Chapter 9 Nine

Rayyan hadn't realized how much time had passed while he was talking with Diana. Although they were seriously discussing the design of his newly purchased apartment, he couldn't help but slip in a few playful compliments, which Diana welcomed. Rayyan was never one to waste an opportunity, especially when it came to charming attractive women.

Based on his experience, Rayyan could easily distinguish between women who were open to his advances and those who weren't. Diana, although initially reserved, was clearly someone who enjoyed being flattered and admired, especially when her client was someone as promising as Rayyan. By the end of their discussion, they had agreed on the design concept and the overall budget. When they finally wrapped up their conversation-two hours after he and Elara had arrived-Rayyan suddenly realized that Elara was nowhere in sight.

Where had she gone? Had she left without him noticing? If she had, it would surely cause trouble for him later. After walking Diana to the door, Rayyan began searching for Elara, hoping she was still somewhere in the apartment.

He recalled seeing her wandering around the unit while he was talking to Diana. He had noticed her quietly opening and closing doors, even though the empty apartment had amplified the sound of each door she touched.

Rayyan opened one of the smaller bedrooms, but it was empty. Then, as he opened the door to the larger bedroom-the one with the en-suite bathroom-he was surprised to see Elara. She was sitting cross-legged in the corner by the window, her small figure dressed in mocca-colored culottes and a loose white tunic. Her eyes were closed, a large headset resting on her head, and she leaned against the wall, her phone loosely held in her hands atop her folded legs.

Rayyan couldn't help but smile at the sight. Elara had clearly decided to tune out their conversation in her own way, finding a quiet corner to relax in.

Rayyan felt a twinge of guilt as he approached Elara, who was still fast asleep in the corner of the empty room. He had brought her to his newly purchased apartment with the intention of teasing her, hoping she'd get annoyed and beg him to take her home. But instead, Elara had found a quiet spot, curled up, and fallen asleep in the empty, air-conditioned space.

"Ela?" Rayyan gently waved his hand in front of her face, but she didn't stir. Curious, he glanced at her phone, which was resting on her lap, and unlocked the screen to see what she'd been listening to that had lulled her to sleep. Smiling softly, he turned off the music, removed the large headset from her head, and placed her phone carefully back into her open bag.

With careful movements, Rayyan scooped Elara up in his arms, carrying her in a bridal style. Her small frame felt light in his arms as he stood upright, and he was struck by how peaceful she looked. Without making a sound, he carried her out of the apartment, heading toward the elevator.

Once they reached the car, Rayyan gently placed Elara in the passenger seat, buckling her in. Remarkably, she still didn't wake up. He figured she must be exhausted after a long day. He knew her schedule had been hectic; Elara had left home at six in the morning to make it to her first class by 7:15 a.m., and after finishing around three in the afternoon, Rayyan had made her walk quite a distance from the campus to meet him at their rendezvous point.

As he glanced at her, sleeping soundly beside him, Rayyan felt a mix of affection and guilt. He sighed and started the car, determined to get her home where she could rest properly.

Of course, all of this left Elara drained, both mentally and physically. Rayyan circled around and settled back into the driver's seat. He adjusted Elara's position to make her more comfortable and fastened her seatbelt securely.

As he straightened up and glanced at Elara, a realization struck him. His little Ela had grown up.

Yes, that petite, somewhat awkward girl was no longer just a teenager; she had transformed into a young woman. Rayyan had come to this understanding after observing her over time. Elara was small and on the shorter side, unlike her tall parents. She often spoke sharply and acted a bit spoiled, which was part of what made Rayyan enjoy teasing her.

However, it was evident that Elara's thinking had matured. She was far-sighted in many aspects and understood what she should and shouldn't do, earning her parents' trust in her decisions.

Yet, what troubled Rayyan at that moment wasn't just that. It was his own feelings.

Yes, he had to admit it to himself. What shocked him when he returned to Manhattan was how beautiful Elara appeared to him. Despite her modest attire, she never wore revealing or tight-fitting clothes; still, she radiated an undeniable charm.

