Riya Mehta sat across from her parents, staring at the ornate tea set on the table, feeling like it was the most awkward meal of her life. The faint clinking of silver spoons against china was the only sound breaking the heavy silence that had descended over their modest dining room. Her father, an unassuming man who had spent most of his life working at a small accounting firm, avoided her gaze. Her mother, ever the traditionalist, looked expectant, her fingers twitching nervously on the edge of her sari.

"You know we're not forcing you, beta," her mother finally said, breaking the silence with the kind of tone that implied exactly the opposite. “But Dev Kapoor is a good match. His family… they’re well-respected, wealthy. It’s a good alliance.”

"Alliance," Riya muttered under her breath. The word hung between them, an old-fashioned term for something that should be about love, or at the very least, companionship. This wasn’t an alliance; it was an arrangement.

An arranged marriage. In the year 2024, no less.

Riya wasn’t opposed to the idea of marriage. She had seen many friends walk down that road, some happily, some less so. But she had always assumed that her life would be different. After all, she had worked hard to earn her ACCA qualification and build a successful career in finance. Marriage was supposed to be something she chose when she was ready, not because her parents believed her biological clock was ticking or because a well-to-do family had come knocking.

"I don’t need to get married just because I’m turning thirty," she said, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. “I’m doing fine on my own.”

“Of course, you are,” her father said softly, his voice laced with the kind of quiet disappointment that always made Riya feel guilty. “But it’s not about need, Riya. It’s about stability. Security. It’s… it’s what people do.”

People. The ever-present, unseen force that dictated everyone’s choices. What would people say if Riya didn’t marry soon? What would people think if she kept focusing on her career instead of settling down?

“I don’t even know him,” she said finally, though her resistance was waning. Dev Kapoor. The name itself carried a weight that made it hard to ignore. He wasn’t just any businessman; he was a billionaire, a man who had built an empire in tech, respected for his work ethic and ruthless determination. He was the kind of man who had everything—power, money, influence. And yet, apparently, what he didn’t have was a wife.

Her mother’s face softened. “It’s not about love at first, Riya. Love grows with time. You two will figure things out.”

Riya sighed and slouched back in her chair. She doubted that love would grow between her and a man like Dev. This wasn’t a Bollywood film where two people from different worlds fell madly in love after an arranged marriage. This was real life, and she was being asked to marry a stranger whose world was entirely different from hers.

Still, something tugged at her, a small, curious part of her mind that wondered what kind of man would agree to an arranged marriage in the first place. A billionaire, no less. Surely, he could have any woman he wanted. What kind of man would agree to an arrangement like this? And why?

Before she could ponder the question any further, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it, seeing a message from one of her colleagues—a reminder of the audit she was leading the next morning. Her job was her life, and while she loved the thrill of it, she knew her family didn’t understand her passion for it. They saw her career as something temporary, a placeholder until she “settled down.”

But the more Riya thought about it, the more she realized this wasn’t just about what her parents wanted. She was approaching thirty, and the thought of spending her life alone—of focusing only on work and coming home to an empty apartment—was beginning to lose its appeal. Maybe she didn’t want to admit it, but some part of her was tired of the grind, tired of being alone.

“I’ll meet him,” she said finally, her voice quiet but firm.

Her mother’s eyes lit up, and her father breathed a sigh of relief.

---

A few days later, Riya found herself standing in the lobby of a high-end restaurant, feeling out of place despite her crisp business attire. The restaurant exuded luxury, with its marble floors, high ceilings, and dim lighting that gave everything a soft, golden glow. She’d been to plenty of fancy places for work dinners, but this felt different. This was personal.

“Ms. Mehta?” a lad wearing a black suit smiled at her warmly. “Mr. Kapoor is already waiting. Right this way.”

Riya followed the man through the restaurant, her heart pounding slightly. This was it. She was about to meet Dev Kapoor—the man she was supposed to marry, the man who would become her partner in this absurd, practical arrangement.

They reached a private corner table, and there he was.

Dev Kapoor looked exactly as she’d imagined. Tall, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, with sharp features and dark hair that was neatly combed back. He exuded confidence, the kind that only came from being accustomed to power and wealth. But there was something else, too—a quiet intensity in his eyes, as though he was used to assessing everything around him with quick, calculating precision.

