5000 words but hey, I updated again!! Lol.

Make sure to vote and comment.

I'd love to know how you're feeling about the story.

Can't wait to write the upcoming chaps. So much drama.

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Aaina X Zaydaan.

Prime Minister Zaydaan Ziagil was not the kind of man who trusted easily but when he did trust someone, he did it with complete conviction. Not only had his team been reviewing countless security personells from different countries but Zaydaan, himself was quite involved in the process.

He didn't want to hire someone yet again from his own country, he wanted someone from outside, someone trustworthy, just in case of any emergency situation. He didn't want any more mistakes, he didn't want any more damage.

The Prime Minister himself was indulged in a conversation with the man, Sami Ullah by his side and Waseem on the other end.

"You're going to be my there for my wife's protection. You'll report directly to Sami about her whereabouts and if you notice anything out of place, you'll take quick action." He told the blue eyed man.

"Got it, sir."

"Sami is the Head of Aaina's security, infact he's basically the head of entire Ziagil family's security so he will explain everything to you." The men shook hands with each other as the Prime Minister walked ahead, talking with him further.

"I usually don't handle these things on my own but my wife is important to me."

Alexander understood what it meant. He had taken an oath and he was willing to go far beyond anything to fulfill that oath.

"I'll protect her with my life." He promised, making Zaydaan nod. He looked at his watch, knowing that it was time to leave.

"Good. Sami will show you around."

He looked at Sami Ullah, whose entire attention was on him.

"Show him around, get him all the necessities and text me when Aaina leaves for the foundation." Sami nodded, eyes raised.

It had been two and a half days since Aaina had left home, she had been coped up inside her room and had managed to hide away in her private space. It was honestly relieving for Sami that Aaina was going back to work.

"She'll leave home from today?" Sami enquired, his voice low as he didn't want anyone to hear the conversation between two friends.

"Yes. She has a meeting today so I'm sure she'll go even if I don't allow her." He said with a proud grin, as if he was kind of glad about it.

Sometimes, Sami just did not understand this man.

"You're not angry." He stated the obvious. Zaydaan shook his head.

"She doesn't need my permission. She respects me and that's why she didn't leave for the past two days." He murmured, sitting in his car.

"Okay. I'll get things prepared then." Sami replied, making Zaydaan nod at her.

"Good."

His car drove away, leaving behind a muscular new bodyguard and Sami Ullah.

--

The hurt that she felt had converted into anger this morning, the kind of anger that she could easily transform into her work and channel something good out of it.

She got up, had a cup of tea and then entered the shower, ready to go back to her work. There was no time for her glum attitude today, she was angry and she was going to work alot. That was all she had in her head.

She changed into a purple lawn suit, putting extra concealer to cover up her dark circles. She applied her kohl and eyeliner, her lipstick and blush, she did her eyebrows, she wore those earrings that she really liked, she even curled her hair at the ends, looking in the mirror to feel good about herself.

She looked good, she really looked good. Aaina smiled in front of the mirror, reminding herself that her her anger had to be focused on the work, not the people around her.

She put on her heels and picked up her bag, removing her phone from charge. She picked it up, opening the door and looking around to see whether someone was there or not.

Thankfully, only the staff was working. No family member was around. She took a sigh of relief, going outside.

She was greeted by Sana right before she could walk down the stairs.

"Salam, Aaina bibi."

"Aaina baji." Aaina corrected her, she smiled nodding.

"Do you want breakfast? I can quickly prepare it." She asked the first lady but Aaina shook her head.

"Thank you, Sana. I'll just eat something at work." She patted her shoulder, walking down the stairs.

In the foyer, she was greeted by Sami Ullah and another man that she didn't really know. A man who did not look like a Pakistani at all.

"Good morning, Aaina. Ready to leave?" Sami greeted her, she said her Salam back.

"Salam, bhai." She mumbled, walking outside.

