"Zara, wake up dear! You're going to be late for university again! Breakfast is ready!" I hear Mum call from downstairs. I groan, slowly sitting up and holding my head in my hands. I'm so tired. I'm definitely not a morning person. Monday mornings are the worst.

Today is the 6th of October. It has been 2 weeks since I've started my first year at university studying psychology, but I still hate getting up early for 9am lectures. I always will. I never get enough sleep for Monday mornings. I only have to go in two days a week (Mondays and Tuesdays) this term though, thankfully. Today, though, me and my best friend Hafsa, who studies the same course as me and has all the same classes as me, are in until 6pm.

I glance at the large silver clock on the wall opposite me and my eyes widen in shock. 8am! I jump out of bed and run into the shower, taking the quickest shower ever. I'm definitely going to be late again. I quickly dry my hair and change into a pair of black skinny jeans, a maroon coloured full-sleeved top and a black leather jacket. I slip on my new maroon heels and grab my favourite black tote bag which contains my mobile phone, wallet, headphones, a writing pad, some pens, and a small cosmetics bag which holds my essential makeup items. I glance at the clock again. 8:15am. There's no time for makeup now, I'll do it in Hafsa's car on the way to university. 

I head downstairs, into the dining room. Mum has breakfast laid out on the table. Hafsa and my younger sister Maryam are there too.

'Hey, Hafsa!' I greet her, smiling.

"Hey babe! You look good!" She says to me.

I roll my eyes. 'I'm gonna do my makeup in the car, I woke up late.'

Hafsa snickers. I hear mum and Maryam also laugh. "About that, Zara. We...." Mum starts, Hafsa still laughing.

'Not again, mum! You changed the time on my bedroom clock again?!' I ask, reading the time on the dining room clock. It's 8am. Mum did this last week too! It's not my fault I have difficulty waking up so early. If it was up to me, I would sleep until 11am everyday.

"Yes, Zara. I did it. You're so bad at waking up on time, it will affect your studies. You should get to sleep on time, that way you will wake up on time too." She's right, I guess. I'm still annoyed, though. I could have got 20 minutes of extra sleep.

'Exactly, Zara! I've been awake since 6:30am!' Hafsa tells me. I laugh. How did she wake up so early? Hafsa is usually worse at waking up early than me. But these days we go to university together in her car, so she wakes up earlier than usual as she comes to my house to pick me up.

"Okay, can we leave after 15-20 minutes then? Lecture starts after an hour, and it takes only about 10 minutes to reach. I don't want to reach too early," I ask Hafsa.

She nods, smiling. Our university is only about a 10-12 drive away from my home. I take out my cosmetics bag from my purse and start to apply a small amount of makeup. Natural, of course.

Me and Hafsa have been best friends since Year 10, when we were both only 15. That was 4 years ago. Since then, everyone has described us as being 'joined at the hip'. Hafsa is the person I'm closest to in the entire world, and I'm the person she is closest to. I have other friends, too, but I'm not this close to anyone else. Only Hafsa. She's always at my house, I'm always over at their apartment. Both mum and dad love Hafsa like she's their own daughter, and her parents love me like I'm their daughter too. Our mums are close friends, and our dads are best friends. Which makes us even closer.

'What time do you finish lectures today? 5pm?' Maryam asks.

I shake my head. "6pm. Mondays are too long for us."

'Yes, but you only have to go in 2 days a week. That's not fair at all! I have to go to college 5 days Monday to Friday,.' Maryam says. Maryam is my younger sister. She's 18, a year younger than me. She is in her final year of college, and she will hopefully be studying at the same university as me next year. However, she wants to study sociology.

I drink a sip of orange juice and start eating my breakfast. Toast and scrambled eggs. Yum. Mum has poured some coffee in my thermos for me, I will be drinking it throughout the day. She knows me too well. She knows how much I will need the caffeine to keep me awake in my lectures today.

"Hafsa, you eat too dear," Mum says to her, smiling.

Hafsa shakes her head. 'I would, aunty, but I just ate right before coming here. I'm not hungry at all.' She smiles.

I'm nearly finished with breakfast when I hear the doorbell ring. Hafsa goes to open the front door. Two minutes later, she is back with a white envelope in her hands with a weird expression on her face.

