I woke up feeling unsettled.
There were days I could ignore my growing feelings for Jamal push them aside, bury them under work and responsibility but today wasn't one of them. Today, everything felt too raw. Every glance from him, every word he said last night, every memory of the tension-filled silence between us kept replaying in my mind.
The contract.
My family.
The danger of wanting him.
And the danger of him wanting me back.
I tried to shake the thoughts off as I got dressed for the day. But even the mirror betrayed me I could see the flush on my cheeks, the slight tremble of my hands.
I was falling hard, and too fast.
When I stepped out of my room, Jamal was already at the dining table, scrolling through his phone. He looked up the moment he heard me and something in his eyes changed.
A warmth.
A softness.
A question he wasn't asking out loud.
"Good morning," he said quietly, his voice much gentler than usual.
"Good… morning," I managed, though my stomach tightened with nerves.
He watched me for a moment longer than necessary. Not professionally. Not politely. But like he was studying me the curve of my mouth, the tension in my shoulders, the thoughts I was trying to hide.
"You didn't sleep well," he observed.
I blinked. "How do you know?"
He didn't smile, not exactly. His lips curved slightly, the kind of expression he only reserved for moments when he forgot to be the stern billionaire CEO.
"I notice more things about you than you think, Arata."
My breath caught.
I opened my mouth to respond, but he stood and walked toward me slow, deliberate steps stopping only a little too close. His cologne surrounded me, warm and intoxicating.
"Tonight," he said softly, "you'll come with me to a company anniversary gala."
"A gala?" My voice squeaked.
"It will be good exposure. People should know the face they'll be seeing at meetings."
I swallowed. "And… will they know who I am? I mean, that I'm your…."
I stopped. I didn't know what word to use.
Assistant?
Contract fiancée?
Something in-between?
Jamal's eyes flickered.
"No," he said calmly. "No one needs to know anything personal."
Relief washed over me, but so did something else, disappointment.
"When I introduce you," he continued, "it will be as my… valued partner in restructuring."
Partner.
I shouldn't have liked that word.
But I did, too much.
I spent the afternoon preparing reports and recapping yesterday's meeting. Harper dropped by the penthouse to bring in some documents, and the moment she saw me, she gasped.
"Oh no," she said dramatically. "You have that face."
"What face?"
"The 'I don't want to admit I like my boss' face."
I nearly choked on my water.
"I Harper, no it's not I just…"
She crossed her arms. "Arata, please. I've worked here for three years. I know when someone is falling. You look like your heart is being microwaved."
"That's not even possible!"
"Exactly. That's what falling feels like."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
"What do I do?" I whispered.
Harper's voice softened. "You protect your heart. Jamal is… complicated. He doesn't open up easily. And if you fall before he's ready…"
I looked up. "I'll get hurt."
"Yes," she said gently. "Badly."
Her words sat heavy on my chest.
By 6 PM, I was dressed and ready.
I chose a simple but elegant gown a soft blush color that felt modest yet sophisticated. It hugged my waist and flowed gently at the bottom, making me look older, more confident, more capable.
When I stepped out of my room, Jamal froze.
He was adjusting his cufflinks, but his hands stilled mid-motion. His eyes traveled from my hair, to my face, to my gown, slow, lingering, warm. And when his gaze returned to mine, something in his expression tightened.
"You look…" He paused, searching for words. "Exceptional."
My heart did a dangerous flip.
"Thank you," I whispered.
He offered his arm, something he had never done before. My fingers trembled slightly as I placed my hand on it. His muscles tensed under my touch.
He felt it, he noticed it, and he didn't pull away.
The hall was breathtaking, chandeliers glittering, violins playing softly, waiters drifting around with drinks and appetizers. Guests turned when Jamal entered, whispering, some even staring.
But what shocked me most?
Some weren't staring at him.
They were staring at me.
"Is that his new assistant?" someone murmured.
"She's beautiful…"
"She doesn't look like his type."
"She looks innocent."
I swallowed hard, clinging to Jamal's presence for strength.
He leaned slightly toward me. "Ignore them."
"I'm trying," I whispered.
"You don't have to worry," he reassured, voice low and intimate. "You're with me."
My chest tightened.
Halfway through the event, she approached.
Tall, perfect makeup, a red dress that clung to her like a second skin.
Elena.
Of course.
"Mr. Yusuf," she purred, ignoring me entirely. "I didn't know you would be here tonight."
Jamal's expression hardened. "It's a company event. Why wouldn't I be?"
Elena laughed softly, resting a hand on her chest. "Well, I assumed you'd be too busy. You always are." She then turned to me, her smile sharp and fake. "And you brought your assistant. How… adorable."
I forced a polite smile.
But then she did something that made my blood boil.
She leaned close to Jamal too close, and whispered something that made his jaw tighten.
He stepped back subtly.
And for the first time… he looked irritated.
"Excuse me," he said firmly. "I need to speak with Arata."
He gently placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me away.
My skin heated at his touch.
When we were far enough, he muttered, "Avoid Elena. She's… unnecessary drama."
"You seemed upset," I said quietly.
"I don't like when people disrespect what's mine."
I froze.
"What's… yours?" I whispered.
He blinked, realizing what he said. His voice dropped, softer now. "I meant what's under my care. My responsibility."
But the slip had already happened.
And my heart knew it.
He wasn't just protecting me.
He was reacting.
Feeling something.
Whether he admitted it or not.
When we got back to the penthouse, the tension felt heavier, not uncomfortable, but thick, charged with everything left unsaid.
I turned to him. "Thank you. For… everything."
He nodded, then hesitated. "Arata?"
"Yes?"
He stepped closer, not touching me, but close enough that I felt his warmth, smelled his cologne, sensed every unspoken emotion.
"Tonight," he said quietly, "when I saw you across the room… I…."
He paused, jaw clenched as if fighting himself.
"I forgot how to breathe for a second."
My heart stopped.
He looked away abruptly. "Goodnight."
And before I could respond, he walked to his room, leaving me breathless.
But one thing was clear:
His walls were cracking, his composure slipping, his feelings… emerging.
And that terrified me more than anything.
Because once Jamal started feeling…
Everything would change.