Chapter 12 – Storms in the Heart

Zayan Khan stared at the security footage again.

It had become a habit now—rewinding, pausing, replaying. The elevator scene from yesterday looped in his office like a broken record.

There it was: Andaleeb, standing inside with the terrified intern. The elevator shuddered, then glitched. A flash of light—not natural light. Not electrical. Something else.

And then… they were outside. Like magic.

"Impossible," he muttered, zooming in, trying to slow the frame. The video pixelated and blurred. Static overtook the screen.

Again.

And again.

It made no sense. His building had the most advanced systems in the city. No camera had ever glitched like this before.

But what bothered him more wasn't the footage—it was her.

Her expression when the doors opened. The way she lied. Too calm. Too fast.

What are you hiding, Andaleeb Shah?

And why do I care?

He leaned back, rubbing his temples. His feelings were spiraling. It wasn't just curiosity anymore. It was concern, attachment, and something dangerously close to affection.

He hated it.

Morning Mayhem

Andaleeb burst into the office fifteen minutes late, soaked from the drizzle outside, hair a mess, shoes squeaking with every step.

Zayan looked up from his desk as she dashed past the glass wall.

He didn't say a word.

Five minutes later, a steaming cup of her favorite chai landed on her desk. No note. No eye contact. Just tea.

She looked at it, then at his office.

"…He's either secretly in love with me or trying to poison me slowly," she mumbled.

Aryan passed by and whispered, "Or both. Dangerous combo."

She rolled her eyes and took a sip. Perfect. Not a trace of poison. Unless you counted sugar.

Inside his office, Zayan watched through the glass, pretending to check emails while secretly observing her reaction.

Her lips curved into a tiny smile.

So did his.

Until the elevator dinged.

And in walked Haroon Dar.

The Jealous Spark

Haroon waved cheerfully. "Andaleeb! Just passing by. Brought the book you left at the café."

"Oh my God, I thought I lost that!" she beamed, standing up.

Zayan's eyes narrowed.

They talked. Laughed. Haroon made a joke—something about space and her "always being out of this world."

She laughed again.

Zayan's jaw clenched.

He stood.

Ten seconds later, his voice crackled through the intercom.

"Miss Shah. In my office. Now."

Andaleeb blinked. "Oh wow. The dragon calls."

Haroon chuckled. "Didn't know CEOs summoned interns like that."

"You'd be surprised," she muttered, brushing her kurta and heading toward doom.

Confrontation

She stepped inside his office. He was already pacing.

"You needed something, Your Coldness?"

He didn't look at her. "Who was that?"

She blinked. "Who?"

"Haroon. The guy you were laughing with."

"Friend. Café owner's friend. Tall. Smiles. Uses soap—unlike you this morning."

Zayan turned sharply. "Why were you laughing with him?"

She squinted. "Wait. Are you—jealous?"

His eyes darkened. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Ohhh, this is good," she said, sitting without permission. "Jealous CEO is fun. Do I need to report this to HR?"

"Don't push me," he said quietly, stepping closer.

She raised an eyebrow. "Or what?"

"I don't like it when you smile at someone else."

She paused. The room shifted.

He was close now—too close. His tone wasn't playful anymore.

"You keep joking. Teasing. Arguing. But the truth is, you love it. You love fighting with me. You love this chaos."

Her breath caught.

"And maybe…" he added softly, "I do too."

A silence settled like fog.

Then—knock knock.

Aryan peeked in. "Sir, your 11 a.m.—"

"Not now," Zayan snapped.

Andaleeb shot up like a firecracker. "Right! I'll just go… be normal and not caught in weird romantic CEO drama."

She practically ran out.

Zayan exhaled.

What is happening to me?

Sweet Encounters – Café Moments

Eman was already at the café, wiping tables when Haroon walked in again.

"You again?" she said.

"I was in the neighborhood."

"You live twenty minutes away."

He grinned. "I drive fast."

She rolled her eyes. "You're not charming."

"You laughed yesterday."

"That was a reflex."

He placed a small astronomy book on the counter. "Thought you might like this. You mentioned stars."

She paused. Took it slowly. Her expression softened. "You're… not horrible."

"Thanks," he said. "That's the best compliment I've gotten all week."

Their hands brushed. Brief. But warm.

Neither of them pulled away quickly.

Danger Returns – Power Surge

That night, the city was covered in silver rain. The streetlights blurred behind a veil of water.

Andaleeb walked alone, her umbrella flipped inside out by the wind. She grumbled.

"Why do I never learn to buy the good umbrellas?"

Suddenly—footsteps.

Two men approached from the alley.

"Hey beautiful, walking alone?"

She turned. "I'm really not in the mood—"

One grabbed her wrist.

She panicked.

And then—

Light exploded.

A blinding flash. A ripple in the air.

Seconds later, she was standing yards away. The men were gone. Scattered. One unconscious. One crawling.

She looked at her hands. Glowing. Trembling.

"No… not again..."

A car screeched to a halt.

Zayan stepped out.

He'd seen it. Not everything. But enough.

Her standing there, breathless, the air still pulsing with energy. His heart slammed in his chest.

He said nothing.

She turned slowly, realizing it was him.

He stared at her, drenched in rain, eyes wide.

"Andaleeb… what did you just do?"

End of Chapter 13