Rayyan's Penthouse — Late Night
Rayyan sat alone on the balcony, black coffee in hand, the city stretching endlessly beneath him. The night was quiet but his head… far from it.
He should've been tired—long meetings, a deal nearly finalized, dinner done—but there was no peace. Only the lingering warmth of Noor's calm voice, the quiet smile she gave before disappearing behind her front door.
His fingers tapped slowly against the coffee cup.
And then… it hit him again—those brown eyes.
The memory didn't come crashing like a wave, it crept in quietly… like a shadow that had always been there.
He closed his eyes.
Years ago…
A younger version of him, seventeen, standing at the edge of a school courtyard, fists clenched, jaw tight.
She had been there—small, innocent, cornered by boys who thought it was funny to throw words that could crush anyone.
He remembered the tears she fought, the stubbornness she still showed even while her eyes glistened. He'd stepped in without thinking, grabbing the collar of the biggest guy, voice sharp and deadly.
"Say it again…" he'd dared them.
No one had.
When they scattered, Noor—young, quiet Noor—had stood frozen, chin trembling. She hadn't said thank you. She hadn't even looked him in the eye.
But when she broke, soft tears slipping down her cheeks, he'd just… stood there.
He didn't mock her.
Didn't offer empty words.
He'd just said, "It's okay. You're safe now."
And somehow, in that moment, it felt like he had been the one saved.
Present…
Rayyan's chest tightened, eyes reopening to the glittering city.
Years later… she didn't even remember. She didn't know.
But he did.
She wasn't just someone new in his life.
She was the only piece of his past that didn't hurt… and now, the most unexpected part of his present.
And this time, Rayyan thought, I won't just watch from a distance.
His grip on the coffee tightened, a slow smile curling on his lips.
"Let's see if you can run from this, Noor," he murmured, dark eyes glinting under the city lights. "Because I'm done staying away."
The department meeting wrapped up after an hour of sharp debates and shifting strategies. Noor stayed composed through it all, her points sharp, her tone calm—every word backed by logic. But she felt it… Rayyan's stare every time she spoke, his subtle approval when she silenced half the room with a single sentence.
As the executives filtered out, Noor stood, collecting her files when Rayyan's deep voice stopped her.
"Noor. Stay back."
She paused, pulse steady, but a flicker of something stirred inside her. She put the files down and turned to face him.
Rayyan stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed, jaw tight—not angry, just… restrained.
When the last person exited, the door clicked shut, leaving them in heavy silence.
Rayyan walked closer, slow steps, his stare locked on hers. "You didn't even hesitate back there."
Noor shrugged lightly, keeping her cool. "It's my job."
He came closer, voice lowering. "You handled them better than most senior managers."
Noor smiled, just a little. "Again… job description."
But Rayyan didn't smile back. His expression shifted—intense, unreadable.
"This isn't just about the job anymore," he said quietly.
Her breath caught, but she stayed calm, head tilting slightly. "Then what is it about?"
Rayyan's jaw clenched like he was weighing his words, before stepping close enough that she could feel the heat of his presence.
"I don't want you thinking you're here to fill gaps," he said, voice firm. "You're not here because of a favor… or charity. You're here because you're mine to watch."
Noor blinked, heartbeat sharp, but her tone stayed steady. "Yours… as in employee?"
Rayyan's lips curved—not quite a smile, more like quiet possession. "For now."
Noor crossed her arms, chin lifting in quiet defiance. "Careful, Rayyan. You don't control people."
"I don't want control over you," he said, voice dark but soft. "I just want you where I can see you… understand you… and maybe… be part of your world."
For a moment, neither spoke.
It wasn't workplace tension.
It wasn't casual.
It was something deeper… thicker… something Noor wasn't sure she was ready for—but also something she didn't want to walk away from.
She met his stare, steady and calm. "I don't belong to anyone, Rayyan… but you can walk beside me."
Rayyan's jaw eased, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly, like her answer was exactly what he wanted.
"Good," he said quietly. "Then start by clearing your evening."
Noor arched a brow. "Another dinner?"
Rayyan's smile this time was softer, quieter. "No. Something simpler… I want to see you outside all this noise."
Her heart thudded, but she just nodded. "Fine… but I choose dessert."
Rayyan chuckled lowly. "Deal."
Later That Evening — Small Cafe, City Outskirts
Noor sat across from Rayyan, swirling her milkshake lazily while he sipped on plain black coffee, sleeves rolled up, his posture relaxed for the first time in days. The little family-run café was quiet, tucked away from the business districts. No formalities, no corporate masks.
Rayyan's gaze stayed on her more than his coffee. Watching Noor laugh genuinely over their back-and-forth banter about childhood snacks and favorite desserts… it stirred something quieter inside him. Something peaceful.
