Chapter 6: Shattered Barriers

Noor paced back and forth in her office, unable to focus on the piles of paperwork before her. Her phone lay on the desk, still and silent, but the memory of Zayd's voice lingered like a shadow over everything. She had promised herself she wouldn't let him get under her skin. But every word he had spoken, every hint of challenge in his tone, made it harder to keep that promise.

She had never been one to succumb to distractions, especially not ones as dangerous as Zayd Sultan. He was everything she had been taught to avoid—ruthless, cold, and deeply involved in a world that was anything but clean. And yet, there was a magnetism in him, something that threatened to pull her into a world she had long worked to avoid.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. She straightened up, pushing aside her lingering feelings. "Come in."

The door opened, revealing her assistant, Hana, a young woman who had worked for the family for years. She had a wary look on her face, and Noor instantly felt a shift in the air.

"Ms. Farid," Hana began, her voice a little hesitant. "There's... someone here to see you. A Mr. Sultan."

Noor's heart skipped a beat. She had been expecting this, but hearing his name out loud sent a rush of unwanted emotion through her. "Send him in," she replied, keeping her voice steady.

Hana nodded and stepped aside, allowing Zayd to enter.

---

Zayd's presence filled the room before he even spoke. His broad shoulders, the confidence in his stride, and the intensity of his gaze left no room for doubt—he was here with a purpose. He closed the door softly behind him, and for a moment, they both stood there in silence, each sizing the other up.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Noor said, breaking the silence first. Her voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. She couldn't help herself. Zayd's presence was like a storm, and she felt caught in its winds.

"You didn't have a choice," Zayd replied smoothly, his voice low and deliberate. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "You were avoiding me."

"I wasn't avoiding you," Noor snapped, a little more defensively than she intended. "I've been busy."

Zayd chuckled softly, and Noor noticed the subtle, almost imperceptible glint of amusement in his eyes. "Are you sure about that?"

Noor held his gaze, refusing to back down. "What do you want, Sultan?"

Zayd leaned against the desk, his gaze now softening just slightly. "I wanted to see you," he said quietly, his voice taking on a more intimate tone. "I think it's time we talk, don't you?"

---

The moment his words settled between them, a wave of heat washed over Noor. She had prepared herself for this meeting, but nothing could have prepared her for the raw intensity of his presence. It was as if the room had suddenly closed in around them, the air thick with unspoken words. She knew this was no ordinary meeting. This was about something far deeper, something that neither of them had yet to fully understand.

Noor swallowed, trying to compose herself. "You're playing a dangerous game, Zayd," she said, her voice steady but laced with warning. "We both know why you're here. I don't have time for your games."

Zayd straightened up, his expression hardening. "This isn't a game, Noor. You and I both know that. There's something between us, and pretending otherwise won't change that."

The words hung in the air between them, unspoken but understood. Something was shifting, and it couldn't be ignored. For Noor, it was a battle between everything she had been taught to believe about power and control, and the undeniable pull she felt toward him. For Zayd, it was the battle to keep his emotions in check, to not let himself be vulnerable to someone he knew could undo everything he had worked for.

"You're right," she finally said, her voice softer now, a hint of resignation creeping in. "There's something between us. But I'm not willing to let it destroy everything I've built."

Zayd's lips curved into a slow smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Then why are you still here?"

---

Noor didn't have an answer for that. She couldn't explain why she hadn't turned him away, why she hadn't told him to leave the moment he stepped through the door. It was as if the gravity between them was too strong to resist.

"I came here for one reason," Zayd continued, taking another step closer to her. "To make you an offer."

Noor raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued despite herself. "An offer?"

Zayd nodded. "I want you to work with me. Not just on business, but everything. Your family's business, mine. Together, we could control this city. But you have to trust me, Noor. And I can't do this without you."

His words struck a chord deep within her. She knew the stakes. Working with Zayd meant crossing a line she had never even considered before. Her family's business had always been clean, at least on the surface. Partnering with someone like Zayd could put everything at risk.

But the promise in his voice—the subtle implication that they could rule together, change everything—was tempting. More tempting than she cared to admit.

"I don't trust you, Zayd," she said, her voice firm, though a part of her was already questioning that statement. Was it really trust she lacked? Or was it something else entirely?

"Then you'll have to get used to it," Zayd replied, his tone still calm but tinged with an edge of challenge. "Because I'm not going anywhere."

---

Noor's mind was reeling as Zayd left her office, the lingering tension of their conversation hanging in the air long after he had gone. What had just happened? What had she just agreed to?

She wasn't sure, but one thing was certain: the walls she had carefully built around herself had just begun to crumble.