He looks at me in disbelief. "We are together in this. You do realize that I am not the only one who will have to face this right? You have already signed the contract."

"I will say I felt guilty and changed my mind." I shrug hoping he doesn't take this seriously and asks me to go on.

He shakes his head. "I never thought you would blackmail me using this."

I bite my lip feeling bad for doing this to him. Even if our marriage is not real we should support each other because of the contract.

"Just take me out and I won't do it again. I promise." I reach out to hold his hand.

"You suddenly seem to have the upper hand in all of this." He looks down at me. "It's not fair."

I smile slowly. "I am great, aren't I?"

He chuckles. "You are unbelievable, Avni."

I look at him gaping why I like his tone when he says my name. He kinda says it differently, at least to my ears.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I smile. "Thank you for agreeing."

"It's going to be a whole show convincing my mother." He sighs. "Come on, it's late already."

I nod and we walk back to the living room. Aaron and Lee are sitting on the couch having some bro time, Alice isn't around so I know she is in her room. Everyone else is outside with Neil's family.

"You are leaving?" Lee asks as I walk to the door.

"Want some peace," I say as I wave at him.

"I thought you were staying." He says as he walks up to me and hugs me. "I am a little hurt that you don't even hug goodbye to your brother."

I roll my eyes as I pull away from him.

"You need to join us often you know, it's fun to have you around." He pats my cheek with his fingers.

"You really love arguments, don't you?" I roll my eyes at him.

"With your fiancé's presence arguments seem a little less." He chuckles as he glances at Neil.

"Arguments are not what I love." Had looks back at me. "It's your presence and the family together. So what if we have arguments? What matters is we are together, right?"

Aaron stands next to him and he puts his hand in his pockets as he looks at me and Neil. I have to force myself to look away from them and try not to take his words to my heart. He doesn't know me yet, he doesn't know I am not his real sister.

"I might have been a little rude to you," Aaron says as he looks at Neil. "I would apologize for it right now if you would give me a guarantee you won't hurt my sister.

"Aaron." I frown. "You need to stop that attitude with him."

He doesn't look at me and keeps his eyes on Neil wanting to hear something from him. I know it would sort of look like hurt when we get divorced and we should make it look like we decided to get divorced instead of us hurting each other.

"Future is unpredictable," Neil says choosing his words carefully. "I would never hurt her intentionally.

"So you are saying you would hurt her unintentionally?" Aaron narrows his eyes at him.

Neil looks down at me and I feel nervous that he doesn't have an answer to Aaron's question nor do I have. This is so new to me and him.

"When it's unintentionally you don't realize it, Aaron." Neil looks up at him and I love that he doesn't let Aaron intimidate him. "I will make sure I rectify it when I realize."

"You better do." Lee chuckles.

"You guys need to stop," I narrow my eyes at them. "I don't want anyone testing him again."

"And would you apologize to him now, Aaron?"

"He didn't satisfy me with his answer." Aaron shrugs. "Maybe when he finally proves himself."

"You won't apologize, admit it." I roll my eyes at him. "You have a big ego."

Aaron sighs. "I really don't want us to argue now."

"Good," I say as I turn on my heels and walk away from them.

I can feel Neil following me and I feel like a fool for showing him that I don't have good relations with my family. I don't know what he thinks about it but I am glad he didn't question it.

"What took you so long?" Neela maa asks as we walk down the porch.

"Uh, we were talking," I say quietly.

"Come on, Tillu it's getting late." His mother says as she walks to the car. She stops and turns to look at me. "Bye, Avni."

"Uh, Avni is coming," Neil says.

"Why?" His mother frowns.

"Shweta." His Dad says as he keeps his hand on her shoulder.

Neil looks down at me and sighs. "Stay here."

I nod and he walks to his family, I watch as he talks something with them. I know there is an argument going when on when Neil takes her behind the cars and his father and grandmother follow them.

"You should have stayed." Neela maa says softly.

"I have some work to do with Neil," I say which isn't exactly a lie because we have to decide the wedding arrangements, venue, and everything. It won't happen tonight but maybe tomorrow.

"Who works at night, darling?" Dad asks as he shakes his head. I know he knows I just don't want to stay here.

