Joseph Aldrick.

"The wedding preparations are almost done, All the VIPs are invited, their stay is pre-booked in one of our hotels"

"Good, everything should be perfect, I  don't want any mistakes to happen," I said.

"It's all arranged sir, but I  don't understand it," J.P said. "Why are you taking so much pain to arrange it all meticulously? I never thought you would even agree to get them married"

I laughed out at that. "It's a game J.P, just watch how it's going to be"

"I don't see anything particular here"

"I want the marriage to take place as the plan, yes, and I would like to see if they are still going to be together after I tell them the truth about their parents"

"You are going to tell them?"

"Yes, how do you think Nivin will take it when he hears his mother ran away with Riya's father?"

"You want to break the marriage?" J.P asked.

"No, I want to snap him into pieces, It will be the last straw for him, he will never dare to interfere in my company any more, I know the boy, he is more sensitive than you think, this will struck him down for a lifetime, he can't bear another betrayal in his life"

"And if they get separated, Nivin can't even compete with Sebastian," J.P said.

"Yes, If they separated and I am sure they will, Nivin wouldn't even consider her as a human being, the one person he hates most in this world is her dad"

"It makes sense," J.P said. "you want to make them separated"

"And the divorce that comes after that can remove any possibility of getting Neev his management rights" I added.

That's right, I am going to destroy them this time. Nivin is the only person who challenged me like this and I can't allow it, I should show him I am not someone to be messed with.

And Riya, It's time for me to throw her out of the family, she's that traitor's daughter, Anil Ragunad's, I am going to make sure that she will suffer for all those things her dad had done.

So, the wedding is a perfect solution for everything.

* * *

Priya.

I looked at the picture in shock, I have sketched the room in my dream, It looked so familiar.

Why am I dreaming about it again and again? did I really fall down and get hurt before?

"Priya, I am going back today, can you take care of yourself now?" Auntie came to my room.

"Yea, don't worry" I smiled.

"Don't go out again, you remember what your doctor said, take rest and relax your mind," she said again.

But I am getting confused and suffocated here!

"Yea...I will keep it in mind" I said. "But auntie..." I stopped, not sure of what I am going to ask her.

"What? tell me...Are you not well?"

"I am okay," I said slowly.

Just ask her and get it out of your head Priya...

"I was wondering...If...I ever had a ring before, a beautiful emerald ring?" I looked at her.

She was staring at me strangely.

"Are...are you alright?" Auntie asked me, she looked worried.

This is why I am reluctant to ask her anything, she will look scared or worried.

"Yea, don't worry, It was just a random one," I tried to smile. "hurry up or you will miss your trai-"

"What's this?" she was looking at my sketch.

"Ah...It's...It's nothing...I was bored, so..." I said quickly, but she was still giving me that look.

"Are still having nightmares?" she turned to me.

"No...no! I am okay now" I said quickly.

I am sorry to lie, auntie, but I can't think of another hypnosis session with my doctor, It's too much pain.

"Okay" she nodded slowly. "I will go then, please take care of yourself now,  don't open the door for strangers and be safe," she said.

I nodded.

"The maid will be coming every morning to help you with cooking, so just relax and do your works comfortably," she said again.

I nodded again.

"Take care then," she said before walking out of my room.

I sighed and leaned to the desk.

I know I should be cooperative about the treatment, but the hypnosis sessions are tiring me out, It's like someone else is forcing their way inside my head and it's just draining me.

I will just wait one more week, If I continue to have that same dream, I will tell them.

I turned the pages of my sketchbook slowly and stilled at the particular picture of a half-masked man.

I don't know why I keep coming back to this!

I just drew him, the man with intense eyes I bumped into at the party.

I still have goosebumps whenever I think about it.

My heart is still going crazy when I think about him, I couldn't seem to forget that powerful aura around him, but it had strangely made me feel safe too.

Priya, you should admit you have gone nuts as well!

*  *  *  *

Neev.

"What about this?" I asked again, I was in my penthouse.

Amy, Jason, Rick and Sid looked frozen in their spot.

"Hoy, I called you to help me with this!" I shouted. "now tell me about the ring," I said again.

I called the jewellery to select an engagement ring and they were all opened in front of us, but my stupid gang seemed to be stupefied.

"Um..right" Amy was the first to snap out of it. "which one do you like?" she asked me.

"What about this?" I picked up a ring and showed them.

"Are you going to give her a rock?" Sid asked.

"She's going to be my wife, of course, I have to select a good one"

Oh my God! I said it! wife!

"Are you alright, Nivin? you didn't hit your head anywhere, right?"

"Are you sure you want this? I mean...I never thought you will get married"

"Shut up guys, don't confuse him, I am sure he has thought about it a lot," Amy said

"Actually no, I didn't give it a lot of thought, we just agreed to get married," I said.

