Recap: I agreed to fake date Ryan.

Oh God, my head feels like it's going to explode any second now.

After our ice cream break last night, we got back around midnight…I think.
But I couldn’t sleep. My brain wouldn’t shut up, buzzing like a broken radio stuck on static until the sun decided to slap my window awake.

I can't believe that I agreed to the absurdity.
Ryan and me.
I can't even imagine it.

On the other hand, I might've imagined too far with Naveen.
He was nice to everyone; I was the one who read too much into things.

And now, I’m nothing more than a zombie running on caffeine.

Even the sound of the glass door sliding open made my teeth clench.

"AISHA!!"

My heart jumped as the loud voice echoed down the hallway, drawing everyone's attention.

Oh God! That sounds like Naveen.

Not now. Please, not now.

I quickened my pace, practically sprinting through the office. Icy stares followed me like shadows.
If this keeps up, I’m going to lose it.

I rounded a corner, my office finally in sight, and let out a relieved sigh.

But wait a damn minute...

Why am I running again?
He’s the one in the wrong, not me.

I stopped, whipped around, and glared at Naveen. His eyes widened, and in his panic state, he threw his hands up to stop himself from crashing into me— Too late.

Smack!

I shrieked out loud from the impact.
Something—probably his elbow—hit me square in the face, and the next thing I knew, I was flat on the floor.

"Ow!" I groaned, clutching my face

"Aisha! I’m so sorry!" Naveen scrambled to help, his face a mess of guilt and panic.
"Oh God! Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—

"Do I look okay?!"I snapped, my voice muffled by the fact that I was still cradling my throbbing nose.

It'll bruise, badly.

He froze, looking like a deer caught in headlights, before offering me his hand. I glared at it for a second and pushed myself up, ignoring his help.

"What do you want now?"

"I... I wanted to explain,"he stammered, in a cracked voice.
His eyes darted around before he added softly, "About last night."

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. "Explain? You ghosted me. What's there to explain?"

Naveen sighed, his shoulders slumped as he stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets.
"It wasn’t like that, Aisha. I had to help Emily... with work."

"Emily?" I scoffed. Of course.

I should’ve known. After all, they were inseparable at the office.

"She’s still learning," He blinked, taken aback by my tone and continued,
"And I-I had to step in. It's my role."

I glared at him. "You could’ve at least texted me, Naveen. Something. Anything."

"I know, and I’m sorry," he muttered, running his hand through his hair.
"I wasn’t trying to avoid you. I just got caught up."

"But you couldn’t bother to return my calls? I was worried, Naveen! Do you have any idea what went through my head? But, what did I know?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

"Emily was my responsibility and I had to give her training—"

"Whatever,' I said, waving him off.
"I don’t care anymore."

"It's work. I was working.There's absolutely no need to be salty about it."

Ha!- Did he just...

"Salty?" I snapped. "You couldn’t send a single text? Something like, ‘Hey, I’m stuck helping Emily, I’ll catch up later’? Was that too much to ask?"

Naveen opened his mouth to respond, but I was done. I turned around and sprinted to my office, carrying my salty ass!

I had to get out of there before I could say something I couldn’t take back.

How could he just... do this?

I thought we might've a chance to be something. But no. Apparently, I was the one being delusional.
_____

I collapsed into my office chair, trying to focus on the files in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to Naveen.

"Hey, intern!" Serena’s sharp voice jolted me out of my thoughts. I winced at the sound.

"Ryan’s calling for you. Now."

Before I could even respond, she walked off.

Great. Just what I needed.

I trudged down the hallway, still stewing over the morning’s disaster with Naveen.
But Ryan?
He was an entirely different headache.

The door to Ryan’s office was slightly ajar, and I paused before pushing it open. He was behind his sleek desk, reviewing some files.

The moment I stepped inside, his eyes flicked up, and his gaze locked onto mine.

"You wanted to see me?" I tried to keep my voice neutral, but it came out with a nervous edge. Being in his office always made me feel like I was being summoned to the principal's office—except this principal was also the guy I was pretending to date.
Yay! Fun.

"Close the door," Ryan said, his tone as professional as ever. Not a hint of warmth as usual.

I closed it, my hand lingering on the handle for a moment before I turned back to face him. He gestured for me to sit down, and I did so, feeling a change in the air.

He slid a file across the desk toward me.
"This is for your project,"

"This is... all for me?"
I nearly gasped, eyeing the size of the file. I gulped and picked up the file, flipping through the pages.

It was heavier than I expected

Ryan folded his hands on the desk, leaning back slightly in his chair.
"Yes. If you mess this up, it won't just reflect poorly on you —it will impact the company too."

Ah, the classic Ryan. No pressure, right?

I swallowed, nodding as I flipped through the documents.

"I won’t mess it up,"

"Good. You need to attend a meeting with the client tomorrow morning. I expect you to be prepared." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"And don’t worry I'll join too."
he added, sliding his phone toward me.

