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Chapter 5 - The Invitation

Three nights ago, Ishaal Meer had met the man everyone whispered about Rayyan Raheel.The man who ran half the city and scared the other half.

She'd seen him once, spoken to him once.And somehow, that was enough for him to send her an invitation.

"Come tomorrow. 9 p.m. Raheel Estate."

She didn't plan to go.But curiosity has its own poison.Now, here she was standing in front of the mansion that looked more like a fortress than a home.

Black gates. Security guards. Expensive cars lined up like soldiers.Her palms were cold, heart steady but heavy.

"Ma'am, Mr. Raheel is expecting you," the guard said, opening the gate.

Expecting.That word alone felt dangerous.

Inside, the place was silent, too silent.The kind of silence that makes you aware of your heartbeat.

A maid guided her through long marble halls until they stopped near a large glass room.He was there.

Sitting on a black couch, sleeves rolled, a file in his hand like she'd walked into his schedule, not his life.

He looked up."Miss Ishaal."

She didn't move closer. "You actually expected me to come?"

He smiled slightly. "I don't invite people who say no."

"That sounds arrogant.""It's called accuracy."

He gestured to the seat across from him. "Sit. We'll talk."

"I'm not here for business," she said, crossing her arms.He tilted his head. "Then why are you here?"

She didn't answer. Because she didn't know.

Rayyan watched her carefully calm, unreadable, but his eyes told a different story.Curiosity. Amusement. And something darker underneath.

"You sing pain like you've lived it," he said slowly. "And I need to know why."

Ishaal looked straight at him. "And what if I don't tell you?"

His smile faded. "Then I'll find out myself."

The air between them turned sharp, like a glass about to crack.

She stood up. "I don't owe you anything."He leaned back, voice low. "Maybe not. But you walked through my door and that means you're already in my world."

She froze for a second, then walked out without replying.But even as she left, his words followed her heavy, magnetic, impossible to ignore.

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