Chapter 4

*Prathap Pov*

"Wow! Is she the one going to be your fiancé?" Shrishti asked looking at me after the Vikranth returned to the cabin.

"It is just a fake scheme our Dad's devised which I am not going to follow." I replied not liking the fact that she is calling her my Fiance.

"I think you shouldn't. Did you see how rude she was to you and that too before Vikranth because of whom she got a chance as far as I remember from that day. I felt bad for her that day but I guess there was no need to." She mumbled shaking her head.

"Maybe she actually plotted all this." She added and I slowly nodded but after hearing her explanation I don't think I can think like that anymore.

"Stop talking about my friend like that." We suddenly heard a harsh tone and turned to look at Vikranth's wife who was sitting in silence until now that we even forgot her presence and wouldn't have remembered if not for the words she just uttered.

"What is her fault? She just helped me with the situation and none of us expected it to be like this." She added standing up before walking towards us.

"She is earning everything for herself and need not plot anything as I am sure your friend wouldn't have chosen her if not for her capability." She pointed out and I stared at her in shock.

I have never seen her talking like this and leave this but I never heard her talking even normally and always stayed silent in our presence. But now she is like... I am definitely looking at her in a new light.

"Vikranth! Why is she shouting at us?" Shrishti asked glancing at Vikranth who is also staring at his wife.

"I am not saying all this for my sake but for my friend. I am not wrong in defending her." His wife stated turning to look at him.

"You are right! I need to have a meeting with them. You drove me here in your vehicle, right? Go back home and I will return with my car I left at the bar." Vikranth said and she slowly nodded resembling the person I knew during this whole year before leaving the room.

"Wow! I can't believe this." Shrishti mumbled while I am still a loss for words.

"I need both of you to just stop talking for some time." He shouted this time before walking to his table and sat down.

"I woke up with this huge hangover but couldn't even cure it before rushing to this place and had to listen to their lecture for that long. On top of that, I need to listen to both of you talking nothing but nonsense." He continued while taking out the tablet strip placed on the table before passing it to me.

"Thank you!" I mumbled taking it as even I had to ignore my hangover from the moment I woke up and my head is ready to burst.

"But we don't know that model. Why are you taking her side? Just because she is your wife's friend?" Shrishti asked frowning and I sighed at her jealousy tone.

He is like married for a year and you just canceled your engagement. Stop showing your jealousy already. I want to shout at her but of course, kept quiet.

"I don't care whether it's a scheme or not but I am not going to follow this and that's final." I stated and he glared at both of us.

"You both are not kids but why are you acting so childish than those two who are younger than you. I need both of you to stay silent and that's a warning." He stated in a cold tone and we both immediately looked down like we used to do from the time we were kids.

I can't believe he is again using that tone near us right now and it became a habit to listen to him no matter what.

We may even ignore our parents unless they force us but it comes naturally to listen to him and that's just because he took care of us even though we just have four years difference.

"Now, tell me the matter regarding your ex-fiance." He asked after really not making a sound for two minutes.

"He made me sign a prenuptial agreement but it turned out to be for transferring my shares to his name. However, my Dad long back took my shares when I started my own company two years back. So, my Dad found out yesterday night and that's why he called me." She explained and I stared at her in shock while she is still looking down.

"Why was he in such a hurry before marriage?" I asked and she sighed hearing that question.

"My Dad didn't like him at all and lied to him that he will take away all the property from me after marriage and I am fine with it. So, he hurried like that and got caught. I feel so stupid to trust him in the first place." She replied groaning.

"Well, he is a magician for something. I can't believe you decided to marry him after managing an event for him and that too after a month." I mumbled and she glared at me turning her head.

"Don't blame all the magicians. I still love magic shows and he is wrong but not his profession." She warned and I chuckled along with Vikranth and we both immediately lifted our heads to stare at him.

"I am glad you found out before marriage. Next time choose wisely and don't hurry like that." He advised.

"No way! I must have lost my mind and thought of getting married. Now, I will just concentrate on my work and leave these matters to my Dad if he tried to hurry me. I lost confidence to choose by myself." She mumbled and I sighed.

"Now, let's talk about your issue." He said glancing at me and I just played with the paperweight on his desk.

"I know you will not have much loss from this situation even if you reject this idea. But you heard what they said." He continued and I slowly nodded because I heard eveyrthing clearly even while feeling wronged to hear that.

"The board members were waiting eagerly to see a dispute between our father's to gain more during that rift. They thought both your Dad's will try to overtake my Dad and take over the company chairman position. But they failed completely." He pointed out and we remember how my Dad used to complain about the board for making stupid demands as if to test their friendship.

"Later they thought we three will be the cause to create a fight for the chairman position and got disappointed when you both didn't want to get involved. And mainly on you Prathap as you were working here until last year. They didn't give up as they think I will get the chance in the future just because I am his son and they want their people to have the chance." He explained.

"That's nonsense! No one deserves it more than you. I can't believe their rigid thinking at all." I shouted slamming the paperweight on the table and they both chuckled at my reaction.

"That's why you should have stayed here. That's why your parents wished you to be here so that we three would have an equal chance. Anyway, that's a past topic." He mumbled and I nodded.

