The grumpy boss sweet wife

Chapter 10: The Morning After

"Fiancée," Rayhan said, not looking at Ayesha. "This is Ayesha. My assistant."

"Nice to meet you," the woman smiled. She was beautiful. Tall, fair, wearing a white designer dress that probably cost more than Ayesha's 6 months salary.

"Nice to meet you too, ma’am," Ayesha smiled back. Her voice didn’t shake. But inside her heart was breaking into a thousand pieces.

When they left, Ayesha went to her desk. She opened a new document. Her hands were trembling.

She had to write. If she stopped, she would cry. If she cried, everyone in the office would see.

The contract said no personal involvement. But no one told her heart about the contract.

Last night was a mistake. That’s what they both said this morning. A mistake that happened in the rain, in Rayhan's penthouse, when the whole world outside disappeared.

Now it was morning. And reality was back.

The whole day in office was torture. Rayhan acted like nothing happened. Cold. Professional. Calling her "Ayesha" not "you".

At 11 AM he called her. "Ayesha, come. Board meeting. You will present Q3."

She walked into the conference room. 12 people. Rayhan at the head. He didn't look at her.

She presented for 15 minutes. Sales, profit, growth. Her voice was perfect. Steady.

But under the table, she felt it. His leg brushed against hers. Once. Then again.

Was it on purpose? Or accident?

After the meeting he called her to his cabin. "Close the door."

Ayesha closed it. The sound was loud in the silent room.

"About last night—" Rayhan started.

"Don’t," Ayesha said quickly. "Let’s forget it. For the contract. For my job. For everything."

Rayhan walked to the window. His back was to her. "You think I can forget, Ayesha? I can’t."

"Please don’t do this," she whispered. "Mr. Rayhan."

He turned. "Don’t call me that. Not after last night."

The phone rang. He picked it up. His face changed. "Yes. Send her in."

The door opened. Tania walked in. Rayhan’s fiancée.

She was everything Ayesha was not. Confident. Rich. Beautiful. She kissed Rayhan on the cheek like she owned him.

"Sorry I’m late, darling. Traffic was horrible."

Rayhan looked at Ayesha. Just for a second. "This is Ayesha. My assistant."

"Nice to meet you," Tania smiled.

"Nice to meet you too, ma’am," Ayesha replied. Her voice didn’t shake. She was proud of that.

When they left, Ayesha went back to her desk. She stared at the blank document for 1 hour. She couldn’t type a single word.

At 6 PM her phone rang. Unknown number.

"Ayesha. It’s Rayhan." His voice was tired. "Meet me. Coffee shop on 5th street. 8 PM. Please. Just 10 minutes."

She should say no. She knew she should.

But at 7:55 PM she was sitting in the corner. Jeans. Simple shirt. No office clothes.

Rayhan came 5 minutes late. Black shirt. No tie. He looked younger. Tired.

"You came," he said.

"You said 10 minutes."

He nodded. They ordered coffee.

"I didn’t plan for this," he said. "I made rules because I got hurt before. My ex left me for my business partner. That’s why the contract exists."

Ayesha listened.

"But last night... you made me forget all my rules. And now I’m terrified."

"What do you want from me?" Ayesha asked.

"I don’t know," he admitted. "Part of me wants to fire you. So this stops. Part of me wants to beg you to stay."

"I need this job," Ayesha said. "My mother is sick. My brother’s tuition. I can’t lose it."

"You won’t," Rayhan said quickly. "I promise you. You will never lose this job because of me."

They sat in silence. The 10 minutes were over.

"I should go," Ayesha said, standing up.

"Ayesha," Rayhan called.

She stopped but didn’t turn.

"Thank you for coming."

She walked out. Didn’t look back. In the elevator, the tears came.

Back home, she opened her laptop again.

New document. Chapter 10.

She wrote until 2 AM. About pain. About choices. About a night that changed everything.

She wrote about the contract. About the rules. About how love doesn’t care about signatures on paper.

She wrote about Tania. About the roses in Rayhan's house. About the way he said her name.

At 2 AM she stopped. She read it once.

The contract said no personal involvement.

But no one told her heart.

And her heart was not listening anymore.