Iliana glanced up from her laptop, her expression serious. "I can make it on my own. If you don't want to be a beacon of hope for thousands, that's your choice. And about dying—Allah will protect us."
Eiden shrugged, his skepticism apparent. "I don't trust either you or your Allah. But I want to give this medication a shot. After all, who will protect you if something goes wrong? Obviously, it's me, Syed Eiden."
Iliana raised an eyebrow, still focused on her laptop, as she began her zikr. "Are your parents Muslim?" She asked, curiosity piqued.
"One of them," he replied, her tone clipped.
"Still, you don't seem inspired by our beautiful religion," eiden's eyes rolled.
Iliana sighed, frustrated by his persistence. As the clock struck 1 PM, she stood up, ready to head to the upper floor, which was empty, so she could offer her prayer.
"Where are you going, Ms. Green Chameleon?" Eiden called after her, watching her movements.
"Salah," Iliana answered curtly, her gaze fixed on the ground as she made her way out, leaving Eiden to ponder her response and the weight of their conversation.
"Why don't you ever look me in the eyes? Are you afraid you might fall in love?" Eiden said, inching closer to Iliana until her back pressed against the wall, creating an intense moment between them.
"Move away, you satan! Or I swear I'll crush you!" she snapped, her annoyance palpable as she tried to assert her space.
Eiden chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Try it, I dare you."
Without hesitation, Iliana stomped down hard on his foot, causing him to yelp in surprise. Seizing the moment, she dashed toward the lift and made her way to the upper floor.
As she entered the first room on the upper floor, she was dismayed to see Eiden had followed her, bounding up the stairs with a grin. She let out a frustrated sigh and retreated to a corner, unfurling her prayer mat to find solace in her Salah.
Eiden, however, was relentless. He cranked up the volume on his phone, blasting music as he began dancing around her, his voice a loud mumble that invaded her peaceful moment.
Once she finished her prayer, maintaining her calm despite the chaos around her, she turned to him with a steady gaze. "May Allah give you hidayah. If you can't respect my beliefs, please don't disturb me. This tactic of yours only shows how lost you are, Mr. Eiden."
Eiden, unfazed by her words, left the room with a satisfied smirk, reveling in the annoyance he had caused her. He exited the company, driving away at high speed, clearly enjoying his small victory.
Meanwhile, Iliana shifted her focus back to her duties, making her way through the factory to check on the workers.
As she moved through the bustling space, her eyes caught sight of a worker who seemed particularly fatigued. " you should take a break," she said gently, handing him a bottle of water to hydrate. Asma was nearby, ensuring that everyone was doing well and checking if anyone needed assistance.
"Stay here, Asma. I have to go check on something else," Iliana instructed, her voice firm yet caring, before continuing her rounds to ensure the well-being of her team.
Iliana gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove toward the location that man had instructed her to go. "Whoever you are, by the grace of the Almighty, I will crush you," she muttered under her breath, determination coursing through her veins.
As she arrived, the scene that unfolded before her was chilling. It was a desolate area, surrounded by nothing but barren land, and there stood a group of men armed with guns, their presence menacing. At the forefront was a figure she recognized instantly. "Miss Iliana is here. Poor thing, tsk tsk. I've killed your parents because they tried to help others, just like you are attempting to do," he sneered.
Iliana fought to maintain her composure, her heart racing. "Don't worry; soon you will be behind bars, Mr.," she retorted, trying to project confidence despite the fear gnawing at her.
The man chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm Jimray, your father's dear friend. Did you forget Uncle Azren? It's me," he revealed, his voice dripping with malice.
Her heart plummeted. This couldn't be true. Azren had been a close family friend, someone she trusted. "As you can see my face, plastic surgery... that's why they didn't recognize me when I caused their accident at the petrol pump that night," he continued, relishing her distress.
"I will never forgive you, Uncle. Never!" Iliana's voice trembled, and tears threatened to spill, but she steeled herself, refusing to show weakness. With a heavy heart, she turned and left the nightmarish scene, feeling the weight of his words linger in the air. "You will be soon with them " he muttered ominously as she walked away.
Once she was back at her car, the reality of the situation hit her. Jimray's chillin plan was clear, and she couldn't inform the police without risking her company and the people she cared about. Leaning against her car, she whispered, "Ya Allah... what will I do now?" Just then, she spotted Eiden approaching, his expression curious.
"Where were you? I arrived earlier, but I didn't see you," he said, ruffling his hair as he fixed his gaze on her, waiting for an answer.
"None of your business," Iliana replied sharply, her eyes narrowing as she walked ahead, clearly frustrated.
As they headed to the company at 6 PM, Eiden suddenly grabbed the hem of her abaya, forcing her to halt. "Hey, Green chameleon, why do you look so worried? But honestly, you pull off that worried look really well. It's kind of hot."