Ali woke up to the sweet scent of Anaya's hair. As she was laying on his left arm her legs curled up to her stomach, and her face buried in his shoulder. He could see her face covered with her damp hair, that he delicately pushed away.

Ali turned his body towards Anaya fully, picking his left arm up to hug her closer, a small smile decorating his face. He never knew a morning, something so insignificant could feel so heartwarming to him. He didn't want it to end.

She was fast asleep as if she was catching up on all the sleep she had missed. Ali brought his lips to her forehead, and then to the tip of her nose, and then lastly he placed a peck on her lips as light as a feather to make sure her sleep went undisturbed.

He took a long look at her, her chest heaving up and down, her long hair covering her shoulders, small pout formed on luscious lips that he couldn't get enough of, so his thumb made his way to her bottom lips, as he gently swiped it.

He felt his phone vibrate on the nightstand and he physically rolled his eyes, and he took a hold of it- from his right hand without letting her go.

"Hm?" He answered in his hoarse voice. The vibration from his chest making Anaya stir, laying straight.

"Babe? It's 12:55 PM why are you not at work?" Erika's irritating voice questioned.

Ali looked at the clock and it was indeed, 12 in the morning.

"Coming, and don't call me that again." He said, hanging up.

He stared at the time as he laid there. He couldn't believe he had slept in for that long. Ali never got a wink of sleep past 7 AM for years- even if he was hungover. However, his heart felt so calm, his body felt so relaxed, he didn't even feel like getting out.

"I need to get up." He thought.

"Anaya?" He said.

He sat up and removed his arm from underneath her slowly, as she continued to sleep.

He pulled the duvet up to cover her, and he got out of bed to get ready. He got into the shower and got himself ready for the day, hair styled back, and his suit luxuriously black.

He came out of the bathroom, and Anaya was sitting up asleep, her head falling. Ali quickly got to her side, and took hold of her shoulders, and laid her back down, but she opened her eyes.

"Are you leaving? Where are you going?" She whispered.

"I have to go to work." He told her, hovering over her.

Anaya didn't say anything her face just turning into a more worrisome expression.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise." He said caressing her cheek with his index finger.

She nodded and got back up. Her eyes feeling puffy and sore from all of the crying she did yesterday.

"I'm going to go okay?" He kissed her forehead and headed out the door. Anaya's stomach fluttered at the gesture.

Anaya realized she had missed Fajr, she smacked her forehead and got up quickly. She washed her face and brushed her teeth.

"Crap, I don't have an Abaya or a Hijab."

Anaya went inside the closet and tried to look for anything that was more modest than the pajama set she was wearing, she went into his closet the smell of his cologne was overwhelming, it made her heart thud as if he was actually here.

"He's not going to have a scarf, idiot." She said to herself, look at the lines and lines of suits and dress shirts.

That's when she heard a knock at the door, she went to the doot and it was Amee. In her hands, she had neatly folded clothes and a heartwarming smile.

"Amee, come in," Anaya said.

"Martha gave me a clean set of clothes, for you and me." She said handing Anaya a long lightly embroidered black dress, with a white scarf.

"Jazakallah Khair."

"Why don't you go change, and we'll talk while eating?" Amee said.

"Yeah, one minute."

Anaya quickly went back into the closet and changed, she took a spare hanger, and pushed his dress shirt slightly back, and hung up her nightclothes, she did her hijab and headed back out.

Martha had prepared a nutritious breakfast for the two of them ready at the dining table, and Anaya thanked her continuously.

"What now?" Amee asked

Anaya knew exactly what she meant.

"I don't know, Amee." She said, clearing her throat.

"Talk to him, won't you? we have to know what's next."

"I will, of course,"

What was next? And where would she start?

"Ali, when am I going to be able to get out of this scary dark world, full of crimes and murder?"

"Ali, how do I get my life back?"

"Ali, what are we going to do next?"

She didn't know.

- -

The elevator opened as Ali walked into the conference room he was called in, and as he walked in his parents sat on the table, with Erika standing behind them.

"Babe!" Erika said, flashing a smile.

Ali ignored her and looked at his dad.

"What brings you here?" He asked.