He stood when he saw her, offering a polite smile, which didn’t reach his eyes.

“Riya,” he said, his voice smooth and composed. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

She extended her hand, and he shook it firmly but gently. No unnecessary flourishes, no fake charm. That, at least, was a relief.

“Dev,” she replied, taking a seat across from him. “Likewise.”

For a few moments, they sat in silence, studying each other. Riya noticed the way his gaze lingered on her face, not in a predatory way, but with genuine curiosity.

“I’ll be honest,” Dev said, breaking the silence. “This situation isn’t exactly what I had envisioned for myself. But here we are.”

Riya nodded, appreciating his bluntness. “Same. But I guess that’s life, right? Unexpected.”

He smiled, a small, almost imperceptible lift of the corner of his mouth. “Unexpected indeed. So, how do you feel about all of this?”

Riya leaned back in her chair, considering her answer. “I’m not opposed to the idea of marriage, but I’ve always thought it would happen on my own terms. This… well, it feels more like a business deal.”

Dev’s eyes flickered with something—amusement, perhaps. “It is a business deal, in many ways. Our families get what they want, we maintain our independence, and everyone’s happy.”

“And what about us?” Riya asked, raising an eyebrow.

“We make the best of it,” he said simply. “No expectations, no emotional complications. Just… an agreement.”

Riya took a deep breath. It wasn’t romantic, but at least he was honest. And maybe that was what she needed—someone who wouldn’t pretend this was anything more than it was. An arrangement. A contract.

A partnership without love.

“Well then,” she said, holding out her hand once again. “Here’s to making the best of it.”

Dev smiled, taking her hand once more, sealing the deal.

It wasn’t love, but maybe it didn’t have to be. At least, not yet.

...Hey guys author here, this is my first novel hope you guys show love and support🫶🩷...

Riya exited the restaurant with a mixture of relief and unease. Her conversation with Dev had been straightforward, but the implications of their agreement weighed heavily on her mind. As she stepped into the evening air, the bustling sounds of Mumbai barely registered. She needed to clear her head, and there was only one person who could help her do that—Naina Kapoor, her best friend since childhood and the one person who had seen her through every high and low.

Riya pulled out her phone and dialed Naina’s number. She knew Naina would be busy with her work—organizing the largest esports event in the country—but she needed to hear her voice. If anyone could help her make sense of this bizarre situation, it was Naina.

The phone barely rang twice before a familiar, enthusiastic voice answered, "Hey babe!"

A small smile tugged at Riya’s lips. "Hey."

"What happened, baba? You sound exhausted," Naina asked, her voice softening with concern. She always knew when something was wrong with Riya, even if Riya hadn’t said a word.

Riya let out a sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly at the sound of Naina’s comforting voice. "Heh, you’d go crazy if you knew what’s happening here. When are you coming back?"

Naina chuckled. "You know lady, this meeting of all the esports players in the country is very important to me. Once the formalities are done, I’ll be back. Now, what’s the tea over there?"

Riya bit her lip, wondering how Naina would react to her news. "I’m saving that for when I see you in person," she said with a small smile. "But you’re not going to like it."

Naina groaned playfully. "Hmm, sounds dangerous. I’ll see you soon, babe. Love youuu!"

"Love you too," Riya replied, feeling a little lighter as she hung up. Naina had a way of grounding her, even from miles away.

With the call over, Riya turned her attention back to the reality of the situation she had just walked out of. Dev Kapoor. The arranged marriage. It was all so surreal. And yet, here she was, making decisions that would change the course of her life. It wasn’t about romance or love. It was a calculated decision, one she had made after weighing all her options.

Riya shook her head. She couldn’t dwell on it now. There was work to do. She called her driver, instructing him to take her to her company. As the car wove through the busy streets of Mumbai, she leaned back in the seat, her thoughts wandering to Naina once again.

Naina had always been her rock. Their friendship had deepened over the years, evolving from childhood playmates to sisters in every sense except blood. They were different in many ways—Naina was more spontaneous, adventurous, and extroverted, while Riya was methodical, career-focused, and private—but their bond had only strengthened with time. They didn’t need to talk every day or see each other constantly. They just understood each other.

