๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ-๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐
My heart was pounding in my chest, a nervous rhythm I couldn't seem to calm.
I didn't even understand why I was this anxious. It's not like I had any role to playโyet the thought of being the only intern in a room full of people with years of experience made me want to disappear into the floor.
I'd told Zaigham I shouldn't attend, but he had dismissed it in his usual way:
"If you don't experience it, then how will you ever gain experience?"
And so, here I was.
All I had to do was sit, listen, and maybe suggest something if needed. That's all. Still, my palms were clammy. Zaigham, on the other hand, looked as calm and collected as ever, his face carved in focus, one hand steady on the steering wheel, the other tapping idly against his thigh.
He didn't look nervous at all. But then again, this was Zaigham Khan. Even if he was nervous, he would never let it show. Masking his emotions was his expertise.
Today's deal... it would either open doors for Khan Enterprises internationally, or close them just as permanently.
I shook my head quickly.
No, no. Don't think negative, Zoya. Think good thoughts. Insha'Allah, everything will go well.
"Zoya."
His voice cut through my spiral of thoughts like a sharp knife.
"Yes?" I asked, glancing at him.
"Stop biting your lip. It's very clear you're nervous."
Heat rushed to my face, and I let out a small laugh to cover it. "I'm not nervous. Why would I be? I don't even have to do anything." I forced a smile.
He hummed softly, eyes still on the road. "Hmm."
That single sound made me wonder if he believed me or not.
Probably not.
When we reached the office, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Employees straightened the moment he walked in, greeting him with a respect that bordered on reverence. I trailed behind him, trying to match his pace but also shrinking into the background.
His stride was confident, commanding. I found myself staring, half in awe, half in intimidation, until we reached the elevator.
The doors slid shut with a soft ding. He pressed the button for our floor, then turned his gaze to me, sharp and deliberate.
"Give me my energy dose," he said casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
I blinked at him. "Huh?" Acting clueless.
His gaze dropped deliberately to my lips.
My heart stuttered. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I immediately looked down, but before I could gather myself, his fingers tilted my chin upward. A soft gasp escaped me as his lips brushed mine, short, delicate, yet enough to steal every coherent thought from my mind.
When he pulled back, his voice dropped, husky and edged with quiet amusement.
"That's better. Now you don't look so nervous."
I gawked at him, words stuck in my throat.
His lips curved, just faintly.
By the time we reached his cabin, Zaigham shrugged out of his blazer and folded his cuffs with precision.
He looked perfectly composed. I, on the other hand, felt like my stomach was tying itself into knots.
I settled into my desk, flipping open my notebook and powering up my system. Zaigham settled on his chair eyes on the laptop.
"Coffee," he said, without looking up.
"On it," I replied, standing quickly.
By the time I returned with the steaming cup, he was reviewing a document. I placed it beside him. He finally looked up, his gaze holding mine for a beat longer than necessary.
"Perfect," he murmured, before taking a sip.
I tried to distract myself with my notes, but my fingers kept fidgeting with the pen. The silence stretched until his voice broke through, low and calm.
"Still nervous?"
"A little," I admitted. "But I'll manage."
He leaned back in his chair, studying me with that unnerving steadiness. "If I thought you weren't capable, you wouldn't be walking into that boardroom with me."
My lips parted, but I had nothing to say.
"Easy for you to say," I muttered. "You never look nervous."
One corner of his mouth twitched. "That's the point. Never let them see what you feel. Control the room before the room controls you."
I exhaled softly. "You make it sound so simple."
His eyes flicked to me again, sharper this time. "It is. Sit tall. Speak clear. And if you can't find the right wordsโ" he paused, leaning forward just slightlyโ"look at me. I'll know."
I smiled at him.
For a moment, his eyes softened in return before he dropped them back to the screen.
I inhaled slowly and turned back to my notes, the nervous energy in me easing into focus as I lost myself in the work ahead.
The minutes slipped by in focused silence, the air heavy with anticipation. I had managed to steady my nerves by scribbling down points in my notebook, but every tick of the clock reminded me that the deal was closer.
A sharp knock broke through the quiet.
"Come in," Zaigham said without looking up.
The door opened, and Mahveen stepped in, holding a sleek tablet against her chest. Her eyes flickered toward me briefly before settling on him.
"Sir, they have arrived," she announced, her voice polite but laced with eagerness.
Zaigham finally looked up, straightening in his chair. "Is the boardroom ready?"
