Chapter 11:Slipping Secrets and Silent Bonds

At evening 8 p.m start rain.Andleeb complete her work and pack up bag for going home.

The rain came without warning. It tapped insistently on the office windows, gray clouds hanging low over Khan Global Enterprises. The hallway lights flickered briefly, casting fleeting shadows on the polished marble floors. Inside the office, people bustled with umbrellas, jackets, and weak excuses to go home early. Weather always made humans weird, Andaleeb noted.

She stood by the window, groaning. "Of course I forgot my umbrella," she muttered, scowling at the sky. "The universe hates punctual interns."

Behind her, Zayan Khan walked silently down the hallway, his footsteps sharp and deliberate. He noticed her standing there, arms folded, talking to herself like a soaked lunatic.

He stopped.

Paused.

Then, without a word, extended his black umbrella toward her.

She turned, startled. "You're… offering me this?"

He didn't speak. Just gave a slight nod and walked off like it was nothing.

Andaleeb blinked after him. "Mr. Heartless is malfunctioning," she whispered. what wrong with him i don,t accept this behaviour from this person cold as ice he changed '

'Why i am thinking about him? lets go home.

Next day, as Andaleeb sat at her desk, her stomach rumbled so loudly it made two colleagues turn their heads. She clutched her stomach, frowning. "I knew skipping lunch would kill me eventually."

Just then, a paper bag landed on her desk.

"Eat," Zayan said curtly, not even glancing her way.

She stared at it like it might explode. "Is this poisoned?"

"No."

"Gluten-free?"

"No."

"Then why—"

He walked away without a word.

what is on earth hapening he is not Mr.heartless i am dreaming why he getting close to me why he care about me?

'Ahhh! no this can,t be happen i come to earth for mission not love or maybe i am asuming things whatever'.

She watched him disappear into his glass office. "He's definitely malfunctioning," she whispered. Then peeked into the bag. Sandwich. Her favorite. Extra cheese.

She didn't smile. Not visibly. But inside, her stomach purred in agreement.

That evening again start rain, Andaleeb slumped into her seat at the café, hair frizzy from the rain, eyeliner smudged like a defeated raccoon. Eman was already there, sipping tea with a smug grin.

"You look like you just saw a ghost," Eman said.

"I think Mr. Heartless is developing… feelings."

Eman nearly choked. "WHAT? Zayan Khan? That guy doesn't have emotions. He's a limited-edition, emotionless robot CEO."

"I'm serious! He gave me an umbrella. Then fed me. No insults, no eye-rolls, just silent concern."

Eman leaned in, eyes wide with teasing energy. "Awww, your cold-hearted CEO is defrosting."

Andaleeb threw a napkin at her. "Shut up."

You know this can,t be he is human I'm not

Andaleeb said with chessy voice:" Eman ! don,t you think Haroon is interested in you also he is kind,friendly and good looking not like Mr.heartless"

"I will kill you Andaleeb don,t move"

They start running in the room and laughing

Miss Zareen heard and go to Andleeb .

"What you girls doing you are adult now can you both stop being like three year old kids i am trying to sleep "

They both say sorry to Miss Zareen

Zareen go to her room 

Then eman said : Zayan Khan is more good looking then Haroon

They laughed. Loudly. And secretly, Andaleeb blushed.

Power Slip

The elevator shuddered to a halt between the 7th and 8th floors the next morning.

Andaleeb stood inside with a terrified intern who clung to the railing like the elevator was a haunted ride.

"Don't worry," she said, trying to calm him. "It's probably just a glitch. Happens all the time. Definitely nothing scary. Not haunted. Not cursed.

Zayan immedentially go to main switch of elevator with mechanic 

But Andaleeb own panic surged. The walls felt too tight. The space too small.

Her heart raced. Her skin tingled.

And then—

Flash.

They were outside the elevator. Just like that.

"W-What just happened?!" the intern gasped.

"You… fainted. And I dragged you out," she bluffed, wiping imaginary sweat from her forehead.

"But I didn't faint—"

"YES YOU DID."

Andaleeb use her powers around cameras

Zayan come and hugged Andaleeb for few seconds and then put his hands on her cheeks.

"Are you okay Andaleeb " 

Andaleeb don,t push him back this time .

I'm okay don,t worry .

Okay go to your work i have something to do 

"Don,t deny now you don,t like her!" :Aryan said 

...

"Why you thinking like this she is my employee if somethings hapeen to her i am responsible for this i am going i have something to do" Zayan said

he turn off and go to security room with similing face 

Ahh!why you don,t admit is necessary for you to become like ice everytime: Aryan said in heart

Meanwhile, in the security room, Zayan stared at the screen. He replayed the footage. Again.

A glitch. A blur of light. Then static.

He zoomed in. Slowed it. Nothing made sense. He saw her. The intern. The door jam. The light.

"What the hell?" he muttered.

Meanwhile… at Zareen's Café

Haroon Dar, charismatic and disarmingly charming, stepped into the café for a quick caffeine fix. He was halfway to the counter when his eyes landed on Eman, who was fixing the menu board.

Short hair. Confident stance. An elegance she didn't even try to show.

"Excuse me," he said, clearing his throat. "Do you speak French?"

Eman raised a brow. "Of course. Do you?"

He chuckled. "Not fluently, but now I want to learn."

She smiled—just a flicker. "How original."

They laughed. The kind of laugh that

stretches beyond politeness. The kind that fits.

Neither knew the other's real identity. Or that they would soon matter more than they realized.

Minutes later, Andaleeb came out from the backroom with her apron half tied.

"Eman, where's—oh."

Her eyes landed on Haroon.

Haroon blinked. "You?"

She frowned. "You?"

He grinned. "Small world."

She sighed. "More like small city with too many dramatic people."

Eman watched them with curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Zayan's Confusion Deepens

That night, the office was quiet. Too quiet.

Zayan sat at his desk long after everyone had left, staring at a notepad someone had left behind. He picked it up, flipping through doodles and messy notes.

His eyes froze.

A rough sketch.

Of him.

Frowning, of course.

But there was a tiny heart drawn beside his grumpy face.

He stared at it for a long time.

Then, without a word, folded the paper gently and slid it into his drawer.

Not the trash.

Just in case.

Outside, the rain started again.

And inside his chest, something unfamiliar stirred.

Something dangerous.

Something like… hope.

End of Chapter 11