The skyline of Karachi glistened in the distance, its towering structures bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. Among the gleaming buildings stood the towering headquarters of Khan Enterprises, an empire built from the ground up by Murtasim Khan, the young billionaire and the most eligible bachelor in the country. His company had thrived under his leadership, expanding rapidly and making waves in industries from real estate to technology.
But Murtasim’s mind wasn’t on numbers or deals right now. He stood in his expansive office, his sharp gaze fixed on the glass wall that overlooked the city below. His thoughts, as they had been for months now, were on her. Meerab.
Meerab, his personal assistant, had been the one woman who turned his world upside down the moment she walked into his life. She was stunning—breathtaking even. Her beauty was a blend of fierce confidence and grace, with fiery eyes that held no fear of him, no matter how powerful he was. Her confidence, intellect, and wit had entranced him from the beginning, and while other women threw themselves at him, seeking his money or status, Meerab was different. She was grounded, had no interest in the trappings of wealth, and she looked at him like he was just her boss — nothing more.
It drove him crazy.
Murtasim wasn’t used to wanting something — or someone — and not getting it. He had always prided himself on his control, on his ability to keep his emotions in check. But Meerab had made that impossible. Every time she walked into his office, wearing one of her sleek, professional outfits that somehow still managed to hug her curves perfectly, his mind went wild. And those fiery comebacks of hers? They only made him fall deeper.
He hadn’t acted on his feelings for one reason: he respected her. She worked hard, she was professional, and he didn't want to cross any lines. But recently, something had changed. He had noticed another employee, Rohail, making moves towards Meerab, flirting with her, lingering a little too long by her desk. And Meerab, being as oblivious as she was to Murtasim’s feelings, didn't even notice. She laughed at Rohail’s jokes, even accepting his offers for coffee.
That had been the last straw for Murtasim. He was done watching from the sidelines.
His hands tightened into fists at the memory of Rohail’s smug face as he chatted with Meerab by the water cooler earlier that week. Murtasim had been watching them through his office window, his jaw clenched as he saw Rohail lean in a little too close to her. Something primal had ignited in him. Meerab was *his*. Whether she knew it yet or not.
A soft knock on the door interrupted his brooding, and he turned, already knowing who it was.
"Come in," he called, his voice steady, though his heart raced at the mere thought of her.
The door opened, and there she was, in all her breathtaking beauty. Meerab stepped into the room, her black pencil skirt hugging her in all the right places, her crisp white blouse unbuttoned just enough to reveal a tantalizing hint of skin. Her long, dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her sharp brown eyes met his without hesitation.
"You asked to see me?" she said, her tone professional but with a hint of curiosity.
Murtasim nodded, gesturing for her to sit. "Yes, I wanted to discuss something with you."
Meerab raised an eyebrow but complied, taking the seat across from him. She crossed her legs, her posture relaxed but her gaze sharp as always. "Is this about the merger meeting tomorrow? Because I’ve already prepped all the necessary documents."
Murtasim leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. He had always admired how competent she was. She was the best assistant he’d ever had, but she was so much more than that to him now.