"Yes, everything's set," she replied smoothly.
He nodded once, decisive. "Good. Then let's go."
Mahveen nodded and went out.
I quickly gathered my notes, my heart beginning to pound again as he rose from his chair.
And just as we were about to step out, he reached into his desk drawer, pulling out a sleek black pendrive.
He inserted it into his laptop, checked it, and then unplugged it.
His eyes found mine.
"Keep this with you. I'll ask for it in the boardroom."
I blinked, hesitating for a second before taking it from his hand.
I tightened my grip around it and nodded silently.
By the time we reached, Zaigham had already slipped back into that unreadable mask of his.
The doors of the boardroom opened, and I followed him inside.
The atmosphere shifted immediately, polished suits, crisp smiles, the weight of power humming in the air. A long table stretched across the room, executives and clients already seated.
"Mr. Khan," a tall man rose, extending his hand with a firm, polite smile. "Pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Zaigham clasped his hand confidently. "Welcome to Khan Enterprises, Mr. Wallace. I trust your journey was smooth?"
"Yes, thank you. It's a pleasure to be here," Mr. Richard replied.
I stayed just behind Zaigham's right shoulder, clutching my notepad in one hand, acutely aware of my place.
"Please, have a seat," Zaigham gestured smoothly, his deep voice carrying authority.
As everyone settled, the protocol officer began introductions, listing key figures present on both sides. My throat went dry as my name was mentionedโ"Miss Zoya Khan, Executive Intern to Mr. Zaigham Khan."
I caught a few curious glances but quickly dropped my gaze, focusing on Zaigham adjusting his watch with cool precision.
The opening remarks began, voices exchanging pleasantries, but all I could hear was the faint pounding of my heartbeat.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, calm and collected, before glancing once toward me. The silent cue was unmistakable.
The boardroom hummed with energy as Mr. Richard Wallace and his team began their presentation. Charts, projections, and plans filled the screen, each slide more detailed than the last.
I sat slightly behind Zaigham, taking diligent notes. When Mr. Wallace mentioned projected completion timelines, I leaned slightly toward him and whispered, "Perhaps we could emphasize the phased approach, it highlights better risk management."
He looked at me briefly, expression unreadable, but the faint nod confirmed he had heard me.
One of the directors from their team, Ms. Eleanor James, raised a technical question regarding materials and environmental impact. I whispered again, "Maybe we should point out the eco-certifications the team is already pursuing?"
His eyes flicked toward me again, and though his face remained composed, I caught the tiniest glint of pride in his gaze.
As the presentations continued, I kept my pen moving, jotting down key points and quietly offering subtle suggestions.
Ms. Sophie Taylor, another executive, posed a question about financial projections. I leaned toward him again, "We could suggest phrasing it to highlight the ROI for international investors."
He gave a barely perceptible nod, eyes returning to the presenters, and I scribbled the note.
The boardroom buzzed with anticipation as the first presenters from our company stepped up.
Charts, timelines, and key points filled the screen one by one.
Mr. Tariq, the senior architect, took the lead first. "As you can see, the design integrates both functionality and sustainability," he explained, highlighting the renderings on the screen. The foreign delegates nodded appreciatively, some jotting down notes.
Next, Ms. Helen, head of finance, went through the projected ROI, her voice steady and confident. "The phased investment ensures risk mitigation while maximizing returns," she added.
I kept my pen moving, jotting notes.
It was Mahveen's turn. She stood confidently, holding her tablet, and began her presentation.
Her voice was clear, her slides meticulously arranged, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of genuine admiration.
Wow... she actually did good.
Zaigham's head tilted slightly in my direction. His eyes found mine. Calm. Certain. A silent command.
My throat went dry. Every heartbeat thundered in my ears. I stepped forward, drawing the pendrive from my bag, the metal cool against my trembling fingers.
I walked toward the screen setup, careful to keep my movements steady. Just a few more steps. I could hear the faint shuffle of papers, whispered greetings, the quiet tension in the room like a living thing pressing against my chest.
My hands trembled just slightly as I inserted the pendrive into the port. I whispered under my breath, almost like a prayer,Don't mess this up, Zoya. Don'tโ
The screen flickered.
My heart stopped.
Instead of graphs and slides... grotesque images filled the wall. Distorted clips. Words that had nothing to do with the deal. The sound system crackled with mocking laughter, an obscene interruption that made the board members shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Gasps echoed around the room.
