As Liam's car sped away from the main Asher estate, Piya slumped against the rich leather seat, exhausted but buoyed by Alia's unexpected kindness. She glanced at Liam, who was already on his phone, his profile sharp and remote.
She knew she had to address the timeline. "Mr. Asher," she began hesitantly, "the contract is signed, but... are we legally married now?"
Liam lowered his phone, his dark eyes meeting hers with an almost predatory focus. "Not yet. Today was the declaration of intent, the setting of the stage for my father and the vultures he gathers. The legal registration will happen in a private court ceremony next week, known only to my grandfather, Karan, and us. No fanfare. No public record until I permit it. For now, we are officially engaged."
"And the date of the public wedding?"
"There won't be one for at least six months. The official story is a private, family ceremony later this year. This provides us the necessary time for you to become accustomed to the role," he stated, dismissing the entire topic with a wave of his hand.
Piya knew her first task upon returning home was convincing her parents that her terrifying agreement was, in fact, her own happy decision.
That evening, back in the familiar, comforting warmth of her living room, her parents looked at her with worried, tear-stained faces.
"Piya, we cannot allow this," her father pleaded, clutching her hand. "That man, Adrian Asher, he spoke to you like you were dirt. That life is too big for you, beta. Tell us you backed out."
Piya took a deep breath, steeling herself to deliver the performance of her life. She had to lie, not just for Mr. Rao, but to protect her parents from the true terror of Liam's blackmail. They would never allow her to go through with it if they knew the truth.
"I didn't back out, Baba. And I won't," she said, managing a determined smile. "It's true, Mr. Asher Sr. is intimidating, and the Asher world is overwhelming. But listen to me."
She recounted the story as she needed it to be heard:
"I agreed to the marriage because it's a good proposal," she said, leaning into the practical reasoning they understood. "It's a chance for a future none of us could have dreamed of. And, Ma, you saw the Asher patriarch—Rajveer Asher. He was so kind. He saw something valuable in me, and he promises I will be safe and treasured."
She paused, then delivered the emotional core of the lie, forcing herself to blush convincingly. "And... I like Liam. I truly do."
Her parents stared. "You like him?" her mother whispered.
"Yes," Piya insisted, letting her nervousness pass off as shy affection. "He's difficult, yes, and demanding, but he's also brilliant and focused. I see the good in him, and I believe in him. When we danced, and when we were together on the trip, I saw a different side of him. He is powerful, but he is my powerful. He needs someone to balance him, and I believe I can be that person. I want to try, Ma. Please, trust my choice."
The combination of the practical benefits (security, the Asher name) and the emotional lie (her attraction and belief in him) was potent. Piya had always been a practical, sensible daughter. If she claimed attraction to the CEO and framed it as a profound opportunity, who were they to deny her future?
Her mother wept, but this time with a mixture of sadness and relieved pride. "If you truly believe this, Piya... if this is your choice, then we will support you. We will pray for your happiness." Her father, after a long, scrutinizing look that Piya miraculously withstood, nodded slowly. "We trust you, my warrior daughter."
The door was closed. The Lie of Mutual Choice was successfully established for the Arora family.
The next morning, Piya met her best friend, Asha, at their favorite tiny café. Asha, who worked in a different sector of the corporate world, was pragmatic, outspoken, and Piya's fiercest protector. She knew every embarrassing detail of Piya's life, and this time, the lie would be harder to swallow.
Asha slammed her coffee cup onto the table. "Liam Asher? The Ice King? You're marrying him? Piya, what in God's name happened on that business trip? Did he threaten you? Are you pregnant? Tell me the truth!"
Piya sighed dramatically, putting on a show of secret delight and shame. "Nothing happened! Relax! I'm not pregnant!" she hissed, leaning close. "But... okay, I admit it. I've had a crush on him since I started working there. He's just... he's terrifyingly handsome, Ash, and utterly brilliant."
Asha raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You were terrified of him!"
"I was terrified of him," Piya corrected, lowering her voice to a confident, conspiratorial whisper. "But on the trip, something changed. When I was drunk, I think I... I was honest with him. And he responded to it. We had a moment. A real moment. It wasn't about work or status."
Piya carefully omitted the dance and the blazer, focusing instead on the fabricated emotional connection. "When his grandfather came to my house, it was the final sign. He chose me, Ash. Me, the normal girl. He wants something real, and I'm giving him a chance. It was an incredible proposal, and I said yes because... I like him."
Asha studied Piya's face—the genuine fear was masked by practiced nervous excitement. She finally threw her hands up in defeat. "I don't believe you, but I believe you believe you. If you say you like the Ice King, then fine. But if he hurts you, I will personally key his $500,000 sports car."
"Deal," Piya managed, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She had successfully cemented the lie: This was a fairytale, a good opportunity, and a consequence of her hidden crush.
Meanwhile, Liam held a brief meeting with Sam.
"So, the rumours are true, Asher? You're actually marrying the intern," Sam said, leaning back in his chair, amused. "Your father is apoplectic. Tanya is plotting. This is more entertaining than a hostile takeover."
Liam didn't look up from the document he was reviewing. "The marriage is necessary. It provides my grandfather stability and removes a predictable weakness in my position."
"And the girl? Piya Arora. Is she compliant?"
"She is agreeable to the terms of the contract," Liam stated, his voice flat. He paused, then added, with a rare, chilling hint of dark satisfaction, "She is exactly where she needs to be. She has one condition: she wants to keep her job. I allowed it."
Sam chuckled. "Letting her keep her office desk? Such generosity. Don't tell me, this is a love match after all."
Liam finally looked up, his expression hardening into pure steel. "It is a claim, Sam. A necessary acquisition of the most inconvenient, yet necessary, asset. Nothing more."
He offered no further explanation. The Lie of the Great Proposal was secure with Piya's public. The truth, known only to Liam and the contract, was a cold, absolute claim.