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0 7 : i n f u r i a t i n g l y  i r r e s i s t i b l e

i knew you were trouble when you walked in

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𝐴𝑧𝑎𝑎𝑛

"IN any case, the matter will need investigation."

"Deputy Hussein Sahab, thank you for your assistance, but unless Mr. Baloch or the opposite party files for an FIR, I believe there is nothing the police can do."

"That would be correct, Mr. Mughal. But since we've been called here, it wouldn't be wrong to assume Mr. Baloch wishes to register an FIR." The deputy police commissioner looked towards an injured Azar on the bed beside me.

It was the day after the incident, and it hadn't taken much for the research department at my office to dig up dirt upon this man overnight. A wealthy and enterprising landlord from South Punjab with a drug and alcohol addiction financed by the corrupt millions of his family business, Azar Baloch was a man of many unbidden vices, but generational wealth and connections meant he kept the authorities in his pocket.

I turned towards him, my eyes silent and lips smug, and asked, "Mr. Baloch I should leave you with Hussein Sahab for all the legal formalities. Take care of yourself." Leaning closer I patted his shoulder and whispered only for his ears. "And I'll make sure the Malik's take care of you too." I didn't have to look up to see the expression on his face, the way his muscles contracted it was evident my work here was done.

Collecting the papers in my file, I was confident I wouldn't have to return for a second time. The man was recovering and hadn't sustained any major injuries. The non disclosure agreement had been signed and the terms of legal agreement protecting our families and us from any future lawsuit had been agreed upon. There was no way this man was ever hovering near her again.

Upon gaining consciousness this morning, Azar claimed he had no recollection of the previous night and how he'd gotten himself into his present state. For a wretched moment, the temptation to leave without repeating the events of last night and opening up yet another pandora box of unknown possibilities seemed too enticing, but there was no way I could risk the storm that would arise if he unexpectedly recalled his memory and decided to become a vindictive little puppy. 

I had enough barking dogs to deal with. And absolutely no desire of adopting another one.

But right now, I felt lucky to have arrived at the hospital before the police had a chance to interrogate him. And judging by the way the colour of his face changed, as I recapitulated the dreadful happenings of last night, I was pretty certain, the man was not lying. He had absolutely no clue what he had done, and for all he knew now, he'd attacked Layla Malik and her guards had trashed him to pieces.

The way dread sprawled its darkened wings across his face was truly a sight I watched with gruesome satisfaction.

As I walked out of the room, my lips curled maliciously hearing Azar wave the officer away with a grunt, refusing to seek any help from him or the authorities.

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It was a scintillating and balmy morning. The roar of the pacing vehicles was muted by the flaming thicket of neem trees crowding the intervening pathways. By the time I left the hospital, the sun, a warm, glowing orb, scorched high on the sky enveloping Lahore in its sweltering heat.

The JM headquarters were a few minutes away from the hospital. My car cruised down the main road shaded by the massive banyan trees, their outstretched branches offering some much needed shade from the unforgiving heat. Despite the darkened tint of my car, the coolness of the road was a welcomed distraction in the heat of this city. Surprisingly, the roads were clear, hardly any traffic to slow me down.

Once the car entered the premises of the JM company Headquarters, I was taken by surprise at the sleek, modern but extremely simplistic style of the entire complex; a stark contrast to the suburban Malik residence, the very ostentatious Lal Mahal. While I was no fan of ornate palace-like colonial mansions, the Lal Mahal with its unique mix of Mughal, Persian and British architecture, was a sight to behold. A house truly befitting a queen.

The thought sent me tumbling through a chaos of words and images. There was something magical about her, a hypnotic pull, a burning presence. She reminded me of the moon, blossoming in the night, wrapped in glorious silk wearing her moonlight smile like lingerie. She had a frustratingly ethereal face: dainty and delicate yet so fierce and cutting, it hurt. And although she treated her looks cavalierly, even the stars sighed in unison at her beauty.

Shaking the thought, I walked indoors and was greeted to the sight of a largely well-decorated but sophisticatedly simple space, perfectly in sync with the exteriors of the building. A beautiful arrangement of fresh yellow roses caught my eye and I strolled over casually inspecting the petals and details of the bouquet. I could smell them, fresh and profound.

"Can I help you with anything, sir?" The young receptionist who had been eyeing me with a curious glint asked softly.

"I would like to see Miss Malik."

"Appointment?"

"No. But I'm sure you can arrange something." I winked and the girl blushed profusely, falling right under the trap of my charms. "I wish to surprise her."