"Feeling better?" He questioned her in a small whisper.

"Not really but I have work to do." Aaina responded honestly, Sami sighed.

"Would you feel better if I told you sorry?" He asked, his guilt getting the best out of her.

"No. You just did your duty." She replied, giving him a small smile.

Sami Ullah nodded as the she walked outside, ready to sit in her car. She was just about to open the door herself when she saw the man open it for her.

Aaina looked at him, not knowing who he was.

"Aaina, I want to introduce you to someone. This is Alexander Gates. He is your new bodyguard." Sami announced.

The first lady gave a confused look to the both of them. Just how much security did she need?

"What?"

"The Prime Minister decided to increase your security. Alexander will stay by your side at all times," Sami told him, Aaina clicked her tongue.

"So he doesn't trust me now? Is that it?" She hissed in his ear, speaking low.

Sami bhai shook his head with a smile.

"You're taking this wrong, Aaina. He's just being cautious."

Aaina nodded, turning away.

"Hello Alexander. It's nice to meet you." She greeted the man with a polite smile.

The blue eyed bodyguard opened the door for her once again.

"Thank you." Aaina murmured, sitting in the car. As she sat inside the car, she realised that it was unlike the usual days.

Sami bhai was on the back seat, where as the new bodyguard was sitting at the front.

"One at the back, one at the front. This is just perfect." She couldn't help as a sarcastic sentence left her mouth.

Alexander did not react but Sami gave her a grin.

"Someone's cheerful." He mentioned with the same sarcasm. Aaina rolled her eyes, checking the time on her watch.

She took a few deep breaths to make herself feel calm, she was just so filled with anger today, it was daunting.

"So this is your usual route, Sami sir?"

Alexander asked, looking around the area. Their usual convoy was of three to four cars, with the first Lady's car being in the middle.

Sami's security team had eight guards to protect the first lady, Alexander was the ninth one. But he was different. He was the personal bodyguard of first lady Aaina Zaydaan, he had to keep watch at all times.

"Yes. We go by this route everyday." Sami replied.

"But that's not safe at all." Hearing this made him frown. No one had questioned his security plans before.

"Excuse me?"

"When you go from a single route everyday, it makes the chances of an attack rise by sixty percent." He told the man, Aaina put her phone away listening to the interaction.

"But the other route takes twenty more minutes." Sami answered, still composed even though he was fuming.

"It's safer to keep changing routes. I served the home minister back in New Zealand and this is how I always ensured her safety."

"We're going by our usual route for today. I know what's better." Sami mumbled, ending the conversation.

But it actually was not over.

"I'll talk to Mr Prime Minister then." Alexander told him. He was very serious about this job. His duty was to protect her and he wanted to ensure that.

Upon hearing name of the Prime Minister, Aaina got reminded of all the shit that was going on in her life.

"You're here for my security. You have any problem, you can come to me." Aaina stated, looking at Sami bhai.

"And Sami bhai has been with me for many years. He knows what is better for me." She continued, ending the argument.

Her bodyguard, however did not back down.

"I'm here to protect you in the best way possible." He defended in an icy tone.

Aaina let out a groan.

"And I feel fucking protected already so drop it." She swore out loud, eyes widening as she realised what she had done.

She had been so frustrated and angry from the inside, that even nice makeup and a good suit could not help her feel better. Her anger was making her feel different about her own self.

She gulped.

"Aaina." Sami bhai looked at her, concerned. She instantly felt guilty but she was so damn annoyed by the on going argument that she could not help but snap.

The car stopped, as they reached the foundation. Her bodyguard was the one to open the door. She got out of the car, looking at Alexander who still had a stoic face.

Guilt washed all over her. It was his first day at his new job and instead of being welcoming, she had almost scolded him.

"I snapped. I'm sorry." She apologised in a small whisper, entering the foundation.

The conference room was already filled with her team, she opened the door, finding Alexander enter with her.

Aaina frowned at him.

