- Noor's POV-

"I have a business dinner tonight with Mr. Yasir Khan tonight." I tell Amma.

"Okay, enjoy." Amma says.

"That's all you're going to say?" I question.

"You're grown up, Noor. We trust you. You've never done anything to ever upset us. Why should we question it?" She looks at me in confusion.

Damn it! I was hoping she'd say no so I could text him saying my parents said no. I may be 22-years-old but I'm not ashamed of telling people that my parents said no to something. Sometimes, it's even convenient when they say no.

Right now, it would be really convenient.

"She's trying time make sure she can't go to the dinner because it's probably boring." Ayesha chimes in.

"Are you sure? Maybe I'm out of line." I say half jokingly to Amma.

Amma starts laughing uncontrollably. "You're the most obedient kid I know compared to a lot of people's kids. I think you'll be fine.

"Maybe while you're out, you can find yourself a husband." Ayesha teases.

Amma nods, trying to hold in her laughter.

I sigh as I stare at the time. It's 2 PM, I have a few more hours until I have to leave.

I already texted Lateef saying I can't make it to lunch with him. I could've gone but I don't think I have enough social energy for both lunch and dinner.

It killed me inside to cancel on him because I was looking forward to lunch with him. In fact, the month I've been at Khan Enterprises, we've gotten along really well.

Maybe I'll end up marrying him!

Haha, just kidding... unless?

• • •

The hours flew by really quickly because I decided to watch one of my favourite Bollywood films, Om Shanti Om, to pass time and it turned out to be just over 3 hours.

During the last hour of the movie is when I started to get ready. I was absolutely miserable. I really didn't want to go to dinner with Mr. Yasir. He's probably no fun either.

I wish he'd just tell me what his ulterior motive was for this is because he definitely has one.

The weather's been getting warmer so I decided to wear a baby pink maxi dress with the puffy sleeves. I paired it with a off-white coloured hijab, short strappy heels and a white crossbody purse.

I did do my usual amount of makeup, just to not look like death while I'm out.

Just as I sit down, I receive a text from Mr. Yasir saying he's five minutes away. I run to the front door to put on my shoes to be ready to leave the second he's here.

For some reason, I'm nervous. My heart is doing those somersaults that happen when I'm skittish or shy about something.

There's nothing fluttery about me going to dinner with Mr. Yasir. Nothing.

Or at least I think it's nothing.

Just as he said, he arrives within five to six minutes.

Once I get to my driveway, I'm amused but not surprised to see he has a different fancy car. This time it's a bright, white Range Rover with windows that are tinted to the maximum so I couldn't see him inside.

"Good evening, sir." I say politely as I sit inside the car.

But when my eyes settle on him, my wind gets knocked right out of my chest.

God, he looks gorgeous. He tried extra hard tonight to look nice.

He paired a black turtleneck sweater with a black suit. It contrasts perfectly with the red seats he's sitting against. His hair neatly gelled to the side, his beard cut in its usual sharp, clean shape.

It's nothing fancy but somehow a simple look like this is making my heart race.

Either I've never seen a man dress nicely before or I'm slightly crushing on my boss right about now.

"You clean up well." He comments.

I grip my dress as my nerves take over. "T-thank you."

"During the dinner portion, you'll do nothing but sit there and look pretty... or as decent as you can look. Understood?" He says.

I take back my comment about the slight crush. I'll crush him instead.

"What if I don't?" I raise a brow.

"There are going to important people there. If you manage to screw up anything, I'll screw up the rest of your life." He doesn't even blink.

I only gulp. That was not an empty threat and even I'm not stupid enough to cross that line.

"What times the dinner?"

"7 PM." He answers.

"Oh, okay." My eyes widen. "Wait, it's 6 PM."

"I know." He's annoyed with me already do.

"And?" I ask him to explain further.

"And what?" He pretends to be clueless.

"What will we be doing there so early?" I ask.

"We're not going there yet. There's a Festival of Lights nearby that I want to look around in. It looks like it would be a good business to invest in during summer and winter."

"Oh my God! I've always wanted to go!" I grin but that grin slowly fades. I wanted to go there with someone I like.

Not this rock of a man.

But once we park, I forget the regret about who I wanted to come here with because the place is beautiful.

The fairy lights above us sparkle in different rainbow colours. The trees are covered in lights, some with pictures made out of the lights, the floor has a lit up pathway, basically it looks like I'm in the most beautiful fairytale. I'm absolutely mesmerized.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and quickly run out to enter. Mr. Yasir isn't that far behind me, I'm sure he'll catch up.

I start taking pictures of the aesthetic scene in front of us.

"You're definitely a child." Mr. Yasir watches me in amusement.

"Better than being a grandpa." I mumble. "Can you take a picture of me in front of this?"

"No." He looks away.

"Oh, please! I'll behave for the rest of the night." I pout.

He sighs and aggressively grabs my phone. He starts taking the picture even before I could prepare.

"Hey! I wasn't ready!" I protest.

"I don't have time for this." He rolls his eyes and gives me back my phone.

