Haya.

"So Prince Amir really gave you the authority to ruin his reputation?" She had her brother say with a fake snicker, causing her to roll her eyes.

"The same way father gave you his money to burn away." Haya shot back at him.

He was sat in the garden as they were on video call and Illyas was giving her a hard time after hearing the news that she would be working in Maraaish soon.

Her brother Yusuf was also sat a few inches away from Illyas, on a separate table with a tablet as he focused on what seemed like important work.

"My little sister, always the charmer." Illyas dragged, Haya clicked her tongue.

She hadn't heard from Illyas in around ten to twelve days. Yusuf called her twice a week, only to ask if she was doing alright. Slowly and gradually, she was noticing major change within her oldest brother. He was more calm, patient and much more hardworking than before. Also, he didn't hesitate in showing concern in his voice whenever he talked to Haya.

She kind of liked it but she also didn't.

"Imagine calling your sister after two weeks, only to talk bullshit. Why does mother even tell you things?!" She asked, frowning as Illyas laughed.

"Yusuf is sitting there and still shaking his head as you curse like a woman on the street." He told Haya.

Her brother had literally heard worse from her. She knew Illyas was just exaggerating.

"And what's wrong with the women on the streets?" Haya asked instead, frowning at her brother

"Oh God. You just assume stuff to pick on me." She shrugged, knowing it was true.

Illyas didn't differentiate when it came to women. Literally he didn't. Haya knew he was always too busy and too self obsessed to date women. It was always one night stands and never seeing those girls again.

She never really said anything about it because he had never said anything to her about her lifestyle.

"Anyway, good to see you've not killed yourself in Maraaish."

He grumbled, saying it like it was such a praise.

"Good to see your investors haven't killed themselves after your recent stunt." Haya responded in the same tone.

Recently, he had tried to twist things up in the business due to which he had remained a top story for quite a few days. Everyone was speculating that there would be a huge economic failure but she knew her brother and she knew he wouldn't ever let that happen.

"Baby sister, they are going to earn billions of dollars."

She rolled her eyes, seeing the smug expression on her brother's face.

"How's Shahid? He hardly calls." She enquired about the youngest brother.

Since Haya was closest to him in age, she always wanted to know what he was upto. They had been extremely close as children but growing up, Shahid was shy and introverted where Haya was anything but that.

"He's somewhere in the house, singing for a love he never even had." Her brother replied with a laugh, she shook her head.

Illyas was her mother's favourite, she knew that for a fact. And if it weren't for her, Shahid would have been father's.

On the other hand, Yusuf was the glue that held them all together. He was the one who made sure that all of his siblings were doing alright and he was also the one who got angry at them the most. Well, apart from Haya.

"Shut it, Illyas. He's such a sweet soul, better than you two combined." Haya stated, her brother feigned a gasp.

"Now that's the most offensive thing you've ever said to me."

And Haya had called him a good about of offensive things her entire life.

She smirked.

"Don't be dramatic." He made a bored expression on his face, narrowing his eyes.

"I have to work, I'll call you in a month." He told Haya, she scowled.

"Fuck off." She cursed, earning a huge laughter from her brother.

He always pushed at her buttons and loved the responses.

"If there's ever a book made on how to not be a Royal, you would definitely be the author." He stated, cocking his eyebrow at her and leaning back, as if he actually had no plans to end the call.

"Did you not hear the part where I told you to fuck off, brother?" Haya asked, smiling sweetly at him.

"Gladly." He murmured, still leaned back.

Haya laughed, knowing he wasn't going to hang up.

She bit her lip, watching beside Illyas where she could see her brother Yusuf, still absorbed into some files and the tablet.

"Hey Illyas?" She gestured him to come closer. He sighed dramatically but picked up his phone and put it near his face.

"Hmm?"

"Can you tell Yusuf Sara sucks and then make me listen to his annoyed response?"

Illyas nodded, calling out his brother.

"Yusuf!" He yelled, drawing the attention of his brother.

"Hmm?"

"Haya's saying Sara sucks!" He exclaimed out loud, quite loud infact.

Yusuf let a frown show on his face.

"Tell Haya to stop being a brat and learn some manners." He replied, loud enough for Haya to hear.

She chuckled, loving her annoyed brother even more.

"He's saying that you should stop-"

"Yeah, I heard." She interrupted, Illyas hummed and continued.

