The next morning, Ayesha woke up and found herself in Rayan’s arms.
She was sleeping on his chest.
His strong arm was around her waist.
His shirt was still on her.
She could hear his heart beating slowly.
For a second, she forgot it was a contract.
It felt so safe, so warm.
Like she belonged there.
Then she remembered everything.
The kiss last night.
Dadi Jaan seeing them.
She quickly tried to get up, but Rayan’s grip tightened.
“Where are you going, fake girlfriend?
It’s only 6 AM,” he said in a sleepy, husky voice, his eyes still closed.
His morning voice was even more attractive.
“Leave me!
Someone will see us!” Ayesha whispered, trying to free herself.
“Let them see.
You are mine for 30 days, remember?” He opened his eyes.
His dark eyes were looking at her with something new.
Possession.
Obsession.
He looked at her lips.
The memory of last night’s kiss was fresh.
“Ayesha…
last night…” “It was a mistake!
We were acting for Dadi Jaan!” Ayesha said quickly, but her red face was telling another story.
Rayan smirked.
He pulled her even closer.
“If it was a mistake, why did you close your eyes?
Why didn’t you push me away?” Ayesha had no answer.
Her heart was beating too fast.
Before Rayan could tease her more, there was a loud knock on the door.
“Rayan bhai!
Dadi is calling everyone for breakfast!
And bring your…
waitress girlfriend too!” It was Sana’s jealous voice.
Ayesha quickly ran to the bathroom to change back into her red gown.
At the breakfast table, the whole Ahmed family was sitting.
More than 20 rich people.
And all eyes were on Ayesha.
Dadi Jaan was very happy.
“Ayesha, beta, come sit next to me.
Rayan told me you work as a waitress.
That is very hard work.
You must be a very strong girl.” Ayesha smiled politely.
“Thank you, Dadi Jaan.” But Sana was not going to leave her.
She had planned her revenge for last night’s insult.
“Dadi, I have a surprise!
Since Ayesha is new to our family, I want to gift her something.
Ayesha, I have a very beautiful diamond bracelet.
But it’s very expensive and delicate.
Only classy girls can handle it.
Let’s see if you can wear it properly?” Sana brought a tiny, very expensive bracelet with a complicated lock.
She knew Ayesha, a poor waitress, would not know how to wear such expensive things.
She wanted to make her look like a fool in front of everyone.
Ayesha’s hands started shaking.
She had never worn real diamonds before.
She tried to put it on, but her fingers were trembling.
Everyone started whispering and laughing.
“See, she doesn’t even know how to wear a bracelet.” “Rayan’s choice is so cheap.” Ayesha’s eyes filled with tears again.
She felt humiliated.
Rayan saw her tears.
His blood boiled.
No one insults his girl.
Even if she is fake, she is HIS.
He stood up angrily and walked to Ayesha.
He took the bracelet from Sana’s hand.
“If my girlfriend doesn’t know how to wear it, then I will make her wear it,” he said coldly, looking straight into Sana’s eyes.
He knelt down in front of Ayesha.
In front of the whole rich family, the great CEO Rayan Ahmed knelt down for a waitress.
He gently took Ayesha’s soft hand and put the bracelet on her wrist himself.
His touch was so gentle, so loving.
“There.
Now it looks perfect.
Because the hand wearing it is perfect,” he said loudly, so everyone could hear.
The whole room went silent.
A CEO kneeling for a girl?
This had never happened.
Dadi Jaan clapped her hands.
“Wah!
Rayan!
You have really fallen in love!
I have never seen you kneel for anyone!” Sana’s face turned red with anger and jealousy.
Her plan had failed badly.
Instead of insulting Ayesha, Rayan had made her look like a queen.
After breakfast, Rayan had to go to his office for an important meeting.
He told his driver to drop Ayesha back to her small house.
“Thank you for…
for saving me from Sana,” Ayesha said in the car.
“I told you.
No one can hurt you when you are with me.
That is my promise,” Rayan said.
He took out a black credit card and gave it to her.
“What is this?” Ayesha asked.
“My supplementary card.
No limit.
Go and buy whatever you need for these 30 days.
Good clothes, good shoes.
And pay your mother’s bill.
The hospital already called me, they need 2 lakhs today.” Ayesha’s eyes widened.
No limit card?
“No, I can’t take this!
Our deal was only 5 lakhs!
This is too much!” Rayan grabbed her hand and forced the card into it.
“You are Rayan Ahmed’s girlfriend now.
My girlfriend cannot look poor.
Take it.
It’s an order.” Ayesha looked at the card, then at him.
This man was so confusing.
Sometimes so rude, sometimes so caring.
When Ayesha reached her small house in a poor area of Lahore, her mother was waiting.
Her mother was shocked to see her in a Rs.
80,000 gown and a luxury car.
“Ayesha!
Where did you get these expensive clothes?
What have you done?” her mother asked worriedly.
Ayesha hugged her mother and cried.
She told her everything.
The coffee spill, the 5 lakh deal, the fake relationship, the palace, the kiss.
Her mother listened carefully and then said something that shocked Ayesha.
“Beta, I know you did this for me.
But be careful with your heart.
A rich man like him…
they play with poor girls’ hearts and then leave them.
Don’t fall in love with him.
This is only 30 days.
After 30 days, he will go back to his rich world, and you will be left with a broken heart.” Ayesha wiped her tears.
“Don’t worry, Ami.
I will not fall in love.
It’s just a contract.
I know my place.” But even as she said it, her hand automatically touched her lips.
The place where Rayan had kissed her last night.
Her mother saw it and sighed.
She knew her daughter was already falling.
On the other side, in his huge CEO office on the 30th floor, Rayan was not able to concentrate on his meeting.
His manager was showing him a presentation worth 100 crores, but Rayan’s mind was on Ayesha.
The way she looked in his shirt.
The way she closed her eyes for the kiss.
The way she cried when Sana insulted her.
His phone buzzed.
It was a message from his driver: “Sir, Madam Ayesha has reached home safely.” Rayan typed back: “Good.
Watch her house.
If anyone troubles her or her mother, break their legs.” He put his phone down and looked out of the window at the whole Lahore city.
He had made many deals in his life.
Billion dollar deals.
But this 30-day deal with a poor waitress was the most dangerous deal of his life.
Because for the first time, the ruthless CEO was scared.
Scared that after 30 days, he would not be able to let her go.
He picked up his phone and called Ayesha.
Ayesha picked up on the first ring, as if she was waiting for his call.
“Hello?” she said softly.
“Tomorrow is Sunday.
No work.
I will pick you up at 9 AM.
Wear the red gown again,” he ordered.
“Why?
Where are we going?” Ayesha asked.
“On our first official date.
If we are going to be lovers for 30 days, we should at least go on a real date.
Don’t be late, Cinderella.” He cut the call.
Ayesha held the phone to her chest.
A date?
With Rayan Ahmed?
The CEO?
Her mother was right.
She should not fall in love.
But how could she not, when he was making her feel like a real princess?
The 30-day countdown had started.
Day 2 was over.
Only 28 days left.
And both of them were already losing control of their hearts.