Stay With Me

Chapter 7: The Business Trip

Chapter 7: The Business Trip

"Pack a bag. We're leaving for Dubai in 2 hours."

Ayesha stared at Zayan. He was in his office, not even looking at her. "For how long?"

"3 days. Company merger. You have to come as my wife." His voice was cold. Professional.

The private jet was silent. Too silent. They sat far apart. She looked out the window. He worked on his laptop.

The hotel in Dubai was 5-star. Marble floors. Ocean view. And only one room booked.

"There was a mistake," Zayan told the receptionist. "We need two rooms."

"I'm sorry sir, it's conference season. Only one suite available. It has 2 beds."

In the elevator, neither spoke.

Night 1: They slept with 3 pillows between the beds.

Night 2: Thunder and rain. Dubai storms are rare but violent. Ayesha had a nightmare about her dad and woke up screaming. She ran to Zayan's bed without thinking and grabbed his shirt.

He didn't push her away. He just sighed and put a hand on her back. "It's okay. I'm here."

She fell asleep like that.

Night 3: The last night.

Ayesha was in the bathroom when the fire alarm went off. Sprinklers came on. Everything was soaked in 10 seconds.

Zayan broke the bathroom door down. "Ayesha! Are you okay?"

She was standing there in a towel, shivering and scared. Water dripping from her hair.

Without thinking, he wrapped her in his suit jacket and pulled her close. "Don't cry. You're safe."

For a second, they just stared at each other. Wet. Close. Breathing hard.

"Ayesha," he whispered her name like it hurt him.

"Zayan," she whispered back.

The alarm stopped. Reality crashed back.

He stepped back instantly. Jaw tight. "Flight's in the morning. Get some sleep."

But neither of them slept that night.