diff --git a/messages/orchestrator.rules.eval.md b/messages/orchestrator.rules.eval.md
index 907e77e..53853e9 100644
--- a/messages/orchestrator.rules.eval.md
+++ b/messages/orchestrator.rules.eval.md
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Path to Analytics variables.json file.
 
 # flags.variables.description
 
-Path to the variables.json file containing variable definitions used in transformations.
+Path to the variables.json file containing variable definitions used in transformations. The file should contain a flat JSON object with key-value pairs. The CLI will automatically wrap these in the required Variables structure.
 
 # flags.rules.summary
 
diff --git a/src/commands/orchestrator/rules/eval.ts b/src/commands/orchestrator/rules/eval.ts
index 32a1da9..94abe2d 100644
--- a/src/commands/orchestrator/rules/eval.ts
+++ b/src/commands/orchestrator/rules/eval.ts
@@ -183,7 +183,9 @@ export default class TemplateEval extends SfCommand<TemplatePreviewResult> {
     // Read variables file
     this.log(`Loading variables: ${variablesFile}`);
     const variablesContent = await fs.readFile(variablesFile, 'utf8');
-    const values = JSON.parse(variablesContent) as { Variables: Record<string, unknown> };
+    const variablesData = JSON.parse(variablesContent) as Record<string, unknown>;
+
+    const values = { Variables: variablesData };
 
     // Read rules file
     this.log(`Loading rules: ${rulesFile}`);