📖 Chapter One – A Glimpse of Power
Noor Khanzada adjusted the cuff of her long coat, her fingers grazing the soft fabric of her hijab as she stepped into the towering glass building. Zayd Enterprises. The name glinted on the wall like a silent reminder—this wasn't her world.
But she wasn't here to belong. She was here to conquer.
"Appointment for Mr. Rayyan Zayd," she said calmly to the receptionist, her voice steady despite the nervous energy pooling in her stomach.
The receptionist's brows lifted, taking in Noor's simple yet sharp appearance. A modest girl, confidently standing in the heart of corporate luxury? That wasn't something they saw every day.
"Top floor, ma'am," the woman said, visibly intrigued.
Noor didn't waste time. Her steps were quiet, yet every stride screamed presence. The elevator doors slid open, swallowing her in silence as numbers blinked past—32nd floor, the heart of power.
Little did she know, behind a sleek glass office, Rayyan Zayd had already glanced at her profile—business proposal set aside, fingers drumming on the table.
He wasn't used to this. He didn't notice people. He noticed numbers, strategies, loopholes.
Yet her name stood out. Noor Khanzada.
Rayyan leaned back in his chair, his black eyes narrowing, sharp features unreadable.
"Let's see if you're just another bold entry or… something more," he murmured.
As the elevator reached the top, Noor straightened her shoulders.
He didn't know her story.
And she didn't care about his power.
The office door clicked shut behind Noor, silencing the city's buzz. The room was modern, sharp, every detail screaming wealth—but her attention anchored to the man seated behind the grand desk.
The space inside was nothing short of power—polished wood, cool grey walls, and glass panels that overlooked the city skyline. Her brown eyes briefly took in the environment, noting every fine detail.
Then her gaze landed on him.
Rayyan Zayd sat behind the desk, tailored charcoal grey suit fitting him flawlessly, crisp white shirt underneath, no tie—sharp, powerful, minimal. His black wristwatch gleamed under the light, and a sleek steel pen rested between his fingers, poised like a weapon.
Noor stood tall in her modest coat, soft cream with black edges, the pleats falling gracefully over her frame. Her hijab was neatly draped in deep olive, paired with white sneakers that added a sharp casualness—elegant, simple, but unmissable.
Rayyan didn't look up immediately. His fingers tapped rhythmically, sharp black eyes focused on a file, deliberately ignoring her. A framed wall behind him caught Noor's attention—success portraits of company milestones… and in one corner, a small, rare picture of two young boys: Rayyan and his younger brother, faces softer, eyes mischievous
Rayyan Zayd didn't glance up immediately.
A power move.
Noor's lips twitched into the slightest grin. She stood tall, patient, eyes scanning the room, not him.
When he finally looked up, his black eyes pinned her in place—not with interest, but with calculation.
"You're early," Rayyan said simply, voice smooth but cold.
"Time is currency," Noor replied, tone even. "And I don't waste mine."
A flicker of something sharp crossed his features—amusement, or curiosity, she couldn't tell. He gestured to the seat across from him, his posture relaxed but commanding.
"I've read your proposal," Rayyan started, fingers tapping lightly against the desk, "It's… bold."
"I don't do boring," Noor replied, keeping her gaze level. "Neither should your company."
Most people would have faltered under his stare, shifted in their seat, scrambled to justify themselves. Noor didn't blink.
Rayyan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. His tone lowered, challenging.
"Everyone who walks through that door claims they're different. You've got five minutes—prove to me you are."
Noor leaned in, matching his energy, her voice turning steel-like.
"Correction, Mr. Zayd—you'll have five minutes to decide if you can keep up with me."
For a moment, silence hung thick, power colliding in the air.
Then, the corner of Rayyan's lips tugged slightly—approval or warning, she wasn't sure.
Interesting, he thought.
Very interesting.
Rayyan stayed silent for a moment. His fingers tapped the desk once before stopping. His black eyes looked straight at Noor, sharp and steady.
"Your proposal is not simple," Rayyan finally said, his voice calm but serious. "It changes how my company works. You want to shift control from top people to team workers."
Noor smiled lightly. "No, I want to remove laziness. Good ideas die because of too much control from the top."
Rayyan's jaw tightened. He wasn't used to people talking like this in his office.
"You know this will make some of my managers angry," Rayyan said.
"Then maybe they need a reason to be angry," Noor answered simply.
He leaned back in his chair, studying her more closely. "You don't look scared. That's rare."
Noor's brown eyes stayed calm. "I'm not here to be scared, Mr. Zayd. I'm here to change things."
Outside the glass walls, the busy city moved on. But inside, it was just quiet power between two people who didn't want to back down.
Finally, Rayyan stood up. He was tall, his expensive suit fitting perfectly. He walked around the desk, standing closer to Noor.
Noor noticed his strong features, how serious his face looked. Except… there was something in his eyes. Something curious.
"I don't get impressed easily," Rayyan said.
"I'm not here to impress," Noor replied with a small shrug.
A short smile appeared on Rayyan's face—small, but real.
"Friday morning, ten o'clock. Big board meeting," he said. "Show them your idea. Don't make it soft. Be real. Let's see who can handle it."
Noor stood up calmly, fixing her light coat and bag. "If they can't handle it, maybe they don't deserve their seats," she said.
Rayyan watched her walk to the door. Something in his chest felt different. Strange. Like he wanted to hear more from her.
Noor stopped at the door, looking back. "See you Friday, Mr. Zayd."
Rayyan nodded once. "See you, Miss Khanzada."
And just like that, two very different worlds started to collide.