"Miss Malik doesn't entertain visitors on Monday mornings." The women seemed adamant, but I was persistent. My face broke into a lopsided grin as I leaned across the reception, pulling a rose out of the flower arrangement. There is little that a few flattering words and a well connected family couldn't get you. The woman's attention fell upon me, her eyes flickering with recognition and her wondrous smile sucking her into my world of carefully crafted words aimed to please.

I didn't have to wait long, before I was escorted to the top floor of the building, where another assistant waited to guide me towards the executive chambers.

Before I could enter, her voice greeted me, gentle and sharp-edged at the same time. "Did you drug my staff or hack my assistant's computer? How did you suddenly appear on the top of my appointment list on a Monday morning?"

There she stood behind her desk, all glorious and magnificent. Her dark curls cascaded down her face, hiding those doe like eyes behind a veil of powerful magic. She seemed genuinely confused, brows clenched and lips pouting. If I didn't already know, she was a deceptively innocent-looking woman, tender and sublime. And right now, with her senses awash with wonder, her stare oscillating impassively between her screen and me, she truly looked breathtaking.

Under the harsh light of the pouring sun, her skin glowed with an incandescent radiance, obscuring the fringed darkness of her eyes and the soft unfathomable expression of her face. I could have admired the moment for a lot longer, savoured it. But when her brow rose anticipatingly I surrendered and walked inside, closing the door behind me.

"No. Flirting with the receptionist was an easier option." The expression on her face fell, and she dropped back on her seat, looking fixedly at the two files in her hand, a perfect picture of aloof elegance.

"Remind me to fire her later." I heard her grumble underneath her breath. I walked inside, slow and assured. And when my gaze met again, my eyes danced with amusement. There was irritation on her face. And maybe something else.

Jealousy?

My grin widened at the thought. "Don't be buzzkill, Lee Lee. Can't a man dream?"

Her expression remained grim, unimpressed with my poor attempt at jolly banter. She looked at her watch and then observed me smothering scrutiny, "It's 11:57 am. Wakey wakey! What does His Highness want for breakfast? Or better yet, lunch?" And then she smiled unexpectedly.

"Tea would do." She nodded, wearing that lazy smile of hers. For a blank moment, all I did was stare at her, mesmerised. She quickly cleared her table, ordered tea and then walked over to sit on the raw silk sofa beside me. Her movements were graceful, almost balletic. And I realised she never missed a beat, always poised and always in control, never letting her emotions betray her. She was hard to decipher, her expressions usually masked, her world guarded.

The woman was a spoilt, conniving heiress, who had built a reputation for her acute business acumen and unshakable sophistication. Despite all that had been written about her, I truly believed very few knew the woman behind the glitzy persona and the carefully curated PR image.

"I've been waiting for you all morning." She pushed a plate of sweet treats towards me and poured some tea into the porcelain cups. Slowly lifting her eyes to mine, she handed me my tea. The strong scent of cardamom perfumed the air, and her sharp features darkened when she turned to me again with her undivided attention, "You're late, Azaan!"

"And you're beautiful, Lee Lee."

The sudden itch to run my hands through those lustrous locks of her seemed to burn my entire existence with an unbridled need. She had the grace to blush at my words, her face heating up with candor. No matter how hard we tried to push away the wordless chaos palpitating between us, we both knew we were failing spectacularly. She smiled softly and looked into my eyes with such intensity that a new fire ignited within us, burning fierce and all consuming.

I waited for her, looking at her. And then something happened. Something electric. Something palpable, almost tangible. I had felt it and I could swear she did too. We were both falling into an abyss of nothingness. A place where smoke and mirrors ceased to exist.

But the moment fizzled out faster than I had hoped. She pulled back, the fear lurking in her eyes returning with a roaring vengeance and darkness descended deep inside her head. I could still feel her warmth, but I knew just like last night I had lost her.

Again.

"You need to stop flirting with me, Azaan." Despite her words, her smile was warm and her tone tinged with indulgence. Her gaze was still considering me  and there was no denying the fact, she thrived under the attention. "It won't get you anywhere."

"There could be another possibility. Perhaps I wasn't flirting. Perhaps it was the truth." I shifted closer, wrapping a strand of her hair sinuously around my finger.

I knew I was playing with fire.

Her eyes followed the movement and her shoulders tensed under my advances. I could sense the stiffness of her posture, the biting rigidness of her body.

And then there it was— the subtle haughty tilt of her chin and the blazing heat of her stare.

I half expected her to recoil, to hide within her shell. But I was surprised when her body relaxed and she leaned into my touch, her cheek teasingly rubbing against my knuckles. "Playing again are we, Mr. Mughal?"

