"Not tired," Nadia muttered, fingers tightening around her tablet.
"Liar."
The word rolled off Zayne's tongue smoothly, amusement glinting in his dark eyes as he pushed himself up from his reclined position.
Nadia kept her gaze fixed on the screen, scrolling through reports, ignoring the way the air felt heavier with his focus on her.
She had work to do.
A battle to plan.
She wasn't going to waste time entertaining his overbearing nature.
The bed shifted.
She barely had time to react before he plucked the tablet straight from her hands.
"Zayne—" she started, half rising.
He raised a brow, holding the device just out of her reach. "No."
Her lips parted in disbelief. "What do you mean no?"
His smirk deepened. "I mean no, habibti."
Her glare could have melted steel. "Give it back."
"You need sleep." He leaned back against the headboard, completely relaxed, as if he hadn't just stolen her work. "And I need you functioning."
"I am functioning."
"Barely."
She made a move to snatch it back, but he simply stretched his arm out further, the glow of the screen illuminating his sharp features. "Go to sleep."
Nadia huffed, crossing her arms. "You can't just—"
"I can."
She gritted her teeth. "I will fight you for that."
He chuckled, eyes gleaming in the dim light. "I'd like to see you try."
Her fingers twitched.
She was this close to launching herself at him.
Zayne sighed as if he found her antics adorable. Then, without another word, he reached over, flicked off the bedside lamp, and settled the tablet on his side of the nightstand.
Out of reach.
Nadia sat there, fuming in the darkness.
This was coercion.
"Go to sleep, habibti." His voice was softer this time, but still laced with command.
She exhaled sharply.
Fine.
She'd sleep.
Not because he told her to, but because she wanted to.
When she woke, the other side of the bed was empty.
Not that she was surprised.
Zayne Al-Fayed didn't laze around.
With a stretch, she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Then, she noticed it.
A folded note on the nightstand.
Frowning, she picked it up, unfolding the crisp paper.
His handwriting was bold, elegant—like the man himself.
Good morning, habibti.
I made coffee. It's in the machine.
Your lunch is packed. It's in the kitchen.
Take whichever car you like. Keys are in the drawer by the entrance.
See you at work.
- Z
Nadia stared at the note.
Something about it should have irritated her.
The casual way he wrote as if he had always been in her life. As if this was normal.
But instead, a strange warmth settled in her chest.
She shook it off.
She had more important things to focus on.
Like walking into Al-Fayed Enterprises for the first time since the disaster.
__
Nadia stepped out of the red Lamborghini Aventador, shoulders squared.
The moment she entered the modern, glass-paneled lobby, the whispers started.
"Is that her?"
"She has the nerve to show her face?"
"I thought she was finished."
Nadia ignored them, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she strode toward the elevator.
Let them talk.
They wouldn't be whispering for long.
She stepped inside, pressing the button for the executive floor.
She had a war to fight.
The doors slid open.
And there she was.
Sara.
The woman who had torn everything away from her.
Dressed in a crisp white suit, Sara leaned against the reception desk, lips curling in satisfaction as her gaze locked onto Nadia.
"Well, well," she mused, arms crossing. "Look who decided to crawl back."
Nadia tilted her head. "Sara."
Her ex-friend smirked. "Didn't expect to see you here. Thought you'd be too busy licking your wounds."
Nadia's smile was sharp. "And I thought you'd be busy gloating. Yet here you are, waiting for me."
Sara's eyes darkened slightly.
Good.
Let her seethe.
"I'm surprised you have the nerve to come back," Sara said smoothly, recovering. "After all, the board—"
"I own a portion of the company," Nadia cut in, stepping closer. "I have every right to be here."
Sara's smirk didn't falter. "Not for long."
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Nadia's lips.
"We'll see about that."