Rain poured down heavily that morning. The sky growled with thunder, and the streets glistened under the silver onslaught. But Zain was already up—before the sun, before the city stirred. He zipped up his old sweater, slung his work clothes into the backpack, and laced up his shoes like a soldier reporting for duty. The cold rain didn't faze him; he jogged as usual, steady and focused, his breath visible in the misty chill. The slap of his shoes against the wet pavement echoed his resolve.
Meanwhile, at the same hour, Elena stirred in bed, the sound of rain tapping against her windows pulling her from sleep. She sat up slowly. "It's pouring out there," she mumbled, brushing her hair back. Her brows furrowed. "He's not going to… jog here in the rain, is he?" she muttered. A pause. "No—why do I care? Let him swim here for all I care. "But she didn't move. She remained still, eyes drawn to the window as lightning illuminated the sky.
Then, she caught sight of a figure—barely visible through the downpour—running toward her gate. A lone man, soaked through, determined."…He really came…" her voice was a whisper now, one that trembled more than she liked.
The doorbell rang. Ding dong. The gates opened with a buzz.
Zain walked in calmly, dripping wet, unbothered by the storm clinging to his skin. Elena, still upstairs, watched silently from the window. She saw him settle by the outdoor tap, like it was a part of his ritual. He scrubbed his face, his arms, his neck, washed the mud from his legs. Then he unzipped his bag and reached for clean clothes.
Elena began pacing—back and forth across her room—muttering to herself like someone possessed. "This is insane... He can't just show up like that. In that... in that state."
And then—without thinking—she grabbed a towel from the bathroom, descended the stairs, and opened the door to the garden.
She froze.
There he was—Zain—bathed in the morning stromlight , droplets cascading over his strong chest, the defined ridges of his abs glistening under the pale glow. His white skin almost shimmered, rain trailing the slope of his broad shoulders and firm arms. Every movement was slow, deliberate—he was raw strength, carved like marble.
Elena didn't blink. Couldn't.
Her breath caught in her throat.
And then—
"Boss?"
She jolted.
"Boss?"
Again. Her eyes darted to meet his. He was looking right at her.
She fumbled and handed him the towel, her hand trembling. Without a word, she turned on her heel, slammed the door shut, and leaned against it, her heart hammering violently.
"What the hell was that…" she whispered. Her face flushed with heat, her hands gripping her chest. "Why am I like this?!"
Later, the car ride to the office was eerily quiet.
Zain drove. Elena sat in the back, pretending to scroll her phone, but her eyes kept drifting to the rearview mirror—yet he never once looked at her reflection. Not even a glance.
It's so quiet. Too quiet. Why does it feel like the longest drive ever? she thought, shifting uncomfortably.
At the office, the moment Zain followed her through the lobby doors, whispers sparked.
"Who is that? ""New hire? ""Even if he's just the driver… he's got the whole building looking twice. ""Seriously, he looks like a bodyguard in a Korean drama or something."
Elena heard it all. She didn't react—at least, not outwardly.
They arrived at her office. Zain took his seat in the corner without a word, flipping open a small book from his backpack.
Moments later, Qis burst through the door, stopping in her tracks. "Whoa. So this is the personal driver, huh?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "Very personal, it seems."
Elena shot her a glare, but Qis only giggled.
Zain didn't even flinch. He kept reading, composed, like the world around him didn't matter.
Later that day, the team gathered for their first official meeting for the mega project. Elena stood at the head of the table, confident but sharp.
"We'll be moving to the northern district for the next few days. I want everything ready. "She turned to Qis. "Book accommodations for the whole crew, including me. No delays. "Qis nodded, taking notes.
Then Elena added—almost too casually—"Oh. And tonight... you're sleeping at my place. We leave together from there tomorrow morning."
Qis blinked. "W-what? "Elena didn't repeat herself.
—
Work ended. Zain picked up both Elena and Qis from the office. The car ride home was silent again, tension heavy in the air.
Out of nowhere, Qis said, "So... what time are we leaving tomorrow?"
Elena didn't reply.
"Eight a.m., I think," Zain said calmly from the front, his voice the only sound slicing through the quiet.