Noor leaned back, satisfied after finishing her dessert. "I'll give it to you—this beats boardroom dinners."
Rayyan smirked. "Told you… simple is underrated."
They left the café just as the sky turned a deeper blue, the air cooler. Noor adjusted her scarf, feeling oddly light-hearted. She hadn't felt this… normal in a long time.
The street was dimly lit, and Rayyan unlocked the SUV with a click.
That's when it happened.
A sharp sound—footsteps rushing toward them.
Noor spun around, instantly alert.
Two masked men.
"Wallet, phones… watches!" one barked, a gun flashing in his hand.
Noor's heart jumped but her expression didn't crack. She moved slightly behind Rayyan, instinctively shielding herself with his presence.
Rayyan's jaw clenched, stepping slightly forward, voice cold. "Take the car."
"Now!" the man screamed, gun aimed higher, agitated.
Noor's breath tightened.
Rayyan stayed calm… until the second man grabbed Noor's wrist roughly.
That's when the switch flipped.
In a blur, Rayyan lunged forward, knocking the man off her. But the first robber reacted fast—an impulsive movement—
BANG.
The deafening gunshot split the air.
Noor's eyes widened, heart dropping to her stomach.
Rayyan staggered back, hand pressing against his upper arm, dark fabric staining quickly with blood.
The robbers panicked and ran, vanishing down the alley.
"Rayyan!" Noor caught him by the good arm, her voice sharp but steady, adrenaline kicking in. "Sit—sit down now."
Rayyan gritted his teeth, breathing hard, pain flashing through his jaw but his other hand gripped hers, grounding himself. "It's just the arm… no panic."
Noor's hands shook slightly but she forced control, pulling out her phone, already calling emergency services. Her other hand pressed against his wound, firm and steady.
"I'm not panicking," she whispered fiercely. "You are not passing out on me."
Rayyan's lips twitched faintly, despite the pain. "Still… bossy."
She leaned closer, voice lower but trembling. "And you're an idiot… thinking you can shield me from bullets."
His breathing was uneven, but his stare stayed locked on her—intense even through pain. "You… were… always worth it."
Noor swallowed, feeling the tears sting but refusing to let them fall. Her palm stayed firmly pressed against his arm, applying pressure, her free hand squeezing his.
"Stay awake, Rayyan," she whispered fiercely. "I'm not letting you leave… not when you've only just started showing me the real you."
The sirens wailed in the distance, and Noor didn't break eye contact—not for a second.
Hospital — Late Night
The cold white walls blurred in Noor's vision as she sat outside the emergency room, her fingers twisted in her scarf. Her heart was steady now, but her mind… it was replaying the moment over and over. The sound of the shot. The way Rayyan's body jerked. The way he still shielded her, even while bleeding.
Ahmed arrived, slightly breathless, suit jacket wrinkled. "How is he?"
Noor stood immediately. "They took him in—bullet just grazed his arm, no major damage… that's what the paramedics said. But I—" she swallowed, her voice cracking for the first time, "I didn't leave him."
Ahmed's expression softened, glancing through the glass door where doctors worked inside. "Of course you didn't."
A few long minutes later, a nurse called out, "Family of Mr. Rayyan?"
Noor moved instinctively. "Here."
Ahmed gave her a brief look but didn't correct the nurse.
The doctor appeared. "Bullet wound in the upper arm, clean through—no bone damage. He'll need stitches and rest but he's stable. Conscious."
Noor's breath finally released.
Ahmed gently patted her shoulder. "Go… he'll want you there."
She didn't wait for permission.
Inside the room, Rayyan lay on the bed, shirt cut, fresh bandage around his bicep. The usual sharpness in his expression was dulled by pain meds, but the moment he saw her… his jaw clenched and his eyes softened.
Noor walked closer, pulling the chair beside his bed. "Told you… idiot."
His lips twitched weakly. "I've had worse."
"You've got people for this," she whispered, angry tears threatening to burn. "Why did you step in front?"
Rayyan's fingers shifted, reaching out, resting on hers. "Because I could handle a bullet… but not the idea of you getting hurt."
For a moment, the room was too quiet. Noor blinked down, her hand tightening around his.
"You scared me," she admitted softly, her voice raw but calm.
"I know," his tone dropped, full of something heavier, something real. "But I'm here. Still… right in front of you."
She bit her lip, head lowering, resting against the edge of his bed, her hand never leaving his.
Rayyan's good hand gently brushed against her knuckles. "You stayed."
Noor nodded into his arm. "You're stuck with me for now."
His breathing steadied, a small smile touching his lips. "Good. I don't want you anywhere else."