"It's a private meeting, you can not enter." The man did not budge at all, entering without her permission

The first lady looked at Sami bhai, who was talking to the man at the reception.

"Sami bhai." She pointed at the bodyguard, looking at Sami who just shrugged.

He couldn't do anything about this.

"It's PM sahab's orders, Aaina. I can't really say anything about this." He came near her, telling her that she had to comply by her new security measures.

Aaina rolled her eyes, seeing the bodyguard standing by her left side.

"Fine. You can sit at the back." Alexander nodded, standing at the end of the conference hall, his eyes and ears everywhere.

Aaina faked a smile, looking around at the people who were supposedly ready with all the reports and documents.

"Hello everyone." She greeted, sitting down.

"How are things going?" She asked, looking at one of the managers.

"The PR managers are here for the food drive campaign, they have alot of ideas. We have the Abdul sattar edhi foundation meeting today, about seventy women have graduated from school last week and thirty of them were widows. We are going to be presenting them with gifts and a few catering companies are going to come tomorrow to offer them jobs. " She elaborated, placing the reports in front of her.

"Have the orders from the government arrived yet?" Aaina asked, not seeing that information anywhere.

She shook her head.

"No, they haven't. Not yet."

Aaina nodded, eyes moving towards Joseph who was responsible for the fundraiser arrangement.

"What about the fundraiser?" She questioned.

Joseph passed on the file to her.

"It's confirmed for next Sunday. The invitations have been sent, caterers have confirmed and the hotel is all ready to go as well." He explained, Aaina nodded.

Atleast something was actually complete.

"That is wonderful. Did you get permission from the government? I am just so ready to announce the food drive officially." Aaina asked.

Since the Abdul Sattar Edhi foundation was a government owned foundation, merged with the Aaina Zaydaan foundation, they had to get permission from the government before taking any big decision.

"No. We were hoping that you might get it signed from the PM himself, directly. It'll be easier for your husband to sign it instead of it getting passed along to ten other people."

She heard a response. Aaina could not help but stand up. Here she was, trying not to think about Zaydaan and the fight and the anger, but they were just provoking her.

"Who do you think I am? Where is the special assistant to PM on government foundations and Zakat funds? Call him up! This is his job, not mine." Aaina said, her voice strict and firm.

"I'm tired of you all putting everything on me. You get paid for this work, I don't. Do it." She slammed the files back on the table, picking up her bag.

"Why is she so angry today?" She heard a whisper before she could even leave.

She turned around, staring at Zoe.

"I'm angry because of your incompetent behaviour." She snapped at her.

Aaina rolled her eyes at their shocked faces.

"I'll be in my office. Come to me when your works are actually complete." She told all of them, opening the door as she walked outside the conference room.

Her plan to put all of her anger in her work had failed. Instead, all that anger had been transferred to other people. People who worked at her foundation were not incompetent at all. Infact, they genuinely cared about their job and they were actually serious about their work.

There had been a lot of times where they would simply give the files to Aaina, who would get them directly signed from the Prime minister.

Today had been one of those days and they had heard the first lady actually snap at them.

Once again, she felt guilty for screaming at the wrong people. She let out a sigh, as her new bodyguard followed her.

"I need some space." She told him, her mood suddenly glum as she opened the door to her office.

The man looked conflicted. This was his job but seeing that expression on her face, he was contemplating on whether to give her some space or not.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I just-" He hesitated.

Aaina let out a sigh once again and nodded, entering her office.

"Fine, come in."

Alexander entered, standing near the door. She sat on her usual seat, looking at him.

"You can sit, you know." Alexander sat down.

After that, the first lady did not speak much. Her hands covered her face as she rubbed them over her cheeks, guilty.

She bit her lip, hating the way she had acted today. All she wanted to do was go home and sleep in the arms of her husband but that was not possible.

Not today.