From the other side.
I saw, Mahveen's hand rose to cover her mouth, but I saw the satisfaction in her eyes, the cold glint of triumph.
I froze, horror rushing through me in waves. "Noโno, this isn'tโthis isn't what was in hereโ" I stammered, yanking the pendrive free as if that would undo the damage.
A murmur spread across the table. Disbelief. Judgment.
And then I felt it, Zaigham's gaze.
Slowly, I turned to him.
He hadn't moved. His expression was carved from stone, but his eyes... his eyes burned. Cold, sharp, a storm barely restrained. He sat perfectly still as humiliation swept through the room, his name, his work, his control slipping for the first time in front of them.
One of the executives whispered, "Unprofessional..." another leaned back, shaking his head.
"Mr. Khan, this is... unacceptable."
Zaigham rose then, slow and deliberate, his chair scraping back. The air tightened instantly.
His eyes were only on me.
Before I could recover, Mr. Richard Wallace rose from his seat, his expression sharp, lips pressed into a firm line. "This... this is completely unacceptable," he said, voice loud enough to echo across the room. "Unprofessional, careless, and frankly, embarrassing."
My chest tightened. The words burned, and I felt every eye in the room pierce me.
Zaigham didn't move, didn't shout. He simply leaned slightly forward, taking the weight of the room onto his shoulders. His hands rested lightly on the table, but I could feel the tension radiating from himโcontrolled, dangerous.
Mr. Wallace continued, gesturing sharply. "I cannot proceed with this deal under such circumstances. I'm calling this off."
Gasps rippled around the room. Heads turned, papers shuffled, whispers rising into murmurs.
I could see Mahveen trying to interject, standing a little straighter, her voice measured. "If you'd like, we canโ"
But Mr. Wallace cut her off with a sharp wave. "No. This is completely unprofessional. We will not proceed. This meeting is over."
The Wallace & Co. team began gathering their things, murmuring formal goodbyes. The room felt like it had been deflated, the energy sucked out in a matter of moments.
He walked out.
Not a word. Not a glance. Just the crushing weight of his silence that left the entire table holding its breath.
I scrambled after him, my chest tight, tears burning behind my eyes. "Zaighamโ"
He shoved the door to his office open so hard it rattled against the wall. His coat hit the chair in one sharp movement, his breath coming hard, like a man caging fire inside his ribs.
I stepped in carefully, clutching the doorframe. "Zaigham, please, listenโ"
"โleave," he said calmly, cutting me off.
"No, Zaigham, I literally did notโ"
"ZOYA, I SAID LEAVE! I don't want to say something I might regret later!" he shouted.
I flinched, but I didn't move, knowing full well the depth of his anger.
"Zaigham... I don't know how it happenedโ" I tried, my voice trembling.
"Why, Zoya?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous. "Why?"
"IโI don't know how it happened," I whispered, my hands clenching at my sides.
"Zoya, I gave you a responsibility. And you couldn't even handle that?!" His outburst made me flinch, and big fat tears pricked my eyes.
"Zaigham, I did notโ"I choked, barely holding my voice together.
"Then who?" He asked in a low voice.
"If you didn't, then who, Zoya?" he asked again, this time mocking, a cruel chuckle underlining his words.
I gulped before speaking. "M-Mahveen... I saw her smirkingโ"
"MAHVEEN?!" he roared. "Zoya, for God's sake, stop blaming your carelessness on others!" He slammed everything on the table to the ground, the sound echoing sharply.
"Zoya, today not only the deal, but years of my hard work, my reputation, all of it... it's in the dust! And it's all because of your carelessness!"
My tears streamed freely. He wasn't even listening to me. He was saying things that were breaking my heart into pieces.
I took a shaky breath before speaking again. "Zaigham, I didn't do any of this. I don't know when or how it happened... what happened with the pendrive... but I didn't do it."
"STOP LYING!" he roared, now looking at me, heaving in anger. The fire in his eyes cut through me like jagged glass. "And stop standing there crying like some victim!"
"Zaigham, I didn't do it!" I shouted, my voice rising.
He slammed his hand onto the glass coffee table with a deafening crash. Shards exploded everywhere, piercing his palm.
I gasped.
"Z-Zaigham! Your hand!" I stepped forward, but his next words shattered me completely.
"Don't touch me! AND GET OUT OF HERE! I regret marrying such a careless woman like you!"
