𝐙𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐌 ~ 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 ♡

37 Jealous

Adam's flight had been long and tiring, but as the plane descended into the heart of the European city, the excitement of the medical conference he was attending finally began to settle in. It was a prestigious event—one of the biggest in the medical world this year—and Adam, being a respected young doctor, had been invited to both attend and present a paper on his latest research.

It wasn’t often that Adam got to combine business with a visit to his mother who lived separately from the family, but here he was. His mother, Zainab Malik, had invited him to stay with her during his time in the city. Despite his usual reluctance to spend too much time with family, he had accepted. Zainab had been insistent, and in truth, he could use the break from his hectic life in London.

As the plane touched down and the cabin light flickered on, signaling the end of the flight, Adam began to gather his things. His phone buzzed as he grabbed his bag, and for a moment, he considered ignoring it. But curiosity got the better of him, and he checked it. His mother had messaged:

"Don’t forget, I’ll pick you up from the airport. I’m really looking forward to seeing you."

Outside the terminal, Adam was met by a few people from his family’s circle. His security detail was already in place, keeping their distance as they followed him. Adam hated the constant media attention that came with his family’s wealth, but it was unavoidable. He’d long since learned how to ignore the cameras and questions, though it didn’t make the experience any easier.

“Adam, over here!” a voice called from the side. He turned to find his mother, Zainab, standing by a sleek black car, her warm smile as welcoming as ever. Despite her constant pressure, Adam couldn’t help but feel a little comforted by her presence.

“Mum,” Adam greeted her, stepping toward her for a quick hug. She pulled back slightly and beamed at him, clearly excited.

As they made their way toward the car, Adam noticed the soft hum of the paparazzi at the edge of the crowd, cameras clicking every few seconds. He could tell from the flashes that some had recognized him. He barely reacted, though—he had long since stopped caring about the constant media presence. The idea of being part of a spectacle had always been more of a burden than a privilege, and today was no different.

The drive from the airport to the apartment was filled with chatter. Zainab updated Adam on the city’s happenings, mentioning local events and people he hadn’t seen in ages. But Adam’s mind was elsewhere. He was trying to keep his focus on the conference, the presentation he had prepared for months, and the busy week ahead. He’d been focused on his career, and this visit—though brief—was supposed to be a short distraction, nothing more.

“You’ll be staying with me for the next few days, of course,” she said as they got out of the car. “It’ll be nice, Adam. I’ve missed having you around.”

They entered the apartment, a spacious, well-lit place filled with plants and elegant furniture. It felt warm, lived-in—a stark contrast to the cold,
minimalistic apartment in London that Adam called home. He set his things down in the guest room, the one that his mother had kept for him whenever he visited.

“Alright, you must be tired after that flight,” Zainab said, stepping back into the living room. “I’ll let you rest. But you know, there’s someone I want you to meet while you’re here.”

Adam froze, standing in the doorway. He had expected this, of course. His mother had never been one to shy away from playing matchmaker, but he had hoped this trip would be an exception.

"She’s someone I think you’ll really like. You’ll see. I’ve already spoken to her, and she’s someone very special.”

Adam tried not to roll his eyes, though his patience was already wearing thin. “Mum, I’m not looking for anything serious. I’m here for the conference, remember?”