Bargain Bride

The Deal☆

Shanaya's POV

I trudged through the bustling city after another fruitless interview. After graduating, I had thought that the period of struggle has been marked over. Now I see why people ask you to enjoy childhood when you can. Maybe if my parents were more stable financially, I would have been sitting somewhere in a course still learning and gaining knowledge right now.

I walked inside the coffee shop lazily sitting at a table with my files. The smell of coffee itself is enough to boost my serotonin. I mentally note how the cafe seems to be a little more crowded on a Friday like today.
A waiter appears before me "Greetings to you miss, welcome to our little adobe of comfort! What would you like?" she said that so cheerfully that my tired "Espresso, please." must have seemed dull, expressionless, maybe even rude to an extent to somebody who didn't know what made the frustration well up. It didn't faze the waiter in slightest though as she left with another enthusiastic response "Right up!".
Oh to have a job that makes you as happy as this....or to have a job at all.

"Here is you espresso~" the waiter returns and I take it thanking her, in a tone I only wishd wasn't as....shitty like the last time. The waiter had long dark drown hair hanging loosely in a messy bun topped with a hat or whatever the cafe tradition is. She is wearing a white apron over a pastel pink and pastel blue uniform with the cafe name embroidered in white. She looked pretty.
I sigh now sipping the freshly served espresso with my phone in the other hand. The usual routine follows suit as i check my WhatsApp messages, instagram notifications, updates from my favorite authors on Wattpad and lastly news articles.

'Billionaire Kabir Oberoi donated a total of 1.5 crore rupe-'
Billionaires. Donations. Charity. I scoff at the thought. Most of them probably require publicity and even if not, most of them are self-centered an-
"Excuse me? May I take a seat here?" I look up to see the same face from the article....WAIT..SAME FACE FROM THE ARTICLE? KABIR OBEROI?!
"Uh sure" i say shifting uncomfortably and quickly turning my phone off and keeping it inside. I gather my files and pull them towards my side of the table only now noticing the crowd within the cafe. If he wanted, he could clear it right about now in a second instead of having to share a table with a girl who was just dissing him mentally...ten seconds ago. I am damned.

He sits with a black coffee that I am assuming he purchased before taking a seat. He has black hair styled elegantly like most rich people probably do. His rolex hanging off his wrist that is a part of his veiny muscular arms. His suit seemed to be a work of an expensive brand, something along the lines of Armani, Park Avenue or Blackberrys. His shaved stubble and otherwise perfectly sculpted face exuded dominance, power and most of all, MONEY. His tie- Well I really need to get over the part of my brain which makes me want to describe people or analyse their appearance...

"You seem unfazed." he cuts through the lack of conversation between two people sitting together at a table.

What does he want me to do? Dance around that am sitting with a billionaire or scream and cream? Haha, like I thought, self-centered and egoistic. As much as I wanted to say all that, I settled on a "Should I not be?".

He laughs the sort of laugh that lacks humour. "There are not many who keeps their composure. People think having money makes you more than a human." he says as if he has been through that a lot and with the amount of money he has? He probably have.

"Right, having money does that to you." I say.

An awkward silence passes before he speaks again not looking up from his phone "The files near you are the kind of files people carry when they are looking for a job."

I sigh..why does he care?

"Yes, job. That's what I am looking for." I say my tone now slightly off.

"I see, is it the lack of qualifications?" He asks.

I scoff "I am very well educated, Mr. Oberoi. I don't know what rich people like you think about the task of finding jobs, but it's not always about one's qualifications. Moreover, not everyone can afford education."

"Woah, easy there. I just wanted to ask."

"Why?"

"Do you wish to study more?" he asks out of the blue.

"I wish, but wishing doesn't allow it to happen." I reply dryly.

"What if...I help you?"

"How?" I ask. He doesn't know me, in fact, he has nothing to do with me.

"It's just a deal, which you can of course decline..." he starts.

Ah, of course, a deal. He has his own hidden benefit, no? I motion for him to continue and so he does.

"A marriage of convenience. My parents and grandparents can be..well, excessive when it comes to marriage. You can be the bride and i can sponsor your education, your purchases, you family and there will be fame. You will gain reputation...Various benefits for you, Miss...?"

"Shanaya Agrawal. Also, as appealing as the idea may be, it is just as unrealistic. I am a normal girl. The news will make that sound horrible in a lot of ways." I say narrowing my eyes. I just met him, how can i fall into a loveless marriage with him, a stranger? How could he ask a stranger to be his pretence bride?