"So are you always this angry or was today a special day?" She heard a voice ask, there had been so much silence in the room before this that she had actually forgot about another person being in the room.

She looked at him, giving a small smile.

"I owe you an apology. I'm sorry." She apologised. He shook his head. She had already apologised before, she didn't need to.

"You don't have to." He replied.

"Today is just one of those days. I shouldn't have snapped at you. People I work with are my friends, I treat them as well as I can."

Aaina elaborated. She did not want a stranger to form a wrong opinion of her. She was not this grumpy, snappy person who was unhappy with her life.

She was so grateful for everything that she had, she didn't want people to think of her as ungrateful and whiny.

"I figured something was wrong. I'm quite a friendly person myself." The man replied.

Aaina was almost surprised that her husband, who was so protective and jealous and possessive, had actually appointed a handsome, interactive man for her security.

"Aren't bodyguards supposed to be macho and quiet?" Aaina questioned. Weren't they mysterious and cold-ish?

"That only happens in movies. If I'm supposed to protect you, the least I can do is make both of us comfortable around one another."

Okay so he was actually a nice guy. Maybe, it wouldn't be a problem having him around.

"Right. Well, hello Alexander. I'm Aaina." She introduced herself again, Alexander chuckled.

"Very nice to meet you, ma'am." He said back.

"Aaina would sound just fine to me."

"Alright. Aaina."

---

It was after Maghrib time that Zaydaan Ziagil entered his room, finding his wife freshly showered and brushing her hair in front of the mirror.

She paused as she saw him enter, her eyes staring at him through the mirror before she looked away.

He didn't say Salam and she didn't either. Aaina brushed her hair and put some cologne around herself, then looked at her daughter who was still playing on the floor, throwing her rubber toys around the entire room.

Aaina frowned.

"Zayla, stop throwing things on the floor." Aaina didn't actually yell, but her voice was louder than before, as if she wanted him to hear how mad she was, how angry she was at him.

"Don't yell at my daughter." Zaydaan mumbled, leaning down to look at Zayla.

He kissed the top of her head, giving her his hand and making her get up.

"Hey, my darling. Why don't you go and find Ahad chachu?" His daughter didn't hesitate as she nodded eagerly, ready to go play with her Uncle Ahad.

He pointed at the house maid, asking her to make sure Zayla reached Ahad's room.

He slammed the door as soon as his daughter was at a safe distance from the room.

"I'm also someone's daughter but you didn't mind yelling at me." Aaina taunted, narrowing her eyes at him.

"You got caught lying to me. You went behind my back!" He exclaimed, looking at her like she still did not understand.

"I apologised to you. I did what I thought was right but it wasn't. I'm a human being, I can make mistakes."

She said back, she had no energy to argue or yell, to make him understand. He always understood, why was he not understanding this?

He looked at her, seeing the tired expression on her face.

"You never went behind my back before. Maybe I gave you too much freedom and you took advantage of that."

He mumbled the last part but it was still very much audible.

"I am not a child, Zaydaan." She stated, sitting on the bed.

"Then stop acting childish, Aaina. She has a recording of you offering her money." He replied.

She felt as if they were both going in circles, the same lines, the same words being used over and over again to win an argument.

If this had been a normal argument in the room, she would have made sure to make up with him before sleep. but he had actually hurt her in front of his entire family, that part, she just could not ignore.

She swallowed. Yes, she had a recording but every problem also had a solution. How would they ever reach one if they just kept on arguing?

"I yelled at my new bodyguard today. I yelled at people in my foundation. I don't yell at people but I have been so frustrated since the past three days because of you that I didn't even know what I was doing." She continued.

"You were angry? Yes. You were disappointed at me. I got that. But you yelled at me in front of the entire family. Everyone heard you and all I could do was listen. I didn't disrespect you." He kept listening to her and she hoped, that maybe this time he would understand her dilemma. Like he always did.

