______________

"Salaam Lameesa, how are you" I answered her call. I hope everything was okay.

"Wa alay-kamus salaam. I'm okay girl. Did you get a break last night? I was so worried you were asked to stay back so suddenly" she said in one breath. "I'm sorry, you can speak now" she exclaimed sheepishly. I can imagine her rubbing her forehead whenever a situation like this appears.

Her question instantly reminded me of the night I tried so hard to forget. "Y-yes Lameesa, stop worrying so much girl" I laughed, hoping it didn't sound fake. Although it probably did since there was nothing to laugh about in the first place.

"Hmm, okay" she hummed in response, dubious of me. "Well I gotta go Laili, so I'll speak to you when you get home?" She questioned, but I felt like it was an order. Something seemed off, but I didn't have any time to waste, especially if I wanted to end the call and stop lying.

"In Sha allah Misa, see you tonight. Salaam" and with that we ended the call.

I went back into the room where Antoinette was placed. Thankfully she looked a lot more better than yesterday, but still a little pale. Her greying hair was fanned out onto the pillow and I couldn't help but think she looked nothing less than an angel.

Suddenly the demons words rang in my ears.

She's been through tougher situations sweetheart. A bullet to the chest is but child play.

What did he mean by such cryptic words? What did I not know about those around me? Was Antoinette who I really thought she was?

I didn't have much time to ponder over these thoughts, as Antoinette's broken voice broke me from my revere. Wait her voice?

I'd never thought I'd hear it again after the scare the demon gave me yesterday.

I immediately stood from the seat, taken aback. Alhamdulillah. I immediately pressed the button to alert a doctor, as I now loomed over her. I held in my breath upon seeing her weak visage.

"A-agua" she rasped out, not being able to speak much. I opened the water bottle and placed it along her lips. With my other hand, I tilted her head up, allowing her to have better access. She rested back once done and with perfect timing, a doctor entered the room.

I excused myself from them, informing Antoinette I would be back to see her later, and that she needs to rest. She nodded weakly as the doctor checked up on her.

I went to my patients room and checked up on them, all the while my mind going back to this morning.

I woke up groggily, seemingly tired to even move my arm above my head. I searched for my phone under my pillow case when finally my hand made contact with the hard exterior.

What? It was only seven am? Deciding I have nothing better to do, I wrapped my hijab around me and went downstairs to get some food. My stomach was growling hungrily. But not before brushing my teeth and washing my face.

Having located the empty kitchen, the fridge begged me to go to it. There were some eggs and a few tortilla wraps. Now that was left was some cheese. Thankfully there was a packet of mozzarella.

At first I was hesitant to eat from here, but then I recalled I didn't eat anything last night and thought it wouldn't hurt to eat something before I go from here.

I was too busy in making the tortilla omelet that I didn't hear footsteps coming in. It wasn't until heat erupted from behind that I finally noticed a presence. I turned my head to the side pilfering a glance at who came.

Least to say, I was disappointed.

"What a wonderful sight to wake up to. I could get used to this" he hummed in appreciation. I tried to ignore his words, but I wasn't able to ignore the fluttering in my stomach. Yep. That's definitely the hunger. I told my brain.

I flipped the tortilla, now the egg side on top and cooked it briefly before turning off the heat. Quickly adding cheese into the wrap, I folded it in half.

Where are the plates. You should have thought about this before making breakfast. The demon chuckled from behind me, as he reached his arms forward, his body now much closer to mine. What was he intending to do?!

I subconsciously moved myself forward against the countertop, not wanting to be touched by his body. After a few torturous seconds, his intentions became clear. He placed the place on the countertop, but he didn't stop there. With his right arm around me, he took the spatula from my hand and placed the breakfast on the plate.

I squirmed in discomfort. But the demon didn't bother to care. I guess I was too uncomfortable to notice when he took the plate from my hands and turned around towards the island.

"Hey! That's my breakfast" I all but exclaimed suddenly, offended that he'd probably eat it. He looked at me, eyebrows raised in amusement.

