Chapter 6 - Rhythm
1363 Words
Days passed, settling into a familiar rhythm.
Between Aidan's and Iskandar's endless meetings, their parents' frequent business trips, and the love story that continued to blossom between Lya and Irfan, life carried on just as it always had.
Knock. Knock.
"Busy day?"
Aidan stepped into Iskandar's office without waiting for an invitation.
The spacious office overlooked the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. A large black oak desk dominated the room, almost disappearing beneath stacks of reports, contracts, and board papers waiting to be reviewed.
Iskandar Aarys.
When he worked...
He worked.
Nothing else seemed to exist.
Aidan glanced at his watch.
Two o'clock.
"No wonder you're grumpy," he muttered. "You haven't eaten yet."
Without looking up, Iskandar signed another document.
"I'm almost done."
"You've been saying that since eleven."
For the first time in almost an hour, Iskandar finally put his pen down and leaned back in his chair.
"So..."
"Lunch?"
Before he could answer, a soft beep echoed through the office.
The digital lock disengaged.
Both men instinctively turned towards the door.
Only a handful of people had access to Iskandar's office.
His parents.
Aidan.
Lya.
The door swung open dramatically.
"Surprise!"
Lya peeked inside first before stepping into the office with her brightest smile.
Aidan looked up from the documents in his hands.
"What are you doing here?"
Lya clasped both hands behind her back and pouted dramatically.
"I'm bored to death."
She walked further into the office, looking at both men one after another.
"And..."
She deliberately paused.
"I haven't eaten."
"You what?" Iskandar asked, finally looking up from the pile of documents on his desk.
Lya simply smiled.
Aidan frowned and glanced at the wall clock.
"What time is it, Lya?"
She looked at the clock too.
"Two."
"It's already two in the afternoon and you haven't had lunch?"
Lya shrugged innocently.
Then she looked at both of them, one eyebrow slowly rising.
"Have you?"
Silence.
She had them.
Lya walked past the two men as if she owned the office and made herself comfortable on the leather sofa.
She smoothed the wrinkles from her dusty blue satin blouse before crossing one leg over the other.
The moonstone bracelet around her wrist caught the afternoon sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing flashes of soft blue sheen whenever she moved.
It had been Iskandar's sixteenth birthday gift to her.
A gift she had rarely taken off since.
Dressed in a satin blouse paired with tailored white trousers and nude heels, no one would have guessed she was only twenty-two.
There was an effortless elegance about her.
Not because of expensive clothes.
But because she somehow always knew exactly how to dress for every occasion.
Aidan looked at Iskandar.
Then at the mountain of files covering his desk.
Then back at his sister.
Finally, he sighed in defeat.
"I don't know who's worse."
"Lya?"
"Or you."
Iskandar closed the file in front of him.
"I was working."
"So was I."
"And?"
"You still forgot to eat."
Another silence.
Lya smiled victoriously.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Iskandar shook his head, unable to hide the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Okay."
He stood and reached for his suit jacket.
"Let's go."
"Care for some steak?" Lya asked, gently tugging on Aidan's arm.
Aidan looked at Iskandar.
The latter had already pressed the button for the private parking level.
"Why not?" Iskandar replied.
"The Steak serves that tendon cut you love."
Lya's face instantly brightened.
"Really?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Iskandar's lips.
He had remembered.
Of course he had.
Aidan noticed the look that crossed his best friend's face but said nothing.
As they stepped out of the elevator, Iskandar spoke again.
"By the way, Aidan."
"Hm?"
"Can you ask Hanna if she can join us?"
"I need to go through a few security concerns regarding the Southern project."
"We can settle it over lunch."
Aidan nodded.
"Sure."
"I'll pick her up from Edrus Security."
Hanna Edrus.
The only daughter of Mr. Edrus founder of Edrus Security International.
For decades, the company had protected diplomats, royalty, corporate leaders and high-profile families while supplying advanced surveillance systems, biometric security and integrated protection solutions across several countries.