"What's that, dear?" Mum asks Hafsa.

'It's a letter addressed to Zara,' she says slowly. I glance over at her. She hands me the envelope. The Malik Enterprises.

Huh? I'm confused. Why is this letter addressed to me? I've heard the name of this company somewhere, but where?

Mum grabs the envelope out of my hands and opens it excitedly. "Mum? What's this?" I ask her. It's obvious she knows what it is.

'Well, remember a couple of weeks ago when you were saying you want a part-time job? Me and your father thought that we would help you find one, as you only have university two days a week this term. We thought it would be good for you, and it would...help take your mind off things. They've offered you an interview. Obviously they would with those amazing GCSEs and A-Levels!' Mum says.

I raise an eyebrow. "Yes, I did say that I want a job, but I'm perfectly capable of finding one myself. And, I just started university two weeks ago! Isn't this too quick?" I ask, confused.

'We thought it would be good for you, Zara. It would keep you busy. Me and your father are worried about you, dear,' Mum whispers gently.

"You don't need to worry, Mum. I'm okay. Thank you, though. For helping me, but honestly. I'm fine now, I don't want anyone to worry about me. I'm honestly fine. Okay, what is this company anyway? I swear I've heard the name before," I say. I haven't recalled where I've heard the name of the company. I'm actually not that mad at Mum and Dad. They're just trying to help me.

Hafsa smirks at me. 'Babe, you know what The Malik Enterprises is, don't you?'

My brows furrow in thought. "I've heard of it, I just can't remember..."

"Zara, the interview is on Wednesday. The day after tomorrow," Maryam says to me, smirking slightly.

I hate interviews. I'm terrified of them. At university, I'm quite confident but I know I won't be confident in an interview. I've wanted a part-time job since so long, but the only reason why I hadn't applied anywhere is because I'm terrified of interviews. Even if I plan possible answers beforehand, I know that when the time comes, when I'm sitting opposite a powerful businessman or business lady, I will forget what to say. I will make a joke out of myself. And I know that this company is one of the largest companies in the city.

The Malik Enterprises.

Suddenly, a light flickers in my head. My eyes widen. No way. It all makes sense now. "The Malik Enterprises. Hafsa's father's company! How can I work at your father's company, Hafsa?! He's my uncle!"

Hafsa laughs. So do mum and Maryam. 'Zara, babe, dad gave the position of CEO to Zaid bhai a few months back, remember? Bhai got back from the US 2 weeks ago and you still haven't been to meet him! Your whole family has been to see him, but you haven't,' Hafsa says.

"You will be the personal assistant of Zaid Malik," mum says to me excitedly. No. No way! Not after the stupid feelings I used to have for him!

'No. I mean, I don't know if I want to work yet. And if I do go to the interview, I definitely won't pass it!' I force a laugh. How can I work with Zaid? Hafsa's brother? Say if I miraculously did pass the interview and get the job, I would be Zaid's PA. Meaning I would have to work with him all day, I would see him all day. No.

"Babe, trust me you'll get the job," Hafsa says, smirking. She doesn't know, does she? She can't.

Basically, two years ago before Zaid left for the US, I used to have this massive crush on him. Crazy, I know. He's my best friend's brother! If I get the job, he'll be my boss! Crazy. No one knew (I think) about the crush I used to have on Zaid. So that's good.

Anyway, that was all in the past. I've changed completely since then, emotionally and looks-wise. I'm definitely not the same happy-go-lucky, crazy, fun-loving girl I was back then. I was open with everyone close to me, not anymore though. After what I experienced last year and earlier this year, I've changed completely. I don't want to be that same person again.

'Why? Because Zaid knows me? That's not fair to the others who are applying for the same position. I don't want this job, honestly,' I say. I'm excited to see Zaid again, to see what he's like, how he's changed in these two years. But I haven't been to see him yet. I don't know why. Maybe it's because of the crush I used to have on him? I don't know.

"No, Zara. Not because Zaid knows you. You'll go to the interview, give your best, and Zaid will see that you're the best candidate for the job. Not because he knows you," Mum says to me, smiling.

