"Where are you taking me!?" Anisa asked in complete confusion. But, she was also worried. They had been going up countless stairs and her heels only made the journey worse.

"We're almost there," Tahir replied without even looking back at her.

Anisa couldn't help but follow. He was the only person who knew what he was doing.

Once they both reached the last step, Tahir turned the handle of the door and opened it to reveal a rooftop. But, it wasn't an ordinary rooftop. It had art from different media and it was clear that many people came here to use this rooftop to display their talents. Also, there was a wonderful view of the city.

Anisa gasped upon seeing each piece of artwork and paused in her tracks. There was a piece that caught her eye which contained a woman inside a cage that had wide-open doors. It wasn't locked yet the woman lay inside the cage instead of going towards the garden on the other side.

The meaning intrigued her mind and she looked at Tahir in awe of the place.

"How...how come I didn't know about this place?" She asked.

"This place is for those who are lost. You've always followed a schedule your whole life to a point you never allowed yourself to get lost."

He was right. Her whole life was put into a schedule up until this point. She wouldn't go anywhere that wasn't on her schedule. But, it wasn't like she could roam in public all on her own.

"It's beautiful," she said as she felt the mural on the wall, "It's beyond what I'm able to imagine."

"It's not my place to interfere, but lately, it seemed to me that your will to fight has been lost. Even as I yelled at you this morning, you weren't able to defend yourself properly. If it's one lesson I've been taught as a bodyguard, it's to be defensive," Tahir explained, "It seems like the previous bodyguard left a mark in your heart, but I'm sure if that person saw you like this, they wouldn't want this from you."

Anisa looked down after thinking about the things Tahir said. Mr. Amin did leave a mark in her heart, and he would've scolded or nagged at her had he seen her in this state. But, somehow, his words sounded just like the advice Mr. Amin would give her which is why she took them to heart.

"It's true, they wouldn't want to see me like this. But, lately, everything seems to be reminding me of him," she responded.

Tahir looked straight into her expression to get a reading of her feelings and their authenticity.

"It was as though he was everywhere. Everything that's in the palace, he would do something with. That teacup on the coffee table in my room was his, and every time I look at it, an image appears before my eyes where he sat on the chair and read reports every morning," she told him with tears filling her eyes.

She dared not to look up and allow him to see her cry again. It was already embarrassing that he saw it this morning. The second time was like crossing the line for her. But Tahir already took notice and walked closer to where she stood.

"They say we notice the smallest moments when someone's gone, as well as their importance. It's not a sin to grieve over this," he said.

Dinner was served and Anisa began without waiting on anyone else. Today, she hadn't had breakfast nor lunch so she was starving.

"Well, someone was looking forward to dinner just as much as I was," her father, King Salman said

"She makes it look like we're starving here, dear," Humeyra added

Anisa's looked up at her and glared. Tahir also took a glance at her and frowned from where he stood.

Just then, Layla appeared right at the beginning of the dining hall where the columns were and behind her was Saif.

"Child, where have you been?" King Salman asked her.

"Oh, you know baba, the usual. Just shopping and hanging out with friends," she replied while taking her seat.

Tahir scoffed silently and turned his head from annoyance. It was only his second day here and from the encounters he's had with her, she made his blood coil at times. But, it was worse for Anisa.

"Baba, why don't we have her try working so at least she makes her profit," Yasin suggested.

Humeyra looked between Yasin and her husband. Once King Salman was done using his napkin, he looked at Layla and asked her,

"Why don't I have you take care of the imports and exports of the country?"

Anisa spoke up before Layla could say anything, "Nonsense! She is not to touch a single operation led by the royal administration. We all know how far she went with her education and how far it leads her."

Tahir kept his poker face on but really, he was shocked at the way she spoke. Of course, King Salman was also shocked and all he was able to ask was, "Then what do you think she's capable of?"

Layla didn't allow Anisa to answer that question as she said, "Baba, despite my education, I still know how to manage a trade that happens within this country. And if anything I can hire an expert beside me."

Anisa's scoffed, "That's not you managing it, you're just handing it off to the expert."

Layla wasn't able to say anything so that's when Humeyra chimed in and told Anisa, "Whoever said education is a must for the business world? As long as her passion exists for the job —"

"Passion doesn't exist with your daughter! The only thing she has a passion for is a privilege as she takes it for granted. What has she done up until her age? She's 23 and Yasin is just a year younger and he handles 25% of the administration."

King Salman found Anisa's words to be true. But, he also didn't want to upset Humeyra. That would mean he needed to side with Layla.