"Couples do, Dad," I say trying to lighten the mood.

"Avni." Neela maa looks at me with a frown and dad laughs.

"Sorry," I add as I giggle and I feel relief when Neela maa smiles slowly.

"Take this." Aunt Emma hands me a box. "I have packed the cheesecake for you and Neil."

I raise my eyebrows as I look down at the box in my hands. "We are full, Aunt."

"I loved the way you guys were feeding each other." Her lips lift in a smirk. "It's your wish how you want to use the cake now, by eating or licking off from each other..." She trails off with a wink.

"Emma," Dad says as he gives her a look of disapproval.

"God." I laugh and I see Nora laughing softly standing next to Aunt.

Her smile fades away as she meets my gaze then looks away and I look away too. That's what I hate about her, why does she always stop when I see her? She makes me feel like I am some scalawag.

"Avni." I turn around when Neil calls my name. "Let's go."

I nod and I lean in to hug my parents and Aunt.

"Take care," Dad adds after I pull away. I restrain myself from hugging him again.

"Thank you for the dinner," Neil tells my parents and they nod at him.

I glance at Nora and ignore her as I turn on my heels to walk away.

"How much more did I make your mother dislike me?" I ask Neil with a smile as I walk with him.

"Not much. Just don't complain if she accidentally stomps your foot, or leaves a scratch on your arm." He chuckles.

I raise my eyebrows. "Will try to protect me."

We stop smiling as we approach his family. His mother looks away from me clearly showing that she doesn't like my presence.

Neil squeezes my hand and I look up at him. He nods at me and I nod back at him before he gets behind the wheel and his father gets into the passenger seat.

"Get in." His mother says to me after his Bebe gets in the backseat.

I sigh as I get in the backseat between Neil's grandmother and mother. It's not very comfortable to sit between them and I feel a little nervous with his grandmother's gaze on me.

I look down at my phone wanting to engross myself in it, the silence is a bit too awkward. Why didn't Neil or I think about sending his parents in his car and we would take an Uber?

His mother thrusts her shoulder against mine and I roll my eyes trying to contain myself.

"Nice ring," His Bebe tells as Neil drives us out of Aaron's property.

"Uh, thanks," I say as I look up at Neil who meets my gaze through the rearview mirror. "Neil brought it for me."

"I know." She nods and smiles slowly. "I hope you realize the significance this ring holds."

I look down at my ring not able to answer her. I don't want to lie to her, she is elder than me and I know how serious relationships are for elders.

He gave me the ring saying it was from Neil to Avni but everyone looks at it differently.

I acknowledge the significance this ring holds and that is I need to stand by Neil till the end of this.

We get to our room after Neil drops them and I don't get peaceful sleep the entire night. It doesn't look wrong to do it because I have advantages but at the same time I worry what if it doesn't go as expected?

I am always dreading the future, I have anticipatory fear.

It all looked simple until Neil's Bebe asked me the question. I have to force myself to accept that it was Neil who proposed this to me first, that day I went to meet him to know him.

I didn't have any other intentions. I didn't set the red sign.

We are safe as long as we keep this between us and Arjun.

I don't want anyone to know about this, I don't want anyone to use it against us. I would feel embarrassed to face my family if this is exposed anyhow.

The next morning Neil and I have a conversation over it and he assures me that no one will know about it if we keep this between ourselves and Arjun.

He reminds me that we are not doing anything wrong, we are just looking after ourselves which isn't a wrong thing. I am glad he put some sense in me because I was really starting to worry about it.

My anticipatory fear has kept me away from my family and I don't want that fear to be dominant and let go of this opportunity.

He takes me to his headquarters on Monday and gives me a tour around it. He asks me to join after the marriage because if I join now I'll have to take a break which won't be a good thing. I would want to continue working once I join.

I am occupied for the next two weeks with an interior designer who helps me design the home we will be staying in. I feel flattered when Neil asks me to do that considering this house means something more to him.

I go for a fancy design and try not to go overboard and keep simple at the same time. I want his family to feel comfortable and for some reason, I feel they all like simplicity.

Neil had a similar design in his apartment and I try to add that touch in the room we will be staying because he won't be going to his apartment as often as he used to.

