- Noor's POV -

That night, I Uber'd back home. Amma stayed up to wait for me, as always.

She knew instantly that something was off.

"I think I just got fired..." I admit to her.

She gasps. "Astagfirullah, why would you say such a thing?"

"I'm pretty sure I messed up the business dinner by saying some things that I shouldn't have." I don't explain further.

She caresses my hair, something she does to calm me down. "Did you say the things by accident? The words just slipped out?"

"I guess... I guess it slipped out." I was just so angry. I couldn't control myself.

"Insha'Allah, if this job is meant for you, you won't be fired for such a small mistake." She gives me a peck on my forehead. "Try to sleep, you've have a long, eventful evening."

She's right, it was really eventful. But the mistake wasn't small, it was dangerous. What if he tries to hurt my parents' reputation?

When I get to my room, I close the door and slowly sink down to the floor. The tears I was holding onto all night finally set free with no need of control.

I quietly sniffle as my tears become, what seems like, a never ending stream.

"That's enough crying, Noor!" I keep wiping my eyes but they won't stop. "There's no point of wasting your tears on people like that."

But I couldn't help notice, now my tears are just from being sad, not from the anger I was feeling earlier today.

Nadira's words didn't impact me how I thought it would. In fact, it barely made me flinch because I know that she's such a low life already. She's always been like this, since elementary school.

I hate to admit it but what hurt me the most is that Yasir didn't bother giving me an inch of respect. He could've easily done so by telling me he'll be out for a while or reply to one of my texts.

And yes, I called him by his first name only. He doesn't deserve the respect of Mister, not anymore. Besides, he's not my boss anymore.

"Stop letting him affect you, stop letting him affect you, stop letting him affect you." I repeat quietly to myself.

I wipe away my tears and hop in the shower.

But that night, I cried myself to sleep because even I'll have to admit that I'm a sensitive, pathetic girl sometimes.

• • •

"I really wanted to crush her skull with my bare hands." I say to Ayesha and Farrah.

"Should've done it. Should've dragged that whore by her hair, out of that car." Farrah says, just as angry as me about the situation.

"And then crushed her giant head then given it to her beloved Yasir Khan." Ayesha says.

I love that my best friend and my sister are so supportive of my violent rampages.

"I'm glad that If I ever commit murder, I know you guys will have my back." I laugh.

"I bring the tools to make the evidence disappear." Farrah winks.

"And I bring myself for moral support." My sister giggles.

Ayesha will never do the heavy lifting, I smile.

"I can't believe she called you pathetic, unsightly and too sensitive? Has she seen herself and the situation she put herself in? That's a little too hypocritical."

"She's Nadira. What do you expect? That's who she's always been. Besides, what she said didn't bother me. I'm glad she said all those things, I finally blew up."

"So... what bothered you was that you got stood up by Yasir." My sister says carefully.

"I guess. It was rude that he left me there without a notice or warning that he was going to attend extracurricular activities." I roll my eyes.

Farrah snorts. "Extracurricular activities! Don't kill me!"

"Your first date with this man was a total flop." Ayesha jokes to lighten up the mood.

"He even took Munchkin. What a waste of a dollar." I frown.

"And a waste of a $158." Farrah adds on.

"Ugh... don't remind me. I can't believe I spent $158 on pasta and pizza." I sigh. "I'm going to have to try to apply to some other companies or else I'm coming back to my old job."

Farrah pats my back. "Don't worry. Allah's got your back."

I hope so, I really hope so.

• • •

I couldn't sleep on Sunday night either. I woke up at 7 AM, all by myself, without an alarm.

No one else in this household starts waking up until 7:30 AM or 8 AM.

It's the quietest at this time of the morning at home. After Fajr, I open the blinds and sit in front of the window.

Peace of the mind is what I'm feeling right now. Tranquility of the atmosphere just engulfing me at the moment.

The peace was short lived because my phone starts ringing.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hey, it's the guy you stood up on Saturday." Lateef says in a playful tone.

"Hey! How are you? I'm so sorry about that. If it makes you feel any better, I'm regretting that decision to the fullest." I say truthfully.