"He also says Sara is prettier, more intellectual and genuine than you. She also doesn't have her head in the clouds." He teased, knowing it would affect Haya.

"Ask me if I give a motherfuck?" Haya cursed, he put his hand on his head.

"Do you give a mother fuck?" He asked, teasing further.

"Illyas." Haya let out an annoyed whine and he knew his work for today was done.

"Talk later, Haya." Her brother ended the phone call, Haya couldn't help but miss her family.

@Haya : ❤️

"I didn't hear you come in." Haya greeted him as he entered the bedroom, his coat in one hand and cell phone in the other. He put the coat away on the bed, looking up at Haya.

"Salam," He said, letting her kiss his cheek as he repeated the gesture.

"I heard you curse the moment I entered. Astaghfirullah." He murmured as she cracked a playful smile at him.

"It was Illyas. My cursing was justified." She defended, sitting by his side as he sat on the sofa.

"Cursing is never justified, Haya." Amir replied, hearing her shrug as if she didn't really want to talk on this particular subject.

"I've completed my cursing for the day anyway. How was work?" She enquired, turning her body towards him as he cracked his neck, sighing.

"Hectic. I need to visit Givdav tomorrow." He told her.

Givdav was a new city that the government of Maraaish was developing. Since it was on the top of Amir's priorities, he was extremely invested in each and everything related to the development.

"Wasn't I supposed to meet with the team you said you had selected?" Haya asked, frowning.

He had informed her in the morning that he had selected a team for her so she could start her work as early as possible. He told her that the team he had devised was extremely professional and capable. Infact, he had also hired a female advisor for Haya..knowing she needed a woman who knew how things worked in her country, someone who could guide her along the way.

Haya had truly appreciated the gesture, he knew.

"Yes. I'll introduce you to the team and then take off from there. I might be home late." He informed, knowing he had already given her his word.

"Okay." She mumbled, seeing how he leaned his head towards her and she smiled, letting him put it on her shoulder.

She knew he was extremely tired but still, she felt him slowly get up. He covered his face as a yawn escaped him and then rubbed his eyes.

"Let me freshen up and we can have dinner then." He told her.

Haya nodded, standing up as well.

"My stylist is already here but I can go to her after dinner." Haya informed, watching frown at her confused.

He didn't remember any upcoming event for which she needed a stylist.

He raised an eye at her. She chuckled.

"It's my first day at work, babe. I want to look good." She said to him, Amir shrugged.

"You always look good." He said, without even thinking about it.

Haya wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

"And this is why you're my most favourite husband."

The Crown Prince let out a laugh, his dimples poking out of his cheeks and making Haya feel warm and fuzzy.

"I'm your only husband, my love." He shot back, pulling up her chin to place a quick kiss on her lips.

"Even though the media is quite controlled, I would still suggest using the back entrance most of the times. It's better to be away from prying eyes."

He suggested, finding her eyes roam around the entire building. She was extremely observant. She observed the way most people had their eyes on the floor instead of them being at her. She observed the way they remained calm and composed, sat in their particular places and doing their particular jobs without so much as a blink of an eye.

She understood that the reason behind it might have been the fact that she was the wife of a Crown Prince and they were showing her respect. At the same time, she wondered if Amir had anything to do with the way they were behaving. He was a little possessive after all.

Haya nodded, looking at him as they stepped inside the corridor and passed the giant hall.

"I'd rather use the front. I like seeing my pictures on the paper." Haya smugly said, Amir shook his head at her.

He wasn't too fond of being captured or being talked about but a man in his position had to atleast be comfortable with it. Cameras, papers, media..it was all a huge part of his life. But he didn't really like it.

Meanwhile, Haya found her confidence within those cameras and the way people talked about her.

He often wondered if people's appreciation and the way they always seemed to talk about her, had something to do with her being a little prideful.

The spotlight mostly got into people's heads.

"Well, I'm not too fond of that." Amir mumbled, she just shrugged.

"We'll have to work on that."

She stopped, since he had stopped in his tracks as well. His head turned around as he gestured for a man to come towards him. The man hurriedly rushed to the Crown Prince.

"This is Ilmaz. He works for me." Amir introduced, Haya pulled out her hand.

"Hello, good to meet you." Hesitantly, the man pulled his hand out and gently shook it with her.