"I made a mistake. You could have talked to me in private and I wouldn't have slept without telling you how sorry I was, before knowing for sure that we were okay." For a moment there, he looked at her and she looked at him and it felt like everything was back to normal.

But then he turned his back, putting himself a glass of water. He drank the entire glass in one gulp.

"You should have told me that you were going." He mentioned, sitting down on the other side of the bed.

"You would have stopped me. I wanted to tell you but I decided to tell you afterwards. I just didn't get the chance." She explained herself, again.

"Exactly." He replied with a bitter chuckle.

Aaina nodded.

Okay then.

"So this is how it's going to be then?" She still asked.

"Yes."

"Okay."

She turned around and laid down on the bed, meanwhile her husband walked out of the room to meet with his father.

--

When the sky was dark and the night approached, her mind was still very much awake. She wanted to shut it off, she wanted to close her eyes and sleep, she wanted to pretend that the past three days had never happened, she wanted content and peace.

She tried to shut her eyes, hoping that sleep would come before he entered the room.

Unfortunately or fortunately, that did not happen. The Prime Minister entered the room, finding his wife struggling to sleep.

In that moment, seeing that expression on her face, the tired, annoyed but innocent expression, all he felt was love.

His love for her transcended everything, including his ego and her mistakes. The man inside of him did not feel guilty for yelling at her but the husband, guilt came crashing back on him.

God, he should not have yelled at her.

Saying that he was sorry felt too hard, so he decided to do things differently.

"Don't touch me while I sleep." He teased, hoping that she would touch him on purpose just to annoy him.

Instead, he found her agreeing to it.

"Don't worry, I won't." She mumbled, her face was muffled in her pillow, body pressed hard on the mattress.

One moment, she was comfortable on the bed and in the next moment, an arm reached out towards her waist, pulling her back to him.

Aaina hadn't felt this warmth for three days, it felt so peaceful. She feigned her annoyance.

"Zaydaan." She tried to push herself away but the grip on her waist only tightened.

"No." He whispered, mouth near her ear as she tried to wriggle herself out of the grip.

"Why didn't you sleep here the other night?" She heard him question, his grip still very tight but she had stopped fighting. Instead, she leaned into his touch.

"We both needed some space." He heard her say.

"I don't need space from you, Aaina."

She almost smiled at the words.

"Then why didn't you come and take me back to the bedroom?" She questioned further.

"I was very mad at you." He stated.

"I think that much was very clear." She grumbled, annoyed.

He didn't say anything for a moment but felt her turn around, her face towards him.

"It was very hard to sleep without you," He admitted in a soft whisper.

Aaina looked away to hide the smile that was trying to form itself on her face. His thumb reached out and he put it under her chin, making her look up. She didn't look in his eyes but at his forehead.

It was hard to look in his eyes and not melt. Besides, she was not sure where the sudden let's makeup had come from.

"Look at me." Zaydaan stated. She looked at him.

At his eyes that were back to looking at her like she was the best part of him, the brown eyes that looked at her with all the love in the world, the tenderness had come back and so had the care.

"What?" She questioned softly.

"I lost control. I didn't want to yell at you." He admitted his mistake.

When he admitted that he had actually done something wrong, that he didn't want to lose control but he had, all that yelling came back in her head. That's pathetic from you, Aaina. She hated that line so much. It reminded her of the past.

"But you did. Ye theek hai na Zaydaan. Din main sab ke saamne aap insult karo aur raat main bistar garam karne ke liye biwi ke paas ajao."

(Is this right, Zaydaan? Insulting your wife in front of everyone during the day and then coming to her at night so she could warm your bed.)

He raised his eyes as those words left her mouth. Did she think that he wanted to make up because of sex?

"Aaina, tum ghalat baat kar rahi ho."

(You're saying the wrong thing.)

He replied, his mood changing.

"Maine kabhi aap se ye expect nahi kiya tha, Zaydaan. Aap jo kehte ho main izzat se sunti hoon kyun ke wo bilawaja nahi hota. Lekin, aap ne sab ke saamne mujhe bauhat hurt kia."

