Chapter 5

*Anitha Pov*

He stared at my face before shifting his eyes to look at my hand on his shoulder and again turned to see my face but this time with a frown instead of a surprised look like earlier.

“You can remove this hand before we have that small talk.” He commented which I completely ignored while trying to get the words I feel I should clear before starting to hate him and myself for liking him for two years straight.

“Are you a celebrity? Or a huge public figure?” I asked and his expression turned into confusion after hearing that question.

“Oh right! It’s me! I am the celebrity here and you can call a small public figure for now. Then, why are you acting as if I am scheming to just be with you and make you forcefully become my boyfriend… No! A fake fiancé?” I asked and that confused expression turned into a glare.

“Don’t act like you don’t know who I am. Vikranth, Shrishti and I are used to such things from the time we were teenagers. GH is not just in entertainment and it is a huge thing where we three have the highest profits from.” He pointed out.

“So? But as far as I remember Vikranth has major profit in this and will continuously have. Why didn’t I just trapped him?” I asked and he opened his mouth before closing it.

“Have some confidence in yourself. If someone really wants to be with you then it could be because of you and not because of your Dad or something else.” I continued and he just stared at me hearing those words.

“That being said I don’t want to be with you no matter what. So, keep that in your mind and stop treating as some readymade gold digger that is entering your life.” I stated and finally removed my hand before sitting on the table before him but he didn’t move at all.

I stayed silent while he just stared at me and finally looked away feeling ashamed that I am still lost for those eyes.

“I am sorry!” he apologized and this time it feels like he is genuine and I sighed raising the bar for him again and assuring the respect I still have for him while feeling glad to not lose that little respect in my mind.

“You are right! You are a celebrity and it must be harder for you.” He mumbled and I sighed.

“Don’t take those words to heart. I was being rude as I was pissed off with your words and the way you treated me. I don’t have such pride as I have to work hard from now on and have a long way to go.” I said but he shook his head.

“I am really sorry for being rude towards you and disrespecting you.” He repeated staring at me.

“It’s okay! I know you hate this situation but even I hate it. So, let’s make it up by being cordial to each other. I will never interfere with your life and you will not. I will be going back within a week and may return after a few weeks to finalize everything. And you just need to follow their instructions which could be a problem for you.” I mumbled but he frowned hearing those words.

“Their instructions could be a problem for me? You are the one they are restricting too much, right?” he asked and I realized he didn’t read the contract.

“I saw that the conditions they have for you are like two pages while mine is not even half a page.” He pointed out and I calmly passed the contract from the table after turning to his instructions page.

“What the hell is this?” he shouted standing up while I kept quiet.

“Because I am an outsider, they made the instructions clearly like not missing any loopholes and that’s why there are so many but I felt the conditions they placed for you are worst.” I mumbled after he sat down in shock.

“What are these conditions? No one should know the truth except for the people that were in the Vikranth’s cabin today and also your manager? I should listen to all orders from Vikranth and my Dad? I should accept no matter what is given as a statement by either you or Vikranth or the PR team to the media during this whole year? And if I do not follow any of these then after getting three chances I have to join the company back?” I think he is definitely losing his mind.

“Is he even my Dad? Is that why Vikranth was upset? Then why didn’t he tell me directly?” he just continued before staring at me.

“I know! They shouldn’t have done that.” I mumbled in a consoling way and he slowly nodded like a kid making me smile.

“Don’t worry! I am sure nothing major will happen.” I assured him but he is a step away from pouting or that’s what I want to think.

“You are right! It was my mistake to not read them and I am sure Vikranth will never do something bad.” He mumbled sighing.

“So, we will not be contacting each other? I am sure they will send me the statements that will be released to agree to them. I still have three chances right.” He added standing up before forwarding his hand.

“Let’s have a peaceful fake life for one year.” He mumbled while I stared at him.

“I have a personal request too. Don’t have any relationships or go flirt around during this time. I don’t want to have an image of getting dumped by my fiancé and get pitiful looks whenever they talk about my past in the future. As this is the first official relationship that is getting displayed, it better has a mutual ending.” I explained and he took his hand back.

“Don’t worry! I don’t do any of those things. I was upset that I missed a chance to again try to be with my crush but now I don’t think there is any chance at least for some time. It’s just a year anyway and my work is going to increase soon and I will be concentrating on that. But I don’t have any conditions like that except for not getting involved in each other lives.” He stated and I nodded ignoring the feeling when I heard his words about wishing to try again with his supposed to be a crush.

We both shook our hands and turned hearing Keerthi’s voice. She stared at us in shock before closing the door immediately.

“Don’t worry!” I mumbled standing up and had to take a step back realizing he is closer than I expected and he too stepped back.

