Novels by Pena Zaint

Chapter 8: Shared RealityThe man in the cheap leather jacket didn't look like he belonged in the marble-floored expanse of the hotel lobby. He looked like an anchor dragging the glittering, high-fashion world down into the gutter. Fajar felt the air turn thin."Keep walking," Nadia murmured, her grip on his arm iron-tight. "Don’t acknowledge him. If you look at him, you’re acknowledging the past. We’re building a future, remember?""Nadia, that’s Leo. He’s my brother. He’s going to ruin everything," Fajar whispered, his pulse spiking."Then he’s a variable. And I handle variables," she replied, her voice cool and steady. "Look at me. Ignore the gallery. Focus on the man holding your hand.""He knows I’m broke, Nadia. He knows about the apartment. He knows about the instant noodles.""He knows a version of you that doesn't exist anymore. Are you going to let a ghost kill the best thing that’s ever happened to you?""He's not a ghost. He's five feet away and he looks angry.""Smile, Fa

Chapter 7: The Billionaire's GambleThe diamond in the box wasn’t just a stone; it was a beacon, pulsing with the same cold, synthetic light that lived in the back of Fajar’s skull. A hundred cameras held their breath."Will you make this real?" Fajar repeated, his voice barely a tremor in the cavernous hallway.Nadia didn't look at the ring. She looked at his eyes, her expression unreadable."You’re really going to do it, aren't you?" she asked."I don't play games, Nadia. Not when it matters this much.""Is that right? Because this feels like the biggest gamble you’ve ever taken.""It’s not a gamble if the outcome is already decided."She took a slow, deliberate step back, her gown swishing against the floor. "And if I say no? What happens to the grand vision then?""Then I guess I’m just a guy in a hoodie again.""You’re a piece of work, Fajar." She reached out, her fingers brushing the velvet box. "Fine. Let's see how deep this rabbit hole goes."She extended her hand. A collectiv

Chapter 6: Falling HardThe storage closet door rattled as the footsteps outside grew louder, a frantic swarm of paparazzi and gala staff converging on his location. Fajar slammed his back against the door, his heart drumming a frantic rhythm against his ribcage."Nadia, wait! Just give me a second, please!"Nadia froze, her hand still hovering over the brass handle. She didn't turn around. Her shoulders were rigid, the elegant silk of her gown starkly contrasting with the dust-caked shelves surrounding them."A second, Fajar? I’ve given you a whole night of my life," she said, her voice brittle. "I watched you turn a car into a bicycle. I watched you turn a tuxedo into a dirty hoodie. What’s next? You going to tell me you’re a wizard?""I’m not a wizard. I’m just… I’m a guy who’s scared, okay?"She turned then, her eyes searching his face, looking for the lie. "Scared of what? Being ordinary?""Scared of being invisible. There’s a difference."She took a slow step toward him, her per

Chapter 5: Close EncountersThe flashing lights of the news van strobe-lighted the mall floor, catching Fajar in a halo of humiliating glare. He stood frozen, clutching the wooden crate like a sacred relic of his own stupidity."Hey! Get that camera out of my face!" Fajar shouted, his voice cracking."Are you serious? Everyone is watching this right now, man!" the influencer gasped, backing away as a security guard grabbed Fajar’s shoulder."Let go of me! I have an appointment!""Yeah, with the police station, pal. Let’s go," the guard growled.Before the guard could drag him off, a black limousine glided to the curb outside the glass doors. A woman stepped out, cutting through the chaos like a blade. Nadia. She didn't look like someone who had just watched a man dissolve into a street urchin on a global livestream. She looked bored."That's enough," Nadia said, her voice cutting through the lobby.The guards paused. "Ma’am, this guy is trespassing and causing a scene.""He’s my guest

Chapter 4: Public DeceptionThe Gilded Glass was silent, a tomb of white tablecloths and forgotten vintage wine. Fajar stood paralyzed, his fingers trembling as he felt the coarse, cheap cotton of his hoodie reclaim his skin. Nadia stared at him, her eyes wide, moving from his disheveled clothes to the empty, cordoned-off dining room."Where is everyone, Fajar? Why is the staff gone?" Nadia asked, her voice hitching."They... they stepped out," Fajar lied, his voice thin."They didn't just step out. The doors are locked, and the place is deserted. Who are you?""I'm just a guy who likes a good meal, Nadia. Don't overthink it.""A guy in a hoodie doesn't pull a bottle of '82 Bordeaux out of thin air." She stood up, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. "You’re dangerous, aren't you?""I’m just complicated.""Complicated? You're a ghost in a suit that doesn't exist."“System, status! Get me out of here. Now!”“Energy depletion at 5%. Initiate emergency exit,” the System pulsed.

Chapter 3: The Luxury TrapNadia’s hand hovered in the dim space beneath the oak table, her manicured nails catching a stray beam of light. Fajar pulled his hood up, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird."Don't," Fajar rasped, his voice trembling. "Just... leave it, Nadia.""You’re hiding under a boardroom table in a hoodie, Fajar," she said, her tone amused rather than aggressive. "That’s not exactly the move of a man who just claimed to be a billionaire.""I have my methods," Fajar retorted, clutching his knees."Methods? You look like you’re ready to bolt." She leaned closer, her perfume—something expensive and jasmine-heavy—filling the small, enclosed space. "You have a weird energy. You’re terrified, yet you’re here. Why?""Maybe I just like the thrill of the hunt.""Is that right?" She smirked, pulling her hand back. "Then prove it. Dinner. Tonight. The Gilded Glass. If you’re as wealthy as you pretend to be, a seven-course tasting menu shouldn't put a dent i