Two days passed. Two, long days. At least, that's how it felt for both Tahir and Anisa.

They only spoke when necessary and all Tahir did was perform his duties and prepare for the monthly report evaluations he was going to do today.

This meant he was going to sit down and talk to every person on the royal security team, face to face, evaluating their reports.

It also meant that Saif was going to be taking care of Anisa today because this process would take the full day for Tahir.

"Saif, I'm here. I'll get out of the car once you come down," Tahir spoke into the phone.

Anisa sat in the back and watched him hang up. She looked over the approval on Layla's removal of the association on her phone and sent it to the other members, such as her cousins and other related siblings.

"Be good while I'm gone. Don't give Saif a hard time. He hasn't protected someone as difficult as you," Tahir reminded her.

Anisa lightly scoffed, "If you think I'm difficult, I'd like you to switch positions with him for a day and protect Layla."

Tahir suddenly remembered that day at the hotel where she lied and tried to seduce him. He immediately shook his head to get rid of that memory and said, "I'm good."

Anisa turned to the window to see Saif coming down the entry steps. Tahir got out of the car and said a few words to him before looking back at Anisa for one last assurance. Then, he walked up the stairs while Saif came in the car and drove off the driveway.

"Before you take me there, I'd like to go and get her a gift," Anisa told him.

"Where would you like me to go?"

Anisa gave Saif directions to a flower shop. As he drove, there was a calming silence between them instead of the awkward one, like last time.

Along the way, Saif tried to think of every possible reason Anisa would want to meet up with Tahir's mother. But, nothing came to mind. He didn't know how she'd react to him questioning her. Layla didn't like it for sure.

Either way, he was going to find out soon.

***

"You were only granted 30 minutes with her. This place is heavily guarded for his mother's safety and without Tahir, I'm only given a time limit," Saif explained handing the bouquet of flowers to Anisa.

She nodded and took a deep breath before entering the door that Saif held open for her.

This was the moment she had been waiting for. Two days hadn't felt so long to her.

Upon entering the room, it was dimly lit with a woman who turned her attention towards Anisa and lightly gasped in awe.

"Salam, my name is Anisa," she introduced herself with a smile, "I brought these for you ma'am."

She slowly bent down to hand her the bouquet and her face lit up upon seeing them and holding them in her hands.

"Call me Safiya," she said, "It's been a while since I last received flowers...Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Anisa waved her hands from embarrassment.

"Please, take a seat," Safiya told her.

Anisa nodded and sat on the chair across from her. She was nervous to be in front of her. But, she was more nervous on how she was going to react to her words.

"This is the first visitor I've had besides Saif and my son, Tahir. I'm assuming you know both of them," she said.

Anisa replied, "Yes. They happen to be my bodyguards."

Safiya was amused at the information she heard. But, she knew what Tahir's occupation was and she wasn't going to blow his cover.

"First off, I'd like to apologize and give my condolences to your late husband, Mr. Amin, someone I treasured, almost like a father," Anisa started.

"Why are you apologizing? His death wasn't your fault," she calmly spoke.

"Still, he died protecting my family," Anisa looked down at her hands.

"That's what comes with the job. Trust me, the men in my family don't have average jobs. It's dangerous and I've come to accept it," she told Anisa, "But, you're not here to discuss my husband are you?"

"No, I wanted to come to you for acceptance," Anisa said.

Safiya raised her brow as she asked, "Acceptance for what? You're the princess darling. I'm the last person you should get acceptance from."

Anisa sighed and played with her hands. She was nervous and she didn't know how to say this. But, either way, she took her chance.

"I have been dealing with something internally. It's been bothering me and it's also been hard to resist. I try and fight it, but, it's no use," she explained, "I've grown feelings for your son and despite how this isn't permissible, I wanted to do the right thing and ask you to accept us."

Safiya was intrigued. She hadn't met a girl brave enough to ask her for her son. In her mind, it should've been the other way around. Her son should've asked Anisa's parents.

"Look at the situation he's put you in," Safiya sighed, "He should've done this first. How are you able to ask me first?"

"It's because something like this has never happened. I've never had feelings for anyone else," Anisa looked up, "My father doesn't care about me and I've lost my mother."

Safiya nodded, understanding her situation. She grew a fond feeling towards Anisa. She could tell how genuine her words and feelings were.

While Tahir's personal life wasn't something she liked to control, she still thought about Anisa's proposal.

"Well, I'm someone who isn't going to live long enough to see Tahir give the family name to someone else, so, it's difficult for me to say," Safiya began, "But since you are asking, I just want you to know that being with someone like him is dangerous."

Anisa chuckled lightly and said, "He told me the same thing. He said I'd end up getting hurt. But that was before he confessed."

"The very fact he told you about me already says a lot about his trust for you. And if he's confessed to you, it means you're special because he's never confessed to anyone," she explained, "Which is why I don't want you to end up hurting yourself trying to be with him. As long as you're strong, you have my acceptance. But if you feel that you're not, I don't want any of you getting hurt."