And yes, I am in love with her.

"You are talking about marriage man!" Jason said.

"Um...thinking about it doesn't make me turn around and run, Isn't it a good sign?" I asked.

"Since you two are trapped in this, yes, It's a good thing," Rick said

"And I do like her" I added. "that's why I don't want her to miss anything, I want to do all the normal things, starting from the engagement ring"

"Aww...now that's soo corny! I never expected this from you, Neev!"

"You are starting to give me goosebumps!"

"You sure you are alright?"

The guys all started to talk.

"Holy Shit! you are in love man! and I suppose it could be the eighth wonder of the world!" Amy exclaimed.

"If you guys are going to keep doing this, I will throw you out now" I threatened.

"Aww...somebody is embarrassed!"

"Shut up Sid!" I growled and they all laughed.

* * *

Riya.

"What is it? just tell me" I said for the umpteenth time, but no, Neev had to drag me into his car and drive all the way.

Yes, we talked about our situation and decided we are not going to avoid it. and since both of us are comfortable with each other-Nivin's words-not mine, we will do it.

"It's your penthouse!" I exclaimed as soon as he stopped.

"After you" Nivin opened the door for me and I smiled, stepping out of his car.

"What's going on?" I said as he dragged me to the private elevator.

"Since we are already getting married, I thought we would try it!" he said.

"What!?" I moved away from him.

Surely he is not thinking what I think he's thinking!

Neev chuckled, then cornered me to a side, he lifted up his hand and brushed a strand of my hair away from my face.

"Somebody is having a dirty mind" he chuckled.

"Neev" I warned as I moved away from him.

"Come on" he grabbed my hand when the elevator stopped and dragged me with him.

"What's it? why are you taking me to your penthouse?" I asked again.

"Close your eyes"

"What!?"

"Just close your eyes, no cheating, okay"

I closed my eyes slightly as Nivin opened the door.

"Don't peek"

"I don't know the way inside" I whined. Nivin laughed and covered my eyes with his hands.

"Okay, let's go," he said, guiding me inside. I walked in, the thing bothering me now is his closeness, It felt too intimate, I was practically inside his hands!

Soft music reached my ears but Neev kept on guiding me.

"Neev, where are-" I stopped.

I felt the soft breeze caressing us and it was slightly cold.

"Ok, now" he takes away his hands and I opened my eyes slightly.

I froze as I watched it, the candles, they were arranged to form words in midair, hundreds of feet above the ground and in level with his building.

"MARRY ME"

I read and re-read the message. my heart raced and warmth spread through me.

I slowly turned to him.

"So, will you marry me, Riya Mehra?" he asked slowly.

I was still shocked when the lights came, I was standing at the edge of a pool, a sky pool, It was extending from his building to the nearby one, the blue water looked like it was suspended on mid-air because there were no borders visible, It really was a magical sight for me.

The candles I thought were arranged in the air was actually floating candles and it was fascinating to see it floating above the blue water of the pool.

Neev is proposing me right now!

My eyes filled, I was overwhelmed.

I can't believe Nivin took so much effort for this! It was just a business deal from grandpa, he never had to try this!

"Shh.. don't cry" he walked to me and wiped my eyes, making me realise that I am crying.

"Even though it started as a business deal, I want you to be happy, I know, you don't love me, I know you are trapped, I know you have no other way out," Nivin said slowly.

"And I also want you to know that I have feelings for you, I care about you and even though it started as a business deal, I want us to work out, I will try my maximum" Nivin stopped.

You have no idea Neev! It started as a business deal, but I do love you, I  don't feel trapped and I actually want to stay beside you...

I have no more control over my tears, It kept flowing down. I know how much it must've cost him to utter these words, I can't believe this is the cold and arrogant Nivin Rosh Aldrick.

"God, did I say anything wrong? are you alright?" Nivin looked helplessly at me. "don't you..like? I mean, I wanted everything to be normal...I-" he looked confused. "I wanted to make it grander, but since grandpa already announced that we have been engaged, I can't take any risk" he was flustered and adorable.

So I walked to him. "Thank you so much" I whispered as I hugged him.

He was still tense for some time, then slowly relaxed. his heartbeat matched mine and I felt the most wonderful feeling.

It's what it feels to be home.

I closed my eyes, savouring the feeling.

"Um...Riya" Nivin called me softly and I looked up. "I reckon it's a 'yes'?" he said. I smiled up at him.

"Thank you" Nivin placed his hands on the small of my back and pressed me against him, I couldn't resist when his head bent to me and his lips touched mine in a softest and gentlest kiss that had my heart melt.

He was too careful with me and it only made my heart beat faster. he pulled me closer as he deepened the kiss and I responded to him, my right hand was placed over his heart and I could almost feel his vulnerability then.