Recently, they had made a big decision together—buying a condominium where they could both escape from the pressures of their lives. It was their sanctuary, a place where they could be themselves without the weight of expectations. Riya loved that space, and the memories they had built there were some of her happiest. It was the only thing keeping her sane lately.

As her car pulled up to the office building, Riya’s calm demeanor shifted. Something was wrong. The tension in the air was palpable, even before she stepped out of the car. She hurried inside, heading straight for her office.

The moment she walked in, her assistant, Meera, rushed over, her face pale. “Riya, we have a problem.”

Riya’s stomach sank. “What’s going on?”

“There’s been an internal audit breach,” Meera explained, her voice shaky. “One of our major clients flagged discrepancies in their financials. They think someone from our team might be involved.”

Riya’s heart skipped a beat. A breach in the audit process? This wasn’t just a small issue. If this got out, it could ruin the company’s reputation—and, by extension, her career. She had built her entire professional life on her integrity and expertise, and now everything was at risk. Regardless, her voice was poised and professional her expression could not betray what she was feeling inside.

“Which client?” Riya asked, her voice tight.

“Sterling Group,” Meera said, handing her a folder.

Riya’s eyes widened. The Sterling Group was one of their biggest accounts, a conglomerate that was responsible for over 30% of their firm’s annual revenue. If they lost Sterling, it would be a catastrophic blow.

“We need to do a thorough investigation,” Riya said, flipping through the documents with practiced precision. “And I want to handle this personally. No one outside of the core team should know about this until we have more information. Understood?”

Meera nodded, clearly relieved to have Riya take charge. “Understood.”

Riya moved quickly, setting up an emergency meeting with the investigation team. As they gathered in the conference room, she outlined their next steps—review all communications, check financial records, and investigate every potential lead. She had to get to the bottom of this before it spiraled out of control.

But as she looked over the initial reports, something didn’t add up. The breach wasn’t just a mistake or an error in judgment. It was deliberate, and whoever had done it had gone to great lengths to cover their tracks. This wasn’t an internal mishap. It was sabotage.

And that’s when the second, more unsettling realization hit her. The Sterling Group’s financials were tied up with one of Dev Kapoor’s subsidiaries. If she wanted to investigate thoroughly, she would need access to data from his company—data that wasn’t easily accessible.

Her mind raced. She knew what had to be done, but the thought of asking Dev for help made her stomach churn. She barely knew him. Their relationship was still in the stage of formality and politeness. Could she really go to him, the man she had agreed to marry for convenience, and ask for access to sensitive financial information?

She could feel her pride clawing at her. She had worked her whole life to be independent, to prove she didn’t need anyone to solve her problems. Asking for Dev’s help would mean admitting that she couldn’t handle this on her own. And that wasn’t something she was willing to do—not yet.

As the meeting wrapped up, Riya leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. She knew the stakes were high, and she couldn’t afford to make the wrong move. She had always prided herself on her ability to solve problems logically, but this… this was different.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Dev.

“How’s work going?”

Riya stared at the message, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. She could ignore it, keep pushing forward on her own, but deep down, she knew she couldn’t do this alone. Not this time.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, indecision clouding her judgment. She had never been one to rely on others, but maybe—just maybe—this was the moment to ask for help.

Riya sat in her office, her mind racing. The meeting with her investigation team had concluded, but the weight of the Sterling Group crisis still loomed over her. Every instinct screamed at her to act, to fix this as quickly as possible, but she knew better than to rush. This wasn’t just a minor issue—it was sabotage. The last thing she needed was to make a hasty decision that could cost her everything.

Her phone buzzed again. A message from Dev, checking in about her work.

She stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the keys. For a brief moment, she considered it. Reaching out to Dev could give her access to the information she needed. His company was tied to Sterling Group in subtle ways, and he might have connections or resources that could help her uncover the truth.

But the thought of involving him, of relying on someone she barely knew, gnawed at her. She wasn’t about to start her relationship with Dev by making it transactional, especially when it came to her professional life.

No. She wasn’t going to ask for Dev’s help. This was her mess, and she was going to clean it up.