"You can make it up for me by getting me a coffee and muffin before coming into work today." He says. "But that's not why I called. Could you print out a few documents for me before you come in? My printer isn't working and I need them first thing today."

"Uh... about that..." I start nervously. "I'm pretty sure I got fired."

"What?!" His voice is full of shock. "Why in the world would you say that?"

I tell him about Saturday. Not leaving out a single detail.

"That's amazing. I really wish I was there to see it, God I'd love to see the look on her face." I can tell by the way he's talking that he genuinely means it. "But... I doubt that you're fired."

I go silent for a second. "You're joking, right? I literally insulted them to the maximum. He'd be an idiot to not fire me after that. In fact, I'm expecting to be assassinated by tonight."

"Lucky for you, he's the biggest idiot we know." He laughs. "Actually, you were hired because his last secretary quit within weeks. I'm shocked you lasted a whole month. Plus, he's in desperate need of one at this time of the year when business deals and meetings are at its peak."

"There's no way I'm not fired. I flipped him off! I'm definitely fired." I say.

"Give me a second. Let me give him a call." He puts me on hold to call Yasir.

"Do as you wish." I'm certain I'm fired.

Suddenly, I can hear the ringing of the dial tone and realize that he put us on a conference call.

"What do you want, Lateef? It's 7 in the fucking morning." Yasir's voice is in its deep, groggy stage.

His morning voice is so attractive... damn, the butterflies in my stomach have awakened.

Shut up, Butterflies and shut up, Noor! He stood you up to have sex with your enemy in the car he brought you in, probably with Munchkin watching! I scold myself.

"Alright, Mr. Grumpy. Should I ask Noor to print the documents and bring it in? My printer broke." Lateef sounds so casual, it's as if he didn't just hear me tell him the story. "Do you want coffee? I'm going to ask her to bring me a cup."

He goes silent. The silence felt like an eternity.

"Do we have a choice? We need the file to be complete. Tell her to bring it." He finally says.

What?

"And coffee?" Lateef asks.

"The usual." He says. "Make sure she doesn't poison it."

Lateef bursts into laughter. "Why would she poison it?"

"I'll see you at work." Yasir says without answering Lateef's question and hangs up.

"I'm not showing up! He's going to do something. He's going to make my life a living nightmare!" I protest.

"Just cuss him out and leave, then." He says as if it's that simple. "You literally saw him having car sex in with the wife of the big shot business man in the parking lot of a place where the couple went on a date in. He might be an idiot but there's no way he'll risk a business deal and his public reputation."

He's right, right?

After a few moments of silence, I give in. "What's the order?" I sigh.

"Yes!" Lateef cheers. "For me, a double-double with an egg and cheese sandwich. Yasir likes French vanilla with an egg and cheese wrap and hash browns."

"Alright, your wish is my command. I'll be there soon." I say and we hang up.

I sigh and start to prep for work.

In the middle of printing the papers, I wonder, "What if Lateef's wrong? What if Yasir is planning my doom? I have to keep my guards up to it's maximum height."

Ayesha interrupts my thoughts and peeks her head through my door. "Where are you going?"

"To work." I Anser.

"For an interview?" She's clearly confused.

"No, apparently I wasn't fired." I explain.

"Alhumdulillah!" I hear Amma say from the hallway.

How did she even hear me from that far?

"And you're going? Why?" Ayesha raises a brow, whispering.

"I'm going... because I'm stupid and I realize the one who should be uncomfortable is Yasir Khan, not me." I mumble.

He was at fault. Not me. There's no reason for me to be embarrassed. In fact, I should have second-hand embarrassment.

- - -

- A/N -

• Shiiiii, shes really going back, huh? But I feel like our girl can take care of herself. She'll be okay. 😌✊🏼

• I'll try to update again before the usual update days but since I'm in my final exam month, it's a little tougher. I'll try my best though! ❤️

Next Update: Every Friday and Saturday, Insha'Allah!

Please vote and comment and let me know how y'all feel!!