"Si, I know" to my utter shame he replied. My cheeks were red. I stepped towards the island, sitting down. The demon moved around me, and to my surprise, prepared to make himself breakfast. Didn't he have maids for a reason?

"It brings me deep joy" he began. "To see you already picking up on wifey duties having only learned about my motives yesterday" he said in his deep voice. However, I ignored him and continued with having my breakfast.

The atmosphere was awkward. Me chewing slowly, whilst the demon before me made his own food. I took this time to observe him. To any other person, he looked normal, cooking in his kitchen, but with the way his hands moved with purpose, it showed he was a man with skill. Someone not to be messed with.

Before he could turn around and find me ogling, I focused my gaze back on my plate. He came to sit next to me, which I made sure to scoot over. He didn't appreciate this as he gripped my arm, mid air, and pulled me closer to him. I almost stumbled over the stool had I not been gripping the island with the other hand.

"Come close wifey, why the long face" his gaze rested on me, my arm still in his grip. I attempted to pull it away, but to no avail did it loosen. I shouldn't have done that, because the next second he pulled me on top of him, gripping my waist in his hands and pulling me on top of his lap.

Astaghfirullah! What is he doing! This is haraam!

"There. You should be able to eat perfectly now" he teased, but I could sense the slyness behind his tone. He knew this would make me uncomfortable, yet he still carried on with such blasphemies.

"Rafael, please let go of me" I tried to say calmly, knowing if I spoke to him angrily, his attitude would get worse. His chest vibrated from behind me as he grunted in denial. My words had no effect on him, as he continued eating his breakfast without a care in the world.

Sighing in frustration, I tried, key word tried, to get out of his grip, remove his arm from around me, anything! But nothing was working.

"Let me go for gods sake! I can't eat properly like this!" I exclaimed, no longer patient with his antiques.

"Then I'll feed you" came his cool reply. No way In bloody hell would I allow that. I didn't accept the morsel he placed in front of my mouth. Instead I tried to get off of him, but the arm around my waist was secured.

Oh god, if i had just moved closer to him.

As a result of my refusal, the arm which was on my waist moments before was instantly placed on my thigh. I could still move off of him, with one more push. But that didn't happen. The demon had other plans.

The hand resting on my thigh moved upwards slowly. Shrieking from the weird sensation, Rafael took this oppertunity to forcefully push the food into my mouth. You won't get away with this, you psycho.

So I did what any other girl would do in my uncomfortable situation. Before he could remove his hand from my face, I inched my head forward in record time and took his thumb between my teeth, applying pressure.

He let out a growl and grunt from behind as I took the opportunity to get off of him.

"I see you like to play rough" he drawled out. "If that's the case, wait till you become mine forever, love. I'll show you the real world of rough" he fisted his thumb in between his fingers as specks of blood trickled down his hand.

I hadn't realised in my struggling how hard my bite was. Should I apologise? He did place me on his lap, which is disturbing, but then again, I shouldn't have bit him to the point where blood came out. The nicer part of me took over, as I stepped forward, dragging his arm to the sink. I'll clean the wound first and then plaster it later.

Rafael didn't refuse my help, which I was thankful for because that would have been awkward. And embarrassing. I could feel his gaze on me, as I applied the blue plaster on his finger, which he'd given me.

"What?" I mumbled, self conscious.

"You'll make a perfect wife" he teased in his deep voice. His eyes bright with mirth, but also an underlying of mischief. I didn't reply, seemingly taken aback by his entire casual attitude towards marriage. Especially after I'd just bit his finger.

"Tell me, Laila, would you want to marry me?" All playfulness had disappeared from his tone. That phrase alone playing in my mind like a broken record. I didn't have any answer, which did anger him, but it was better than a straight out rejection. Although, that would have been my reply, I just didn't want to witness his angry side.

And also, my family was on the line. Albeit they'd be heartbroken their daughter married a non-muslim and that too without their knowledge, but I had no other chocie.

Was I really considering the demons marriage proposal?

____________

🔥