It felt like the world stopped. The words hit me harder than any physical blow could.
He regrets marrying me.
My body froze, my legs refusing to obey. Was it only anger speaking? Or had a deeper truth slipped out in the venom of his fury? My mind screamed at me to understand, to reason, but all I could feel was a hollow ache spreading through my chest.
I wanted to speak, to beg, to explain, but my voice had been stolen by the weight of those words.
Regret. Betrayal. All aimed at me, and I couldn't move. I could not feel the floor under me, hear the blood pounding in my ears, but I was paralyzed by the intensity of his rejection.
Finally, my legs obeyed, though unwillingly, and I ran. Each step felt like it tore me further apart.
Tears streamed down my face, blurring the world into a haze of red and gray.
My throat burned from sobbing, my chest ached from the weight of guilt of something I hadn't even done, but that he had just laid bare as my fault.
Every echo of his words rang in my ears, every syllable repeating in a cruel loop: careless... regret... careless... regret...
I stumbled through the corridor, blinded by tears, my hands clutching my chest as if I could hold the pieces of myself together.
My mind spiraled, trying to make sense of what I had done, trying to find a way to make him see... I didn't do this. I didn't ruin him.
But he had already condemned me. And the crushing truth settled like a stone in my chest....I had never felt so small, so useless, so utterly broken in my life.
I didn't see where I was going. I barely registered the polished floors beneath my feet, the closed doors we passed, the echo of my own ragged breathing. All I knew was that I needed to get away from him, from the burning pain of being rejected by the one person I love the most.
And thenโ
I collided with someone.
"I'm sorry," I whispered automatically, not looking at the figure. My mind was too clouded with grief to focus. I just wanted to escape, anywhere, as far as possible from the sight of Zaigham's rage.
"Well, well, well... look who we have here," a voice drawled, dripping with mockery. My body froze. I looked up slowly.
It was Mahveen. Arms folded across her chest, a wicked, triumphant smirk on her face. My stomach sank.
"So... you did it?" I asked, my voice low, trembling, disbelieving.
She shrugged, the smirk growing wider, crueler. "I told you, Zoya, didn't I? I'd do anything to snatch Zaigham from you. So here we are, sweetheart."
I swallowed hard, disbelief making my stomach twist.
I knew it... but would Zaigham believe me?
I chuckled humorlessly. "You say you love him, right? And you literally put his reputation at stake?" I asked her in disbelief.
"Shame on you!" I said, my voice shaking with anger and heartbreak.
She just chuckled, a cruel, triumphant sound.
"Oh really... even in this position, you're saying this, Zoya?" She asked raising a brow and eyeing me.
I looked at her without any expression, trying to steady myself.
"You might be forgettingโthere's CCTV in his office," I said, my voice low but firm, trying to warn her.
She laughed, cold and evil. "Zoya, I'm not a fool like you, my dear. Did you really think I'd let that CCTV footage just sit there?"
Her words hit me like a punch. My heart pounded painfully in my chest.
"Good luck proving to him that it wasn't you, Zoya," she added with a cruel smirk, and then she walked away, leaving me trembling, gasping for air, and feeling utterly trapped in panic and despair.
After coming home, I straight away went to my room and closed the door. I sank to the floor, my back against the door, trembling, every sob wracking my body.
I recklessly opened my hijab.
My hands clutched my hair as if I could hold myself together that way, but it was useless.
He'll believe her... won't he?
The thought clawed at me, sharp and merciless. I had seen Zaigham's eyes in the boardroom, burning with rage, full of disbelief. He had looked at me like I was nothing, like I was a failure.
And now, thanks to Mahveen... he might actually think I did this.
My chest felt tight, suffocating, my mind a swirl of fear and self-recrimination. How could I have let this happen? How could I have been so careless, so... so incapable? The guilt settled on me like a heavy stone, pressing me down into the floor.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. My heart felt as though it had been shattered into a thousand pieces, each shard cutting me from the inside.
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. No, I didn't do it. I didn't touch anything. I didn't ruin him. I didn't,but the words felt hollow even to me. The fear that he might never believe me, that my world could collapse in front of me because of this... it was unbearable.
My chest heaved, breaths coming in ragged sobs.
I buried my face in my hands, rocking slightly, trembling from both fear and frustration.
How could one mistake....bring me here? How could one person's manipulations put me in this position, standing on the edge of losing everything I love... everything I live for?
His words. "I regret marrying such a careless woman like you..."
