It had been a few days since Rina’s confrontation with Regina at Scottsdale Entertainment and what she had been trying to avoid still happened. There were videos everywhere, circulating like wild fire.
Almost every person in the country knew that she had been banned from stepping feet into that building, and it didn’t help that she had to go to work every day with certain people who entirely believed the rumors on the internet. Even if Joel had warned them not to do anything against her, it still didn’t stop the glares getting sent her way.
Rina was taking the development remarkably well as she still went about her usual daily activities. She had brought some of her stuff at the cottage down to the villa, and no longer had to use the items she had met in the closet. It was one of her greatest reliefs as she hadn’t let go of the fact that even though Zayn told her no one else had been in there, there were traces that it had been a lie.
Trying not to feel entitled or anything, she said nothing about it when he called. The last time that happened was after her dinner with Joel. Rina stared at her phone some nights, waiting for the familiar beep to inform her that he had left a message. But instead, Zayn had gone radio silent, almost like he had forgotten she existed.
She was going to meet George at a gallery having an exhibition later that night, and not wanting to start another drama, Rina took time carefully deliberating on her outfit. After over an hour, she finally picked a long nude dress that had a corset on its bodice and flowed around her. It was one of Joel’s designs one of the first that had hit the market. But the most important reason Rina had opted for that dress was how well it matched her vintage scarf.
Rina wrapped it on her hair, back to its real color, and donned on simple jewelry a small pearl earrings and matching necklace. Sliding her legs into a pair of black pumps, she gave herself on last look in the mirror, grabbed her sun glasses and stepped into the hallway.
Susan was in the living room when she approached, and the older lady smiled warmly at her. “Avoid the wolves out there today,” she said, covering the space. “Zayn would want you to stay safe.”
“Zayn? Does he call?”
There was a surprise in Susan’s eyes as she nodded. “We spoke just last night after you got back. Doesn’t he…”
Rina shook her head.
“He’s like that too,” Susan explained with a smile. “Don’t think too much about it and just get on with your day. Zayn can act so indifferent, but a few of those times, he is really just trying to pull himself away from a situation. I think that’s what is happening now. When he returns, you should perhaps have a conversation with him.”
Rina didn’t know when he was going to return, but she didn’t tell Susan that. Instead, she nodded and headed out of the villa, sighing as the cool air toyed with her scarf. Pulling it tightly around her, she walked down the small flight of stairs and headed to the garage to get her car out and into the road.
Although Rina didn’t want to have to go to the exhibition, George was interested in it since Isaiah was one of the artists showing his collection and he needed to be there to support his partner. There was also the fact that Rina couldn’t invite George to the villa for meetings since Zayn had said very few people knew of its existence. Her cottage was almost back to the way it was meant to be, and Rina couldn’t wait to move back in.
Her ride to the gallery was uneventful and Rina was grateful for that. In recent times, she half-expected someone to know her car’s plate number and start some drama in the middle of the road. Her windows were tinted so it was impossible for them to know she was the one behind the wheels. Still, it was hard for Rina to shake off the feeling.
When she arrived at the gallery, she tossed her key to a valet and strolled inside, leaving her dark shades on. The lights were on at their highest capacity, flooding the whole room with white intensity and making Rina’s shades not look exactly out of place. Every inch of the room was pristine, from the white walls to the spotless tiles and white-themed decorations swaying on the high ceilings. The only things giving the room splashes of colors were the people who strolled through the grounds, armed with wine glasses and interesting gazes.
And of course, the artwork on the walls.
Rina walked into the room with an air of authority, gazing at some of the oil paintings lining the wall from the entrance. They were done by an artist whose name she couldn’t recognize, but they were great. A group of ladies were particularly huddled around one, their lips moving harshly and their eyes gaping at the painting. They appeared hurt by it, and Rina could tell that they loved the artist but not that particular work.
Ignoring that scene altogether, she walked further in until she saw George standing beside Isaiah. They were talking to someone, presumably a rich purchaser, and had that look in their eyes that said sales were doing quite well. She waited for the purchaser to walk away, before catching their attention.
“Rina!” George called softly as he drew closer to her, Isaiah on hos heels. They looked sweet together, matching outfits with their complimentary tuxedo. She flashed a grin at them and leaned in to hug Isaiah and then, her manager.
“I haven’t seen the works you have on display here, but I know they are breathtaking, Isaiah. Well done. You’ve always been my favorite artist amongst all the others I have worked with in sets.”
He flushed under her compliments. “Thank you, Rina. You are so sweet.”
“But how did you do it?” George questioned suddenly.
“Do what?”
“Walk further down in knowing what…”
Rina stared at him, clueless.
“Wait a minute. You haven’t seen it yet, have you?”