“Meet him! He is going to be my fiancé for a year.” I said introducing him and he turned to look at me with disbelief.

“What?” I asked frowning.

“You just introduced me as if I am your driver or some person who is going to work for you.” He explained.

“Don’t worry! I will not hire you as a driver.” I assured him in a teasing tone while he just sighed.

“I will be leaving then. I need to handle the issues at my restaurant.” He mumbled nodding at me and I nodded back but continued to stare at him until he stepped out of the room before falling on the chair feeling drained.

“What happened?” Keerthi asked reaching my side.

“I just saved myself from hating my crush.” I replied closing my eyes while wishing to just go to sleep and wake up with all these things being just a dream or a nightmare maybe.

*Prathap Pov*

“What are these conditions? And how can you leave me alone with her like that? And how can you just leave when you are the one to drive me here?” I continued to ask after Vikranth lifted his phone and I stood on the road waiting for a cab.

“Why didn’t you read them earlier? And how can she harm you? And I need to come to work because of which I left you.” He replied without missing a beat as expected of him.

When did he ever get tongue-tied or had to ask the other person to slow down? I sighed finally finding a cab before getting inside while passing the address.

“Don’t worry! It was Uncle’s plan but I will never let something wrong happen. Don’t think too much about it.” He added and I cut the call after hearing those words feeling relieved.

Of course, I trust him when he says that. He knows the best how to handle the situations and how to protect someone and I will never doubt that.

“What do you mean the reservations got canceled?” I asked the manager who gave me a list of problems the moment I entered the restaurant and thank god for the absence of the media.

“Yes! We got a few calls and they canceled the reservations. A few people entered the restaurant but they were trying to gossip with the waiters regarding the articles.” He mumbled and I sighed rubbing my head.

“And the first investor whom you are going to meet this week to get support for the extension of the restaurant called just an hour ago.” He continued while I gestured him to tell me the next part.

“She asked me whether you are really going to leave the restaurant and return to GH by using the top model of GH entertainment.” He explained and I snorted.

How should I use her and in what way? Are these people stupid or what? When I leave GH by myself they say that Vikranth threw me out of GH and now just because of an article they think I am planning revenge against Vikranth. Why don’t they all go and make some movies with those plots?

“And…” he trailed off disturbing the ranting in my head.

“And?” I asked frowning at him.

“And is it true? Are you really dating Anny?” he asked with a disappointed look.

Anny? Right! I heard it is used as her name in the public and I don’t know what is the need for that but I guess because she was abroad and they used this name for those people and it continued.

Why am I thinking about her name now? I shook my name… I mean head before glancing at my so-called manager who is waiting as if wishing I say it is false.

“Prathap! There a few articles that just got released.” The chef shouted entering the cabin while I glared at him for using the same tone he uses inside the kitchen.

“You are engaged to Anny but didn’t tell us all this time?” he added while frowning at me and I opened the system on my table before searching her name.

Vikranth is definitely faster with his work while here I am still thinking of what should I do with the problems I had at my restaurant today.

In a relationship for over a year? And got engaged recently even though staying far away. She returned yesterday to surprise me but I was busy celebrating the engagement party with my friends and that’s what happened.

Wow! This shows why I bought a dress for her and the make artist I called to come over to the boutique that day. He really took care of all details so that it can’t be questioned again.

They even added saying as we both were busy with our careers, it was hidden from everyone. I sighed looking away from the article and found those both still staring at me and the other staff is waiting near the door.

I remember the conditions in the contract before calmly saying, “It’s all true! She is my fiancé.”

There are mixed reactions from everyone as the female staff was giving squeals and the men were just looking at me with disappointed looks.

I asked them to handle the restaurant for the whole day as I am not feeling well before leaving the cabin to reach the stairs in the kitchen and reached my place.

I plopped on the bed before closing my eyes feeling tired and hungry but not feeling to eat anything.

Today was definitely a roller coaster and I turned over but felt something biting my skin near my neck. I frowned looking at that place and found an ear ring at that place.

Who else could it be other than Anny or should I just call her Anitha? I took it away from the place before placing it in the drawer beside the bed.

Now, it definitely hits differently as I just remember we both were lying here together and I actually cried in her arms as I remember that part after she mentioned it.

How embarrassing! I groaned covering my face but then remember her words from earlier.

Am I really that with such low confidence that the first thought I get if I feel anyone trying to be with me must have the reason that they want to be part of GH?

Somehow her words hit me differently and I found it kind of like an act of consoling towards me and she did it again when I found the conditions.

I was definitely wrong to think her in a bad way without even knowing her and now I realize why Vikranth and his wife were reacting like that. It is a good thing that I apologized and everything is done. It’s not like we will be meeting again.