THE UNSEEN THREAD

PART 11

AREEBA POV

I woke up at dawn, rubbing my eyes and feeling the weight of exhaustion still clinging to me. Maha was already up, moving quietly around the apartment as she prepared for Fajr. Her calm presence filled the space with a strange comfort, something I hadn't realized I needed until now.

We prayed together, and for a few moments, there was a sense of peace. But as I got ready for work, I could still feel yesterday's fatigue pressing down on me, like a weight I couldn't shake off. My mood was... okay, I guess. Tired, but manageable.

I glanced over at Maha, who was watching me with that silent, understanding look of hers. I gave her a small smile, grateful for her quiet support, even if I didn't have the words to say it.

Maha and I arrived at the office, each heading to our cabins. I barely had a chance to settle in when I noticed her peeking over, a slight smile on her face.

"You need coffee?" she asked, her tone gentle but knowing.

I couldn't help but smile back, a little surprised at how well she could read me. "Yeah," I replied, nodding. "Coffee sounds perfect right now."

I was deep in my work when the landline on my desk rang, snapping me out of my focus. It was Mr. Choi, his tone direct and to the point.

"Areeba, could you bring all the files you completed yesterday up to Mr. Kim's office?" he asked.

"Of course, sir," I replied, placing the receiver back down. I glanced at the stack of files on my desk and sighed, knowing Mr. Kim's office was on the 12th floor. Grabbing the files, I took a deep breath and headed toward the elevator, mentally preparing for the trip up.

Balancing the heavy stack of files, I awkwardly knocked on Mr. Kim's door, barely managing to keep my grip. "May I come in?" I called out, hoping he could hear me through the door.

"Come in," he answered.

As I stepped inside, I caught the smirk on his face as he looked at the pile in my arms. The way he watched me struggle with the files made me feel a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. Holding back a sigh, I approached his desk, trying to keep my composure as I waited for him to say something.

I looked at him, letting a hint of defiance slip through as I slammed the stack of files onto his desk. The loud thud broke the silence in the room, but I kept my face calm, plastering on a polite smile as if nothing had happened.

"These are the pending files you asked me to complete," I said, my voice steady. I could see a flash of surprise in his eyes, but I held my ground, refusing to let him see any sign of discomfort.

He stood up, closing the space between us just enough to make his presence felt. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice and whispered, "Behave, Ms. Areeba, or you won't like the consequences."

I felt a surge of anger flare up as I looked at him, my eyes narrowing. I wasn't about to let him intimidate me, but I kept my gaze steady, refusing to let him see the effect his words had on me.

"Mr. Kim, I am behaving," I replied coolly, meeting his gaze without a hint of backing down. "But I'd say you're the one crossing boundaries by standing so close to your employee."

I held his stare for a moment longer before looking away, determined to keep my composure. Then, I reached into the stack, pulling out the organized file I'd compiled of all the pending work, and extended it to him. "I just came here because I've done my job," I added, keeping my tone professional.