The morning sun filtered through the glass panels of the hotel lobby, throwing soft golden patterns on the marble floor.
Inside, the air was cool — but tense.
Qis sat stiffly on the edge of a leather sofa. Her father stood by the tall windows, arms crossed behind his back, his voice calm but edged with concern.
"You should have had better control, Qis. You were sent to handle a site visit — not walk straight into a criminal ambush."
Qis nodded guiltily. "I know. It wasn't planned—"
He cut her off.
"And who is this… Zain? The one who fought gangsters with his bare hands? Why wasn't I informed about his presence in the team?"
Elena had just walked in, her steps steady but quiet.
She had heard everything.
Her father's tone. His doubt. His dismissiveness.
Elena glanced at Zain, who stood silently near the entrance. His shirt was slightly wrinkled, his eyes tired from a night without sleep — but he stood straight, his gaze firm.
He didn't speak.
He never defended himself.
And for some reason, that broke something inside her.
She stepped forward.
"He's the reason we're still alive."
Both Qis and her father turned toward her, surprised by the firmness in her voice.
Elena's jaw tightened. She looked her father in the eyes.
"You want to know who Zain is? He's the one who ran straight into danger without thinking twice. While I screamed… while I couldn't move… he was already bleeding from protecting us."
Her father's eyes narrowed. "You were attacked because the area wasn't properly assessed. Because the security team failed—"
"No. Don't turn this into a technical report," Elena snapped, her voice rising.
"This isn't about procedures. This is about loyalty. About someone who didn't even have a room booked, who slept in a car after saving our lives — and you're asking who he is?"
Silence fell.
Zain didn't move.
Qis looked down, biting her lip. Even she hadn't realised the depth of Zain's sacrifice.
Elena stepped closer to her father.
"You always told me to trust actions more than words. Well, his actions saved me. That should be enough."
Her father stared at her for a long moment.
Then he turned slowly to Zain, examining him with fresh eyes.
Zain met his gaze.
Still silent. Still steady.
Finally, her father spoke — his voice much softer this time.
"I see."
Then he turned to leave, his footsteps echoing across the floor.
Qis looked up at Elena, stunned. "You… really stood up for him."
Elena exhaled slowly, her voice quieter now.
"Because someone had to."
She turned to Zain.
He was still standing where she left him — but now, his expression had changed.
There was something warm in his eyes.
Gratitude.
And something else.
Something neither of them dared to name.
Not yet.
The soft hum of the elevator echoed down the hallway as Elena walked alone, her heels clicking gently against the marble floor. The atmosphere of the hotel was quiet — too quiet for how loud her thoughts had become.
She reached the dining lounge where Qis was already seated, flipping through the menu with little interest.
"You're late," Qis teased, eyes narrowing playfully. "Let me guess. Balcony scene with your knight in shining tank top?"
Elena rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She took a seat across from her.
"He doesn't talk much," she said simply.
"Oh, so you were with him?"
Elena gave a light shrug. "He talks when it matters."
Qis leaned back, folding her arms. "You like him, don't you?"
The question caught her off guard. Her spoon paused mid-air.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to." Qis smirked. "You defended him in front of your dad. You don't even defend me when I get scolded."
Elena's cheeks flushed slightly, but she remained composed.
"He didn't deserve what was said about him. That's all."
Qis leaned forward, voice dropping a little.
"Elena, just be careful. I'm not saying he's bad. I'm saying… people like him, with that kind of past, that kind of silence — they usually carry things they're not ready to share."
Elena looked away, her eyes distant for a moment.
"So do I."
Later that night, Zain stood in front of the hotel room Elena had booked for him.
He hesitated.
He had never been offered something without asking. Without needing to prove himself first. He touched the key card in his pocket as if it might disappear.
Inside the room, it was quiet. Clean. Warm. He stood by the window, watching the city lights flicker far below. He didn't sleep right away. He couldn't.
The memory of Elena's voice, her eyes when she said "You're important" — it played in his head like an echo trapped in a loop.
He finally lay down, staring at the ceiling.
For the first time in a long while…
…he wasn't cold.