LOVE TRIALS

i

His secretary led him down the corridor of the building.

He stopped short, looking at his wristwatch and inquired with evident annoyance,"Is this really necessary?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Your father gave strict instructions," Miraan told him as he turned to face him.

Baba, Amaan sighed.

"He isn't here, he wouldn't know. You receive her, I have better things to do," Amaan said and turned on his heels but Miraan caught his arm, halting him mid step. "Your father left specific instructions that you do it, Sir. Please, let us go down and receive her, I'll accompany you."

Amaan clicked his tongue,"I don't greet every employee, Miraan."

"Ofcourse, Sir but she isn't just any employee. She's appointed to lead the design department, here and she's Mr Ferrar's daughter. You ought to show some respect for her position, Mr Hassan Omer won't like it if you are anything less than hospitable."

Amaan opened his mouth to say something but shrill ringtone of Miraan's phone interrupted his line of thoughts.

"May I?" Miraan asked, geturing to his phone which he had already pressed to his ear. Amaan scoffed when Miraan didn't even wait for his nod of approval.

"She's here, let's go."

"Her name?"

"Yaritza Bellamy-Ferrar," Amaan Raza swallowed, hard.

🎲

The heavy taps of his Italian shoes echoed in the vacant unfurnished lobby of the building. He hadn't looked up just, yet, too busy counting his steps as he followed Miraan with a clattering heart beneath his chest.

He missed his brother who used to receive the delegations in his stead back in his home country but he was here, alone and this was what was expected of him to do.

"Excuse me, Sir," Miraan muttered, he forced himself to raise his head, then.

His breath strained as his eyes flitted over her shoulder. He only saw her. Amaan Raza had seen many beautiful things in his life but none like her.

None that matched hers.

He nearly misplaced himself in her details. The shape of her lips, the pinched corners of her metallic eyes. The way her hair fell around her shoulders, teasing her collar bones as she moved, chuckling at something Miraan had said. The smooth curve of her shoulders, he only saw her.
She was art in every sense of the word, he was drawn to her. His throat rippled, he felt a thousand things, a thousandth time just by looking at her.

Then and now.

He couldn't blink.

"Welcome, Miss Yaritza Bellamy-Ferrar. I am Amaan Raza. I hope you're doing well?" Amaan Raza gave himself an imaginary pat on the back when he didn't stutter.

"Yes, Thankyou. How can I ever forget you, Mr Amaan Raza? How have you been?" She inquired, softly and he found himself slipping into the armour, he had cut by himself against a nemesis like hers.

"Fine," He nodded, lowering his gaze.
"I look forward to working with you," He was grateful his words didn't betray him for his heart had proved to be a traitor as it had almost missed a beat- he almost died when her lips curved for him, pinning him with her stormy eyes.