Shit! I am late!

She was running breathlessly down the corridors of the NUI Galway. Her thesis proposal file clutched to her chest, she was heaving uncontrollably as she sped down the hall finding the right door.

He had already sounded rigid on the email and now she was 10 minutes late. It was all because of the late Sunday night at the pub with her friends. Her old phone didn't bother to chime the alarm when needed and she had risen late from bed. It was luck that Liam had been making noise around the apartment that she had stirred in her sleep. Otherwise, she would have missed this crucial meeting.

She halted in front of the designated door. She read the name plate on the door and took a deep breath. With one hand she hastily brushed back the wayward bright red highlights amongst her black locks and tightened the messy bun she had rolled her hair into. She didn't even have any time to brush her hair. All because of partying all night, now she was to face the brunt of her negligence.

One of the red strands got stuck in her piercings on her left ear. She had three piercings on each ear and a nose ring as well. She winced as she detangled the strand of the hair and pushed it behind her ear. She smoothed the front of her pale pink buttoned down shirt that was snug fit showing off her curvy bosom and slender waist. She looked down at her dark blue skinny jeans and long black boots, she was ready. Rubbing her lips together to make sure her pink lip gloss was still on, she knocked on the door.

There was a muffled response. She hesitantly turned the door knob. The door opened to a brightly lit room. There was a large oak desk covered with countless papers and a Mac laptop. Her black eyes gazed at the dark office swivel chair which was facing its back towards her. She cleared her throat as she stepped in and let the door close behind her on its own.

"I am sorry I am late." She started to explain but whatever she was about to say died down in her throat when the chair rotated and the man seated fierce grey eyes met hers.

Her eyes widened. NO FUCKIN' WAY!

Dylan Murphy – the appointed supervisor for her Master's degree thesis was the man she had come to loathe in the last few weeks.

"YOU!!" she blurted.

The colour changeable grey eyes crinkled in amusement as they scanned her appearance. His deep pink lips framed with his dark ginger beard curled in a sardonic smile and he said in a very deep masculine husky voice, "Yes, me, Manal Siddique. Fancy seeing you here."

Hands on the desk above all those papers, he stood to his 6'3 feet height. His broad shoulders loomed in his white shirt. The unbuttoned top two buttons of the shirt glimpsed of his chest.

She shook her head in disbelief, there must have been some mistake.

He gestured with his hand to the chair and tilted his head, "You better take that chair. We have lost enough time as it is."

Aghast, she stared at him and her feet stayed rooted to the ground.

This was a nightmare.

This can't be true.

How the hell will she be working with this judgemental converted Muslim for the next six months?

After such a great response in the Author note, I wasn't able to resist myself from updating the prologue. As I said, the book will start in early 2017 inshaa Allah. But this was a sneak preview of Dylan and Manal.

What are your thoughts?

Until next time,

Assalam u alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.