I pressed my palms to my face, trying to stop the tears, trying to hold myself together, but it was useless.
Was it really anger... or had he meant it? Did he actually regret marrying me? My chest tightened, and a hollow ache settled deep inside me.
I've never felt pain like this. How can someone you love so fiercely look at you and make you feel... worthless?
Back in office....
The door slammed behind her, and the sound rang in my ears, echoing in the emptiness of the office. My chest was tight, heart hammering with a mix of fury and helplessness.
I sank into my chair, one hand pressed against the desk, the other brushing over the cut from the glass. The sting barely registered. Nothing mattered except the sharp ache twisting in my chest at the memory of her face, tear-streaked, trembling, shattered from my own words.
Ya Allah, I love her... The thought hit me like a lightning bolt. I love her more than anything, and yet I had just torn her apart with my anger.
I clenched my fists, grinding my teeth.
Of course she didn't do it.
I knew that in every rational fiber of my being. But my anger, my frustration at the humiliation, at the chaos in the boardroom, had nowhere else to go. It had spilled over... and it had landed on her.
My chest ached with guilt and fury all at once. She was small, fragile, completely innocent, and I had let loose a storm on her.
How could I do this to her?
And yet, beneath the guilt, my mind sharpened. Whoever had done this... whoever had created this mess... I would find them.
I would uncover the truth.
Soon.
I pressed my palms against my face, taking a long, shuddering breath.
I entered the house, shutting the door behind me with more force than necessary. My hand throbbed from the glass, and every nerve in me was raw. I was about to head straight to our room when I heard Nouran call from her room.
"Bhai... can you come here for a minute?"
I paused, tension coiling tighter in my chest, but followed her.
She looked at me seriously. "Bhai what happened today was devastating, I wasn't part of that project. I wasn't even there, but I heard... everyone at the office knows what happened. But thinkโdo you really believe Zoya could do this? Huh?"
Her words hit harder than any anger could. I knew I had let my frustration spill onto Zoya, and hearing her defend my wife made the guilt spike.
"You hurt her so much, bhai," she continued. "I know you are stressed about the whole matter, but Zoya... she had nothing to do with it. She's completely innocent. We all know that."
My jaw tightened. I could feel my chest ache at the thought of Zoya trembling and crying because of my anger.
"She was crying so much, bhai, she locked herself in her room. Everyone was tense... but after a lot of requests, she let me in. I made her sleep just now, but she's still heartbroken because of today."
I pressed my palms to my face, trying to calm the storm inside me. Every word she spoke felt like a mirror, reflecting the guilt and regret I had been trying to suppress.
Her eyes softened. "She needs you. Tell her you're on her side."
"I know." I muttered.
I exhaled sharply, fists unclenching slowly. I have to fix this. I need to make her understand that none of this was her fault... I can't leave her like this.
I pushed the door open quietly, my fingers lingering on the latch a moment longer than necessary, as if pausing could undo the chaos of the day.
She was curled up under the blankets, her small frame almost swallowed by the bed. Even in sleep, her vulnerability struck me like a physical blow.
I stepped closer, my hands trembling slightly despite trying to appear composed. I knelt beside the bed, careful not to make a sound, studying her sleeping face. Her lashes rested against her cheeks, streaks of dried tears.
My fingers reached out almost instinctively, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. I leaned closer and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead, lingering there just enough to let her feel the weight of everything I wasn't saying aloud.
"I'm so sorry, my love," I whispered, my voice trembling even as I forced it low. "I should never have... yelled at you. I should never have hurt you like that. None of this was your fault... none of it."
She stirred slightly, her lashes fluttering. I caught a faint murmur, a broken sound of words in her sleep. My heart tightened so sharply I had to bite my lip. I couldn't bear the thought of her pain. I wanted to erase it, take it all into myself, to protect her from the world... from me.
"I love you, Zoya," I continued, my voice softer now, almost reverent. "You didn't do anything wrong. I... I lost control, and I let my anger... onto you. You didn't deserve that. I swear... I'll make it right. I'll fix everything. You will see... everything will be okay."
I rested my forehead lightly near hers, careful not to disturb her too much, just wanting to be close. My chest ached with the sharp, burning need to hold her, to never let her feel this broken again.
I stayed there for what felt like an eternity, kneeling beside her.
"I am sorry, Meri Jaan ." I whispered one more time before getting up to freshen up.
To be Continued....
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