"When do you plan on disposing of her?"

"Of who?"

"Who? that son of a bitch's daughter who else?"

"I don't," Ali said, quite plainly.

"What?" His father got up.

"You stupid, stupid boy! I gave you clear instructors, I told you that as soon as the money was in your hands you need to get rid of her. Are you forgetting who she is? QADEER'S DAUGHTER! She is a two-faced bitch just like her poor excuse of a father."

"That's enough, father."

"It is an order, Ali. Get rid of her, and if she is not gone by the end of the day. You can say bye to your fortune as a Sheikh." His father walked away, not wanting to even give Ali a chance to reply.

"Erika tells me you have plans of marrying her?" His mother asks.

Ali stays quiet.

"Wise choice, once you come to your senses, let us know and we'll arrange a lavish wedding for the two of you." She concluded, getting up to walk away.

As the door closes, Erika walks to him and hugs him. Her strong perfume almost making Ali want to hold his breath instead.

"Baby, I haven't seen you in so long..." She said, her hand making way from his back to his belt, but before she could do more, Ali pulled her back by her arm harshly.

"Ow! What's wrong with you!"

"It was you wasn't it?" His grip tightened.

"Ouch! Ali let me go!"

"This is your last warning Erika. Don't meddle with my wife again. If I even hear her name out of your mouth, I will end you." He said letting her go causing her to stumble.

He began to walk away.

"Do you really want to do this Ali? You're going to give up everything we had together for an outcast like her? Do you really think she'll last in this world, in your life?"

"That's none of your business." He said, walking out.

He headed to his office, stretching his neck a little bit. As he arrives his secretary stood up to greet him, and Ali gave him a nod.

His secretary stood in place, did he just recognize her?

"Wow. He must be in a really good mood." She whispered.

Ali dialed a number and held it against his ear, as he took a seat.

"Hello?" Martha answer.

"Hello, how is she doing? Did she eat?" He asked, he could hear Martha chuckle.

"Yes, she just finished eating. She is helping me cook, even though I am telling her to stop." She said the last part, loudly speaking to Anaya as well.

"It's okay, it's just a couple of vegetables." He could hear Anaya say, a small smile forms on his lips.

"Okay, well. I'll be home in a bit." He said, saying his goodbye and getting to work.

He went through the three proposals he had on his desk, editing them accordingly and printing out the final versions to sign off. He ringed his secretary and told him to take the folders to Aryan to sign and send.

He had some phone calls to make, and some virtual meetings to attend, and more binders to look through, and before he knew it around six hours had passed. He stretched his shoulders and got up from the couch of his office, to wrap up everything on his desk.

He quickly left the office, eager to get home. The drive, though a couple of minutes long felt like hours to him.

When he got home, he looked around the living room and kitchen and seeing no one he went up the stairs. Entering his room, he saw her finishing her prayers and folding up the shall she used as a mat. She turned around and gasped quietly while backing up.

"You startled me." She whispered.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I am. Are you?" She asked quietly.

"Yes." He said closing the door behind him, Taking off his blazer, and loosening his tie.

Anaya stood there quietly not really knowing what to say or do.

He took her hand and pulled her gently as he sat on the edge of the bed. Anaya standing in front of him.

"I missed you." He said pulling her closer so she would fall on him, she stumbled and grabbed his shoulders to not fall. She was speechless, she didn't know if she missed him, because her thoughts and questions kept her so occupied. He brought his lips to her ear to place a soft kiss. Her body shivered from the sudden contact, and she stood up straight and sat next to him on the bed.

"I needed to talk to you." She said, her voice still quiet.

"About?"

She wanted to say it but, she figured this would take time.

"Did you eat?" She asked.

"No. I didn't have time."

"Well, why don't you go eat first, and then we can.. talk," She said.

"Okay," He got up, and as she was about to walk away, he took hold of her wrist and brought her back. His left hand cupping her cheek, slowly leaning in, giving her time to back out if she wanted to, but she didn't- and that for the first time in a very long time- gave Ali's stomach butterflies, as he closed the gap.

A/N

I know! I know. I am sorry for taking literally a year to update, I promise I am going to speed up my updates, and Ramadan Kareem.