30. LATE FOR DAY

The events of the night weighed heavily on Taliya's mind as she finally slipped into bed. She nestled under the covers, trying to find solace in the familiar comfort of her sheets. The tension from her encounter with Haroon lingered, making it difficult to relax. She closed her eyes, willing herself to let go of the anxiety and drift into sleep.

Just as she began to feel the edges of slumber, a sharp knock on the door jolted her awake. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she sat up, her pulse quickening. She listened intently, hoping it was just her imagination, but the knock came again, more insistent this time.

"Who could it be at this hour?" she muttered, fear and irritation battling for dominance within her.

With a deep breath, she threw off the covers and got out of bed, her bare feet silent on the cold floor. She approached the door cautiously, her mind racing with possibilities. Was it Haroon again? Hadn't he understood her warning?

Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the doorknob. She hesitated for a moment, steeling herself, before pulling the door open.

Standing in the doorway was Marco, the photographer for her upcoming modeling event. His face broke into a relieved smile as soon as he saw her, oblivious to the fear that had gripped her moments before.

"Taliya! Sorry to bother you so late," he said, his voice cheerful. "I just wanted to remind you about the full dress rehearsal tomorrow morning at the venue."

Taliya's shoulders slumped in relief. It wasn't Haroon. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Oh, Marco, you scared me," she said, her irritation seeping into her voice.

Marco's smile faltered. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just thought it was important to remind you, given how early we have to start."

Taliya sighed, the initial relief quickly giving way to annoyance. "Yes, I remember. You didn't need to come all the way here to tell me that."

Marco's eyes widened slightly at her tone, and he took a small step back. "I just wanted to make sure everything was set. I'll... I'll let you get back to sleep."

Taliya glared at him, her patience wearing thin. "Next time, just call or text. Don't come knocking on my door in the middle of the night."

Marco nodded quickly, his face pale. "Of course, Taliya. I'm really sorry. Goodnight."

Without another word, she shut the door firmly and locked it. She leaned against it, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly. The irritation still bubbled within her, but at least it wasn't Haroon.

She returned to bed, her mind now a mix of exhaustion and frustration. She knew she needed rest for the busy day ahead, but the night's events had left her on edge. Pulling the covers tightly around herself, she willed her mind to quiet down and let sleep take over, knowing that she needed to be at her best in the morning.

"Please let me sleep." She groaned into a snuggling position and relaxed into her sleep.

~☆~

Taliya rushed through the hotel lobby, her heels clicking briskly against the marble floor. She was running late for the full dress rehearsal and couldn’t afford any more delays. As she neared the elevator, she saw her staff heading towards the exit, chattering and laughing amongst themselves.

“Hold the elevator!” she called out, quickening her pace.

One of her team members, Sarah, caught the door just in time, and Taliya slipped inside, breathless. The elevator was crowded, filled with her staff, and she squeezed into a corner, trying to catch her breath.

As the elevator descended, she glanced at her phone, mentally reviewing the rehearsal schedule. The events of the previous night lingered in the back of her mind, making it hard to focus. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open on the ground floor. Her team streamed out ahead of her, and she followed, her mind still racing with thoughts of the upcoming event.

Outside, the morning sun was bright, and Taliya shielded her eyes as she stepped onto the sidewalk. She hurried towards the rehearsal venue, her focus so intent that she didn’t notice Murad walking towards her.

In her rush, she collided with him, her shoulder bumping against his with unexpected force. Papers and a coffee cup went flying from Murad's hands, spilling onto the pavement.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Taliya exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I didn't see you, I was in such a hurry. Are you okay?"

Murad sighed, bending down to pick up his scattered papers. "It's fine, Taliya. Accidents happen." His tone was calm, but there was a hint of weariness in his eyes.

She knelt to help him, her hands shaking slightly. "Really, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

Murad straightened up, a polite but distant smile on his face. "It's okay, Taliya. Just be more careful next time." He signed with gentle movements.

Taliya nodded, her heart sinking at the coolness in his voice. "I will. Thanks for understanding."

Murad took a step back, creating a distance between them. He held his papers tightly, as if they were a shield. "See you at the venue," he said, then turned and walked away.

Taliya watched him go, a pang of guilt and frustration twisting in her chest. She stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She couldn't let this mishap throw her off. The rehearsal was too important, and she needed to keep her focus.

As she hurried down the street, her thoughts spiraled. What if Haroon had seen the encounter? Was he watching her now? She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see him lurking in the shadows. The anxiety from the previous night was still fresh, making her feel jumpy and paranoid.

When she finally reached the rehearsal venue, she was greeted by Marco, who looked flustered. "Taliya, thank goodness you're here. We're having some issues with the lighting setup, and we need your input."

She nodded, trying to push aside her lingering fears. "Of course. Let's get to it."

As she worked with the team to resolve the issues, the tension slowly ebbed away. The familiar routine of organizing and directing helped ground her. But every now and then, her mind would wander back to the night before, and a shiver of unease would run down her spine.

When the rehearsal finally wrapped up, Taliya felt a mixture of exhaustion and relief. She checked her phone and saw a message from Murad: "Let's talk after the rehearsal. Need to discuss something important."