Her words were slow and deliberate, her eyes studying the changing expressions of my face. I could feel the tension rise up my throat, watching her exquisitely full lips move with suffocating softness and grace. Her words came out relaxed and her tone once again confident.

"I'm always up for a challenge." A small smile tugged upon the corner of her lips and her dark eyes watched preyed upon me with a biting intensity. She leaned in slightly, swallowing our thoughts. Our gazes held and we both seemed to know what we were doing. Yet the thrill of anticipation raced through your blood. Hot and heavy.

Her face was a shadow near mine, when she whispered against my cheek.

"You'd lose."

I saw a glint of excitement in her eyes when she pulled back, her brows high with defiance.

"Reverse psychology?"

"I'm making it easier for you." Her gaze shifted towards my finger that still had her hair wrapped around it. She was silent for a while, before her gaze softened and her thick black lashes cast a shadow underneath her eyes. She wasn't looking at me when the next words left her lips like a strangulated sigh, "Quit trying to pursue me."

I was tempted to ignore her remarks, to let her have the final word, but what had begun as a thrilling game of innocent flirtation had quickly matured into inexplicable infatuation with the most removed, infuriatingly irresistible and emotionally inaccessible woman I had ever met. In the past, I had a celebrated history with women who had dazzled me with their attention and interest. But no one had intrigued me like the heartbreaking beauty in front of me.

"I haven't tried." I bent down low and whispered into her ear. I could sense her nerves slither through her, her pulse thrumming on the side of her neck. "Because when I pursue you, not only you but the entire world would know that you're mine. Only mine."

"Azaan." Her voice was raw. She took a deep breath and pulled away. I could see the stubborn defiance and disapproval in her eyes, but her face was scarred with a deep gash of sadness. "This cannot happen. I have nothing to give you. To give us."

"Let me be the judge of that."

She sighed as if reluctant to continue the conversation forward.

"You're deviating from the topic. What happened at the hospital today?" She was quick to shut me down and pushed herself back to put some distance between us, protecting her fazed countenance.

"Taken care of." I pushed the NDA towards her. "Azar Baloch will not file a complaint, nor will he stop the IPO from going public next week. If he discloses this to anyone or pursues legal action of any sort, we have the right to file for defamation. We have all the evidence to file a strong case against him."

"I'm sure he is smart enough to know that any scandal at this time would have a direct effect on share prices."

"Don't worry about him. I've got him under control."

"I have a meeting with him this week—"

"You're not meeting him." Sudden anger unleashed a cavemannish protectiveness over me. "I don't want you anywhere near that man ever again."

My chest heaved with anger at the possibility and I waited for a caustic response, but she merely blinked and replied flippantly, "You're being ridiculous right now."

"Am I being ridiculous? You're being ridiculous."

My temples burned and I rose, walking away from her to cool myself down. I could feel the anger and rage war inside her, her entire being stiff with disturbing self control. She watched me with her steely eyes, before she replied rather calmly, "Azaan, I appreciate you helping me out but you can't control my life. I will see whoever the hell I want."

This wasn't me. I was not one to be swayed by waves of anger, but this girl pushed me to a reckless edge and the very thought of her seeing her with another man, blinded me with rage. I turned to her and growled lowly, "See him. And I'll make sure you regret it."

The facade of a damning calm crumbled. In a taut moment, she was in front of me, looking sweetly dangerous. "You're threatening me?"

"I'm warning you."

"You're not my boyfriend, Azaan!"

Unfettered anger bounced between us. The growing frustration began to drown us. But we both held our ground, our jaws rigid and nostrils flaring with cutting fury.

The silence between us throbbed painfully.

"Yet!" I replied with a sigh. Her brows furrowed in confusion and I felt the need to dissipate the heat. This was more than we both had bargained for. "I might not be your boyfriend yet but I'm your legal counsel on this case. And I don't want you seeing that man."

"I call it bullshit. This is no legal advice."

"Make what you want of it. You're not meeting that man again." I loosened my tie and rolled the sleeves of my shirt past my forearms. I didn't have to look up, but I could sense her seething with undisguised anger. She was a fiercely independent woman, but the unexpected possessiveness at the thought of another man around her left me both unsettled and on the edge.

She was quiet,the intensity of her eyes enough to poke a burning hole through my skull.

A smirk gathered on the corner of my lips, but I knew her silences were dangerous.

My hands sought hers in touching her in a fleeting caress, but her fingers sprained beneath my grasp. "What can I do to convince you?" I softened my tone. In the short time I had known her, I had come to recognise her tics, the change of her breath, the movement of her neck and immense weight to her ego.

Her thoughtful silence was affirmative.

