Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 32

Abuja, Nigeria
2019.

"Maliya?" Zayn asked confused, his voice laced with uncertainty and shock.

Maliya choked out a small laughter, wondering if Zayn would really shout at her, or pardon her mistake.

More pressing than that thought was the shock that Zayn was the new Chief of Staff.

The rumours she'd somehow come to believe about the new CS suddenly reappeared in her head, and she should only shake her head at their absurdity now that she knew whom they'd been said against.

But really? Serial killer? Womanizer? Gigolo???.

Maliya laughed in incredulity at how stupid she'd been.

Perhaps she would have held onto the mis-information that had been going round if standing in place of Zayn, was another man.

But this,....standing before her was Zayn, a man that had helped her come out of her anger and depressed states years before.

It was hard to picture him in the light they'd painted of him,....impossible even.

'But then again..', she thought to herself, '....he betrayed your trust, and went on to get engaged to another woman'.

Maliya had told herself that she next time she would see him, she'd never put herself in a situation where he'd look down on her because of her feelings for him.

But here she was, literally under his mercy, quaking in fear.

She felt irritation at herself wash over her, but she still couldn't be sure whether or not he would scold her or not.

Moreover, she knew he had no blame. She'd been responsible for everything bad that had happened to her.

Seven years ago, when she'd wrongly thought he shared her feelings. It'd been her fault for not knowing where to draw the line, not him.

And now, she'd lost track of time, coming late into the hospital. Not his.

"I'm sorry i was late. I assume responsibility for my actions" She said softly, hands stroking the scar on her palm.

Zayn's eyes snapped towards her hands, noticing with a sense of nostalgia that she hadn't given up that habit of hers.

He gulped as her eyes met his, willing himself to put an end to the madness that hadn't managed to leave him despite the time away from her.

The Maliya he knew years ago was a young lady, sweet yet fiery, with a negative outlook on everything courtesy of her past.

But before him was a woman, scared to her wits end as she stood before him, yet carrying such poise in her stance that it made everyone else fade into the background.

Time had been extremely good to her, wonderful even, as it transformed her.

She'd been beautiful before, long haired, dark eyelashes, hazel eyes, small lips. But now, she was absolutely stunning.

She'd put on some weight over the years, which made her look more mature and exquisite.

Her long curly hair was hidden under the white scarf she had wrapped around her head,  her hazel eyes had lost their youthful glimmer, replaced with an equally bewitching calmness.

She'd grown taller, almost by a foot. He was sure she'd be close to 5'7, give or take a few inches.

Her lips had a glossy sheen to them that made them appealing to look at.