Rina returned to the studio with an apology on her lips. She knew Joel had been worried about her the previous night, and even though she couldn’t tell him exactly who had sent Williams over, she needed him to know that it wasn’t because she couldn’t trust him. Rina wanted to keep her agreement with Zayn from everyone, as much as she was capable of.
The studio was located on the first floor of the building, past the reception and showroom, down to the back. Since they had yet to make their first catalog released to the public, it was usually quiet down there, with only a few people around. Most of the work took place on the second floor, where the designers were, already hired and in the middle of crafting out creative pieces, alongside Joel.
Rina came in when they were all expected to be working, so no one would place her face and her relationship with the fashion house. And she entered through the back door. Of course, they couldn’t keep doing this forever, but Joel maintained that it was best this way until he slowly introduced a Non-Disclosure agreement that would be enforceable and adhered to by his designers.
But the minute she stepped in through the back door, Rina noticed something unusual. Everywhere was in a frenzy, with the people from the media team, who were at least, conversant with her and her work at the fashion house, all over the place. They barely noticed her as they walked from office to office in no particular order, sampling magazines, tablets, and the shrills of numerous phone calls.
Wide-eyed, Rina headed inside with caution, her gaze darting at every angle, avoiding the unfamiliar faces and at the same time, searching for someone to relieve her of her curiosity. Finally, she saw Joel who seemed to have been headed into the studio. He stopped by the door, and his face shone with excitement when he noticed Rina was standing a few feet away from him.
The apology that had been on her lips died instantly as Joel covered the distance in long strides, pulling her into his arms. She froze instantly. His arms felt so foreign around her. Even though Rina tried to psych herself into accepting that Joel was her friend and it was ideal for friends to hug each other, she also knew that it was going to take time for her to get used to it.
“Oh! Sorry!” Joel noticed her distress and pulled off her. But he still had that smile on his face, hard to wipe away. “I just got so excited and carried away.”
“What’s happening?” Rina asked. “I’ve never seen everyone so busy around here. Did we have an order?” Even if that was the case, the business ought to have been confined to the second floor, where the designers were, and not here.
“You are back on track, Rina!” Joel announced, unable to hide his joy. “We released the first launch of our pieces today on the internet and people have gone crazy over you. Everyone wants to know who the sensational model is, and orders are trooping in so much that we’re just going to need more hands to be able to meet the deadlines. But we can get that sorted. That’s not even the most insane news.”
His excitement had already infected Rina as her mouth fell open and her eyes widened in surprise and pleasure. Although that was the point she’d been headed all along, Rina couldn’t believe it was here already. She had dreamt about this moment and the cocky grin that would be plastered on her face when it finally came. But now, she was just plain happy that she could scream into the skies.
“There’s something else?”
“Tell Magazine has called for an interview and they have asked for permission to have one of the pieces you modeled on their front cover. They are calling you the sensation of the modeling industry right now.”
“Oh my God!” Rina placed a hand over her mouth, overwhelmed by the news. “Tell? As in Tell?”
“Yes! Tell! The most expensive and patronized media house here and globally. You obviously have stardom infused in your DNA. Not everyone makes a comeback this soon.”
Rina needed a moment to take it all in.
“So what are you going to do?” Joel was asking, but Rina didn’t know exactly what.
“About?”
“The interview. They want to unveil you themselves before any other media house gets to do it. And they are offering a lot for a moment with you.”
It was great news. Rina was certain of that. The only thing she wasn’t sure of was whether the interview would help her. People had only just begun to notice her again, and they didn’t even know it was the Rina Powers.
Rina remembered what Zayn told her. It was better to watch it first, before making any decision. She shook her head, and the shock on Joel’s face was outstanding.
“You don’t want to?”
“It’s not that,” Rina sighed. “The whole idea of anonymity would be defeated if I reveal my identity so soon, don’t you think? I want to play it out and continue with the shoots this way. It’s only going to boost your order rate since people would be spellbound by the aura of my anonymity.”
Joel thought about it for a second. “You don’t even want to hear the offer they have on the table?”
“I can make do with whatever you pay me. I’m sure it’s going to be more than enough.”
He sighed then nodded. “I understand. I didn’t think about it before even bringing it to you. You’re right. O. S. N. should hold the sole right to reveal you to the world, and we can do that whenever you are ready. There’s no rush.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“There’s a delivery for someone here,” one of the photographers said as he walked inside.
“It’s probably for me,” Joel said immediately. “I must be gaining some fans already.”
“It’s for someone called ‘the stomping beauty.’ Do we have anyone like that in here?”