Anisa didn't know why even his mother warned her about getting hurt. The Tahir she knew was something others hadn't seen. He has an aggressive and intimidating side, but she's even seen him at his weakest.

"I'm confident that I'm strong. I won't do anything that'll endanger us both. Even I would risk my life to protect him, just as he's vowed to protect me," Anisa replied.

"You should just head to bed Anisa, Tahir isn't coming for a while. There's a whole colony of guards to evaluate at the palace," Reem told her

Anisa sat, leaning on the sofa with a blanket over her lower half. She thought about the talk with Safiya and smiled. For her, it was therapeutic and ensuring of the situation. Even her voice helped calm her nerves.

"Anisa?" Reem waved her hands back and forth to get her attention and Anisa blinked before answering, "Yes?"

Reem sighed and rolled her eyes, "What is that mind of yours thinking about?"

"Oh nothing. It's just, Tahir's mother truly is a wonderful woman."

"What'd she tell you?" Reem asked.

"Well, we talked as if there was no tomorrow. She spoke about her life and family after accepting my proposal. She's really wise and she —"

Anisa was cut off by Reem as she told her, "Oh Anisa. It's only because you didn't grow up with a mother."

"Why do you say that?" She furrowed her brows.

"A mother's love is enchanting and can heal those who haven't gotten a blessing of their own mother. I learned that the hard way," Reem responded.

"Either way, I'm glad I met her. I'd see her everyday if I could," Anisa nodded her head and thought back to that moment.

Then, suddenly, they heard footsteps draw closer as they got louder. Tahir appeared just at the entrance of the living room and Anisa got up from her position on the sofa.

"I'm going to excuse myself. I've got to rest now," Reem said, feeling awkward and embarrassed.

Tahir and Anisa watched her leave in a hurry. By the time Anisa turned her attention back to Tahir, he was making his way over to where she sat.

"It's past midnight, why are you still up?"

The question didn't even sound like one coming from him. It sounded more like a subtle scolding.

"I wanted to wait for you," she said.

The tone of her voice was light and soft, which caught Tahir off guard. Eventually, he cleared his throat, "Why would you do that."

"How was the evaluations?" Anisa changed the subject. But, Tahir ignored it and replied, "They went well. Just long and tiring."

She nodded but she wasn't thinking about the evaluations. She was too distracted by his gaze, almost as though she was in a trance.

"Anisa," Tahir said

"Hmm?"

"What's got you in this mood. Just yesterday, you wouldn't speak this many words."

Anisa chuckled and Tahir continued to ask her, "Did Saif say something to you?"

"Of course not."

Anisa still wasn't being serious which started to annoy Tahir. He spent the whole day thinking about her, despite the evaluations and she seemed as though she had the best day ever when he sent Saif to watch her.

If anyone was to identify his feelings, jealousy wouldn't be a question.

He leaned closer to her and put his arm on the frame of the sofa, cornering Anisa into a state of embarrassment.

He was able to hear her breath hitch while her heart accelerated. He found satisfaction in seeing the effect he had on her.

"To me, you're just like an open book," he whispered in her ear,"Clear with every emotion."

Anisa was about to lose her balance so her hands instantly held onto his shoulders as she said, "Tahir, do you mind?"

"Not at all,"

A smirk was presented on his face while he replied and Anisa didn't know how to avoid this position they were both in.

"You're lucky that Mr. Amin didn't teach me how to fight, otherwise, you'd be down there," she pointed to the ground, earning a scoff from Tahir.

"You really think I'd let that happen?" He leaned back, allowing space for Anisa, "I ranked first when it came to combat. Even if you were taught by my father, you'd never be able to beat me."

Somehow, she enjoyed how much Tahir spoke. The past two days, they hardly said anything to each other.

The aura suddenly grew calm and they both sat, side by side, keeping their gaze low, concentrated on something besides themselves.

Then, Anisa decided to break the silence.

"You know...I realized something these past two days," she said, "I tried fighting it, ignoring it, but nothing worked. In the end, I figured out that the feelings I reciprocate towards you are genuine. I can't just keep it to myself."

She did something bold afterwards and placed her head on his shoulder. Tahir looked down and continued to listen to her.

"At the time, I only was able to reject you and speak of a reality that wasn't even true. I can't read the future. So, I'm willing to go far lengths with you," she smiled, "And I've been warned of getting hurt by you already, but, I'm not afraid."

Tahir moved, causing Anisa to lift her head up and face him with direct eye contact. He was surprised at her words. He didn't know how to comprehend them.

Instead, his first instinct was to hold her hand. He looked down at it and caressed her palm with his thumb. Then, he finally said,

"Hold on tight because I can't promise you it's going to be a smooth journey."

A/N:

Hey guys! I hope you've all been well and staying safe and healthy.

This chapter was like a filler chapter. One in which they rekindle the confession that was so rudely interrupted with the chapter coming to an end (note sarcasm) 😂.

But I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to show this book some love by hitting the star button and commenting wherever you'd like ☺️

Thank you~