Khadija's pov ~

The young woman, nestled in her spacious emperor-sized bed, tugged herself beneath the plush white blanket, attempting to evade the intrusive rays of morning sunlight. As she shifted to shield her face, her hip brushed against an unexpected presence behind her. Startled, she recoiled momentarily before cautiously returning to her original position, her green eyes fluttering open to survey the situation.

In the tranquillity of the summer morning, the room exuded a comforting calmness, its temperature perfectly regulated by the gentle hum of the air conditioner. Every detail seemed meticulously arranged in her room , from the cleanliness to the neatly hung clothing. Yet, amidst this orderliness, two individuals lay on the bed, partially naked, their memories of the previous night shrouded in mystery. Sensing the incongruity of the scene, the young woman couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she began to piece together the fragments of the situation.

The deep voice of the young man interrupted my thoughts, "You're already awake? Aren't you tired?" The words tingled my pink ears, adding a blush to my cheeks. I turned to scrutinise him, a man in his early twenties, possessing a well-proportioned physique with a sculpted jawline. My attention, however, fixated on his lips, finding them remarkably captivating. His lips were a study in perfection, neither too thin nor too full, but possessing a captivating allure that transcended mere physicality. Their shape was harmonious, complementing the contours of his face with a subtle grace. A natural shade of pink adorned them, hinting at vitality and warmth. Yet, it was not just their appearance that drew attention; it was the way they moved, effortlessly conveying a myriad of emotions with every smile, every word spoken. Soft and inviting, they seemed to beckon with an irresistible charm, leaving an indelible impression on those fortunate enough to behold them. In a mumbled admission, I couldn't help but express, "That's so beautiful." His black eyes twinkled, a soft laughter escaping his lips, leaving me feeling a bit embarrassed about my candid thoughts.

"Who are you, sir?" I inquired, attempting to make sense of the situation. As he sat up, revealing his whole upper body, I was momentarily surprised. Shaking off the distraction, she turned around to continue the interrogation, only to be interrupted by a call that momentarily halted their conversation at its current level.

I hurriedly answered the call, her subconscious guilt weighing on her mind as she recognized the voice on the other end. "Mom?" I stammered, struggling to regain my composure. Listening to the one-sided conversation without offering a reply, I stole a glance at the man behind me, my thoughts racing as I tried to make sense of the situation.

"Are you Taner?" I asked tentatively, *my voice was laced with apprehension, as I ended the call with my mother. With a nervous gulp, I braced myself to confront the reality of my actions from the previous night.

He remained silent about my inquiry, opting instead to lean towards me, gently rubbing my head. "After drinking my hangover soup, you'll remember my shirt brand too. Go wash your face. I forgot to remove your makeup last night before putting you to sleep," he instructed. Those simple words and the accompanying gesture sent my heart into a frenzy. His proximity had stirred embarrassment and butterflies in my stomach, but his casual remark swiftly extinguished the fleeting excitement. As I walked towards the restroom, my thoughts echoed with a resounding "What the hell." Standing before the mirror, I examined my hangover face, smudge eyeliners, and the lingering lipstick, realising it didn't quite translate to a good morning look.

I gently washed my face with cold water, tying my hair up before brushing my teeth. As I rinsed the toothpaste foam from my mouth, I muttered to myself, "I'm not young anymore, so it's not wrong to have a guy at home, right?" Suddenly, my mother's words echoed in my mind, "Take good care of him, he'll be staying for a couple of months. Don't embarrass me in front of my longtime friend." It all began to make sense now—the vague recollections of last night's drunkenness triggered by my friend's fifth breakup of the year , and returning home to find a handsome young man waiting at my door.

As I contemplated the events of the previous night, a knock on the bathroom door startled me. Taner's voice followed, “ Khadija?” gently checking up on me. I quickly composed myself, ready to face whatever the day had in store.

I cautiously opened the door, stealing a glance into the room before fully facing him. The embarrassment of revealing a less polished side to my mother's guest weighed on me. As I stepped into the living room, I couldn't help but notice Taner—a tall and handsome figure in track pants, shirtless. His tanned skin and well-defined muscles caught her eye, and I took a lingering gaze before pretending to look away. Clearing my throat, I made my presence known, ready to address the aftermath of the previous night.

Taner turned around, presenting a plate filled with delicious morning food, its aroma tantalising my senses. However, before I could indulge, my gaze fell upon some luggage and some tourist bags, prompting a sudden urge to apologise.

"I am so sorry for yesterday," I blurted out, bowing my head reflexively.