I don't realize how much of a big deal wedding is until I have to go through all of it. Neil manages all the required things for a contract marriage with Arjun.

While I make a guest list, Neil shares the guest list that his mother shared with him. There are a lot of people from his side and with the number of girls' names I see I realize it's his mother's friends.

I want to cut some names but I decide not to only because I don't want that to cause an argument in their friendship. Neil and I decide not to invite any of our friends. He says he doesn't have a lot of friends and will be inviting just one friend named DD.

I have a lot of friends who would come around to have fun but the only one who was close to me was Rose and I almost want to invite her so that she sees I am happy. But I don't want drama at the wedding so I ignore it.

Lee calls around in mid-June and asks if I need some help. I tell him we are managing but he insists he wants to help. He fires the wedding planner Neil had hired when he sees the planning we have been doing. I end up paying the wedding planner for the assistance she bestowed, it was me who asked her to keep it simple it wasn't her fault.

Lee helps me select a venue and he plans a total grand wedding saying We get married only once, Avi.

I don't have a reason to give him to keep it simple because the guest list is actually huge. Lee invites all of his friends to the wedding even though I asked him not to and permits Alice to invite her friends.

Lee is very weird at times. He asks questions only answer to himself.

"Can I call my friends?" He asks me as we go around the venue.

"No!" I say to him looking around.

"Thank you. I will invite them." He laughs. "Don't you think you should ask Alice to invite her friends? What's a sister's wedding if we don't have our friends to have fun with?"

"No, I don't want her friends at my wedding." I glare at him.

"Okay, thanks for the confirmation. I'll let her know she can invite her friends." He winks as he pulls out his phone.

I shake my head at him in disbelief before I stomp his foot and walk away.

I go out shopping with Neela maa and she gets Nora along with her which I obviously don't like. I buy a dress for my wedding and I nearly wish I could try one of my designs but I don't just because this isn't a real wedding.

Then I buy a beautiful dress for the reception. The only thing I am excited about because Lee is organizing it for us. He loves the after-wedding parties.

I end up buying a few outfits for the honeymoon, we would be going out for a week probably. Neil said we could use it as a vacation and it will look real.

I know we will probably have our first kiss by then and even if this wedding isn't real the honeymoon will undoubtedly be a real one.

Nora suggests a few outfits that I like but I don't buy them only because I don't want her to feel the satisfaction.

Why would I buy something she suggests?

We three have lunch that afternoon in the cafeteria, Nora and I avoid each other at our best. I feel a little bad because Neela maa tries to carry the conversation.

Neil and I decide to not have a bachelor party and Lee makes a fuss about it. He actually comes over to the hotel we were staying in just to convince Neil.

The only way Neil handles things when my family approaches for anything is I'll go with whatever Avni decides.

Eventually, Lee had to cop out when I didn't give him any response. He is always looking forward to being in the spotlight and if I had agreed he would be the one organizing it, I know.

Alice drops me a text on the 12th of July thanking me for letting her invite her friends. I don't reply to her message but I do feel happy that she is happy about it and texted me. I have Lee to thank for it.

Neil takes me to a registration office to do some signs and I feel nervous wondering if anyone is watching us. We both put our hats in case anyone recognizes us.

Neil and I shift to the home his father had brought on the 13th of July. We arrange the closet together and we help each other with our vows.

Staying together for a month has been beneficial, now we know each other a little better than before. We decided to get to know each other because we are getting married now.

We go with the basic favorite color, food, birthday, and all. It's very simple questions but they are still important. We get to know each other's routines and it's a good thing we have a lot of things in common. Not everything though.

I don't ask him about his ex because I don't want to share what happened with me and he doesn't mention it too. Neil is easygoing sometimes.

We had times when we would almost end up kissing but I like how he is determined to control himself as much as I hate how he can resist.

I do give him a tough time when I come out of the bathroom in my robe and I enjoy that moment because he tries to avoid looking at me.

I figure that maybe I can enjoy my time as Mrs. Khanna. Neil is really good when I am being good to him. I don't find a reason to be a bitch to him all the time but we do get into small arguments because of my ego.

I am so much about I, me, and myself that it sometimes irks people but I don't give a damn. I don't live to please anyone.

