Chapter 21

She just stared him. It annoyed him. "answer me!" he shouted. She shivered with fear. "please let me go, I'm a Muslim now, don't touch me" she sobbed.

"What?" he said in surprise. It was only this time when he noticed that she was wearing a hijab.

"I've changed my religion, please don't come near me" she said, while lowering her face.

"I'll let you go on only one condition" he said while lifting his hand and releasing her. She remained silent. "you will work for me" he said while looking at her. She lifted her head up while making eye contact.

"but you will promise that you will never come near me" she said like she was making a deal, holding on to her senses.

"I will only promise, when you'll answer my question" he replied back sternly.

"what question?"

"why you avoid me?"

She blinked her eyes, because she didn't exactly know the answer. "I don't have particular reason" she replied hesitantly.

"well then find answer, then I'll promise you. For now sign the contract with me, or I will not let you go out of this room, without…." He left the sentence incomplete.

Without saying anything she pick up the pen from the table. He handed the file, on which the contract was written. She overviewed it, but realized that the serving time was two years. "two years? I'll have to work for you for two years?" she asked astonishingly. "is it not clear?" he asked.

She stood there hesitantly. "sign it or bear it" he gave her choices. After a moment she signed, regretting the moment when she made up her mind to come to his company. "very well, now you can start working from tomorrow" he said while smiling. Stella put the pen on the table and then picked her bag. Then she headed out of the door. Steven remained there watching her go out of the room.

Stella returned home and took a sigh of relief. Finally she was safe here. She cursed herself for making the wrong decision and entangling herself in this trouble. She skipped the Islamic class and spend her day peacefully at home. The money her mother left for her was enough to feed her for one year, but she was in need of job to make her lifestyle better. Although Mustafa left her but now she needed someone, with whom she could spend her whole life.

Week passed peacefully, Stella didn't get to meet Steven again. She only had to work in her department, and no one entangled with her at the first day. She was quiet, and only focused on her work. Steven didn't created any more problems for her. She get used to her work in few days. She always took bus in morning, and in evening she walked half way to home to spend her remaining time and to buy some groceries. Life was peaceful for her.

It was Sunday, and she didn't had to go to office. She cleaned her home. Then she took a long warm bath. She made herself food and was busy watching TV when door bell rang. She put down her bowl of pasta and opened the door. It was Fatima. She greeted her cheerfully and they both sat on sofa. "I came here to invite you for my brother's wedding. Its on Wednesday." She said smilingly. Stella tried to forced a smile. "but it's my work day" she replied. "its okay you can take a off for one day but you cannot miss by brother's wedding" she said while handling her the invitation. Stella looked at the timing, it was 12pm. She would be working at that hour. "Well let me ask something, Fatima why didn't you tell me when your brother was engaged?" she was eagerly waiting for a long time to ask her. She hesitated for a moment then said, "well I knew that you both like each other, and I didn't wanted to you by telling you that, so I kept it that way. And I'm sorry for that" she apologized sincerely. "okay let's leave it, and I'll try my best to attend wedding, if my boss lent me one day off" she said laughing. "c'mon you have to come, or I'll come to your office" she chuckled.

Stella was happy that finally she'll get a chance to enjoy herself. And indeed it was a nice outing too. She wrote the application for one day leave and handed to the assistant of Steven, next day, as only Steven used to approve leave applications for business management department. As it was the most important department of the company. As he saw application, he immediately asked her assistant to tell Stella to come to his office.