Mahnoor's POV 
Passing by from the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, the sun has set around an hour ago and the lights of the City can be seen vividly, with the red, white and blue lights of the Empire State Building shining through beautifully.

Simple and sophisticated, the lights in the foreground on the Brooklyn Bridge compliment the masses of city lights perfectly.

I can't believe I stayed with a stranger alone for more than an hour and again I am sharing a car with him

Only I know how uncomfortable it feels
His driver parked in front of a 52-storey luxury tower. We strode inside together although I have been maintaining my distance from him. The reception has an imperious chandelier-hung marble with the perfect melding of Manhattan glitz and European grandeur. 

He asked, “Should we enter the elevator together or will you go first?"

I ignored going inside 

He understood what I meant because he came in with me,
He pressed a button which made the door automatically close

After a while, it opened revealing a huge black door

He turned the knob gesturing me to go in with him

This 'mansion in the sky' enjoys 2,000 square feet of spectacular terraces overlooking Park Avenue along with 6,000 square feet of magnificent interiors in an enormous mint-condition duplex.

Entered by a private elevator landing to an impressive gallery which leads to a grand corner living room with a fireplace and French doors opening onto the terraces. Immediately adjacent is a large and elegant formal dining room, and a handsome billiards room/library. 

I cleared my throat which gained his attention because he looked at me 
do you stay alone?

He passed a smile “We arrived late. Everyone is sleeping" 

I heaved a sigh of relief “I am glad there will be people staying with us"

He guided me to a bedroom upstairs. 
The bed is dressed with linens and a coverlet and pillows of indigo silk, a vintage stool, and the headboard is upholstered in a Pollack fabric. There is a cushioned fabric wall and two accent chairs 

From the room, the outside views include the Hudson River, well past the George Washington Bridge to the west, and the East River to the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. 

He stretched his arms “This is our room wifey 
“Do you mind if I touch your hand? I can't stop myself anymore"

I crossed my arms over my chest looking at him. I said coldly “Bathroom"

He pointed at a door that was inside the room

Shoaib's POV 
I fell on the bed putting my hands behind my head

Love or obsession, I don't know which one I am feeling, but I just don't want to let you go 

You cried enough on the plane, I gave you space and allowed you to do whatever you wanted then. 

I don't want to force you into doing anything. 

She came out from the bathroom sitting on the stool near the mirror

Who looks in a mirror at night even though it is not dark outside, but the time is late.

She undid her hair making her look more beautiful 

How can I control myself from coming to you Mahnoor? 
I lowered my gaze, but her movements kept attracting me

She raked her fingers through her long black hair shoving it away from her face

She looked at me through the mirror “My purse?"

You'll get it in the morning 

She added “Towel or a tissue paper?"

I stretched my hands “You can use my hand"

She eyed me through the mirror with a serious expression 

I rose to go to the closet to give her a box of tissue

She collected it keeping it on her lap “Thank you"

I smiled warmly at her “Anything else?"

She raised her hand gesturing with it “You can leave. I'll ask you when I need something" 

I stood there staring at her

She raised her brows “What?"

I shook my head “I thank your mother for bringing you into this world. You're so beautiful" 

She sighed removing a tissue from the tissue box wiping her makeup with it

She got up going to the bed “I can't share a room with you. Go and find somewhere else to sleep in"

I followed her to the bed

She stared at me blankly as if I've grown two heads “Your behaviour is irritating" 

I know but I can't stop myself 

She pointed at the door “Please leave. We're both tired" 

I stretched my hand to touch her face, but she backed away instantly 

She said “I am not a painting you'll keep looking at" 

Your beauty can never be compared to a painting 

She removed all the pillows putting them in the middle of the bed creating distance from the two sides

She pointed “That is your side and this is mine." 

Not once did I let something distract me from looking at her face
I kept staring even though she kept fidgeting with the edge of her silk nightgown feeling uncomfortable 

She reposed on her side of the bed closing her eyes 

Hey Mr producer, you're---

She corrected with her eyes shut “and the director" 

Mahnoor's POV 
He said “You make a lot of dramatic movies. Whose house have you ever been to in reality that you'll see the husband and wife sleeping with a pillow in between them?"

I answered “It will start with us. If it were up to me, we won't share a room talk more about the bed"

I felt him laying down “I tend to hug my pillows in my sleep" 

Good. There is a pillow near you. Hug it till you're satisfied and let me sleep. I am tired

I sniffed sensing the soil. This happens when it is going to rain. It gives a different and relaxing scent

I stood up going to the window. I moved the curtains looking at the cloud. It is dark and stormy. A gentle wind was blowing my face making my hair move from side to side

A tantalizing aroma from the opposite building wafting into my nostrils. This reminds me, I've not eaten anything since I left home

And as a gentleman he is, he didn't offer me something 
He offered once, and I refused but after that, he didn't try to offer me again. Who does that?

Large pillows of cloud were forming and droplets of moisture began to drip. They were sprinkling on onto the opposite building's window rolling down to the river

A huffing wind rose followed by a loud storm and lightening 

I was pulled back and that strange man closed the windows

He tugged his hands in his pockets “What are you doing? Do you want to fall sick? Why will you stand near the window when it is windy and pouring heavily?"