"If this doesn't get solved then GH entertainment will get into trouble and they start questioning my ability. Then it will reach those three and the others will have a chance to take over during the rifts." He pointed out rubbing his neck.

"So, I need you to think about the pros and cons because of this solution and decide again. I promise to invest in your restaurant and I am sure you will have an effect because of this scandal. Everyone is observing her after her huge success a few months back and got a huge offer recently and will settle soon in India. She will be busy with her work and I will be handling everything between you and you both need not even meet each other unless there is a need." He said while staring at me.

I stared at him while thinking about the benefits I will get and that is to have an investment and not worry about other investors whom I have to beg soon and of course there will be no negative impact and no one will think that I am using someone to attack GH with my Dad.

And the cons would be... would be nothing actually except for losing the chance with Shrishti but then she is not thinking about the relationship and will not anytime soon.

"Don't pressure him, Vikranth! He is very awkward with women and we both know it. And you are letting him get involved in this act with someone he doesn't know." Shrishti commented frowning at me.

"What?" I asked turning towards her after hearing those words.

"What? Why are you reacting like that? Isn't that why you couldn't propose or couldn't get your first love to fall for you?" she asked and I just stared at her hearing those words.

"You were never in a relationship and never even talked about that crush of yours. At least I was in some relationship recently even though a failed one. Don't worry! I don't want you to get forced like this." She continued.

I closed my eyes before turning to stare at Vikranth who is looking at me with pity. I know I will regret it later but I mumble yes to this plan the next second.

"Great! I will give this news to them but I need you to come with me somewhere after I return." Saying that he left the room leaving both of us.

"Prathap! Are you sure?" she asked in a worried tone.

"I didn't get rejected by my first love because I couldn't show my true self but because she didn't like my true self and ignored my actions." I mumbled turning to look at her.

"I am sorry! I must have hurt you with my words just now." She said with a pleading look while holding her ears and I sighed shrugging off.

"But I can understand your feeling. Vikranth also ignored my true self and married someone he doesn't even know anything about and who is not suitable for him. I mean, she doesn't have a good educational background and none of us know about her family and she doesn't even talk to us normally." She went on complaining about Vikranth's decision like she always does.

I used to listen to all her complaints understanding that her feelings are genuine and stayed as a good friend but now it is already too much. He moved on and it is high time to stop thinking about him all the time like this.

"You are actually relieved that the person you got engaged to turned out to be a wrong choice, right?" I asked directly and she stared at me with wide eyes before looking away.

"You need to move on, Shrishti. He is now a married man. You are not the only one to go through this." I pointed out standing up.

"Prathap!" she mumbled frowning at my words and I can understand her reaction as all this time I just listened to whatever she wished to share but I am tired after everything that happened and now something unexpected just entered my life which I need to deal with.

"I will go and wait for him downstairs." Saying that I walked out of the room and found Vikranth returning with a frown covering his face.

"What happened?" I asked but he shook his head before turning around saying we need to go and settled the next matter.

I don't know where are we going but his PA drove us in his Dad's car to a hotel. Please don't tell me what I am thinking right now is what is happening.

"I don't want to meet her. Didn't you say that you will handle everything between us and we need not meet?" I asked him frowning.

"You need to apologize to her to have a peaceful collaboration later." He pointed out and glared at me to follow him.

"Your Dad is fast enough and already got a contract ready for both of you to sign. They are thinking one year will be enough. What about you?" he asked pressing a button on the elevator.

"One year? One month will be enough." I stated and he sighed.

"One month? Why don't we just tell everyone this is just a scheme instead of that? They need to forget this matter and not raise it ever again. And it doesn't look good if she stays for so less time as an engaged woman." He pointed out.

I realized he is similar to them and will force me no matter what. I sighed not caring about all this right now as I am still hurt after hearing those words from Shrishti.

****

"One year? A few months would be enough right?" She asked the same question after reacting with a shocked look the moment she opened the door.

"One year is not long. Where is Keerthi? She has your schedule, right?" Vikranth asked looking around while I just stared at the contract in my hands.

This is actually on a good side for the company and me rather than her as there are so many restrictions for her to follow as she needs to accept everything they ask her to include to talk about our relationship whoever and whenever asked about.

"I asked them to go to their house as we will be leaving soon within a week and promised her that I will not step out of the room. It is already a mess and I don't want another one." She mumbled and I snorted.

"I don't care about the time limit or anything else. I just want it to end at the time it is said here and it is better if there is no contact from you and if there is anything I want Vikranth to tell me that." I said looking at her and she stared back with a blank look.

"And I apologize for earlier words." I added when Vikranth cleared his throat.

"Where do I need to sign?" she asked turning towards him and immediately signed while I stared at her in shock this time.

I had to sign now and Vikranth passed the contracts to us while keeping one copy with him. He gestured me to leave with him and when I stood up her voice stopped both of us.

"I need to have a word with him. Will it be fine?" she asked looking at Vikranth.

"I mean, there need to be a few personal rules I want to tell him and it will be the last conversation we will have for having a smooth time passing during this year." She added and he nodded before leaving the room without waiting to hear my reply to that request.

"I don't have anything to tell you." I said taking a step and immediately felt her hand on my shoulder before she pushed me down so that I sit back on the chair.

"Now, let's have a small talk." She mumbled still pressing her hand on my shoulder with a glare directing towards me.