A week had passed, or Anaya had believed had passed. Though it felt like it had been a year. The only way she could tell was the clock, there was no sun she could see nor fresh air she could breathe. However, even in this circumstance, Anaya had been thankful.

What could she have done if they had left her to rot in that attic of theirs? Nothing.

She was grateful, that she could take a shower, brush her teeth, change her clothes, pray, and sleep on a mattress.

She was thankful, no one would touch her now.

The boss had touched her all over, and Anaya had cried and cried trying to get rid of his touch, trying to get her sins forgiven by begging her Lord for mercy.

She wondered where her dad was, and why he hadn't come after that guy had called him. She was scared that they had done something to him because why else would they be looking for him so vigorously?

There was nothing to do in her room. So all Anaya did was pray, she prayed Tahajud, Ishraq, Chast, Nafl, Qaza. She prayed all day and did zikr on her fingers constantly.

They would bring meals to her, but she wouldn't eat any of it besides the vegetables or fruits, not knowing if it was halal. She had lost so much weight in the past week, her ribs began to be visible.

Of course, nothing distracted her from the situation she was in. Whenever she thought about it, her chest would hurt and she would tear up.

Was her life over?

She missed Jameela, she missed her students, she missed her car, the sun, the grass, she missed everything that she couldn't see because she was stuck in this godforsaken room.

There was nothing she could do, and it frustrated her to death. She wanted to grab that boss guy and hit him over and over. She had never hated someone, she always forgave and moved on, but when it came to this guy.

She despised him.

It was midnight now, as Anaya raced back and forth in her room agitated. Her sanity was slowly slipping away.

- - - -

Ali was still back at his office, though it wasn't working he was doing but much rather someone.

Ali laid on the sofa in his office, as Erika did her magic on top of him. When they were done, she collapsed on him as she laid on his chest, her head right below his chin.

"Ali?" She said.

"What?"

She sat up and grabbed Ali's suit jacket, putting it on to cover her nudity. Ali also sat back up, putting on his clothes.

"I feel like I know the answer to this. But what are we?" She asked.

Ali didn't reply to her, as he emotionlessly tightened his belt.

"Ali," Erika said, in an urging tone trying to get the man before her to say something.

"You know I don't do labels, Erika." He said as he put on his shirt and gradually buttoned it up.

Erika stood up and met his eyes, as she buttoned the rest of his shirt for him.

"Shouldn't there be an exception for me?" She said, putting her arms around his neck- the jacket lifting, revealing her to Ali yet again.

"You know there's something between us you can't replace. The sex is incredible, our lives and jobs match and be honest, no one does it like me." She spoke.

Ali looked at her, up and down. As he grabbed her waist and pulled her in, her outfit blinding any logic he had.

"You want to be my girlfriend?" He asked, lowly.

"For now. Yes." She smirked, giving him a deep kiss. She bent down and grabbed her dress, taking off his jacket, and wearing it right there. As she slipped in her heels she gave him a wink before strutting out of his office.

Ali sat back on the couch, realizing he hadn't made the brightest decision right now. But he had way more crucial things on the top of his head to think of Erika.

His mind shifted back to the conversation he had with his father. He had to make his move, fast. He had put it off for an entire week, not even checking up on her once. Ali remembered her childlike sobbing face as he didn't let her go out the gate. He scoffed at the image his mind displayed.

She was a sharp thinker, tricking his guards and then having the guts to escape from him. He had put her in a room that she couldn't escape, he had to raise the security because well he didn't trust her. She was intelligent, for all he knew she could've still found a way out.

Ali grabbed his stuff and got up to leave.

Let's go see what that girl is up to- he thought.

There hadn't been a complaint or any uproar, so he had assumed that she had listened to his advice and settled down. Ali began to drive to his house, as he thought more of Anaya.

Anaya- even her name was different. Ali was a bit infatuated with her because she was so complex. He had spent a total of twenty minutes with her, and in that time she had done so many things that astounded him.

He parked the car into the driveway, as he went inside. Her room was on the left, right behind the stairs. He unlocked the door with his keys and slowly opened the door, as he saw her silhouette.

He opened the door completely and saw her on the floor, her head against the ottoman. He took a look at her, and she wore a long-sleeve baby blue shirt with loose black pants, her scarf still wrapped on her head covering the top of her head to her chest. Her face looked slimmer and paler.

He looked around her room, and it somehow looked tidier, he looked at the blanket that laid on the floor flattened out in an angle, and then he looked her again. He stood up and left the room locking it, and leaving her on the floor.

Deep inside him, he pitied her. She had no mother and an asshole of a father. Yet, he had no intention of simply letting her go. He was going to be merciless.

-