CHAPTER SEVEN
1699 Words
Anaya’s POV
The walk to his study felt longer than it actually was.
Each step echoed through the silent hallway like a countdown to my execution.
The guard walking behind me said nothing.
He didn’t need to.
The tension pressing against my chest was enough.
My mind raced wildly.
How had the bracelet ended up in my room?
I had never even touched it.
I knew Samira planted it.
I knew it.
But proving it?
That was impossible.
And judging by the cold look on Master’s face downstairs, he had already made up his mind.
A thousand horrible possibilities flashed through my head.
The Room.
Chains.
Punishment.
Humiliation.
Yet strangely enough…
I wasn’t trembling.
Not like before.
Fear was there, yes.
But beneath it was something steadier.
Something harder.
If this was another test, then I would face it standing.
The guard stopped before the heavy mahogany doors.
He knocked once.
A cold voice answered.
“Bring her in.”
The door opened.
And I stepped inside.
The study was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the desk lamp and the moonlight filtering through the tall windows.
The room smelled faintly of leather and expensive cologne.
Everything about it screamed power.
Control.
Him.
Zayaan sat behind the massive desk, his face unreadable as his dark eyes settled on me.
The guard gave a slight bow before leaving.
The door clicked shut behind him.
And suddenly—
it was just the two of us.
The silence stretched.
Sharp.
Deliberate.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t move.
He simply watched me.
Studying.
Waiting.
It was intentional.
A tactic.
He wanted me to squirm.
To panic.
To fill the silence with nervous explanations.
But I remained still.
My hands clasped calmly before me.
My eyes lowered respectfully.
And I waited.
Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke.
“Look at me.”
My heart thudded once.
But I obeyed.
Slowly lifting my gaze to meet his.
His expression was cold.
Yet there was something calculating in his eyes.
Something unreadable.
“Did you take it?”
His voice was low.
Controlled.
I held his gaze.
“No, Master.”
The words came out steady.
Without hesitation.
Without pleading.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
As though my calm response had disappointed him.
Again, silence.
Then he stood.
Every movement measured.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
He rounded the desk slowly and began walking toward me.
The sound of his polished shoes against the floor made my pulse quicken.
Still, I forced myself not to move.
He stopped directly in front of me.
Close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.
Close enough that his presence felt suffocating.
His gaze searched my face.
Sharp.
Unrelenting.
Then—
“Interesting.”
I frowned slightly.
He tilted his head.
“You’ve become very good at hiding fear.”
I said nothing.
His eyes darkened.
“Tell me, Anaya.”
The way he said my name sent a strange chill through me.
Rare.
Unexpected.
“Did seeing Samira with me hurt you?”
The question hit me like a slap.
My breath caught.
For one horrifying second, I forgot how to breathe.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
That moment.
That crack in my control.
I swallowed hard.
“That is none of your concern, Master.”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
His expression shifted.
Not anger.
Something sharper.
Interest.
He took one step closer.
“So it did.”
I clenched my fists.
“No.”
The lie sounded weak even to my own ears.
His lips curved ever so slightly.
Not quite a smile.
But close enough to unsettle me.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
My pulse hammered violently.
Why was he asking this?
Why did he care?
Before I could think further, he stepped back.
And to my utter confusion, said—
“Fortunately for you…”
He turned away, walking back toward his desk.
“So is she.”
I blinked.
What?
He leaned against the edge of his desk, arms folded across his chest.
“The bracelet was planted.”
The words crashed over me.
Shock rooted me to the spot.
He knew?
He knew all along?
“Then why…” My voice came out barely above a whisper.
Why search my room?
Why humiliate me?
Why bring me here?
His gaze sharpened.
“Because people reveal themselves when they think they’ve won.”
The cold logic in his voice made my stomach twist.
Ya Allah.
He had let Samira believe she succeeded.
He had staged everything.
Just to watch.
To confirm.
To expose.
The realization unsettled me more than anger ever could.
He had seen through her immediately.
And still chose to play along.
How terrifyingly calculated could one man be?
He straightened.
Then pressed a button on the intercom.
“Bring Samira in.”
My heart lurched.
What?
Minutes later, there was a knock.
The door opened.
Samira entered.
And for the first time since meeting her—
she looked uncertain.
Her eyes flicked toward me, then to him.
“Zayaan?”