I look at the photo, horrified. I look demented.

I should've come here with someone else, I thought to myself.

I see a claw machine with big plushies in it and squeal.

"What's wrong with you?" Mr. Yasir asks in an almost angry tone.

I grab his hand spontaneously and drag him all the way to the machine.

"Let's play!" I grin.

"That's not what I'm here for!" He scolds next.

"Sure. You just suck at claw machines, don't you?" I challenge him.

"They're rigged. Let's go." He rolls his eyes.

"So, you do suck at it. It's fine, I'll play." I shrug my shoulders.

I was about to insert the coin into the machine when Mr. Yasir pushes me over and inserts one instead.

He positions himself as the machine counts down.

"Can you please get me that teddy bear?" I point at the light brown bear holding a red heart.

I really do sound like a child.

After his fifth try, I stop him. "I think that's enough, sir. I don't need the bear, we can go."

"You're getting this fucking bear!" He feeds in another dollar into the machine only to fail again. "This is rigged! What the fuck!" He hits the machine.

I grab him by the shoulder to pull him back because people begin to stare.

"Pick one." I say to him.

"What?" He looks at me in confusion.

"Pick one." I repeat, while pointing at the machine.

"There's no way you'll get one." He knits his brows together. "But go for the monkey, I guess."

I insert a coin and within 20 seconds, I win the monkey.

"There's no way. This has to be pure luck." He couldn't believe it.

Claw machines are one of my hidden talents. I love seeing the look on people's faces when I can win something within seconds.

I grab the monkey out of the machine slot and hold it up to him. "Here's a monkey for my favourite boss." I laugh. "Can we call him Munchkin? Munchkin the Monkey." I smile proudly.

"You're crazy. Do whatever you want." He rolls his eyes. "I don't want it.

"Mr. Yasir is no fun. Don't worry, Munchkin. I'll make sure he treats you right." I say to the monkey to tease Mr. Yasir.

"I'm not keeping that!" He backs away as I try to hand him the stuffed animal.

"Yes, you are! You asked for the monkey. It's a gift from me to you." I laugh. "You still owe me a teddy bear though."

Mr. Yasir starts walking away and I quickly follow him until my feet start hurting a little so I bend down to loosen the straps on the heels.

"You could've done this in the car." He says.

Why is he always so annoyed at everything?

This older man approaches us just as I finished with my heels. "Hi, I didn't mean to intrude but my wife and I were wondering would you like me to take a picture of you two? She thinks you two are an absolutely adorable couple."

I snorted. "Adorable couple?"

"Yes, both of you looked like you were having so much fun at the claw machine. It reminded us of when we were younger going on dates like this." He says so sweetly that it melts my heart.

"Thank you so much but we're not—"

"Yes, please take a picture. My girlfriend and I didn't get a decent picture tonight." Mr. Yasir interrupts me and hands the old man his phone.

I gasp. "Girlfriend? Are you insa—"

Mr. Yasir grabs my hand and pulls me along behind to stand in front of a giant lit-up tree.

"We're not taking this picture." I whisper aggressively.

"Are you going to break that old man's heart?" He whispers back in my ear, while holding his smile.

I stare at the old man who looks really excited to take the picture.

Ugh, I hate this. Okay, just one picture.

"Smile!" The old man says. "One, two, three...!"

Right before the flash goes off, Mr. Yasir puts his hand over my shoulders and pulls me against him, giving me no time to react.

"Beautiful!" Says the old man as I stand there to process what just happened. "I wish the two of you the best of luck!" He says right before walking away. "Have a good evening!"

"You too!" Mr. Yasir and I say in sync.

"Let me see the picture!" I tilt the phone screen and I'm appalled at how we look like an actual couple. "Delete this, please."

He moves his phone away from me. "No, I'm going to use this picture as a security deposit."

"You're going to blackmail me with this picture? I'll sue you!" I threaten him.

"If you sue me, everyone at court will have to see this picture, including your parents." He smirks.

"You're utterly devious." I scowl.

He only shrugs his shoulders.

"I should've gone to lunch with Lateef instead..." I mutter under my breath.

"Did you say something?" He looks at me, daring me to repeat that.

"No, sir." I answer with a bit of edge.

The rest of the 20 minutes we spent there, I tried convincing him to delete the picture mixed with me having a tiny bit of fun.

Okay, I had more fun than I expected. He's not as bad once he becomes more comfortable.

Do I think I might have just a slight bit of crush on him? I don't know! Maybe just a little but don't hold it against me, I literally fall for a man on the train who looks slightly mysterious.

It'll pass once he becomes an asshole again, right?

- - -

- A/N-

• Yasir can be fun if he wants to be! 🤪✌🏼Noor is more fun though! Haha! 🤣

• Munchkin the Monkey is the superior character, change my mind 😤 LMFAO!

Next Update: Every Friday and Saturday, Insha'Allah

P.S. I'll try to update in between bc I know some of y'all hella bored at home but don't hold it against me since I'm trying to finish up school too 🥺

Please vote and comment and let me know how y'all feel!!