“You didn’t have to come all the way down here.” Rina finally found her voice as the elevator doors dinged open, sending them out to the lobby. “George and Isaiah are perfectly capable of keeping me safe for the night, and as many nights as it would take to get my cottage back in order.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Zayn murmured, his hand on the small of her back as he bounded out into the night. “But I prefer knowing you are in my house. There’s a lesser risk of another attack. You can do that for me, can’t you?”
“But you could have asked Oleg to send the message up,” Rina continued, even though she knew she was losing the battle. “That would have saved you all the time in the world, time you spent getting on that flight and flying back here for hours. Didn’t you have a meeting to get to?”
In truth, Zayn had to push his schedule downwards to make time to fly back to the country, and even though it wasn’t exactly favorable to him since he had a meeting to get to the minute his plane touched down, he decided it was worth it. The minute he’d learned that Rina was going to be spending the night at George’s, he had a feeling that somehow, the public would get wind of her location and come down there to get her. He wasn’t sure how much protection George and his partner could afford them. And of course, he had sent William to gather intel on them. He had to know who exactly his wife-to-be was spending the night with.
“I forgot to take something along with me,” Zayn muttered, even though he knew Rina wouldn’t believe that. He could have easily sent someone to get it over for him if that was true. “And this was on the way to my house. Trust me, it was no bother.”
“And how did you get the particular apartment number?” Rina questioned as they waited for the car out front. “That didn’t fall onto your laps, did it?”
“As a matter of fact, you’re right,” Zayn replied grimly. “It didn’t. But you would be surprised by the amount of information you can find online. And besides, I told you before. You don’t really want to know how I get on with these things.”
“William is such a snitch,” she muttered under her breath. “And Igor. I thought we had forged some kind of friendship.”
“My men are loyal to you,” Zayn murmured. “But you have to remember that, like me, they always want to ensure you are a hundred percent safe. Don’t blame Igor or William. They were only doing their jobs. Just like I’m doing mine. I need to keep you safe. You’re important to me.”
“You mean to whatever you want to gain out of the marriage contract?” By then, Rina had an inkling that it was probably more than the paper, but she didn’t dare jump to a conclusion.
Shrugging, Zayn got the car door open for her the minute it came around, walking around to get in beside her.
“Did I ruin dinner?” He questioned, turning to face her.
“You ruined something much more important. We were trying to get agencies that can get me to work under them.”
Zayn nodded.
“And Zayn, I already told you not to meddle in my work. Now George and Isaiah know about our arrangement and are probably thinking it’s how I managed to get a job at Joel’s fashion house.”
“They don’t know about our arrangement, Rina,” Zayn explained slowly. “They only think we’re together, and since it’s only a matter of time before we make an announcement to the public, there can’t be any issue with it. But I understand why you need to get a hold of your career first before making us public, and I’m willing to support you. But I had to come get you and I just couldn’t think of anything else to say. Or do for that matter.”
It was the first time Rina was seeing Zayn express himself this much. It seemed like for a split second, he had lost control of that cool demeanor he always had about him. His eyes had been earnest as if trying to get her to understand him. But it was gone in that same second, as he relaxed on the seat and turned around to stare out the window. Rina swallowed and gave it a thought. Zayn was correct. If roles were reversed, she would have been so worried about him and would have done everything in her power to see him.
But hers had an explanation. She was getting attached to him something she was trying to push off her mind. But what was his excuse?
“Zayn,” Rina called softly. He looked back at her, and the passion on his face was gone, replaced by a stoic expression. “I’m not going to stay at your mansion because it’s only a matter of time before people realize that I live with you. I’m going to have to continue my daily activities and I can’t do that while watching my back.”
“Then the villa,” Zayn was quick to suggest. “It was purchased in my name, but it would be hard for anyone to make the connection. I can get Susan to come stay with you since I won’t be in town for the next couple of weeks.”
That sounded like a plan to Rina. She felt comfortable with Susan and knew she would feel at ease at the villa. “When will the cottage be ready?” Rina still needed to know when she would be able to move back. She didn’t want them to think she was running, because Rina Powers never did that.
“Soon,” was Zayn’s curt response. “I already got men working on it. But you shouldn’t worry yourself about it.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“You said you came back to get something. When are you returning?” Rina’s voice held a tinge of humor.
“Okay,” Zayn chuckled, his baritone sending shudders down Rina’s spine. “You got me, okay? I just came to pick you up. It was hell thinking that I didn’t know how you were.”