Riya took a deep breath, pushing away the impulse to reply to Dev. She needed to stay calm and think clearly. After all, she had other resources—ones that Dev didn’t need to know about. Riya had built a vast network of professional contacts, but within that network, there were connections she had cultivated outside the limelight. People who operated in the gray areas of business. People like Kai.

Kai was a fixer—a man who specialized in solving problems quietly, efficiently, and without leaving a trace. He had helped her once before when her company faced a minor scandal involving insider trading accusations. Back then, he had dug through mountains of digital dirt and found the culprit in record time, saving her reputation.

Pulling out her phone, Riya quickly dialed Kai’s number.

It rang twice before he picked up, his deep, calm voice greeting her with a hint of amusement. “Riya Mehta. It’s been a while.”

“Kai,” Riya said, leaning back in her chair, trying to keep her voice steady. “I need your help again.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then a low chuckle. “I figured as much. What’s the situation?”

Riya quickly filled him in on the Sterling Group breach, the internal sabotage, and her need to investigate quietly. As she spoke, she could feel the tension in her body easing slightly. Kai wasn’t just efficient—he was discreet. No one would know she had contacted him.

“I’ll handle it,” Kai said once she had finished explaining. “I’ll dig into Sterling’s financials, but I’ll also look into your team. If there’s a mole, I’ll find them.”

“Thank you,” Riya said, her relief palpable. “I trust you’ll be careful.”

“You know I will,” Kai replied smoothly. “I’ll be in touch soon.”

She hung up, feeling a sense of reassurance. With Kai on the case, she could focus on her other responsibilities without the constant dread of the situation spiraling out of control. Riya wasn’t naive enough to think this would be easy, but at least now she had a plan that didn’t involve relying on Dev Kapoor.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and emails. By the time Riya finally left the office, it was well past dusk. She was exhausted—mentally and physically—and all she wanted was to get home and put this day behind her.

As she approached the parking lot, her heels clicking against the pavement, an odd sensation crept over her. It started as a prickle on the back of her neck, an uneasy feeling like someone was watching her. She slowed her pace, glancing around the dimly lit area, but there was no one in sight.

Still, the sensation lingered. She could feel it, like eyes drilling into her back.

Riya shook her head, forcing herself to take a deep breath. It’s been a long day, she thought. I’m just being paranoid.

But the feeling didn’t entirely disappear, even as she reached her car. She fumbled with her keys, her senses on high alert, scanning the shadows around her for any sign of movement. It was silent, too silent for a bustling city like Mumbai.

Finally, she unlocked her car and slid into the driver’s seat. She locked the doors immediately, staring out into the darkness. There was nothing there—no movement, no sounds. Just the quiet hum of distant traffic.

Get a grip, Riya. You’re overthinking.

She pulled out of the parking lot, blaming her nerves on the stress of the day. It wasn’t like someone was following her. It was just her mind playing tricks after everything that had happened. Still, she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that lingered as she drove home.

—————

Meanwhile, across town in a sleek, high-rise office, Dev Kapoor sat behind his large mahogany desk, his eyes focused on a file in front of him. His assistant had just left the room after delivering the dossier, leaving him alone with the information.

He opened the file, his expression unreadable, and flipped through the pages. Inside were detailed reports on Riya Mehta—her family background, education, career history, and even personal anecdotes. It was a thorough profile, meticulously compiled by his private investigators.

Dev paused when he reached a photo of her. It was from a recent event—she looked composed, confident, dressed in business attire, her eyes sharp and focused. He studied the picture for a long moment, his fingers brushing lightly over the glossy surface of the photo.

"Riya Mehta," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His gaze lingered on her image, his thoughts unreadable.

There was something about her, something intriguing. She wasn’t like the women he had encountered in his world—those who were either enamored by his wealth or eager to be part of his life for what he could offer. Riya was different. She wasn’t seeking him out, wasn’t trying to impress him. In fact, she seemed to want nothing from him at all. And that, more than anything, piqued his interest.

Dev closed the file, leaning back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin. His expression shifted slightly, a more calculated, determined look crossing his face.

He glanced out of the window, the city skyline twinkling in the distance, and spoke to the empty room, his voice low and ominous.

“She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s already part of the plan.”

And with that, Dev Kapoor smiled—a smile that held more secrets than anyone could ever guess