Farah Protection.

CHAPTER 3.

Farah

I don't know how many times I read it. It seemed impressive but his personal information was limited. I reminded myself that this was what I needed, a reassurance that he was good and he was. I hear the door open and I hurriedly close the folder. At the worst possible moment, my bad luck hits and they slip to the floor.

I bite my breath and turn over to see who it was.

Haris.

Caught. His eyes drift to the files on the floor and it's clear he knows that I've snooped on him. My face heats up and I wish this ground would swallow me up in a whole. Talk about embarrassment.

Haris walks towards me and I feel like preyed upon. When my heart skips a beat I hate that he has this effect on me. Over nothing. For God's sake I just met this man.

It's the blue eyes. I know it is. I stand straight watching his actions, I watch as he suddenly leans down picking up one of the the folders before placing it on the table, as a gesture of kindness that I don't want.

He leans pressing his lips gently toward my ear. I stiffen a gasp"There you go, Princess". He said the words with so much detest, it was such a conflicting feeling to hear it but to feel him this close to me.

I felt like an idiot. It takes a grasp but I step back. "Excuse me".

Recognition flashes through his eyes and he clears his throat. "I apologize"he bows.

I only send him a nod. I don't know what to say. Luckily, my thoughts are interrupted when Siham comes in the dining. Her gaze narrows from me to Haris before it finally lands on the scattered papers. She's confused as she should, but doesn't say anything of it. Instead "Princess"she starts. "The event planners are here"

I heave a sigh of relief. The Joy Gala is an annual fundraising event that I truly cherish. I had been organizing this in memory of my parents for as long as I could remember and it meant a lot. It was coming up in two months and it had to be a success. It needed to be perfect.

"Of course"I stand straight. She doesn't last another minute and spun around. It's when she leaves that I'm dawned that I'm still with Haris. Getting used to it would be hard but it was inevitable as we were going to be seeing a lot of each other.

I turn on my heel and he's still on mine much to close than I'd rather. I take a deep breath and compose myself. I flash a smile when I'm in the room.

Ayla and Salim, the gala planners are staring back at me. They were siblings and had the most exquisite taste, with different perspectives but were very close. In a way, they reminded me of what I wanted to have with Mica.

"Farah"Ayla stands up and engulfs me in a hug. Not only is Ayla my go to event planner but one of my best friends. Probably one of the only people I genuinely got along with .

"My girl"I muffle hugging her back wholeheartedly. Finally when we let go of the embracing reunion, Salim comes over to shake my hand.

"How are you Princess?"he chuckles, not fazed at his sister's actions.

"Good Salim"I almost lean into give him a hug I'd rather not go that far. "How about you"

He nods curtly. "Been better"

Salim is attractive. Okay he's very attractive, not as attractive as Haris-why am I comparing them-but he was. He flashes me a small smile and for a moment my heart goes. No, Farah.

"Shall we start"I say, stirring away from my thoughts.

"Of course"he sits opposite me, next to Ayla who's glued to her phone. Although she's the creative one in their partnership, she's definitely not the serious or the strategic. He hands me over the folder and I open it.

"The information we have so far"he begins.

My eyes scan over the paper. "Well, this is good"I was impressed at how far they went considering we hadn't gotten anywhere.

"We only have the contacts not the ideas"he shrugs.

"You're right about that"I sigh

"I'm thinking something vintage this year"Ayla chirps.

Salim runs a hand through his hair. "Maybe, considering the donation is for gender based violence I think it should be empowering"

"It could be empowering but not boring"Ayla inserts.

I shake my head at her words. That's how we go on for over two hours, bickering before settling. By the time, we decide on the decor I'm certain we've done a great job, considering it's our first meeting.

We escort Salim out because Ayla and I decided to go on to Koko's shower together. We're walking back to the living room when she pulls me close. "Who's that"she whispers in my ear, as if it was some sort of secret .

I groan. Ayla's playful and could tend to get crazy we were very different. "Who"I act dumbfounded.

"You know who"

I refrained from rolling my eyes

"My personal guard"I simply reply. I didn't want this conversation to stretch.

"He's very handsome"she giggles.

I felt uneasy that Ayla found Haris attractive but then again, didn't I too. I had to roll my eyes watching as she re-applied her gloss.

"You know you agree with me"she says, obviously noticing that I was uncomfortable.

"I do not"I let out a humorless chuckle.

Liar.

"He does you"she says. My breath seizes.

"We just met Ay"

She humphs. "That explains why he can't take his eyes of you"

"Shut up"was my only reply.

I try to convince myself that there's no hidden reason behind his stares, only that he was my bodyguard. It was his job after all. What I couldn't admit was a deep part of me hoped there was.