miss Chauhan, but—"

"Oh, don't worry," I cut in, plastering on my best I'm totally fine smile. "I'll just go find him myself."

Her eyes widened in horror. "You can't—"

But I was already marching toward his office, my heels clicking against the pristine marble floors.

I didn't bother knocking.

I slammed the door open and strode inside like I owned the place.

And there he was.

Reyan Malhotra.

Seated behind his massive, intimidating desk, his sharp eyes flicked up from his laptop, narrowing slightly as he took me in.

He didn't even look surprised.

Just... amused.

Oh, that pissed me off even more.

"You made me wait for almost an hour," I snapped.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers lazily tapping against the desk. "Did I?"

I scowled. "Oh, don't play dumb. I know you did it on purpose."

His lips twitched like he was fighting back a smirk. "You're quite dramatic, Miss Chauhan."

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "You knew about the marriage, didn't you?"

Something flickered in his gaze—something dark and unreadable.

"I did."

I gaped at him. "Since when?!"

He sighed like I was exhausting him. "A few months."

MONTHS?!

I threw my hands in the air. "Wow. Wow. So everyone was in on this except me?"

"Yes."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're not even sorry, are you?"

His gaze darkened slightly. "Would it change anything if I was?"

I opened my mouth, then shut it. Because no, it wouldn't.

I let out an exaggerated sigh and dramatically plopped into the chair across from him. "This is ridiculous. You're, like, ancient."

He raised a brow. "Excuse me?"

"You're old," I repeated, waving a hand at him. "You're thirty-two."

His expression remained impassive. "And?"

I blinked. "And I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm twenty-one."

His lips twitched again, and I realized with dawning horror that he was enjoying this conversation.

"I see," he said slowly. "So what you're saying is... I'm an old man."

I smirked. "Exactly."

His gaze raked over me, slow and deliberate. "That's funny," he murmured. "Because you didn't seem to think I was too old when you were staring at me last night."

My stomach dropped.

My eyes widened. "I was not staring at you."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice dipping lower. "Oh, but you were, Adhya."

I stood up so fast my chair nearly toppled over. "You're insufferable."

"You're impatient."

I scowled. "You're arrogant."

His lips curved into the faintest smirk. "And you're in my office."

"You're here for the internship," he stated.

I nodded, sitting across from him. "Yes."

His eyes darkened slightly. "You agreed very quickly."

I shrugged. "I needed the experience."

Liar.

I saw the flicker of amusement in his gaze, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Fashion is not a field we specialize in."

I smirked. "Then it's a good thing I like a challenge."

A muscle in his jaw twitched. "You're not serious about this."

I leaned forward slightly. "Why do you think that?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze swept over me—slowly, as if assessing every single inch of me.

I refused to squirm.

Finally, he exhaled. "Fine."

I blinked. "Fine?"

"You start Monday."

Wait... what?

Just like that?

I narrowed my eyes. "No conditions?"

One side of his lips lifted in the faintest smirk. "Oh, there are conditions, Adhya. You'll find out soon enough."

I turned on my heel and strutted out of his office, not waiting for his response.

But as I stepped out, I swore I heard him chuckle softly.

And that infuriatingly sexy sound sent shivers down my spine.

Game on, old man.