Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Bentley Continental
"Ready yourself . I will collect you downstairs at 8:30 this evening."
Once he had given his word, Alex tidied himself up, dressed in fashionable casual attire, and got into the Bentley Continental.
It was the limited series beauty Vikram had to grudgingly sold before when he had not enough money for a gold exchange.
In a order to save face, Vikram had surrendered the keys, gritting his teeth the entire time.
Alex laughed, running his hand over the steering wheel. "Now this... this is a real car. So much smoother than that G-Wagon."
As soon as he stepped on the accelerator, the W12 twin-turbo 6.0L engine gave a low rumble, and the car sprang forward like a pent-up beast set loose.
...
By 8:30 sharp, Alex reached Ananya’s apartment complex.
Thanks to the fashion and wardrobe upgrade of Alex from Riya, even his casual wear appeared as if it had just stepped out of a premium catalog.
Standing loosely by the side of the Bentley, Alex was dressed in a sleek designer black suit, a Rolex Daytona shining on his wrist, and a limited edition cap sitting easily in his hand. His aura was magnetic and oddly attractive like a star effortlessly attracting all attention in the crowd.
Passersby could not help but whisper amongst themselves.
"Isn’t that a Bentley Continental? That’s gotta to be at least three hundred grand!"
"Look at the badge—it’s the W12 twin-turbo! Top of the range!"
"Damn, he is so young, handsome, and rich. some people just win at life man."
"No wonder women are chasing him. Look at him looks like he just stepped out of a film!"
In the ten minutes Alex waited, six women in designer outfits made their advances, each one smiling sweetly, asking for his WhatsApp number, making subtle suggestions about ’grabbing coffee sometime.’
Alex remained cool, flashing a courteous smile. "Sorry, but I am waiting for someone."
Rejection after rejection, his tone remained warm but firm, leaving no room for doubt.
After all, Alex had seen true beauties, Compared to them, these shallow attempts held no charm. Their intentions were written all over their faces: money, status, nothing more.
He had no interest in entertaining such games.
But same can not be said to for the single men nearby, who are grinding their teeth in frustration but could only mutter in disappointment.
To them, women like her were goddesses beyond reach; to Alex, they were mere background noise.
————
Within a few minutes, Ananya completed her makeup and dressed fashionably, her bare feet making hardly a sound as she descended the stairs, her heart pounding with a combination of fear and anticipation.
Though dressed up, she still carried that natural charm of clueless but adorable, a kind of innocence that made her look both confident and vulnerable at the same time.
If a guy had this kind of vibe, he’d look like a total fool, but on Ananya it was perfect, the kind of aura that instantly triggered a protective instinct in men.
"Wow!"
Her eyes went wide as soon as she saw the sleek Bentley sitting on the pavement, her mouth dropping open in shock as she rushed toward it.
"Alex, you... is this your car?!"
She didn’t know very much about cars, but she’d heard more than enough guys at the office going on and on about luxury vehicles, particularly the ones with that flashy B logo, describing them as legendary.
To her, this vehicle was on a completely different level gliding, flowing lines, It has an air that turned heads even among other vehicles on the road; it seemed to shout that it is extremely expensive.
Her heart skipped; it just didn’t appear to be something an average security man would own.
"It’s not mine," Alex said matter-of-factly, his lips twisting in an amused smile.
As a matter fact it is true, it is of Vikram’s.
He waved her into the car, his voice relaxed, but his smile teasingly soft against her dazed face.
Despite being in shock, Ananya still seemed so naive and adorable, the kind of girl who had no clue how fascinating her own responses were.
The more Alex came to know her, the more he sensed she was like an unread book simple-looking on the cover, but all the more fascinating page by page.
Within the Bentley, Ananya’s eyes moved wildly around, silently admiring the interior, from the plush leather to the subtle aroma of sophistication that clung to the cabin.
She sat bolt upright, hands anxiously folded together on her lap, her face flushed pink, as if she was frightened that she would somehow contaminate the car by sitting in it.
"Why are you so shy..." Alex smiled to himself, his eyes wrinkling up at the corners in amusement as he glanced sideways at her.
If there was one of those girls who tended to flirt with him in place of her, they would have been brave by now and already taking selfies, requesting his Instagram, talking non-stop to make an impression.
But Ananya was not like that; she was shy, reserved, like a little bird sitting in the corner, both nervous and cute, which somehow made the situation much more relaxing.
Thinking to alleviate her shyness, Alex directed the conversation as he drove.
"So tell me then, why’d you invite me to the Hotel tonight? What’s up?"
The question stunned Ananya, her cheeks flushing into a rosy glow as she remained quiet.
How could she tell the world out loud that she needed Alex to pretend to be her boyfriend?
The idea itself had been embarrassing enough—saying it out loud was something else again.
Her silence prolonged, uncomfortable but somehow endearing, and her heart pounded as though it might just burst out of her chest.
Oh no... she couldn’t possibly say it... it will be. too humiliating...
(⋟﹏⋞)
Noticing that she was not going to respond, Alex emitted a little laugh, helplessly shaking his head and nonchalantly changing the subject, his voice easy, as if saving her from herself.