The morning sky was still dark, tinged only with faint streaks of silver when Zain laced up his worn-out sneakers. He zipped up a navy-blue sweater, the kind that hugged his frame tightly, and slung a small backpack over his shoulder. Inside, folded neatly, was a crisp shirt and black slacks — his "work uniform", so to speak.
He tightened the straps, took a deep breath, and started jogging.
Two hours. No problem.
His strides were steady, powerful, and disciplined. Every step landed with purpose, cutting through the chilly air. Birds slowly began to chirp as the sun rose behind the hills, but Zain didn't slow down. Sweat began to line his forehead, soaking the collar of his sweater, but he didn't flinch. The quiet rhythm of his breathing echoed against the empty roads, his focus unshaken.
By the time the first rays of sunlight painted the street gold, Zain had already reached the front gate of the grand house. He pressed the bell once.
Ding-dong.
Unbeknownst to him, Elena was already up. She had always been an early riser — not out of necessity, but habit. Cooking her own breakfast was one of the few moments in her day she actually enjoyed. Something she could control.
She stood at her window now, biting into a piece of toast, and frowned slightly as she noticed the man at the gate.
Wait. Jogging? Is he…?She narrowed her eyes.
"Where's the car? Doesn't he have a car?" she muttered to herself.
Her eyes followed as Zain stepped through the gate — which had been unlocked earlier by a sleepy guard — and casually made his way to the outdoor tap near the servants' quarters. With practiced ease, he stripped off the sweater, revealing a tight athletic shirt underneath, and turned the water on, letting the cold stream wash over his arms and face. He cleaned himself quickly, then pulled on a fresh shirt and slacks from his bag.
Moments later, he sat calmly on a bench near the car porch, wiping his damp hair with a small towel. He was composed. Silent. Ready.
The engine roared to life as he turned the ignition on, warming up the car.
Elena walked down the marble stairs without a word. She didn't even glance at him. She stepped into the back seat, slammed the door shut, and stared out the window.
Zain didn't flinch.
He adjusted the gear and began driving. Smoothly. Without looking into the rearview mirror once.
The silence in the car was deafening.
No music. No questions. No greetings.
Just the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic clicking of the turn signals.
To Elena, it felt like the longest drive of her life. She clenched her jaw, refusing to speak first. The man didn't even acknowledge her existence. Who was this guy?
Finally, they arrived at the sleek office building downtown. As soon as the car stopped, Zain stepped out and opened her door, like a professional. Elena got out, heels clicking against the pavement, chin held high.
Zain followed closely behind her as they walked into the lobby.
And then it happened.
Every female staff member at the reception turned to look.
"Eh... who's that?" one girl whispered.
"New hire?" asked another, biting her lip. "Even if he's just a driver… he's the most handsome one in this entire building."
"Definitely not an intern. His face... it's different. Like... one of those Korean drama bodyguards, you know?"
"He's definitely not from HR," someone muttered with a giggle.
Elena didn't turn, but the corners of her lips twitched slightly in irritation. She could hear every word, and the fact that they were fawning over Zain — her driver — was somehow infuriating.
Zain? He just kept walking, unreadable.
The elevator ride was quiet. Elena stepped out first, heading towards her office without even checking if he was behind her. But he was.
He stood near the door silently, like a shadow with sharp eyes and a calm aura.
Moments later, Qis entered with a coffee in hand — then stopped mid-step.
Her eyes widened.
"Whoa! Is that… is that Zain?" she grinned, turning to Elena. "Don't tell me you got a new personal assistant. One that jogs to work and looks like a secret agent?"
"Qis," Elena muttered, shooting her a glare. "Please."
"Hey, I'm just saying. You upgraded. Good choice," Qis laughed, clearly amused.
Zain said nothing. He was already seated at a corner chair Elena had pointed to earlier. He pulled out a small, battered paperback from his bag and started reading — as though he couldn't hear a thing. As though he didn't care.
And maybe, he really didn't.
In the stillness of that office, with two very different worlds forced into one space, something unspoken lingered in the air.
Something no one could name yet.