The Calm Before the Storm

The moment the press conference ended, Veer Carson led Arya through the back exit of the hotel, where a private car waited. The photographers continued snapping pictures even as security held them back.

Arya's heart pounded in her chest as she slid into the car, Veer following close behind. The door shut, muffling the chaos outside.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Arya exhaled sharply. "Well, that was… intense."

Veer nodded, his expression unreadable as he removed his cufflinks. "You handled it well."

She scoffed. "I almost fainted when you took my hand."

His lips twitched slightly, as if suppressing a smirk. "You recovered quickly."

Arya rubbed her temples. "I can't believe I just lied to the whole world."

Veer's voice was calm, steady. "You didn't lie. You played a role. There's a difference."

Arya turned to him, narrowing her eyes. "You do this often, don't you? Manipulating situations like a chessboard."

Veer met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I do what needs to be done."

She studied him for a moment before looking away. "And what happens now?"

"We wait," Veer said simply. "Tara Bowman will make her move soon."

Arya's stomach twisted. Tara had been there, watching. Her eyes had burned with barely concealed fury.

And Arya had a gut feeling this was far from over.

By the time they returned to the Carson estate, Rohan was waiting in the living room, arms crossed.

"You're officially the most talked-about couple in the country," he said, tossing Arya his phone.

She caught it and stared at the screen. Social media was flooded with headlines:

Veer Carson Announces Surprise Engagement!

Who is Arya? The Woman Who Stole the Business Mogul's Heart!

Tara Bowman's Reaction Sparks Speculation!

Arya groaned. "This is ridiculous."

Rohan smirked. "Welcome to Veer's world."

Veer ignored them both and walked toward his study. "We'll talk later."

As soon as he disappeared, Rohan turned to Arya. "Are you okay?"

Arya sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. This is all happening so fast."

Rohan's expression softened. "I know Veer has his reasons for doing this, but if you ever feel trapped, just say the word."

Arya smiled faintly. "Thanks, Rohan. But for now… I need to see this through."

Later that night, Arya stood on the balcony of her room, gazing at the moonlit gardens.

Her mind was restless. She had thought playing Veer's fiancée would be simple—just a game of appearances. But the more she got pulled into his world, the more complicated everything became.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

She turned to see Veer standing there, his sleeves rolled up, a drink in his hand.

"You're awake," he observed.

Arya nodded. "Couldn't sleep."

He stepped onto the balcony, leaning against the railing beside her. "Thinking about today?"

"And tomorrow," she admitted. "And the day after that."

Veer sipped his drink. "Regretting your decision?"

Arya exhaled. "I don't know. I just feel like I'm walking into something I don't fully understand."

Veer studied her for a long moment before saying, "Tara Bowman isn't someone who gives up easily. This was the first step in cutting off her influence. But she'll retaliate."

Arya hugged her arms. "You sound so sure."

"I am," he said simply. "People like Tara don't accept defeat. They find new ways to win."

Arya swallowed hard. "So what do we do?"

"We stay ahead of her."

Veer's words were spoken with such certainty that Arya almost believed him. Almost.

But deep down, she knew Tara Bowman was far from finished.

And something told her that this was only the beginning.

The next morning, Arya woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing relentlessly. She groggily reached for it, blinking at the bright screen.

Unknown Number.

Her stomach clenched. She hesitated before answering.

"Hello?"

A slow, mocking laugh came from the other end.

"Arya."

Her blood ran cold.

"Tara," she whispered.

"Congratulations on your engagement," Tara drawled. "I must admit, I didn't see this coming. But then again, Veer always did have a soft spot for strays."

Arya gritted her teeth. "What do you want?"

Tara's voice turned sharp. "You're playing a dangerous game, darling. You might want to reconsider."

Arya's grip tightened on the phone. "Is that a threat?"

Tara chuckled. "Of course not. Just a warning. You see, Veer may be protecting you now, but he can't always be there. And when he's not… well, let's just say accidents happen."

Arya's heart pounded. "You're insane."

"Perhaps," Tara mused. "But I always get what I want. And right now, you're in my way."

The line went dead.

Arya stared at the phone, her pulse racing.

She needed to tell Veer.

When Arya burst into Veer's office, he barely looked up from his laptop.

"She called me," Arya said breathlessly.

Veer's eyes flickered with interest. "Tara?"

Arya nodded. "She basically threatened me."

Veer's expression darkened. "What exactly did she say?"

Arya repeated the conversation, watching as Veer's jaw clenched.

"She's testing you," he said finally. "Trying to scare you into running."

Arya exhaled. "Well, it's working."

Veer stood, walking around the desk until he was right in front of her. "Listen to me."

She looked up at him, her nerves on edge.

"You are under my protection now," he said, his voice low and firm. "No one touches you. No one threatens you. Not without consequences."

Arya swallowed. "And what if she does more than threaten?"

Veer's expression was deadly calm. "Then she'll regret it."

There was something in the way he said it that sent a chill down Arya's spine.

For the first time, she realized—Veer Carson wasn't just powerful.

He was dangerous.

And he would destroy anyone who tried to hurt her.