Life gets much easier when you stop pleasing people.

"Who is going to be your best man?" I ask Neil as we sit down in the walk-in closet after arranging our stuff.

"DD." He says as he leans against the cabinet. "And who is your maid of honor? Alice?"

"I will have a man of honor, Lee." I shrug.

"Okay. DD has been working with Leo on a few arrangements for the reception. Did Leo tell you?"

"No." I shake my head. "I have been ignoring his calls."

"Why?" He chuckles slowly.

"All he has to talk about is how amazing he is that I chose him to be a man of honor." I roll my eyes. "I didn't have an option."

I am not sure Alice would want to be a maid of honor and I don't ask her because a part of me knows she would reject it.

Aaron wouldn't do it I know and even if he agreed he would be standing there with that intimidating look. Though he was all soft and smooth during his wedding. I still remember I saw tears in his eyes when Nora was getting emotional during the vows.

I don't have a close friend now so Lee was my only choice. He is really starting to make me regret my decision.

"I am sure he is going to talk about it at the wedding." He smiles.

"I know." I roll my eyes. "It's our wedding tomorrow and you still haven't been able to kiss me in the public," I remind him.

"Didn't get the opportunity." He says.

"You don't get it, Mister." I tease him. "You find it."

He chuckles as he turns to glance at me. "I will tomorrow."

I smile at him as I move closer. "You mean when the officiant tells You may kiss the bride?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Yeah." He shrugs.

"You won't win the bet then." I frown. "You are asked to kiss there, you don't kiss by yourself."

"So you mean we shouldn't kiss at the altar?" He looks at me unsure.

"Yes," I say.

He laughs softly. "Come on, you know we can't do that."

"That's not fair." I roll my eyes. "So you always had in mind to kiss at the altar?"

"To be honest, I wanted to in the past days but we didn't hang out much." He explains. "And the bet was just about our first kiss being public. It doesn't matter what situation we are in."

"It does," I say. "It would be a part of contract marriage."

He looks at me silently before he puts his arm around me, I move in closer to him. I can feel our bodies getting tensed against each other. I ball my hand in a fist wanting to get a grip on myself.

Damn, his warmth and scent!

"Okay," Neil says after a moment. "We will kiss at the wedding because we have to. The next one will be our kiss, the real one where I will kiss you because I want to."

"And if I kiss you in private first then I am winning the bet, right?" I ask as I raise my head to look at him.

"Yes." He grins. "I won't let you."

"Not that I am going to make an effort. I am not going to kiss you first after the way you dismissed me." I roll my eyes. "What do you want if you win?"

"I will tell you when I win." He gives me a smug smile.

"Are you going to ask me to strip or what?" I look at him suspiciously as I pull back from him.

He closes his eyes and then shakes his head. "Do you think I would ask you to?"

"Well, I don't know." I shrug and his face falls a little.

"Well, I would never do that." He says.

I look at him wondering if I hurt him somehow with my words. Most of the time it's not my intention but I know I hurt people with my words.

"I wouldn't mind it with you though." I nudge my shoulder against him as I try to ease his mood.

He looks at me and he gives me a small smile before he looks down.

"I have had a very bad experience during my college days." He mumbles after a moment.

I don't know why he tells that and I honestly don't comprehend what he is trying to confess. I don't even know how to comfort people.

"Past is gone case," I say slowly.

This is the only thing my father explained to me after my breakup when I was all silent and lost in my thoughts and it appeared to help me somehow.

"It is." He nods as he stands up.

I watch as he walks out of the closet leaving me alone there. I frown and I stand up to go after him but I stay back.

We aren't supposed to look after each other. Some jest and flirtatiousness are fine but being all concerned isn't good for us. I don't want us to get attached to emotions or whatever.

We are getting married for benefits and are going to be separated in a year. The attraction and sexual tension between us are all a plus point which I know doesn't mean anything.

Feelings are way too meaningful than attraction.

Our relationship is all about Red.

It's dangerous with a stop sign.

It's energizing with our benefits.

It's determining and confident with our willingness to get into this jointly.

And it's hot with temptation.

And red is all dangerous, energizing, determining, confident and hot all at the same time.