I strode back to the bed laying down on my back

He came not so long copying my posture

Mr, I find it difficult to sleep in new places 

He sounded hurt when he exclaimed, “Do you even know my name Mahnoor?"

I closed my eyes “Sal----No. What is your name?"

He answered sarcastically “Salim"

Your wish. Anyway, I wasn't interested to know your name because you'll only be part of a small page in the book of my life

He laughed “I will be a complete book" 

No. You don't deserve a chapter, just a half-page will do and when that page is over, I'll tear it into tiny little pieces and throw it in the streets of New York then I'll go back to Nigeria, back to my hometown Kano and continue my normal life
I said the last part with a smile 

“Don't you want us to have a future together?"

I hugged myself shivering because of the temperature of the room. The AC was on and on top of that, it is raining heavily 

I was covered with a soft blanket and knowing it was him, I didn't say anything 

He apologized “I am sorry, but I can't sleep without the AC"

You know what? 
I rose sitting on the bed

He gestured with his head

I am a producer, right?

He nodded

I snapped my fingers “Perfect. We'll make our lives a story. Perfect right?"
I smiled hoping to receive a positive review 

Anything that comes from you is perfect
He said looking intensely at me

I fidgeted with my fingers lowering my gaze “I thought of an amazing movie plot about our lives"

He raised his hand “Stop being childish. Just try and sleep. I have a meeting tomorrow" 

I pleaded nicely with him which he obeyed “Please get up and sit"

He jolted reclining on the pillow

At least listen to me, the story title will be
I tapped my forehead thinking of a suitable title
I snapped my fingers “2 months"

His jaw dropped in amusement “Two months?"

Good right? I know. So the plot goes like this
A lady and a man who got married due to circumstances 
Which are me and you
I pointed at him

He shook his head listening to me silently 
To be honest, That marriage means nothing to the girl, and she decides to walk away from it after two months

He completed “The boy will never let go of her hand or leave her sight for even a second"

I cleared my throat “The girl already decided to walk away, to free herself, and she'll do it. She just needs a new passport which takes time before it is made but if it is made before two months, her stay will be over"
I said the last part with a half shrug 

He smiled “You're forgetting Destiny" 

Destiny doesn't want this. It was a coincidence but soon it will be cleared out. 

So, as I was saying, We both won't disclose our relationship to the outside world because it won't last long. And the girl will try as much as she can in making sure she fulfils some of her responsibilities as a wife but only for a short period

He retorted “Get ready, Someone will come tomorrow to take your fingerprint. You're soon going to become a citizen of the United States" 
Before I could answer, he switched off the lamp beside him making the entire room dark

I yelped “Never. I am proud of my country Nigeria and will never change it"

He replied “It will be best if you sleep and consider this rain as a blessing and sign for our marriage life to be fruitful. You're never leaving this place"

You will ask me to leave

“I won't do that even in your dreams"

But I'll force you to do it. I will make you so angry that you'll say Mahnoor, leave my house and never come back
I mimicked him

“By then, we'll have made this house a home" 

I am not joking, I'll irritate you a lot and make you angry till you let me go

He remained silent

I fumed squeezing the bedsheet tightly. I won't stay here, never

Are you listening to me?

Hey!
I tapped the bedside drawer near the bed to wake him up

He is asleep. Who sleeps so quickly? It takes me a couple of hours or three before I do;

https://dynamic.webnovel.com/book/21494625406680805?utm_source=writerShare&utm_campaign=4317043449

jEONGjEONG And I checked yours out and added it to the library. the synopsis already tickled my interest. I love stories about the outside world!!!!

KamiKrimson Hi! I'm sorry I only read this now. Currently reading and reviewing yours. I really appreciate your paragraph comments though haha. And I was just wondering what do you mean by the *** in one comment? I would just like to know hehe. Anyways back to reviewing!

    jEONGjEONG Ohhh it's the part where you wrote insert imagepanting* part at chapter 2: space orb. Hahahaha I love the way you write. And the POV is written well. How long have you been writing, may I know? Because as you write I feel like you've been writing for a long time or it's your passion? I'm a real sucker when it comes to "SPACE" themed theories hehehehe. So I'm going to wait for yours big time. I even have a moon shaped tattoo on my arm hahahahaha

      Also, I'm kind of frustrated that we could only have 1 power stone and it's so hard to level up as a reader. I wish I could at least have 4 or 5... I want to give some to a few stories as well. But I can only give 1 power stone to a single story at a time ://

      KamiKrimson To be honest this is my first serious story haha. I've been writing articles ever since I was in high school. But first, about the thing where I will insert an image, I was planning to make an illustration for that part. And this story is a collaboration with my brother. He's still busy though but I asked him to draw the characters and some scenes in the story. Writing has always been my passion and I really admire how poetic novelists are, like the way they use words to describe a certain scenario, it's really fascinating. And I asked for some advice from my friends to see how I can improve my work too :)))))

      I'll just edit out the part where there's supposed to be an image and do that scene during Christmas break. Thank you for noticing!

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