Her eyes locked on that person. He was a young man, handsome, and had attractive features. Having light black hair, alluring grey eyes, a straight slim nose, high cheekbones, and a sharp jawline covered by a dense black stubble he was giving graceful vibes. He was cladded in a light brown dress pants and a simple white shirt, completing his look with a body-hugging blue denim jacket.

She had seen him before. She seemed familiar to her.

"Sir, here she is. Miss Ishmal Alam. The one who made that beautiful piece of art."

The guy lifted his gaze from his phone's screen and gave an unhurried look at Ishmal when his manager introduced her to him.

"Oh." When he spoke, his voice was deep and low. "The artist embodies her own art definitely. You have a good eye, Mehmel."

"Don't mention it, Sir." Mehmel smiled.

Now she recognized where she had seen him. On TV, the internet, and in newspapers.

"AssalamoAlaikum!" Ishmal finally greeted him.

He looked back at Ishmal and nodded curtly. "Walaikum Assalam. Have a seat, Miss Ishmal."

"Thank you, Sir," Ishmal mumbled before taking the chair in front of him. Mehmel occupied the one beside her.

"Let's have some coffee before we undertake the discussion of work. Right ladies?" He asked them but didnt wait for their reply as he gestured to the waiter with his index finger.

"A mocca for you, Mehmel. Yes?" He then stared back at Ishmal. "And you Miss?"

Ishmal became dumbfounded at this. "Ah...I...I am fine with anything. Thanks for asking."

He narrowed his eyes at her but didnt speak anything in reply.

"She will also have Mocca, Sir," Mehmel said with a smile.

Ishmal realized she smiled a lot. But she was more concerned over the fact that she just stuttered in front of a CEO who was perhaps going to give her a job. Though her work was behind the scenes, however, she should show herself more confident.

"Lovely," the man spoke and then gave the order to the waiter.

The man started. "Miss Ishmal, Mehmel showed me your work. And honestly, I was very impressed by that. I was in a real need of a good graphic artist for my children's magazine. I got many but they just couldn't pinpoint the innocence and simplicity of the target readers. But yours was really a good attempt. It had purity and clarity. So, you can continue with us. You will be provided with a very nice working environment, to-the-point command, and a handsome salary. So if it's okay from your side, let's discuss the contract."

Ishmal moved her head curtly. "I would like to proceed, Sir."

"Marvellous. Mehmel can I have the contract please?" He inquired his manager.

The offer was very nice and something Ishmal would be a fool to reject so she said yes at the moment.

"You are a part of Rise and Shine, Miss Ishmal. We are a team now. I want the best for you. And without any sugar coating, I won't tolerate any disloyalty and recklessness from the work. So I hope we can work together nicely," the CEO announced with a slight tilt of his neck.

"I won't disappoint you, Sir. You can count me on it," Ishmal mumbled.

She couldn't believe she had found a way to let her passion flow and come to work.

__________________________

"Izmir has visited Karachi. For one of his projects. He called me a while ago that he will be coming to our house tomorrow," Aqia disclosed on the lunch table as everyone became ear of her words.

"Oh, that's so nice to hear. I saw him last when he was a young boy," Tashfeen commented.

Aqia nodded. "Yes then he left for abroad for his masters and then when he came back, his family settled in Islamabad. He will be meeting us after such a long time indeed. Maybe ten or twelve years."

"Mir and his unstoppable tongue. I don't know if he is still the same. His profession suits him very much," Huzaifa chuckled.

"Aqia Mama, he is your sister's son? I remember when he last time came here. I was only five and he gave me a Barbie," Unaiza chortled in happiness.

"Yes, yes he is the one," Aqia retorted.

"Mir Bhai was very nice. It will be such fun when he is here," Unaiza chimed in excitation.

"Oh Glasses, he will annoy the hell out of you. Many people are a victims of his manipulative brain. The internet is filled with such news," Huzaifa taunted her at which she pouted.

Haider was seated here but listening to everything with half heart. His phone was constantly buzzing and every time he was getting calls from some unknown numbers. He clenched his jaw and then grabbed his cell. He had had it enough. Now he wouldn't spare that bastard. He decided to disclose about those threats to the media. He was a member of the party of the current government so nothing could be done by involving higher authorities. Proven or not, but he had been getting it ever since he captured that loser's son. And this would disgrace him so much when it would be running in headlines that he was trying to intimidate the police.