"I can take care of myself. I have. All these years." She replied in a quiet but strong whisper. "I appreciate you looking out for me, but you won't be there to do it all the time."

"But I'm here now. So let me take care of it."

"Why are you doing this? What do you want?"

"At this point, I believe we both know what I want."

She shook her head, her face a striking image of ambiguity. "You know that's not possible. And we've barely met a few times."

"Enough to understand that the connection we have is not ordinary." She shook her head again, "Stop lying to yourself, can you not feel this?"

"I—"

When I stared at her, awaiting her response, she stared back, her eyes twinkling with an unmissable challenge. But she remained silent, refusing to acknowledge my words.

Her eyes burnt with a sweltering heat, sultry and striking, battling an unabashed war with my own thirsty stare. A faint blush rose up her cheeks, leaving a ruddy hue in its wake. This wicked seductress was enjoying the attention and if the way she rolled her lip between the teeth and tilted her head with a regal sweep of her chin, was any indication, I had her right where I wanted her.

In an unexpected moment, I reached out and laced her hands with mine, pulling her closer.

She let me.

"This week Mughal & Co Law will upgrade its operations in Pakistan from a corporate boutique law firm to a full service practice. My new role as Managing Partner will be announced on the weekend."

Her face brightened at the unexpected information I had just shared with her. "That's wonderful, Azaan!" She seemed genuinely happy for me and I couldn't deny I was eager to share the news with her. "I'm so proud of you. This is big."

"It is! Mughal & Co Law will become the biggest law firm in the region."

"I'm so happy, Azaan. We should celebrate." There was genuine warmth and excitement in her tone, any traces of anger from moments ago had already withered away.

"The company is hosting a party this weekend. I wanted to ask if you'd want to come—"

"Of course! I'll be there!"

An uneasy moment passed, my grip on her fingers tightened and I tugged her closer. Dark clouds flashed in her eyes in anticipation. Her eyes were focussed on me, swimming with questions, "I don't want you to be there. I want you to be there with me."

The windswept silence was long and stifling.

"Azaan, we can't."

I raised her hands, quietly inspecting the bruises from yesterday, while she stared at me expectantly. Contrary to my expectation, she didn't pull back, letting me hold her hands for a moment longer. My thumb grazed upon the fading scab. Her hands were delicate, her fingers long and slender.

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Why are you so persistent?"

I looked up, my eyes burning into hers, "Because ever since we've met, your darkness has intoxicated me. You've possessed my every thought, Lee Lee."

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By the time I reached home, later at night, all I wanted was to change into my night suit and retire to bed. But as soon as I entered through the door, I was greeted by a very excited Alyana. Eyes twinkling and her face lit with an unruly joyous smile, Lya lodged herself into my arms with a warm welcoming hug, "Aan!"

"Hey there little star! How did you get here?"

Just when Lya opened her mouth to respond, Daania walked into the foyer with little Hazem in her arms. "The children thought it would be a good idea to surprise their favourite uncle."

"Their only uncle you mean?" I gave her a side hug as we walked into the living room with Lya resting her head on my shoulder. "Did my girl give this wonderful idea?" I kissed the top of her head and she nodded.

"The Cancer Hospital charity dinner is scheduled for tomorrow. We thought we'd stay at your house for two days." Daania explained while coddling a smiling little Hazem.

"Is Taimoor Bhai attending as well?"

Daania gave me a deadpanned look and I felt stupid for asking the question to begin with. "Zeenia and Zoh are coming over dinner right now."

"Aan do you remember that my birthday is coming up?" Lya studied my face with unrelenting eyes that reminded me of my elder brother.

"Of course I do, princess! What are you planning for this year?"

"She wants to take the entire family to Italy. And Taimoor can't seem to say no."

"That sounds like a superb plan! I can't wait!"

Just then Nia arrived with Zoh, and Lya rushed to greet her cousin. Soon the entire house was buzzing with the three minions running around. Daania watched over them but Nia seemed unconcerned, faffing around the house, dishing out orders to the staff.

Dinner was promptly served but I barely had an appetite. Nia and Daania discussed Lya's upcoming birthday party with the girls chipping in every now and then, while Hazem sat in my lap sucking on a piece of apple. Everyone seemed excited but all I could think of were the dark orbs that reminded me of the moon and the smile that was more beautiful and deadly than the night.

After dinner, Daania and the children retired to their rooms but Nia followed me out into the gardens. "You alright?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay."

"Why did you ask?" I stared at the stars above, the darkness between them resembling the galaxies of unspoken fears in her eyes.

