Arsh paused hearing her footsteps and turned to Noor. He caught her shoulders before she bumps into him. "What's wrong?"

Noor innocently shook her head still in a half-asleep mood, "Do you have any plans tomorrow? Shall we have lunch?"

​​

Arsh: "..."

He realized his dummy sleepy girlfriend didn't understand why he went to meet her in the night. If he was just doing his daily work, why would he wake her up and tell?

He flicked on her nose making her cry in pain. Turning her around, he took her to the bed and made her sit. He sat down facing her, "Do you remember I used to be away for a few days whenever I went out?"

Noor recalled and nodded. It didn't take long before her eyes widened and glanced at the logo on his uniform arm, "When are you coming back? Is it dangerous? Could I reach you over the phone? Where are you going? Why are you suddenly leaving in the night? Will you have anybody by your side?..."

The questions in concern started raining. He didn't know what to do with her. He held her face and shushed her, "Shhh… Listen to me."

Noor nodded vigorously and didn't even blink her eyelids, afraid of missing out a word or two, "I am not sure when I will be back, how dangerous it is, and where I will be going."

Her face immediately showed displeasure.

"I couldn't contact you in the meantime. Not just you, nobody."

Noor wanted to ask why he does such jobs. Then she thought that's probably what he likes, solving difficult puzzles, facing challenges, and working hard to achieve.

She didn't hide her displeasure, she could only bring herself to say, "Come back soon." She sulked.

He could only hum in response but not promise to come back soon. He started nagging her, "Don't get into trouble, sleep and eat on time. Focus on your work, or else your Dad will skin me alive. If you want to go anywhere, call Ivan or Rooney…"

Noor continued to hear him speak so many words at a time so she didn't truly consider his words even when she was hearing him in wonderment.

When he stopped, she giggled adorably, "You are so cute."

Arsh: "..."

He realized he spoke a lot. His heart rested at ease seeing her smile. Laying her down on the bed, he covered her with the blanket, "Sleep well…"

Noor reached out to hold his hand before he could even take a step, "I will wait for you." He had waited for her to bring her to his side, she thought it wouldn't be difficult to wait for him for a few days.

Arsh contemplated watching her hopeful face. He dipped his head and saw her unfazed. Then he planted a soft kiss on her forehead. She smiled in return and watched him jump off the balcony in a swift motion.

She was slightly shocked witnessing it, anyway, she had seen him jump from tall trees so this felt nothing.

Her fingers reached for her forehead, grazing where he kissed her, and smiled to herself, ticking the night as his first kiss to her. With that thought, she went into a good deep slumber, having him in her sweet dreams.

---

The next day

Noor's day started as normal, she went to work after so many days. She was able to focus without distraction. She was satisfied her work was going well.

She recalled Arsh a few times but that wasn't disturbing anymore. Instead, she wanted to work smart and better so that nobody has a reason to point at her or Arsh.

Her day ended uneventfully.

….

Similarly, a few days passed, Noor who had spent the whole week with Arsh, couldn't stop herself from missing him. The more she tried to convince herself, the more she thought about him.

She was hoping each call and message she was receiving would be Arsh's message. But every time she got disappointed. The first one to notice her behavior was Noah.

She was completing her work, doing his work, helping other employees with their work. She was trying to drown herself in the work to stop thinking about anything else. He felt like she was trying to suffocate herself, lost her natural smile, replacing it with a stiff and brief one.

She hardly ate any food and he had seen her hold a few files or two, if not a laptop on the dining table while working. Norah thought there might be a lot of work so she didn't think too much about it.

A week passed, Noah saw his table wholly empty. His secretary was exhausted coping up with Noah and Noor's speed. He was at the brink of suggesting to Noah if he could have an assistant or to get a secretary for Norah.

On Sunday, Noah was thinking Noor will rest, anyway, she reached him in the cabana with a file in her hand. Norah chuckled, "Here comes our Working Little Monster."

Anyway, Noah had frowns taking the file from her. He didn't bother checking the file and asked her to sit.

Noor flashed a smile at her mother and sat down, "Dad, we got an event to host in the hotel. It's a big event, about fifteen days." Noor was handling an international client, she successfully sealed the deal on the previous day.

For the same event, they need to cancel the external booking as they would need a complete hotel. Since the clients were international, she also suggested they should travel hence they were going to stay at Woods' hotels at different branches for a few days. The whole group would take a minimum of seventeen rooms so Noah had to pass the orders to block the days as the clients confirmed their itinerary.

Norah smiled hearing Noor. The latter used to work with all smiles, now there was confidence and seriousness in what she does. A trait a leader should have.

However, Noah left the file on the table and gravely questioned Noor, "What's going on, Noor?"

Noor didn't grasp his intention, "What's happened, Dad? Is there any problem with the event or clients?"

She was trying to reach the file to know if she made any mistakes or overlapped clients. Noah spoke, "I am talking about you, Noor." Noor's hand paused in the air.

Norah was confused about what was going on. Naira, sipped her juice as she took a seat. "Is everything... alright?" She asked due to Noah's deep frowns gazing at Noor.

Noor awkwardly smiled, "Dad… I am fine." She believed she was fine too. She was working while waiting for Arsh to return. She hadn't realized her behavior of seclusion from everyone to avoid a general conversation and facing her feelings.

She had assumed she was strong but in reality, she was running away from her feelings.