Novels by Muzna Malik

Chapter 20LyraThe next morning, I woke with a pounding headache, a combination of the hangover and the buzzing of my phone. Groaning, I squinted at the screen and saw a flood of notifications. My heart sank as I tapped on one of Anthony’s messages:Anthony: “We need to talk. Someone sent a video of you from last night to Roman during a virtual meeting. He knows about the rumors.”I shot up from my bed, clutching my head as the world tilted. What the hell? My mind raced as I scrambled to get ready, throwing on whatever clothes I could grab. I didn’t have time to deal with this headache; I had to fix the mess.By the time I reached the office, Anthony was waiting for me near my desk. He looked both worried and mildly amused, a terrible combination.“What’s going on?” I asked, whispering harshly.“Roman’s got to know about the rumors,” he said, crossing his arms. “He's calling you to his office.”My stomach dropped. I hadn’t even had coffee yet, and I was already walking to what felt l

Chapter 19LyraSunday night rolled in, and with it, my plan to kill the rumors before they killed me. I stood in front of my mirror, surveying my reflection. My dress—a red, body-hugging number with a plunging neckline and a slit up the side—was borderline scandalous. I paired it with strappy heels and bold makeup, my lips painted a daring crimson to match. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right.The judgmental gazes started the moment I met the girls outside the club. They didn’t say anything outright, but the sidelong glances and tight smiles spoke volumes.“So,” one of them, Monica, said as we entered, her tone dripping with false cheer. “You’re really joining us, huh?”“Why not?” I said, keeping my voice light. “A night out sounds like just what I need.”We made our way inside, the bass-heavy music vibrating through the walls. The club was packed, the air thick with perfume, sweat, and the tang of alcohol. The girls stuck close together, but I could feel their eyes

Chapter 18LyraAnthony frowned, clearly unhappy with my plea. “Fine. But you need to do something. This isn’t just about you, Lyra. If Roman finds out—”I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “I know. That’s why I need this to die down before it gets to him. Please, just don’t let Ethan know I’m upset. He thrives on this kind of thing.”Anthony hesitated, then sighed. “Alright. But you owe me for staying out of this one.”I managed a weak smile. “I’ll buy you lunch for a week.”“Make it two,” he said, smirking.Before I could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then looked back at me. “Speak of the devil. Roman wants to see you in his office.”...As I made my way to Roman’s office, my nerves were frayed. The rumors couldn’t have reached him already… could they? I knocked softly on the door, leaving it open just enough to peek in. Roman was seated at his desk, his attention focused on some documents.“Come in,” he said without looking up.I stepped inside, keep

Chapter 17LyraIf I had known that staying late for dinner at Roman’s place would snowball into whispers of a scandal, I would’ve bolted out of there the moment Anthony made his "emergency" exit. Curse my love for tiramisu. Curse Ethan Montgomery. And most of all, curse my naivety for thinking that people around here didn’t thrive on drama like caffeine.I shifted in my seat, clutching my coffee cup like it was a lifeline, my unease growing as snippets of whispered conversations reached me.“...stayed at his place late...”“...wonder what really happened...”“Did you see her leave? It was almost midnight...”“...Mr. Lennox and her? I mean, he’s out of her league, but still…”The murmurs swirled around like a storm cloud, building up pressure in my chest. I took a deep breath and forced myself to focus on the spreadsheet on my screen. Numbers, not rumors. Numbers were safe. Rational. They wouldn’t stab you in the back or whisper your name with raised eyebrows.But it was impossible to

Chapter 16LyraThe dishes were immaculate—plated so perfectly it felt like a crime to touch them. Everything was color-coordinated, from the vibrant greens of the salad to the subtle hues of the roasted vegetables. There were no sweets in sight, which was already a red flag for me. But the worst part wasn’t the food—it was the rules.Roman ate in absolute silence, his silverware moving with surgical precision. No clinking, no scraping. Anthony’s utensils were equally quiet, as if he had trained for this moment his entire life. Meanwhile, I was hyperaware of every tiny noise I made. The softest clink of my fork against the plate earned me a sharp, icy glare from Roman. My throat tightened, and suddenly the food tasted like cardboard.When Anthony finished his meal, he placed his silverware down perfectly parallel, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and stood. “Excuse me, Roman. There’s an… emergency I need to attend to.”Roman nodded, clearly unconcerned.Anthony glanced at me, his eyes

Chapter 15LyraI felt the heat rise in my cheeks but kept my composure. “I’m well aware of that, Mr. Montgomery,” I said sharply. “But a solid reputation in the healthcare sector translates to long-term profitability. Patients don’t walk into hospitals because of flashy ads; they come because they trust the name on the building.”Ethan scoffed. “And what’s your plan for earning that trust? A bake sale?”The room grew tense, the air practically crackling. Roman, who had been silent thus far, watched the exchange with a piercing gaze.“I’d suggest you counter my proposal instead of resorting to cheap shots,” I fired back, my tone calm but cutting. “Unless you don’t have one?”Ethan bristled, flipping open his folder and presenting a proposal riddled with overly optimistic projections. “This plan ensures quicker returns by focusing on urban centers with higher insurance coverage. It’s straightforward and avoids unnecessary expenditure on outreach.”I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing as