It had been almost two weeks since I started working at the mansion.
And strangely… things had been calm.
Too calm.
Mrs. Kareem and Lina had stopped openly attacking me, and that alone should have worried me more than it did. Women like them did not simply give up—they waited. Planned. Smiled in your face while deciding how best to ruin you.
But for now, they had gone quiet.
And in that quiet… Zayn and I had somehow grown closer.
It started with little things.
A conversation in the hallway.
A joke over dinner.
A random game of cards one evening when the power went out and we sat in the lounge laughing by candlelight.
Then suddenly, it became routine.
He would call me to sit with him while he worked.
Ask me to play chess with him.
Challenge me to video games in the entertainment room and laugh when I beat him.
"You cheat," he accused one night, staring at the screen.
I grinned. "You're just a sore loser."
He narrowed his eyes. "Rematch."
"You said that three times ago."
"And I'll keep saying it until I win."
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
And when I looked at him—
He was staring at me.
Not the game.
Not the screen.
Me.
His smile softened slightly.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he murmured.
But the way he said it made my chest tighten.
Because lately…
He looked at me like that often.
Like he forgot to hide it.
Like something inside him recognized me even if his mind didn't.
But every time we got too close—
Lina would appear.
Always.
Without fail.
Like she could sense it.
Like she knew.
She would walk in smiling too sweetly, sliding beside him on the couch, touching him like she had every right.
And every single time—
It made me want to scream.
One afternoon, I was helping him organize files in his office when Lina walked in.
"There you are, baby," she said sweetly.
My entire body stiffened.
Baby?
She walked straight to him, leaned down—
And kissed his cheek.
Right in front of me.
My stomach dropped.
She smiled at him, her hand rubbing his shoulder lightly. "You've been working too much."
I looked away instantly.
Because the jealousy—
God, the jealousy was ugly.
Sharp.
Burning.
Painful.
I hated how much it affected me.
Hated how she knew exactly what she was doing.
And worst of all—
Zayn let her.
Not because he wanted her.
But because he didn't know any better.
He thought that was normal.
He thought she belonged there.
"You okay?"
His voice startled me.
I looked up and realized he was staring at me.
Concerned.
Lina's hand was still on his shoulder.
"I'm fine," I said quickly.
But my voice sounded tight.
He frowned. "You don't look fine."
"I said I'm okay."
His brows furrowed.
Lina smiled smugly.
And I knew she noticed.
Of course she noticed.
I turned quickly, gathering the files in my arms.
"I'll just put these away."
Then I left before either of them could stop me.
Later that evening, I was in the garden trying to calm down when footsteps approached behind me.
"You ran off earlier."
I turned.
Zayn.
He stepped closer, hands in his pockets, watching me carefully.
"I didn't run," I muttered.
He raised a brow. "Really?"
I sighed. "Okay, maybe I ran a little."
He smiled softly.
God.
That smile still ruined me.
"Why?" he asked.
I froze.
Because how was I supposed to answer that?
Because watching another woman touch my husband makes me sick?
Instead, I looked away.
"I just needed air."
He studied me.
Then stepped closer.
Close enough that my breathing hitched.
"You get weird every time Lina touches me," he said quietly.
My eyes widened.
Straight to the point.
"I do not."
"You do."
His voice was teasing now.
Gentle.
"You look angry."
"I'm not angry."
He leaned closer.
"So… jealous?"
My breath caught.
The air between us changed instantly.
Dangerously.
I swallowed hard. "Why would I be jealous?"
He tilted his head, watching me carefully.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
My heart pounded.
Because he was too close.
"I don't know," I whispered.
His eyes dropped briefly to my lips before lifting again.
And suddenly—
Neither of us was breathing normally.
Then—
"Zayn!"
We both stepped apart instantly.
Lina.
Standing at the patio doors.
Watching.
Her expression dark.
Tight.
Controlled.
"There you are," she said, forcing a smile. "I've been looking for you."
Zayn stepped back fully.
And just like that—
The moment was gone.
He looked between us, then back at Lina.
"I'm coming."
She nodded, but her eyes stayed on me.
Warning me.
Promising me.
This wasn't over.
He hesitated before leaving.
Then glanced back at me.
And for one terrifying, beautiful second—
It looked like he wanted to stay.
But he left anyway.
And as I stood there in the quiet garden, heart pounding wildly in my chest.