"You just seemed a little— preoccupied." I raised my brow, my attention turning back to my sister. "During dinner. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah."

Nia was quiet for a while, and we both found ourselves in an awkward silence. It wasn't hard to guess, Nia was trying to work up a conversation and seemed visibly disappointed at my dismissive replies. Nia was not one to tiptoe around conversations but she almost seemed hesitant to bring up whatever it was she wanted to discuss. I would have indulged her but right now, all I wanted was to sulk in silence.

"So, what's going on between you and —that girl."

My voice thinned with anger at her words, "That girl has a name." I grunted in a seething whisper.

Nia had never particularly been fond of the girls I had dated in the past, but I didn't expect to have this conversation with her just yet. But I wasn't surprised, Nia had the eye of a tiger, nothing escaped her watchful gaze. But hearing my response Nia relaxed visibly, her shoulder easing up, "So there is something going on. I was just playing to see how—"

"I'm not in the mood for games, Nia." I snapped back.

"Azaan." Her voice was laced with a silent warning. "What's going on? And it would do you well to not deny it."

"Why are you and Taimoor Bhai suddenly so interested in my life?"

"We've always been interested in your life and well being." She paused and her firm tone softened around the edges, "Although we might not have had the best way of expressing ourselves. And you're stalling."

"I'm not stalling." Her brow rose in challenge. "There is nothing going on. We're just acquaintances. Friends at best. Nothing more."

"Oh? That's a pity." She seemed genuinely disappointed. "I was planning a summer wedding in Italy."

"Wow! How sweet of you. Have you thought of a name for our first born?"

"I'll let Mother decide that."

"Oh for fuck's sake, Nia! You told Mom?"

"Drop it. I haven't told anyone. But really, what's going on Azaan?"

"I already told you. Nothing. She isn't really interested in anything more than friendship."

"So you did try."

I shrugged, looking away, "Not particularly."

"Now that's a first." I raised my brow, waiting for her to elaborate. "Didn't know women were immune to the Mughal charm."

"No one escapes my roguish charm, sister. It's just—"I paused fishing for the right words to describe the soulful and haunted beauty that had occupied my mind. "She is a complete paradox. She continues to surprise. The only thing predictable about her is her unpredictability."

"I know what happened last night." I was surprised at the revelation but not quite. "Next time you leave the guards to clean up after you, make sure they don't leave blood stains in the car."

"Those fu—" I pulled my lips together and shook my head. "They told you everything."

"Your men are loyal to you, they were pretty tight-lipped. But threats and blackmail go a long way." She seemed proud at her ability to fish out information from anyone at any time.

"Why are you like this?" I could not help but chuckle. "It was so much better when you all weren't involved in my life, I could do whenever the shit I want, without y'all so much as batting an eyelid."

"We've always been concerned. But I wouldn't interfere in your life. You're old enough to make your own decisions, but I want you to be protected."

"I appreciate that. But I've taken care of the guy."

"What about Layla?"

"I already told you there is nothing going on." Her lips thinned in a straight line and I couldn't help but smile. "It seems you wish there was."

"Not my decision to make, but I was hoping you'd get a little serious in life. Those Botox filled, gold diggers you've been dating are no good. Layla is your perfect match. An equal."

"God Nia! You didn't have to be so crude about it. And for the record, Camille didn't have fillers."

"The Latina?" I nodded. "She was pretty. But mother would have thrown a fit. It took her a while to warm up to Daania!"

"What makes you think she wouldn't have a problem with Lee Lee?"

"Lee Lee?" She smiled suggestively at the nickname, making me groan in response. "But to answer your question: highly doubtful. Lee Lee is intelligent, sharp, well heeled and comes from an illustrious and powerful family. She is everything Mother would want for you. She is your match Azaan."

"As convincing as you are with your little speech, I really don't think I'm planning upon settling down any time soon. And I don't think she is interested either."

"Then what were you hoping for? A summer fling?"

"I don't know Nia. I don't know. It's not like I went into it with a plan. We met, we clicked. But she's too rigid, too closed off."

"I believe you Azaan and I trust you to not mess this up, even if you're just friends with her. Her family is powerful, but more importantly they have been good friends of the Mughals for generations, and now Aliyaar and Shanzae are close family friends."

"I understand Nia. I know what it takes to be a Mughal."

"Are they coming to the party this weekend?"

"They did RSVP."

"And Layla?"

"She'd be there too." Nia smiled, but she didn't need to know that Lee Lee had refused to come to the party with me and I only had 5 days to convince her otherwise.

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Thoughts?

The chapter is unedited, so please excuse any typos or errors you might find. ✨

Until next time keep me in your prayers.

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