At just twenty-six, Hanna had already become the company's International Sales Director.
Elegant.
Intelligent.
Composed.
And for the past two years...
Aidan's girlfriend.
"I'll meet both of you there."
With that, Aidan disappeared towards the parking lot.
The moment he was out of sight...
Lya's eyes landed on the familiar key fob dangling from Iskandar's fingers.
"Oh no..."
Iskandar sighed.
"Lya."
Too late.
She reached for it anyway.
"I'm driving!"
"Absolutely not."
"But—"
"No."
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"I do."
"And the answer is still no."
Lya stood on her tiptoes, stretching as high as she could to snatch the keys.
Unfortunately...
Being only 5 feet 3 inches tall against Iskandar's 6 feet, she didn't stand much of a chance.
He simply raised his hand a little higher.
She groaned dramatically.
"You're cheating!"
"I'm being practical."
"I drive perfectly fine."
"You almost sent me into cardiac arrest the last time you drove this car, darling."
The endearment slipped out naturally.
Just as it always had.
Yet lately...
It no longer sounded the same to him.
Lya rolled her eyes before giving up.
"You are impossible, Is."
"And you're stubborn."
He unlocked the passenger door for her.
"Ladies first."
She climbed into the seat with an exaggerated huff.
Once he settled behind the wheel, he leaned across.
Without asking.
Without thinking.
He reached for the seatbelt and fastened it securely across her shoulder.
Click.
"There."
Lya looked at him.
"So bossy."
"You love me anyway."
He said it lightly.
Almost teasing.
Then started the engine.
Neither of them noticed the brief silence that followed.
Outside, the afternoon traffic flowed smoothly beneath a sky painted with soft white clouds.
Inside the car...
Something shifted.
Just a little.
Lya turned towards the window, pretending to admire the passing scenery.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
That simple sentence echoed quietly in her heart.
You love me anyway.
It had always been a joke.
So...
Why did it sound different today?
The restaurant was pleasantly busy when they arrived.
A waiter guided them to a private booth by the window.
Not long after, Hanna arrived.
"I'm not late, am I?" she asked with a smile.
"Perfect timing," Aidan replied, pulling out the chair beside him.
Menus were passed around, though only Lya seemed to study every page carefully.
"I still can't decide."
"You always order the same thing," Iskandar said.
"I like having options."
"You'll end up with the ribeye."
Lya blinked.
"...Probably."
"I knew it."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're no fun."
After everyone placed their orders, conversations drifted naturally between work and random stories.
When the food finally arrived, the aroma of grilled steak instantly filled the table.
Lya stared happily at her ribeye.
Then frowned.
"They didn't slice it."
Without saying a word, Iskandar reached across the table.
"Here."
He exchanged plates with her.
Knife in one hand.
Fork in the other.
With practiced ease, he cut the steak into neat bite-sized pieces before sliding the plate back to her.
"There."
Lya smiled.
"Thanks, Is."
"Careful. It's still hot."
She nodded and happily took her first bite.
Across the table...
Hanna slowly looked at Aidan.
Then subtly nudged his arm with her elbow.
Aidan frowned.
"What?"
She tilted her head towards Iskandar without saying a word.
Aidan followed her gaze.
Then looked back at Hanna.
"What?"
Hanna lowered her voice.
"He cut her steak."
"So?"
"He didn't even ask."
"So?"
"He just... did."
Aidan chuckled.
"Oh."
"You noticed."
"Shouldn't I?"
"You've only been around us for two years."
Aidan leaned back in his chair with a small smile.
"Is has been doing that since Lya was a kid."
Hanna glanced at the two across the table again.
Lya was happily eating, completely oblivious.
Iskandar had already started discussing security reports as though nothing unusual had happened.
Only one person at the table seemed unaware...
That what had just happened wasn't ordinary at all.
- Writer