Next Morning — Hospital Room
Rayyan stirred to the distant sound of nurses outside, the steady beep of machines beside him. His arm throbbed with a dull ache, but it was manageable. The first thing he noticed wasn't the pain though… it was the warmth of something solid near him.
He blinked his heavy eyelids open.
Noor.
Head rested on the side of his bed, her scarf slightly slipping, one hand still tangled lightly with his. Her breathing was soft, slow—completely at ease in her sleep.
His chest tightened.
For a man who built his life in silence, in power, in control… this felt new. Strange. Good. A quiet moment that felt heavier than any business victory he'd ever had.
She hadn't just stayed—she'd fought for him, protected him, scolded him… and stayed by his side like she belonged there.
Rayyan shifted slightly, wincing from the soreness in his arm. The small movement stirred Noor awake.
Her eyelashes fluttered, eyes opening in confusion before locking onto him.
"You're awake," she whispered, sitting up straighter, hand immediately checking his bandage instinctively.
Rayyan's voice was soft, still slightly hoarse, but steady. "Didn't think you'd still be here."
Noor's mouth curved into a sleepy smile. "Didn't think you'd be this bad at taking a bullet."
A soft laugh rumbled from his chest, even though it tugged at his injury.
"Never had anyone wait through the night before," Rayyan admitted quietly, his gaze never leaving hers.
"Well," Noor said, fixing her scarf and settling into the chair, "you're clearly not used to good habits."
Rayyan's expression shifted—gentler, rawer. "Then stay… teach me."
Noor's heart flipped, but she stayed outwardly calm, even as her fingers gently smoothed his blanket.
"I'll stick around," she said softly, "but you're following my rules now."
Rayyan smiled properly this time, deep and real. "Deal."
And for the first time in a long, long while… morning didn't feel empty.
Noor's Room — Later That Day
Noor walked into her room, shutting the door behind her and sinking onto the edge of her bed. The weight of the night finally pressed down on her chest—the gunshot, the fear, Rayyan's blood staining her hands.
Her fingers rubbed over her wrists unconsciously, remembering how tightly she'd gripped his hand, how steady her voice had to stay when inside she wanted to break.
Her phone buzzed.
Ahmed had messaged:
> "Boss is asleep again. Won't stop asking for coffee though."
She smiled faintly, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Why did it bother her so much?
It wasn't supposed to be this personal. She wasn't supposed to feel this attached. Yet every time she closed her eyes… that moment replayed—his body shielding hers, his voice steady despite the pain.
She leaned back on the bed, eyes tracing the grey ceiling of her room, fingers fiddling with the hem of her scarf.
Rayyan Zayd wasn't just her CEO anymore.
He wasn't just some boss with power.
He had shown her something more.
That despite his hard shell… there was a man who could bleed to protect her.
A man who stayed strong but let her see his weakness without shame.
A man who… looked at her like she was more than just another employee.
Her chest tightened.
Was this the beginning of something… or the start of complications she wasn't ready for?
Noor closed her eyes, letting out a slow breath.
Whatever it was… she couldn't deny it anymore.
Rayyan Zayd had slipped past her walls—quietly, intensely… and now, a part of her wasn't trying to stop him.
Hospital — Afternoon
Noor walked through the hospital corridor, heart steady but mind racing. She hadn't expected this strange pull—this restlessness to see him, to make sure Rayyan was okay.
Outside his room stood two people—an elegant, dignified older woman and a tall young man in his late twenties, posture casual but eyes sharp, phone in hand.
Before Noor could approach, Ahmed appeared beside her. "Good timing. They've been asking about you."
Noor adjusted her scarf slightly. "I wasn't planning to intrude."
Ahmed gave a quick grin. "You're not. Trust me… they were hoping you'd come."
As Noor reached them, Ahmed spoke first. "Madam Shaista… Zayan bhai… this is Noor."
Shaista Zayd turned, her face soft and kind. "Assalamualaikum, beta. You've been very brave."
Noor lowered her eyes politely. "Wa Alaikum Assalam, aunty. I only did what anyone would do."
Zayan, Rayyan's younger brother, stepped forward, offering a firm nod, his sharp features reminding Noor of Rayyan—same jawline, same intense stare, though younger and a little more playful. "I'm Zayan. I was wondering who managed to soften the lion for a change."
Noor blinked, then smiled lightly. "I wasn't aware I had such influence."
Shaista smiled knowingly. "You've done more than you realize. Thank you for being there for my son."
Before Noor could respond, the nurse called from inside. "He's awake… just one person at a time, please."
Shaista gently squeezed Noor's hand. "Go ahead, beta. He'll rest easier seeing you."
Zayan added, with a grin, "And behave better too."
Noor stepped inside, heartbeat a little heavier, leaving behind the warmth of a family she hadn't expected to meet… and stepping closer to the man who was becoming more than just a stranger.