His expression remained unreadable.
“Close the door.”
She obeyed.
The click of the door shutting echoed loudly.
Then silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
He gestured toward the center of the room.
“Stand there.”
Something in his tone made her hesitate.
But she complied.
I had never seen her look nervous before.
Now she looked almost pale.
Zayaan clasped his hands behind his back and regarded her coldly.
“Would you like to explain why your bracelet was found in Anaya’s room?”
Samira’s expression shifted instantly.
Feigning innocence.
“What do you mean? I told you, she—”
“Lie to me again,” he interrupted smoothly, “and I will ensure this is the last time you ever step foot in my house.”
The room went deathly still.
Samira’s face drained of color.
I stared.
Shock coursing through me.
He knew.
And he wasn’t even pretending otherwise.
“Zayaan—”
“Answer the question.”
His voice was lethal.
She visibly flinched.
And for the first time, I understood.
This woman was afraid of him too.
Her lips trembled.
“I…”
The confident, smug woman from earlier was gone.
Replaced by panic.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
Cold.
Impatient.
And then—
she broke.
“I planted it.”
The confession fell heavily into the room.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
Even though I had known, hearing it spoken aloud felt surreal.
Samira’s voice cracked.
“I just wanted to teach her a lesson—”
“A lesson?”
His tone was dangerously soft.
She swallowed hard.
“She was getting too comfortable—”
“Comfortable?”
He let out a short, humorless laugh.
Then his expression darkened.
“You presumed authority you do not possess.”
She looked horrified.
“I’m sorry—”
“Save it.”
He turned toward the door.
“Guards.”
The door opened instantly.
Two guards entered.
Samira’s panic intensified.
“Zayaan, please—”
“Escort Miss Samira to the guest quarters.”
His voice was ice.
“She is not to leave her room until I decide otherwise.”
Her eyes widened.
“Zayaan!”
He didn’t even look at her.
“Now.”
The guards stepped forward.
She turned desperately toward him.
Then her gaze landed on me.
Pure hatred burned there.
This was my fault in her mind.
And somehow, I knew this wasn’t over.
As she was dragged out, her voice echoed through the hallway.
“You’ll regret this!”
The door shut.
Silence returned.
My pulse pounded violently.
I should have felt relieved.
Victorious even.
Instead, all I felt was confusion.
Why?
Why defend me?
Why expose her?
Slowly, I turned toward him.
He was already watching me.
That unreadable intensity back in his eyes.
“Do not misunderstand what happened here.”
His voice was low.
Measured.
“I protected my house from a liar.”
A pause.
“Not you.”
The words landed sharply.
I forced myself not to react.
Of course.
Why had I expected anything else?
I gave a small nod.
“Yes, Master.”
I turned to leave.
But his next words froze me.
“Stay.”
My feet stopped instantly.
Slowly, I turned back.
He was walking toward me again.
Each step deliberate.
Until he stood close enough that my pulse quickened.
His dark eyes searched mine.
Then he asked quietly—
“Why did seeing her with me hurt you?”
The question stole my breath.
Again.
My throat tightened painfully.
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
What could I possibly say?
That the little girl who had loved him since she was nine still mourned the fantasy she once believed in?
That seeing him with another woman had shattered whatever remained of that childish illusion?
That despite everything—
some wounds still bled?
No.
I would never give him that satisfaction.
So instead, I met his gaze.
And answered carefully.
“It didn’t hurt because I wanted you.”
His expression stilled.
“It hurt because I finally saw how foolish I had been.”
For one brief second—
something shifted in his face.
Gone too quickly to name.
Then his jaw tightened.
He stepped back.
“Leave.”
The single word cut through the room.
I bowed my head slightly and turned.
But just as my hand touched the door—
his voice stopped me once more.
Low.
Sharp.
“Pray Fajr in the east prayer room tomorrow.”
I froze.
My brows furrowed.
The east prayer room?
That room was reserved for the family, I guess.
Not staff.
Because Ana told me that No one is allowed there, When his family visits that's where they pray.
Slowly, I looked back.
But his face revealed nothing.
No explanation.
No emotion.
Only cold command.
And somehow—
that unsettled me more than anything else.
As I stepped out of the study, my heart thundered violently.
Because deep down—
I knew.
Something had changed tonight.
And I had no idea whether that change would save me…
or destroy me.
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