The Desert Prince and The Dreamer

Chapter 14

Zayn stood frozen in place, his eyes still fixed on the elevator. Even as the doors closed, he didn't move from his transfixed position. Then suddenly like something snapped in his mind, he turned to look at where Lailah had run to. What was she still doing here, and most of all, why was she crouching down in the corner of the elevator? Her face was so pale it looked like she had seen a ghost. Was She in the elevator when the blackout happened? His feet moved unwillingly towards her office and as he reached her door, she opened it, looked at him again like in a daze and moved swiftly passed him, heading to the elevator. Zayn frowned as he observed. What had gotten into her? Her hair was everywhere, She had a Wild look in her eyes. He followed her again thinking he'll ask her in the elevator but she surprised him again by reaching for the emergency exit door. Was She crazy? She wanted to take the stairs to the parking?

"Hey!" he called out to her but she increased her pace as he heard the clicking of heels on the floor. He involuntarily followed her. "What am I even doing?" he muttered to himself as he also took the stairs. "Lailah, Lailah," She refused to stop despite his loud voice. He knew if he ran he would catch up because she was in heels. "Hey, wait." he shouted at her, they were now on the thirteenth floor. He quickened his steps and caught up with her, grabbing her by the hand. "Stop."

Lailah immediately screamed as Zayn tried to stop her by the hand. She just wanted to get out of this place, it was late, She was tired and She was still in shock. "Let go of me." She said trying to pull away but he held on.

"Not until you tell me what's happening. Why were you in the elevator? Did you see something shocking? Why are you taking the stairs?" he asked quickly.

"I..I..I just want to go home." She couldn't find the right words to explain what happened.

"Talk to me Lailah, what happened?" his voice softened as he let go of her. She looked distraught, "C'mon, let's take the elevator down, there's too many more floors remaining." he said after a long silence.

"I'm taking the stairs." She held her ground looking at him with determination. Zayn wanted to shake her awake, was She sleeping?

"Alright." he found himself agreeing, "But you have to tell me what happened." She nodded her head and they continued down. "Were you in the elevator when the power went off?" he asked as they moved and She nodded.

"I thought I was the only one in the building. What were you still doing here?"

"I was finishing up some stuff, I would have gone already but I forgot my car key and had to come back for it." She finally answered starting to calm down.

"That must have been terrible, I'm Sorry." He looked at her and smiled sadly. He didn't like her but she didn't deserve that.

"Thank you." She whispered looking down, blood coming back in her face. She was now conscious of her looks, her hair was everywhere, he face was stained with tears and lipstick. Zayn didn't say anything after that, but he continued with her down until they reached the parking lot.

"Can you drive?" he asked and She nodded. "Alright, I want you to go first, I'll follow you." he told her and she went towards her car. He waited for her to get in and start the car then pulled out of the parking lot. He got into his own car and followed her. He had been quiet not because he had nothing to talk about. He was trying to think of what she had been through during those minutes in the elevator. He made a note to tell his Father to give her a day off tomorrow. He didn't care, he just wanted her to return to work when she was going to be resourceful enough. She seemed out of it, and his decision was for the good of the company.

There was another bigger issue to handle as well, he would get a team tomorrow to reserch about the cut wire in the fuse. Who would cut a wire without a reason? Something was definitely not right.

He watched her car as she drove expertly. Most women he knew were terrible on the road. "Gosh, stop it Zayn." he shook his head to clear his thoughts. He wasn't going to be softened by her. Women were a curse to him, he didn't know anything positive about women. Apart from his sister ofcoarse, She was different. He smiled as he thought about Sapphire. She had made his life easy growing up, brightening up his dark moods and being playful with him. She was a good spirited girl, no wonder she could stand Lailah. Not again! He cursed as thoughts of Lailah returned to his mind.

Lailah took her time on the road, her hands had stopped shaking and her mood was returning. She looked in the review mirror and saw Zayn's car. He was slowly following her, She smiled. He may not like her, but atleast he cared, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. She entered the palace gates and drove past the palace towards their new apartments. She parked and got out with a smile to thank Zayn but he just got out, glanced her without a smile and walked towards the palace doors. Lailah frowned, what the heck? One minute he was all dovey eyed, okay not really dovey eyed but his mood had changed. Was he actually bipolar? She looked as the big doors closed then shrugged and turned and went into the house. Her Mother saw her and immediately went to her.

"Habibi, what happened?" Ms. Latiffah checked out her daughter's distraught look and Wild hair.

"Mommy." Lailah hugged her mother tightly and felt so relieved and peaceful. "Let's sit." She said after the hug. "There was a black out at the company and I got stuck in the elevator." Lailah said calmly and she watched as her mother cried and bit her fingers. "I'm fine Mom, nothing bad happened to me." She assured her mother.

"Are you sure?" Ms. Latiffah passed her hands over her daughter's body as she checked, "Oh Allah, my baby. Shukran Allah." She clasped her hands in thanks.

"I thought I was going to die Mom, but suddenly electricity came back on and I just ran out." She couldn't tell her about Zayn, her Mum would start asking too many questions.

"Were you alone?" her Mother asked. She wouldn't bear it if her daughter had been alone in that building.

"No Mom, I had someone with me." She assured her Mother.

"Oh, Thanks be to Allah."

"Ameen." Lailah answered.