Haider turned off his phone but Tashfeen noticed it well.

"What's wrong, Haider? You look distracted," he asked him.

"I am fine, Dad. I have an important call to make. Excuse me," he murmured and then left the table.

Aqia glared at him but didn't say anything. Haider was behaving differently and if Nisha wasn't the reason for this anymore, then what was that? He had gotten what he wanted. The contract marriage ended then why was he doing that?

____________________

After talking to the Boss, she was going back to in Mehmel's car. She was so excited about this new take on life.

"What about I'll have to see our office and studio? I know you have to work by staying at home but you should know where you are working. And the fact that this place is totally credible and we aren't making you fool," Mehmel let out as she laughed slightly.

Ishmal shook her head quickly as a timid smile came on her lips. "There's not a single thing to doubt. Rise and Shine is a very popular newspaper and I know it. And then Boss. Who doesn't know him? He is well known personality."

Mehmel shrugged her shoulders. "Well known. Yes."

After a while, they were standing outside of a very majestic and beautiful building of Rise and Shine studio. Mehmel led her inside and on every nook, Ishmal's eyes widened in stun. The architecture was modern and there was a lot of glassworks everywhere. It was so big that she lost the understanding of the way. Ishmal couldn't believe she was a part of such a popular company now.

And she found herself very blessed for having it without any doubt.

_______________________

When Haider came home the next evening, as he expected he found Izmir there. They were seated on the lawn. And indisputably he was speaking endlessly and telling his stories to his family. He was a very talkative and quirky person. He made people tangle in his words and he knew quite well how to make use of his tongue and brain. Part of the reason why was he a very successful journalist. But that was another thing that Izmir was known for another thing as well other than his creative and subtle ways. He was a very jolly and happy kind of person.

Izmir's attention caught his figure and then he stood up from his chair and headed towards him, his eyes flitting over Haider.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, I am scared. Don't tell me the police came to arrest me for speaking high on TV against those so-called politicians?"

Haider gritted his eyebrows. "Cut the crap, you player. How are you?"

"Fit and handsome." They shared a brief hug before Izmir uttered while lifting his collars.

Haider lightly punched his shoulder. "You haven't changed even a bit. Huh?"

"Change is not a good thing, Mr. ASP. One should be a pain in the ass for everyone jealous of him by not changing himself," Izmir declared with a lopsided grin.

That was a very good day. The family gathering had definitely made him forget everything for a while. Even if temporarily.

And maybe Izmir could really become a pain in the ass for that jerk of a MNA.

___________________

••| A MONTH LATER|••

That morning, Haider was getting ready for his duty when his door knocked. Mumbling a careless come-in, he showered perfume over himself. Unaiza entered the room and approached him.

"That's something for you. A postman delivered it," she explained, forwarding the parcel in his direction.

Haider gazed at her and then the thing in her hand before sighing as realization hit him. He took the parcel from her. As Unaiza left, he regarded the brown colorer envelope again before opening it. It revealed out to be divorce papers. He himself had got them prepared a few days ago and today they reached him.

However, he didn't know why the sight of them had revoked him again. Just a signature and then Ishmal would be away from his life for forever. He would lose every kind of right over her. His grip increased on the parcel before he again pushed the papers inside the envelope. Maybe he would do that somewhere else where he wouldn't get reminded of her. In this room, he still smelled Ishmal's vanilla scent and her feel.

As he was driving towards the police station, he again sensed a car following him as soon as the barren area came. After the news of the defamation of MNA came on social media by none other than Izmir, he became more furious. And now openly gave him death threats.

Haider increased his speed and decided to leave now but then another car came from the front. Now his own car was sandwiched between these two and he had no other option than to stop. Haider grabbed his gun with his left hand as he aimed at the glasses of the car at the rear.

The firing started from both sides but since Haider had a bulletproof car, he was safe from the effect. Playing smartly, he was able to injure a man in the car standing behind him. But he had to stop when he saw something which made him even have a second question over his vision. His eyes popped out in first shock and then concern.

"Ishmal," he whispered in alarm.

_______________________

Izmir Raza

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

I am back with a new chapter.

I hope you like it.

I hope you like Izmir. He is going to be the main lead of Book 4 In Sha Allah. ❤

Do you still couldn't get Ishmal's Boss? 👀

What about the twist in the end?

What do you think will happen next?

If you like this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment. ❤❤

Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. 💞💞