Rayyan found himself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, a mix of admiration and confusion, as he navigated the road. He couldn't quite grasp why he felt this way, but it was undeniable that something about Elara had shifted in his perception, and he was struggling to come to terms with it.

Her face was clean and smooth and she didn't wear any make-up for attention. Even when going to college, Elara seemed to only wear a cream that she knew was sunscreen and colorless lipbalm. That's why Rayyan liked to tease her, because her face always blushed naturally when she was angry.

Even when Rayyan drank from the bottle she was drinking from, he could see the blush on her face even if it was just a glimpse because Elara immediately averted her face.

He wondered, why did Elara have to blush because of his actions? What was she thinking at that moment?

Rayyan glanced back at Elara as the car stopped for a red light. The girl was still fast asleep with her face turned towards him. Her eyelashes looked plump, her nose small and pointed. Her cheeks were full, but not chubby. Her chin was small, neither round nor pointed.

And her lips.

Her lips were pink with the upper part thinner than the lower lip. Rayyan unconsciously swallowed. The thought of tasting those lips flashed through his head.

Oh God, was his head so perverted that he wanted to kiss his own niece? He said to himself.

Rayyan straightened up and focused his attention on the road. But the thought of untying Elara's hair, untangling it and feeling its texture tantalized him. Rayyan longed to kiss Elara's small, white neck. Unbutton her shirt and touch the small hill that adorned her chest.

Damn! Rayyan said to himself as he stepped on the gas hard enough to cause a roar that probably caused Elara to wake up.

"Uncle?" The girl's confused and hoarse voice made Rayyan's body throb with pain.

What the hell is this? He asked silently. "Hmm?" He answered without turning his head.

"Where are we?" Elara asked, confused. She sat up and looked around. "Are we on our way home?" she inquired as she adjusted her seat. Rayyan told her where they were.

"You carried me from inside?" she asked incredulously.

Rayyan glanced at her briefly and replied, "No, you walked to the car while sleeping."

Elara furrowed her brow and pouted. "I'm not someone who sleeps while walking!" she retorted, annoyed.

"Well, if you know that, why are you asking?" Rayyan replied teasingly.

Elara rolled her eyes. "Who knows, maybe you hired someone to carry me to the parking lot."

Rayyan shook his head. "Who would I pay to lift a weight like you?" He deliberately turned to look at Elara from head to toe with a mocking glare.

Elara gaped in horror. "Am I that heavy?" she asked, to which Rayyan nodded. However, seeing Rayyan trying to suppress a smile, she pinched his thigh with a small, painful pinch that made him yell out in response.

"Elara! That hurts!" the man exclaimed, rubbing his thigh with his left hand. He was serious; it really did hurt.

Elara pouted. "A little pinch like that hurts." She said flatly. Not long after, Rayyan pulled over, causing Elara to frown in confusion. "Why are we stopping?" she asked, bewildered.

"I need to check the results of your pinch. If a bruise shows up, I'm going straight to the hospital for a check-up," Rayyan said in a threatening tone.

Elara sulked. "Don't be so dramatic, Uncle," she grumbled.

"I'm not being dramatic, but it's a precaution. If I report you for domestic violence later, everyone will believe me if I have proof. Now, let's get out!"

"Why? Do you want me to take a picture of the mark from your pinch?" Elara asked innocently.

Rayyan widened his eyes. "Do you actually want to do that?! You want to see me take off my pants?" he asked, his expression one of disbelief.

Elara stared back, her eyes wide. "Of course not! Why would I want to see you take off your pants?" she replied, her face turning red with embarrassment. Rayyan struggled to refrain from reaching out and pinching her cheek. Instead of doing that, he decided to tease her even more.

"Weren't you the one who offered to take a picture of the mark from your pinch? Get your phone out," he commanded as he reached for his belt.

Elara's eyes went wide again at Rayyan's actions. She pinched him again, this time on his arm, which made Rayyan yell out in pain.

"Oh my God, Elara Fulton! That hurts!" Rayyan exclaimed as he tried to pull away. "I was just joking!" he added, his eyes watering and his right hand rubbing his sore left arm.

"It's your fault for messing with me!" Elara shot back.