(I never expected this from you, Zaydaan. Whatever you say to me, I listen to it with respect because I know it's not without a reason. But you really hurt me in front of everyone.)

She told him honestly. If they were communicating and talking it out, she wanted him to know that he had hurt her.

"You went behind my back. I felt betrayed by you. I said I lost control." He replied, hands still on her waist.

She put hers around his neck.

"You can't even muster up an apology." She whispered to him.

"Because my actions were initiated by your mistake." He argued.

Aaina let out a sigh, looking away.

"Okay. Chor do, let me sleep please." She tried to move away, he held her there, putting her arms around his neck like they were placed before.

"Honestly tell me, Why did you really go to meet her? What was the real reason?"

There had to be a reason. She wasn't stupid to just go there because she thought the Chaudhrys would negotiate with them. Aaina knew this world well.

"My mother." She replied, not even bothering to hide the hurt that came by taking her name.

"Zaydaan, she's with them and Saaniya knew her so well. I just thought that if I could know what mama was upto through Saaniya, maybe I could convince her to leave all of it. To just let go." She elaborated with a shaky voice.

Her own mother. She didn't have it in herself to go against her own mother but her mother was giving no choice to her.

"Your mother is too vengeful to let go." Zaydaan stated, he knew the woman well. He had been keeping tabs on her for days now. He knew where she went and what she said.

He also knew about her frequent late night calls with Awan and how she fed him all the details of the daily activities of the Prime Minister House. He knew the woman was on a mission.

"But when I went there and heard her talk about my mother, I realised that there wasn't anything I could do." Aaina snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Can't you get her out of here?" She questioned with some hope. If she could just go and leave it all behind, start a new life..

Zaydaan Ziagil smiled at his wife. Her mother was going to be pawn in this entire game, how could he let her go right now?

"Your mother is exactly where I want her to be. It's going to stay that way for a while." He told her, Aaina clicked her tongue.

"I don't want her near me or my daughter." Tears came out of her eyes as she admitted those words out loud.

She could take the hurt, the plans, the scheming but she didn't trust her own mother at all when it came to Zayla.

She sniffed.

How could Aaina be so worried and concerned about her daughter Zayla but there was no one to feel that way about her? How could a mother be so brutal?

"Don't cry." Her husband murmured, wiping away the stray tears.

"And I wanted to tell you all of it but you just shouted and I-" Her mouth wavered, as she tried to stop herself from crying and Zaydaan couldn't help himself.

He leaned in, hands going from her waist to her head, his hands holding her face as his lips touched hers, placing a gentle kiss.

In that moment, just for a while, the world fell away. All there remained was the both of them, no one else.

His kiss was slow and soft, comforting in ways that no words could match it's level, she smiled into the kiss, smiled at him, kissing him back.

His hands drifted to her hip, settling there and pulling her even more close after the kiss ended.

She put her head against his chest, feeling the thumping of her heart and the warmth of his skin.

"Zaydaan, I-"

She tried to tell him that she was sorry about it all, sorry that Saaniya had recorded her and sorry that he had felt betrayed.

He understood. He shushed her.

"Sshh, just go to sleep. I'll figure something out." He promised.

His first lady gulped.

"I'm sorry that I went behind your back." She said it anyway, even though he knew it.

"I know you are." He answered, feeling her lean up again, kissing the side of his mouth.

Aaina chuckled, contented. Now, she could actually tell him.

"And about the recording, I think I might have something to help us out." She trailed off.

Zaydaan Ziagil frowned, confused.

"What?"

"Why don't I show you?"

And then, she showed it to him. He couldn't help but smirk at his wife. Maybe, she really had learned a few tricks from him.

---

It was looong. Hope you guys liked it though. Also Richard madden is bae and he plays Alexander.

Thoughts?