"Anisa, I'm sure you have a reason to be speaking this way but even Yasin proposed this idea, I say we give her a chance," King Salman said.

Anisa dropped her fork just on the edge of her plate and stood up from her chair.

"As someone who owns 40% of the administration, I'm giving her a week to prove herself, without an expert. If she's able to handle it on her own, with a provided secretary, then she can officially handle trade. But, if not, she is officially extracted from the administration."

With that, she stormed out of the dining area with Tahir right behind her. He gave a slight nod towards Saif before he disappeared into the hallway, following Anisa.

"The nerve she has!" Anisa frustratingly growled and stomped up the steps of the stairs.

Tahir kept quiet for now and let her rant all the stress she had bottled up inside her.

"She's not capable of doing anything and yet Yasin proposed that she handle part of the administration?" She scoffed, "Not to mention Humeyra, who comes in with nonsense on how education isn't valid."

That's when Tahir cut in and asked, "At times like this, I recommend a punching bag."

Anisa turned to look at him.

"What? You need something physical to exert all that anger onto," he said.

"What makes you think I'm a violent person?" She genuinely asked.

"I never said you were. It's because you aren't that you need a punching bag. Otherwise, if you'd like, I can bring Layla here and you can try a few punches on her."

Anisa wanted to laugh but she ended up smiling and laughing silently. Tahir took notice and smiled to himself as he got her distracted.

"There just might come a day where you do so," she replied.

With that, she disappeared into her room and Tahir stood a couple of seconds outside her door, thinking to himself. Weird things were happening with his mind and his thoughts. He just wasn't able to put it to words.

After making sure that it passed midnight, Tahir made his way outside to his quarters where he found Saif, just at the front door, waiting.

"Did you wait long?" Tahir asked approaching him

"No, I had a couple of places to patrol before coming here, it's just been five minutes."

Tahir took out his keys and unlocked the door, allowing both of them inside. Before leaving, he had set the air conditioning to a low, making the entire place cool, so it felt pleasant upon walking in.

"Wow, so this is what the head of security gets"

Saif said looking around, turning his head left and right.

"Yeah," Tahir simply responded.

"Mr. Latif had some things he wanted you to know when he sent me," Saif started, "he said that Anisa did lie in her press conference."

Tahir looked up and paused to read Saif's expression.

"What exactly did she lie about?" He asked

Said sighed before he explained, "She said that the authorities were trying to find whoever was behind the incident. But she's the one doing so. She threatened authorities not to get involved or anyone else for that matter. She even has her family thinking that she opened up an investigation with them."

Tahir looked back down, processing the information he just heard. Although two days wasn't enough about Anisa and her characteristics, they were enough to explain her schedule. Not once did she attend nor do anything related to that incident besides that press conference.

Press conference...

Tahir instantly stood up and said, "I think you're right. I think her last attempt at finding the suspect was during the press conference. She organized it herself."

Saif shook his head and told him, "No, that's not what I'm saying. The agency thinks that Anisa was behind this incident."

Tahir froze and turned to look at Saif as if he had lost his mind.

"Do we have evidence of this?" He asked.

"So far, the evidence we have is her threat towards the authorities as well as the concealment of reports that every security guard wrote for that day, as well as other documentation that regards the event."

Tahir raked his fingers through his hair in annoyance. He was angry with himself. He was off guard and didn't pay attention to detail while supervising Anisa. Otherwise, he would've noticed her attempt behind the incident.

"She might seem like someone who wouldn't do it, but evidence leads to her for the moment so Mr. Latif decided to lay low until we find stronger evidence to take action," Saif explained

"I just don't get how I didn't notice this entire time," Tahir told him.

"Maybe that's how she was so successful in getting away. Even her position helps in terms of authority," Saif poured water into a glass cup as Tahir took his seat on the couch again.

They sat there, thinking for a couple of minutes before Tahir broke the silence and said, "we need to be more cautious from now on. Not only do we have to spend our time doing this job, but we have to visit the agency and get access to Anisa's files."

"We can also hack into the system here and access the files on her device," Saif added.

Tahir nodded, "that's right. These two days were nothing compared to what we're about to face during the days ahead of us."

He glared into the distance but there was still one thought that kept lingering in his mind: Was her sympathy for Mr. Amin genuine?

Nothing made sense. How was she able to mourn for so long if she was the one behind his death?

Whatever it was, Tahir realized that he needed to work harder to get to the bottom of this.

A/N:

What do you guys think of Anisa and Tahir's relationship so far?

Don't forget to hit that star button and comment wherever you'd like! Also, new character profiles will be posted in the new update:)

Thank you~