The gasps that echoed backstage the moment Rina’s name was announced were loud enough to disrupt a medical operation. Eyes flashed her way as she walked out of the dressing room, and passed through the pathway that had instantly been created for her as the team backstage parted out of the way for her. Rina didn’t look sideways. She didn’t want to know what their opinions were right then, but hard as it were, it was hard not to hear the whispers.
Although Rina braced herself for the worst, she was surprised when she made out the contents of the words that had traveled over to her. While some of them backstage thought she was the most stunning model they’d ever worked with, others had this tinge in their voice as they muttered in hushed whispers, “Oh my God! We misunderstood her. What if we were wrong all this time?”
Armed with the doubts permeating people’s minds, Rina took a deep breath and stepped onto the runway, the dress swishing around her as she took one foot after the other, taking her time to walk the length of the runway. Because the same rules didn’t apply to her, she flashed a warm smile at the guests, not allowing it halt her steps. She stilled the voices in her head, and gave it her best, an easy confidence wrapping itself around her.
Rina stopped at the edge of the runway, right where Joel was standing, smiling at the crowd. She turned to look at him for a fleeting second and was pleased to see the look on his face like he had triumphed over a tough war and had brought them to that very moment. Rina was grateful too for the opportunity he had given her; the opportunity to shine again.
Murmurs traveled through the crowd as she stood there, watching every face. Some of them didn’t even bother hiding their excitement as they got on their feet eagerly, peering through the necks of those in front of them to see Rina better. She raised a hand to wave, and the crowd went crazy. Lights flashed in her line of vision, and everyone wanted to take a video of her.
Rina allowed herself to soak every minute of it. Her eyes fell on Kayla and her smile was replaced by a sly grin. Kayla had her mouth open in shock, and it made Rina feel great. Finn, who was right next to her, couldn’t keep his mouth closed, but it was for a totally different reason. He stared at her open back like he had never seen her in that kind of dress before, ogling at the small of her waist until it disappeared underneath the dress. He seemed to shake out of it and raised his head to look into her eyes.
But Rina didn’t give him the chance to, winking at Kayla before turning away swiftly. Then, suddenly, she saw Zayn, seated right in front of her. She couldn’t read the look in his eyes, but it was certain that she was the only person who had his attention in the whole of the room.
The person beside him, who looked Asian to Rina, was whispering something to him. But Zayn wasn’t paying the slightest attention. His eyes took Rina in, from the sole of her head to the crown of her feet, memorizing every detail of her looks. She swallowed as a familiar heat rushed through her, and squirmed underneath his gaze. Rina wanted to be bothered about the other people watching, and if they would be able to tell what was going on.
But she couldn’t even muster the energy too, not when all of her being was focused on Zayn and his damn attractive eyes. Slowly, he got on his feet and Rina felt her breath hitch in her throat. He brought his hands together to applaud her, and she felt she was floating on the moon. It was one thing to get acknowledged by the country, but it was another for the most powerful and notable personality to be on his feet for her, no matter what their prior relationship was.
“Rina Powers has been working for O. S. N from the very beginning,” Joel revealed by her side, causing Rina to jump back to the present. “I have to admit that it was one of the hardest things keeping it away from the public after our very first launch. But it was all worth it because here we are now.” He turned to her right in front of everyone, and in that second, Zayn’s hands fell to his side.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for the fashion house,” Joel said. “I don’t take it for granted, Rina. I don’t take you for granted.”
The crowd still couldn’t believe it. Their noise had gotten louder as everyone wanted to talk about it. Rina looked back to where Zayn was sitting and found his eyes still watching her. An eternity seemed to pass as he pulled his gaze from her to Joel, and peered at her boss, before looking back at her. Rina wished she could tell what he was thinking. It made her nervous to see his eyes in deep reflection and contemplation, yet she didn’t know what was going on in his head.
This was supposed to be the greatest day of her new life after her reputation got tarnished. She was supposed to enjoy the moment, especially the stunned look on Kayla’s face. But Rina couldn’t stop staring at Zayn. She bit her lips unconsciously as he looked down at his outfit. He was dressed in a white shawl lapel suit with a black shirt inside. He’d ditched the tie so Rina could see his chest peeking from the little space between the open buttons and the monochrome shawl he had wrapped around his neck.
Rina had been so focused trying to still her racing pulse while staring at him that she hadn’t noticed the swift change in the crowd. It happened in the blink of an eye. One minute, the crowd tried to take in the sudden revelation, and the next, they had decided whose side they were on.
And it wasn’t Rina’s.