"Thank you, it's a pleasure to meet you as well."

He swallowed, looking at the Crown Prince.

Amir merely clenched his jaw and started to walk again, finding Haya alongside him.

"Shaking hands with the opposite gender is not really the culture here." He told her something that she already knew.

She had read all about it but she also knew that work places had a professional way of handling things. Shaking hands showed mutual respect and a certain confidence. She didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

"I know it's not in your culture but office ethics are different, no?" Haya asked him, slightly surprised.

"Not really." Amir murmured, watching her raise her eye as if this had come as a surprise to her.

He stopped in a hallway, pointing towards a department.

"And here we are. This will be your division for a while. Your office is ready, there's a conference room by your office. They basically arranged everything for you."

He explained, walking forward. A man held the door for him as both of them walked inside, stepping into an office.

Haya looked at a woman who was busy putting files on the table when both of them entered.

The woman turned around, surprised.

"Assalam u alaikum. I hope your morning is going well, Prince." She greeted Amir, about to turn to say salam to Haya as well when Amir responded and she diverted her attention back to him.

"Walaikum Assalam. It's going very well, alhamdullilah. How are you, Nadia?"

Amir conversated back, a smile on his lips.

Haya learned that the woman's name was Nadia and unlike some women she had met in this country so far, she found Nadia much more decent.

Although she hadn't even greeted Haya yet, the Princess appreciated her black pant and formal shirt. Her hijab loosely hung over her head and Haya already knew her heels were the latest collection by Versace.

"I'm well, thank you." Nadia replied.

"How's your mother holding up?" Amir asked again, as the woman was just about to greet Haya.

"She's getting better. She sends her salam and blessings." Nadia replied, smiling at the Prince.

"Thanks to her. May Allah grant her shifa."

Haya smiled, almost amused. She didn't really feel jealous because she was quite secure in her relationship but it was rather amusing that Amir was so comfortable talking to this woman.

She cleared her throat and pulled out her hand in front of Nadia.

"Hello, I'm Haya." Amir looked at her in surprise, knowing that she wasn't exactly the one to greet people on her own.

"Ofcourse. It's such a pleasure to meet you. I'm Nadia." The woman gave a warm smile, Haya didn't find it fake at all. 

"Nadia is the co chair person in one of our educate a girl programs. She will be your advisor and will guide you accordingly. She's one of the most well researched women workers in my government." Amir explained, continuing.

"I trust her enough to know that she'll make a good work partner." He further said, smiling.

"And I'm really excited to work with you. I know how passionate you are about these things and I'll do all that I can to help." Nadia said, looking genuinely thrilled for work.

Haya nodded.

"Thank you. I'm looking forward to it." She replied in a pleased tone.

"Nadia will introduce you to the entire team, including the assistant she chose for you." At the mention of an assistant, Haya turned to stare at Amir.

"Alright. I'll be fine though, I've already called up Ayesha from Buredaan." She mentioned, earning a soft frown from her husband.

Amir found Nadia excusing herself from the room.

"How will she assist you when she doesn't even know much about this country?" He asked the moment they were alone.

"Her mother's actually from Maraaish. She knows quite alot. She used to assist our ambassador here before." Haya informed, dying to roll her eyes.

Did he think she was stupid? Why would she just ask any random person to come and assist her? She needed someone she knew from before, someone she was comfortable with and at the same time, she needed someone who knew her husband's land. Ayesha fit into all of it.

"Okay. You could have told me before, Haya." Amir mumbled, shaking his head.

If he knew before, he wouldn't have asked Nadia to find the kind of assistant who wouldn't make Haya moody or annoyed.

"It skipped my mind." Haya said as an excuse, looking at the time on her watch for a moment before looking at him again.

"Anyway, aren't you getting late?" Amir stared at his own wrist watch and sighed, knowing he had no more time left.

"Yes, I am. I'll see you tonight."

"Best of luck." He squeezed her shoulder.

"Thank you." Haya murmured, placing a kiss on the side of his mouth.

Amir smiled, his dimples poking out.

"Kissing doesn't really come in our culture too." He told her, seeing the Princess roll her eyes.

"I'm kissing my husband. Culture can fuck off." She cursed.

Amir just shook his head, not even bothering to tell her to not curse.

"Astaghfirullah."

He muttered, hearing his wife's laughter as he walked away.

____

Thoughts???