10. FAHAD

Murad woke up to the soft light of dawn filtering through his bedroom window. He had gone for a jog earlier, hoping the physical exertion would clear his mind and soothe the restlessness gnawing at him. Instead, he found himself more unsettled than ever, replaying his encounter with Taliya over and over in his mind.

Taliya had been there at the Rose Peak, her presence a startling surprise. They had talked, but her reaction to his words had left him feeling uneasy. He couldn't shake the image of her guarded expression, the way she seemed to retreat into herself, even as they shared a moment of connection. The memory of her evasiveness haunted him, and he couldn't figure out why it bothered him so much.

He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to wake himself fully. The coolness jolted his senses, but it did little to dispel the unease. He gazed at his reflection, noting the lines of tension around his eyes and the tightness in his jaw. Deciding to take a bath, he gets into the cubical with blurred glass and rinses himself off the tension. But, Taliya stuck in to his mind like a super glue. Sighing he stepped out of the cubicle and dried himself with a fluffy white towel.

"Get it together," he mouthed to himself, feeling low and dejected. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not today.

He dressed methodically, choosing a crisp white shirt and a tailored navy suit. Each movement was deliberate, a way to impose order on the chaos inside his mind. The familiar routine of getting ready helped to ground him, to remind him of his responsibilities and the image he needed to project.

As he knotted his tie, his thoughts wandered back to Taliya. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that made him want to understand her better. But there was also a sense of helplessness, a feeling that he couldn't reach her, no matter how hard he tried. It was a sensation he wasn't used to, and it left him feeling vulnerable.

Murad shook his head, forcing himself to focus. He couldn't afford to dwell on his feelings, not with a full day of work ahead. He finished dressing, smoothing out the fabric of his suit and straightening his tie one last time.

He grabbed his briefcase and car keys, heading downstairs with determined strides. The mansion was quiet, the silence only amplifying the restless energy inside him. He pushed through the front door and into the cool morning air, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

Going into the basement of garage where he had his collection of thirty-seven cars, he chose Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail. A dramatic negative body line is sculpted into the coachwork, falling from the front wheels and encouraging the eyes towards the sharp sail cowls and 'dropping' rear.

The drive to the office was uneventful, but Murad's mind was anything but calm. The city streets blurred past him, his thoughts consumed by a mix of frustration and helplessness. He wanted to be productive, to channel his energy into something meaningful, but the memory of Taliya's reaction kept pulling him back, making it hard to concentrate.

He parked his car and made his way to his office, the familiar environment offering a small measure of comfort. As he stepped into the building, he was greeted by the usual hustle and bustle of his team, their voices a steady hum of activity. It was a stark contrast to the quiet tension inside him.

"Good morning, Mr. Murad," his assistant greeted him with a warm smile. "Your schedule for today is on your desk."

"Thank you," he replied, offering a tight smile in return.

His assistant was too chirpy for the chaos in his mind and that irritated him.

He settled into his office, trying to lose himself in his work. Reports and spreadsheets filled his desk, each demanding his attention. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness that clung to him. Taliya's face kept appearing in his mind, her guarded expression a constant reminder of their encounter.

His assistant knocked on the glass making him look up and motioned him to come in.

"Sir, are planning to have lunch then please don't. Because, I want to learn more about you and I am also fluent in sign language." Fahad chirped with a wide smile making Murad poke his tongue into his cheek, what was Uncle Hashim thinking when he chose Fahad as his assistant.

"And I also got a quite big stomach. I can keep every secret." He leaned down to him as if telling him a secret.

Murad couldn't help but shake his head at him. He agreed for lunch with him, at least in Fahad's presence he won't think about Taliya anymore.

They moved to the couch in Murad's office as they Fahad happily took out his lunch and dig in. They didn't even spent five minutes together and Murad was already hating this idea. While Murad ate with elegant and manners, Fahad was totally opposite. He chewed out loud and told stories with his mouth full of food.

"So? I helped out that guy with the girl problem and they lived happily together." This sentence piqued his interest and it made him snap his neck towards Fahad who drank his water.

"Will you help you me with a girl problem?" He asked straight away making Fahad choke on his water and go into coughing fits. Tears ran down his face as Murad rubbed his face while rolling his eyes.

"Y-you want my help?" He yelled loudly after getting his breath.

"You don't want to help me?" He questioned back crossing his arms on his chest and narrowed his eyes on him.

"Ande- I mean No. I mean, I want to really help you but. But, tell me about this girl that piqued your interest. Because last time I checked, you are single from your high school."

Murad gasped on Fahad's words and stood up as shock registered in his mind.

"You, you stalked me!" He signed furiously making Fahad stand up to with his lunch box in his hand and rounded the couch as Muraf ran for him.

"No, I didn't stalked you. I just checked your history." He reasoned shoving another spoon into his mouth.

"That comes in stalking!" He signed with pointing at him making him cough and hastily finished off his lunch.

"No!" He stretched the 'o' in no as he slipped on the floor and held Murad's tie for support, dragging him as they fell on the ground.

They both groaned with their eyes closed as the pain made its way into their bodies. The glass door of the office snapped open as the girl widened her eyes on the sight in front of her.

"I am sorry." She repeated herself again and again with wide eyes and stumbled out of the office. Fahad's eyes widened seeing his crush witnessing the moment.

"Get off," he grunted pushing Murad off  of him and ran off to Raya the girl.

"Ugh, if my marriage got cancelled then I'll blame you!" Fahad shrieked holding his hairs as he found the corridor empty.

Murad glared at him and dusted the non existant dust from his pant and shirt.

"As if I care," he turned around after signing but stopped on Fahad's words.

"With all due respect sir, you do care about your girl. Or otherwise, you won't ask me for help."

"You want to help me or you are here to just mock me?"

"Sir, I want to help but I don't think so you are ready for it."

"Just say it," Murad sighed frustrated with Fahad's words
"You have to talk it out."

As the day wore on, Murad found himself struggling to focus. He attended meetings, reviewed documents, and responded to emails, but everything felt mechanical, devoid of the usual sense of purpose. He was going through the motions, but his mind was elsewhere, trapped in a loop of frustration and helplessness.

By mid-afternoon, he realized he couldn't continue like this. He needed to find a way to resolve the tension inside him, to confront the feelings that were holding him back. He made a decision, a plan forming in his mind. He would talk to Taliya, find a way to understand what was going on between them.

Murad stood up, the determination in his eyes mirrored by the set of his jaw. He grabbed his briefcase and headed out of his office, his stride purposeful. He was tired of feeling restless, tired of the helplessness that clouded his thoughts. It was time to take action, to confront the source of his unease head-on.

As he drove to Taliya's penthouse, Murad felt a sense of resolve settle over him. He didn't know what he would say, or how she would react, but he knew he had to try. He needed to understand her, to find a way to bridge the gap between them. Only then could he hope to find the peace that had eluded him for so long.