- Noor's POV -

It's been about two weeks since the last incident at his house. I should probably stop going over but he's so stubborn.

However, he's become more relaxed around me, which is a plus!

In these two weeks, I've done something else... gather information on Nadira's motives.

"What have you found, Sherlock?" Lateef teases.

He must've underestimated me because I've come with major information.

I got ahold of Nadira's ex-friends. She makes tons of enemies along the way and she's stupid enough to always tell them the details that they could easily ruin her life with. So, lucky for me, it wasn't too hard to collect information.

The friend—well, ex-friend—spilled everything. She [Nadira] had told everyone that Shahid and her families made them marry because their families would "strengthen from the bond". Nadira was "against" the idea because of her relationship with Yasir but couldn't go against her family's wishes since it would ruin their image in society.

This is where the tea gets hot and everything gets... interesting.

The whole story was fake.

Yes, you heard me right. Completely made up.

Neither parents from either sides forced the marriage. No one said anything. Shahid proposed because Nadira wanted to settle down with him. She married him voluntarily. In fact, she's the one who pushed for marriage.

The tea gets even hotter.

She told Yasir—no—she cried to Yasir that she's being forced to marry Shahid and that she loves no one but him [Yasir]. She said she would do anything to escape the marriage but would never want to disappoint her parents.

She goes on to tell him that she'll keep up the image of her relationship with Shahid for the sake of her parents but will continue being with Yasir for "the sake of her heart". In order to not have Yasir freak out and fight with Shahid or their parents, she told him, one day, when things settle down, she'll leave Shahid for Yasir.

Yasir, being the idiot that he is, believes everything. The whole story in itself sounds shady and just plain horrible and Yasir, also being the love sick puppy that he is, believes her dumb ass.

It gets worst.

She doesn't plan on leaving Shahid. She also doesn't plan on breaking up with Yasir.

That greedy woman wants to keep both because that's double the dollar signs. Her lifestyle is being funded by both Shahid and Yasir but neither understands that they're both being played.

Once I finish, I could tell Lateef was equally shocked, impressed and angry.

"This has to be a sick joke." Lateef shakes his head. "I thought her intentions were bad but not to this extent."

"It might be a sick joke but knowing Nadira, she's dead serious." I sigh.

"I know it's none of my business, but I've noticed you hate Nadira. There's a high level of hatred that's just boiling in you about her all the time." He's careful about what he says.

I think back about my four years of high school. How desperately I tried to avoid Nadira because every time our paths crossed, she'd have to comment on how much lower I am on the scale of perfection compared to her.

"Trust me, I've got my reasons." I say. "Yasir will too if he figures out he's being played."

Lateef only sighs loudly. "Something tells me that deep down inside, he knows he's being played but he won't ever accept it. He loves her too much."

"Then, he needs to un-love her." I state as if it's that easy.

I remember back what happened at Yasir's house, his wrist... "Say, Lateef..."

"Hm?"

"Is Yasir okay? I mean..." I didn't want to expose anything sensitive but this is concerning. "The other day—his wrist. I mean, I could've just imagined it but—"

"His wrist?" Lateef jumps off of his chair. "Were they recent? Did they look like fresh wounds? Fuck!"

"I don't—I don't know. It was bleeding but it could've been—" But before I could say anything further, Lateef practically runs towards the elevator. And I follow right behind him.

But the elevator door closes before I could get inside.

"Damn it!" I say under my breath.

I can tell he wasn't listening, his thoughts are fully consumed by what I just told him.

I quickly click the buttons for the neighbouring elevator and it opens immediately.

I reach the floor seconds after him, "Lateef, wait! I don't think I was supposed to tell anyone!"

"Yasir!" He yells.

But when he slams open the door, lo' and behold, there's little Ms. Nadira sitting on Yasir's lap, playing with his hair.

The sight makes me want to throw up and throw a desk at her at the same time.

"Woah, Lateef. Relax. No ones dying." Nadira says.

"Nadira, get the hell out of my sight right now." Lateef says with as much composure as he can.

"What's wrong?" Yasir asks, knowing there's clearly something wrong.

She raises brow. "You can say whatever you need to say in front of me, I'm Yasir's girl—"

Lateef interrupts her. "Get the fuck out before I—"

"Lateef!" I pull him back. "It's not worth it." He literally looks as if he was about to throw a punch.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Yasir stands up, guarding Nadira.

"Tell her to leave." I warn Yasir. "I don't think I can hold back Lateef."

"Oh, and she gets to stay?" Nadira points at me.

"She does." Lateef pulls me closer by tugging on my sleeve.