'I don't know. It's crazy. I haven't even been to see Zaid yet since he got back, and now the first time I'll be seeing him after so long will be in an interview where I won't even know what to say?' I ask. I'm excited to see him, but I'm not at all excited for the interview.

"Don't worry, babe. You'll be fine! You'll get the job. Unlike his previous personal assistants, Zaid bhai is actually nice to you. The last PA lasted a week, the one before that lasted two days," Hafsa says, smirking.

Is she trying to scare me? 'If you're trying to scare me, Hafsa, it's definitely working. I'll probably break the record, I won't even last a day!'

"Of course you will, Zara. You will be amazing," Mum says to me. I frown.

I'm terrified of interviews. And the interview is on Wednesday, the day after tomorrow. That's so soon.

'Okay, I'll go to the interview. But don't have any high expectations, this is The Malik Enterprises we're talking about. How can I work there? They only have rich, posh people working there!' I say, forcing a laugh.

"Seriously, babe? You're better than all of the employees working there, you're even better than Zaid bhai. Don't underestimate yourself. I know how amazing you are, and Zaid bhai will also know very soon," Hafsa says, reassuringly.

I sigh. 'I don't know. Anyway, get up Hafsa. We're going to be late for class.' I pull her up to her feet. It's 8:40am. Twenty minutes till class starts.

We rush out of the house and get into Hafsa's car. There isn't much traffic on the way, so we reach on time. Hafsa parks in the university car park and we walk to the main building. Our first lecture is on the sixth floor.

We reach the lecture hall five minutes before the lecture starts. It's on the most boring topic of psychology – Cognitive Psychology. I try my best to listen and jot down a few notes, but I can't concentrate. The only thing on my mind is the damn interview, and Zaid Malik.

I wonder how much he's changed in these two years. He's CEO now. I have heard of his reputation at the office. He is known to his employees as being cold-hearted, arrogant and mean. They don't know him well. I know I haven't seen him in two years, but I know that Zaid is not like that. He can't have changed that much.

I have, though. I was nothing like this two years ago. I was completely different back then. Everything can change in two years.

I'll have to wait until the day after tomorrow to see what he's like now. I've been dodging him on purpose so far, I guess it's because I don't want to embarrass myself because of the crush I had on him. But I can't dodge him now.

******

The day goes by far too fast for my liking. For the first time, Monday has flown by. I'm now in Hafsa's car, she will drop me off at home and then go home herself. She's too amazing.

'Babe, don't be scared. Honestly, it's only Zaid bhai! If he's mean to you at all, tell me and I'll sort him out for you!'' Hafsa says, trying to cheer me up. It's only her Zaid bhai. If only you knew, Hafsa. If it was any other person taking the interview, I wouldn't be this nervous right now. He will be taking the interviews himself. Why am I this nervous to meet Zaid?

******

After dinner that evening, I go straight up to my room. My head is hurting so much. I need to stop stressing out. Whatever happens, happens. Whatever happens is for the best. I honestly don't care less if I don't get the job, but I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of Zaid.

I wonder if he still looks the same. Will he still have that messy brown hair, those beautiful chocolate brown eyes? That jawline... Why am I thinking like this again? How am I thinking like this? After all that happened.

Zaid might have completely changed, for all I know. But one thing is for sure. Zaid cannot ever be as bad as Hamza. Even if Zaid is the most arrogant guy in the world, even if he is cold-hearted, Hamza is still so much worse. Hamza can't be compared to Zaid. Zaid would never want to hurt me, to cause me pain. Deep down, Zaid has a good heart. Hamza is heartless.

********

Hi guys! How are you all doing? I hope you're all well! So, as you may already know, I am rewriting this story. I am changing a few things in the story, and also, I believe that I am a better writer now than I used to be three years ago, when I started writing Tangled Hearts. I hope you all love this story as much as the old version! Please keep reading, I will be updating more regularly now. I promise!

The characters and overall storyline will stay the same, however I will be changing a few small things in the story, and writing it better. I really hope you liked the first chapter, please let me know in the comments what you thought of it! And please, don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter! It really helps me! Stay tuned for the next chapter, which will be up by the weekend! Love you all! x