"Sorry? For what exactly?" Tanner's voice carried a hint of coldness, his dark eyes reflecting a sense of displeasure that sent chills down my spine.

My words stumbled out in a rush of guilt and regret. "Did I make any mistakes yesterday? I have strange drunken habits. I should have welcomed my mother's guest with a better scenario." I felt the weight of my actions pressing down on me, not wanting to tarnish my image within my mother's social circle or become the subject of gossip.

"So you don't remember anything?" Taner's words held a sense of intrigue and mystery as he approached me with deliberate, measured steps, his demeanour a blend of curiosity and strength.

"Did... Did something happen?" I questioned, my voice laced with uncertainty as I attempted to conceal my apprehension behind an awkward smile and furrowed eyebrows.

"What do you think about this?" Taner asked, turning his neck to reveal marks on his neck and shoulders, along with bruises on his chest.

My eyes widened in terror. "Did I cause those?" I gasped, taking a step back from him, my expression filled with remorse.

Approaching me again, Taner reassured, "I don't need an apology but..." His sentence was cut short by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

With a mixture of surprise and anticipation, my fox eyes transformed into doe-like ones. Expecting my mother's arrival, I hastily threw a bathrobe over Taner and moved his luggage aside before rushing to open the door to greet the unexpected visitor.

As I cautiously opened the door, anticipating my mother's arrival to alleviate the embarrassment, I met with the sight of a tall, fair-haired woman in her early twenties. The young lady possessed an hourglass figure, mesmerising blue eyes, and pale lips adorned with gloss—a sight that even I found captivating. Despite the shock, I managed to maintain a professional demeanour, asking, "How can I help you?" in a mild tone.

However, to my surprise, the blonde woman walked past me without so much as a nod, leaving myself taken aback by her brazen disregard. I, The Khadija , accustomed to the world of professionalism and career success, had never encountered such audacious ignorance before. With a bewildered expression, I watched as the woman approached Taner with a coy smile, prompting me to mutter under my breath, "What the hell?"

Feeling a mix of confusion and frustration, I retreated back into my room without saying another word, leaving the unexpected guests to their own devices.

"Who was that? What was with her attitude?" I mumbled to myself as she adjusted my curtains while opening the window. Startled by the ringing of my phone, I quickly answered the call.

"Ms. Khadija, our plan has encountered some legal problems. Please come to the office as soon as possible. The project director is turning the office upside down," the voice on the other end informed me.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I acknowledged the message. "Okay, today is not my day. Brace yourself, Khadija," I muttered to myself as I charged my phone and began to get ready. Twenty minutes later, I applied my mascara after that deep blue shimmer eyeliner, when Taner knocked on my door.

"Khadija? Hey? Your soup is getting cold," he called out, knocking persistently for another thirty seconds. I finished my makeup, grabbed my purse, and opened the door, lifting my head slightly to look at him.

"Mr. Taner, I will keep this formal even though you are younger than me by many years. You can use that room," I pointed to the room in the left corner, opposite to my study room and away from my own room. Taner glanced in the direction where I indicated before returning his gaze to me.

"We can discuss your business and necessary details for the next two months when I come back home. Thanks for the food. Bye," I abruptly ended the conversation, not giving him a chance to respond at all . I hurriedly rushed out, taking my car keys in one hand and buckling up my shoe with the other.

As I left, Taner sighed, watching my departure with a sense of resignation.

As I am driving my car to the office, I get another call from one of the lawyers from the legal team.

**Khadija**: Hello, this is Khadija speaking.

**Lawyer**: Good morning, Ms. Khadija. This is James from the legal team. We need some clarification regarding the government water plant project your company is involved in.

**Khadija**: Of course, James. What specific details do you need?

**Lawyer**: We're reviewing the contracts and noticed some discrepancies in the scope of work outlined. Can you confirm the exact parameters of the project?

**Khadija**: Certainly. The project involves the construction of a new water treatment facility to serve the surrounding communities. Our scope includes site preparation, installation of filtration systems, and infrastructure development for distribution.

**Lawyer**: And what about the environmental impact assessments? Have those been completed?

**Khadija**: Yes, environmental impact assessments were conducted prior to project commencement. Our team ensured compliance with all regulations and obtained necessary permits.

**Lawyer**: That's reassuring. We'll need copies of those assessments for our records. Also, have there been any changes to the project timeline or budget?

**Khadija**: No, the timeline and budget remain unchanged from the initial proposal. We've been diligent in monitoring progress and adhering to the agreed-upon schedule.

**Lawyer**: Excellent. We'll continue our review and keep you updated on any further questions or issues. Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Khadija.

**Khadija**: You're welcome, James. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything else.