"Then, I get to stay." She folds her arms over her chest.

Yasir can tell Nadira's stubbornness won't do her any good at this moment.

"Nadira, wait outside for me." He says.

"But—" she was about to argue.

"Please." He says softly.

I hate it. I can't stand how softly he speaks to Nadira, as if raising his voice would shatter her. I swear, I'm almost jealous.

She rolls her eyes and stomps out of the room.

"Let me see your arms." Lateef demands.

Yasir whips his gaze towards me, with the you told him? look.

Yasir rolls his eyes and pulls up his sleeves, revealing fading scars.

My eyes widen and my suspicion is confirmed both because of the look of the scars and the way Lateef is reacting to the situation.

"I was bleeding the other day because I got a paper cut." Yasir says.

Lateef sighs out of relief when he doesn't notice any new wounds. "Fuck, I thought you started again when Noor told me..."

"I told her not to make a big deal out of it." Yasir squints his eyes at me.

"I was concerned." I retort back.

"It's none of your concern." Yasir says.

"It is my concern if I see it happen." I say.

"Forget that. I'm glad she told me. It means she cares about your wellbeing." Lateef says. "You need to break it up with Nadira. She's playing you, man. You know it, I know it, Noor knows it. Hell, I bet the prime minister of Canada knows it."

I snort by accident because of the prime minister comment and get a dirty look from both Yasir and Lateef.

"Sorry." I mumble. "But he's right. You're being played and it won't get any better from here."

"Both of your are acting like you can control my life. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I know Nadira loves me, and that's all that matters."

"This is absurd... neither of us are trying to control your life. We're only trying to stop you from getting hurt any further." I explain to him.

"That's enough. Lateef, you already know me, there's no use trying. And Noor, you're a secretary, that's it. Don't try to be anything more than that."

That comment hurt me a bit. I'm genuinely trying to help him out but he's just... ugh!

"Fine. Just a secretary. That's the only personality trait you're going to get from me." I walk out of his office, slamming the door.

"They kicked you out?" Nadira smirks, sitting on one of the room couches.

"No, your boyfriend's stupid. I had to leave before I pushed him out of the window." I answer bluntly.

Her eyes widen for a second and she slowly gets up to walk back inside his office.

I hear mumbled arguing through the door but it's none of my business, I'm just a secretary.

My desk phone rings; it's from front desk.

"Hey, Rosalie." I greet her.

"Hey, Noor. A friend of yours is here to drop something off for you. Her name's Farrah."

"Send her in!" I say a little too excitedly.

A minute later, Farrah walks in with a bag of food that I could smell from miles away.

"Farrah!" I grin. I'm always so happy to see her.

"Ammi made biryani and I thought I'd be a wonderful friend and drop it off." She smiles as she dangles the lunch bag in front of me.

I just had lunch—well, half because I ran upstairs midway.

"Thank you so much!" I grab the bag.

"You're wel—" a loud slam interrupts Farrah, making her jump back a little.

"He's so fu—" Lateef pauses and just stares at Farrah. "Oh, hi there. Your friend?" He asks.

I nod. "Lateef, this is Farrah, my best friend. Farrah, you already know who this is."

She giggles. "Of course, all of high school knew."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Farrah." There's this look in his eyes as if he's just seen a star. "I've never seen you around outside of classes."

He knows her from classes they had together?

Don't be jealous, Noor. Don't be jealous, Noor. Don't be jealous, Noor. Don't be jealous, Noor.

Farrah is gorgeous, there's no lie there. Her hijab contours her sharp features perfectly, her big eyes are the deepest brown but are glossy giving her the baby doll look. The eyes are outlined by the thickest, longest lashes. Her lips are naturally plump, and just a sheen of balm or gloss makes them look like the softest.

Mash'Allah, Allah has really blessed her with beauty.

"That's because you'd only hang out with the assholes. You've never met the hidden gems of the school. That would be Noor and I." She winks.

She's looking at me with the 'that's your man' look and I try to get her to stop making it look so obvious.

"I better get going! I have some errands to run today." Farrah says.

"You should stay for lunch." Lateef suggests.

"I would love to! My mom would kill me though. I have to buy groceries." She explains. "Bye guys!"

Once Farrah was out of the room, Lateef turns around quickly to face me. "You didn't tell me you're friends with Farrah."

"I... I didn't know it was something I had to report?" I look at him in confusion.

He looks down, slightly shy, "I had the biggest crush on her in high school."

- - -

- A/N -

• Surprise update! I hope you enjoyed! 🥰❤️

• Lateef just did that. 💀

• Also, Nadira just becomes more of a mess every single time we see her. 🤭

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

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