The Liar

6.

After dropping Layla off at college, her father lingered for a moment, watching her disappear into the crowd of students before driving away. The city morning was alive with movement, yet his thoughts drifted inward,to the journey that had brought him here.

Five years ago, he started with little more than an idea and an unshakable determination. Now, as he approached the office he’d built with his own hands, a quiet pride filled his chest. The glass facade reflected the sunlight like a promise fulfilled.

Inside, David son's, had become more than just a company, it was a testament to his perseverance. What began as a small marketing firm had grown into a respected name, and much of that success was thanks to Rayan, his dependable right-hand man who now handled things with a calm confidence.

As he pulled into the familiar parking lot, he smiled to himself. The walls of that building had seen his long nights, his doubts, and his victories. It wasn’t just an office,it was the echo of every risk he’d taken and every dream he refused to let go.

The lobby of David’s Sons was already alive with quiet energy. The hum of conversation mixed with the soft tapping of keyboards, and the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air. Posters of past campaigns lined the walls,each one a small reminder of how far they had come.

Brad paused for a moment, taking it all in. Employees greeted him with warm smiles and polite nods as he passed. Though the company had grown, he still made it a point to know each face, each name. That was something he never wanted to lose,the sense of family that had built this place from nothing.

“Morning, sir,” came a familiar voice.

Rayan stood by the glass conference room, tablet in hand, his usual calm confidence radiating through the room.

“Morning, Rayan,” David replied with a faint smile. “How’s everything running today?”

“Smooth as always,” Rayan said, glancing up from his screen. “We closed the SilverLine deal last night. The clients are impressed,they’ve already confirmed a second project.”

Brad chuckled softly, pride warming his voice. “You’ve handled it well, as always.”

Rayan smiled modestly. “Just following your lead, sir.”David nodded, his eyes sweeping over the bustling office floor once more.

David leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as his tone shifted from business to something more personal.

“By the way, Rayan,” he said, his voice softer now, “how were the girls when you saw them last? How’s the mood with Layla,and her sister? Anything unusual?”

Rayan looked up, a trace of surprise flickering across his face, though he had grown used to such questions from Mr. Brad—Layla’s father. It was expected; beneath his calm, disciplined exterior, Brad was first and foremost a father.

“They seemed fine, sir,” Rayan replied respectfully. “Layla was dull and sad because she missed you, and Eva looked as always as she is.Nothing, I feel out of the ordinary.”

nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Good… just keep an eye on them, will you? You know how I worry.”

“Of course, sir,” Rayan said without hesitation. “I always do.”

For a brief moment, the weight of fatherhood softened David’s features. The business, the meetings, the success—all of it meant little compared to the quiet peace of knowing his daughters were safe and happy. Then, with a small sigh, he straightened his posture again, letting the professional mask slip back into place.

“Alright then,” he said, his tone firm once more. “Let’s get to work.”

Rayan followed Brad into the conference room, tablet still in hand, but his mind lingered on the mention of Layla. He had known the Brad family for years—long enough to see the girls grow from children into young women finding their place in the world. Especially Layla. She had been on his mind for months now, without him ever meaning for it to happen.

He admired her quiet grace, the way she carried herself without pretense, her gentleness that seemed to soften every room she entered. He could still picture her laughter from years ago, bright and effortless, before that accident and growing up had drawn her into a quieter shell. She was changing, maturing and though he knew he had no right to notice, he couldn’t help but see it.

“Rayan,” Mr. Brad’s voice cut through his thoughts again.

He blinked, pulling himself back to the present. “Yes, sir?”

Brad was glancing over the agenda on the screen. “You’re distracted today. Everything alright?”

“Yes, sir. Just thinking through the campaign timelines,” he replied, managing a composed tone.

Brad nodded, satisfied, and continued outlining the morning’s meeting. But Rayan’s thoughts drifted again, this time not with longing, but with quiet confusion. He didn’t understand why Layla occupied his mind so often, it wasn’t something he’d planned or encouraged. Yet, in the still moments between tasks and meetings, her face always seemed to find its way back into his thoughts.

He sighed quietly, forcing his attention back to the figures on the screen. Some things, he reminded himself, were better kept to the heart.

The meeting stretched longer than expected, and by the time it ended, the office had settled into its usual late rhythm. Voices softened, phones rang in distant corners, and the golden light of sunset spilled gently through the glass panels.

Rayan gathered his notes and stepped out of the conference room. Mr. Brad was already on another call, pacing near his office window, his voice low but firm. Rayan gave a polite nod before walking down the hallway toward his own desk.

He placed the tablet down and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. The day had gone well-productive, steady, routine. Yet his mind refused to stay within the bounds of routine.

Instead, it wandered again, to her.

Layla’s quiet smile. The way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear when she was unsure. The lightness in her voice when she spoke about her studies. He had seen her grow, change, and find her own rhythm, but lately, there was something different about her,a thoughtfulness in her eyes, a calm that felt almost guarded.

He shook his head slightly, trying to push the thoughts away. She’s your boss’s daughter, and she is still young and not just young but he is ten years older than her, he reminded himself.

Still, the memory of her laughter lingered like a song that refused to fade.

His phone buzzed on the desk, snapping him back. It was a message from Mr. Brad:

“Need you to pick Layla up from college today. Meeting came up. Take the black sedan.”

Rayan stared at the message for a moment, an odd stillness settling over him. He typed a short reply.

“Understood, sir.”

He stood, straightened his shirt, and grabbed his keys. As he walked out of the office, the traces of sunlight dipped behind the skyline, washing the city in hues of golden. He wasn’t sure why his chest felt heavier than usual, but as he slid into the driver’s seat, he knew one thing for certain.

This drive would be different.

The campus, as students poured out of the gates, laughter and chatter filling the air. Layla stepped outside, adjusting her bag on her shoulder, her mind still half on the day’s lectures. Her father had promised to pick her up,something he rarely missed.

But as she scanned the row of cars, her steps faltered.

There he was.

Not her father.

Rayan.

He stood beside the familiar black sedan, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding his phone, expression unreadable as always. That same calm, composed look,almost too calm.

Layla blinked, startled for a moment. “Rayan?”

He looked up, slipping his phone away. “Your father had to stay back for a meeting,” he said evenly. “He asked me to pick you up.”

“Oh.” Her reply came out softer than she intended. She wasn’t sure why her heartbeat had quickened, or why seeing him there felt… unexpected. “I just,didn’t think it would be you.”

He opened the car door for her without a word, the faintest trace of a polite smile touching his lips. “After you.”

She slid into the back seat, the familiar scent of his cologne lingering faintly in the air. The door shuts with a quiet click, sealing them in an odd silence broken only by the hum of the engine.

As they drove out of the campus, Layla glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His expression was the same as always,blank, calm, unreadable. Yet something about that stillness made her feel strangely restless.

Finally, she turned toward the window, watching the city blur past. Neither of them spoke for a while, but the silence between them wasn’t empty,it was alive, humming with something unspoken.