I know he's opening his heart for me against all the warnings and I am thankful for it.

I gasped as his hand ran around my waist and I pushed back as shock waves, so foreign to me passed through me.

"God...you are..." Nivin broke the kiss.

"I...I am not sure...I mean...I am sorry..." I turned away in embarrassment. "I have...never been...kissed like this" I mumbled.

And I am sure I have made a mistake, I am trembling from head to foot, Nivin's kiss seemed to have shaken my whole system.

"Riya"

"I am sorry, I know I am not...confident about these...things," I said again.

I was still turning my back to him, not confident to face him.

"You are worried about the kiss!?" Nivin asked me incredulously.

"You can't blame me since I was not planning to-" I stopped as I felt his hands around me again. He hugged me from behind, his hands circling around my waist.

"Kissing you could be addicting" he murmured behind me and I gasped as I felt his breath against my ear. "you feel wonderful" he said. "in fact, I want to do much more than kissing"Nivin's voice changed, It's huskier now, I could feel the fireworks going around me wherever he touched me.

God! I am going to have a heart attack if I  don't get away, NOW!

"I...I...we...can't...Neev" I stumbled on my words, trying to move away from him.

Nivin chuckled. "Okay, come with me" he guided me inside again and I looked around the room in wonder.

Everything was arranged with flowers and ribbons, balloons were hanging from the ceiling. Candle lights giving a soft glow to the room.

I looked at Neev again and he smiled, looking sheepish now.

"I...I wanted everything to be...you know...like a normal proposal, I...couldn't take you out, so I just tried a little here" he said.

Tried a little? It is so much for me!

We reached near the cake that was arranged in the middle.

He took the knife that was wrapped in the ribbon, placed it inside my palm and placed his hand over mine.

We cut the cake in silence. The music and candles in the room were setting an unbearable romantic mood, It didn't help as Nivin was not letting me go out of his hands.

I took in a deep breath as Nivin let go to give me the cake and I turned to him.

he groaned.

"Are you trying to tempt me?" he asked and I stopped my hand midway in confusion.

He was eying my lips and I tried to wipe it away quickly, but Nivin got hold of my hand, and next thing I know, his lips covered mine again.

It was my first and best chocolate kiss ever, and when I was back to my senses, he slipped the ring on my finger.

"You are mine now, Riya" I shivered at his possessive tone. "You are trapped with me for the rest of your life," he said.

I gazed at him, I couldn't believe this! Nivin is actually looking at me happily, I have never seen this look on him; like he has achieved something special; Me! I realised.

"I never thought Nivin Rosh Aldrick has this side! you are actually sweet!"

He chuckled, blushing slightly. "You seems to bring the worst in me" he winked. "but I am actually feeling happy now," he said and I smiled.

He took my hand again. "come on, there's one more thing" he said, dragging me to a corner, he removed the cover and I saw a big gleaming piano.

"You...you know how to play the piano?" I asked.

I still remember the last time he came to the piano room, I thought he hated it!

"Let's see" he smiled, sitting on the bench and I walked near him.

"I...I haven't touched this for...a long time now" he confessed and I assumed he didn't touch it since his dad died, he is trying it for me for the first time in years.

I gave his hand a squeeze. "Thank you" I whispered and he pulled me to sit beside him.

"It...It takes a lot of effort...for me to take this...decision...I no longer...want to live in the past, I want to start anew, with you by my side" he said.

The sincerity in his voice shook me. I just nodded, not trusting my words. he smiled and turned back to the piano and started to play.

The music flowed to me, the sweet melodic addicting tone froze me.

I was shocked to hear it, the music was too familiar to me, In Fact, It was like I am travelling back in time, the time when I was in the orphanage.

Yes, I knew it, I know the tone, I could never mistake it since it was the one tone that I played millions of times with my mamma and I thought there's no one in this world who would know it!

What's going on?

My heart was beating like crazy.

"This piece is composed by my father, he always played it for me and..." he stopped, his voice full of emotions.

My world collapsed, Everything started to swirl around me. It was too much to bear.

"Mu..sic? composed by...your father?" I asked slowly, almost in a whisper.

"Yes, he made it himself," Neev said in a voice mixed with happiness and sadness alike. "he made it for my mother, We used to play it together, the three of us" his voice shook, I could only imagine how much it must've cost him to tell me this. I can't believe it!

Nivin Rosh Aldrick is opening his heart for me, he's talking about his parents in 20 years.

Fate is too cruel!

If that music is composed by his dad then...

Mamma?

But its impossible!

I started to hyperventilate.

Mamma is Neev's biological mother? Julia?

-------------------------------------

So guys,

Nivin is really trying to start fresh and Riya is in shock.

Do let me know what you think.