I stared at it. "What?"

"Put in your number. We need to be able to reach each other."
Ryan said as a matter of fact-ly.
So annoyingly arrogant!

I clenched my jaw but took his phone carefully. It was an iPhone.
One slip and it would cost me my entire savings.

I typed in my number then gave it back to him. Satisfied, he nodded once.

Ryan's expression remained as cold as ever but when he finally spared me a glance, something flickered in his eyes.

"What happened to your face?" He asked with a deep frown.

Oh shit! It bruised already?

"Ah- it's nothing, actually." I said, quickly covering my face.
"I.. tripped on the stairs."

I hurriedly stood up, clutching the file to my chest ready to dash out of his office.
"Anything else?"

He gave me a long, sceptical look but nodded curtly.
"That will be all."
I practically bolted out of his office, clutching the file to my chest.

___

I dropped the file onto my desk, rubbing my temples. My headache was getting worse by the second.

"Hey, can we talk?"
I jumped slightly, startled by the voice.

Naveen gave a hesitant smile, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he stood awkwardly near my desk.

I sighed, barely able to muster the energy to deal with him.
"What?"

"I just wanted to apologise. I know I owe you a proper explanation—"

"Naveen, it’s fine. Let’s move on."
I cut him off in the middle.

He paused, shifting awkwardly, glancing around before lowering his voice.
"I know. I just wanted to apologise, sincerely."

"Apologies accepted. Can I go back to my work?"

"Yeah ofcourse.. sure. I.. uh.. Can I ask you one more thing?"

I glanced up, bracing myself. "What?"

Naveen shifted back and forth, scratching the back of his head.

"How did you manage?"

"Ryan." I blurted out, without thinking.

"Wait...what?" Naveen looked puzzled. And I don't blame him for that—the feelings are mutual.

I sighed. "Ryan and I are fake dating. I told my parents he’s my boyfriend, and in exchange, I’m pretending to be his girlfriend."

Naveen’s eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle.
"Wow!.. sorry.."

He turned around for a second, his hand flying towards his mouth and he mumbled something under his breath.

I don't blame him for that either.
It's hard to process.

Naveen cleared his throat after taking his sweet time digesting the cold hard truth.

"You and Ryan? Fake dating?"

I nodded.
"Yeah, it’s not real," I muttered.
"Just like we were supposed to be."

Naveen stared at me for a moment, and then something shifted in his expression.

"Aisha, don’t you think it’s weird? Something doesn’t add up."
He furrowed his eyebrows deeper, his voice dropped to a sudden more serious tone.

I blinked, thrown off by his sudden change of tone.
"What are you getting at?"

Naveen leaned in slightly, his voice hushed. "I'm having a bad feeling like what if he has another motive?"

Naveen gave me a pointed look, closing the distance between us and added in a whisper,
"What if Ryan’s after your dad’s business? Maybe he sees your family as a way to expand his empire or something."

I stared at him, bewildered.

Shit! Busted!

So, Yeah, my dad does own a real estate business, but we’re not exactly billionaires. We’re just comfortable.

And that’s exactly why I’ve got on a mission.

I didn't want my life to turn into some corporate deal where my dad arranges my marriage like a business proposal. No, thank you. That’s why I’m out here trying to find Mr. Right—on my terms, not as part of some big family plan.

But Ryan? After my dad’s business? Does he even care?

It sounded ridiculous...
but then again— what if Naveen was right?

"Aisha!" Serena's loud voice pierced through the thick air. I shut my eyes tight, instantly.
"Ryan called you, again. Why can't he asks other person— "  Serena walked off grumbling under her breath.

All of a sudden, Naveen grabbed my arms, and spun me around to face him. 
"Don't do this, Aisha, please."
He whispered, hoarsely.

If superpowers don’t exist, then why the hell did Naveen just hypnotise me with that one. intense.look?!

His eyebrows were all knitted together, and the concern in those dark brown eyes—it was like he had a licence to shut down my brain.

My body froze like I'd been unplugged, and I didn’t reconnect to the earth until I realised my mouth had been hanging open so long my throat started to feel like a desert.

Wait, is it even possible? To melt just from someone looking at you like that? 
Oh god, that look—ugh, why did it have to send my heart into a freaking tailspin?

But nope. Nope, nope, nope.
I am not giving in.

Even if he did look annoyingly good in that yellow sweatshirt, like some sun-kissed dream.
He’s not off the hook. Not yet.

I smirked, crossing my arms, aiming for 'cool and untouchable', ready to challenge the heck out of him.

"Why should I do that?" I asked, throwing in a tiny smile, just to annoy him.

"Because—" Naveen began, his voice softer now, but then he stopped, his eyes locking onto mine like he was trying to break through a barrier. 

"Because I like you."

Wait... what the—

*******

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