The next day, Rina got a forwarded mail from her manager while getting ready for work. She opened it once, her eyes reading the message in one glance. She heaved a sigh of relief, going through the details again. The phone vibrated in her hands, and she picked up the call at once.
“George, I got the mail. What do you think?”
“I received it late last night and had to research the production house first before sending it to you. They are legit, and the best news is you wouldn’t have to leave the country to work for them since they are a local production house. If it is something you want to do, I can reach out to them to schedule a meeting on your behalf.”
“Yes,” Rina nodded. “I trust your judgment. Since you’ve done your research, I can go ahead with it. It will at least, keep me busy until something else comes along. And the longer I stay at O. S. N fashion house, the more I put Joel’s business on the line. He doesn’t want to admit it, but I know his sales are suffering because of me. People are boycotting the fashion house as long as I remain a member.”
“You deserve to be there,” were the only words George said. And even if Rina believed it, it didn’t change the fact that Joel was suffering.
“I know,” she sighed. “But my anti-fans don’t think so. I’m going to prove them wrong, but I have to do it away from the fashion house. I want a place where I have the liberty to fight back without the fear of hurting anyone. And that isn’t O. S. N fashion house.”
“Okay. I will send an email to them and set up a meeting date.”
“Thank you.”
Rina got off the call and walked out down to the living area of the villa. She was looking down at her undone buckle for a minute, so detached from her surroundings that when she looked up, she couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips. From the base of the stairs, her eyes fell on Zayn sitting on the couch with the most relaxed expression ever. He had a small mug of coffee in one hand, while the other scrolled through his phone.
But even though he looked seemingly relaxed, Rina could see through it. She knew how his eyes grew a tinge darker when he saw something he wasn’t comfortable with, or how his fingers curled on their own when he was trying not to make a fist. Getting over her initial shock, she walked closer to him, halting in the middle of the living room.
“When did you get back?”
He looked up at her and paused. “Today. Why didn’t you tell me about the oil painting you found on the wall at the art gallery?”
Rina blinked rapidly, trying to get the sudden nature of the question out of the way. Everything was a surprise to her, from his being seated casually on the couch in the morning, to the question he shouldn’t have asked since it wasn’t public knowledge yet. At least, as far as Rina knew. She had searched the internet when she got home but found no one talking about the painting at the exhibition. So how did Zayn find out?
“It happened last night,” she muttered. “And it wasn’t such a big deal. Nothing went wrong, so there was no need to make such a fuss about it.”
Zayn raised his eyes in mild surprise. “Nothing went wrong? These people keep messing with you, and I cannot just sit back and watch it happen.”
“I’m not sitting back either. I just got invited to work for a production house. George is going to set up a meeting, and in no time, I will be back in people’s faces. Zayn, I don’t have the power to engage in fights with these people since half the country hates me right now. So, I’m going to go the route I am most skilled in acting. Once I get there, I am going to ensure I reach the top so that no one else would be able to try anything silly with me.”
“But…”
“I know you want to help, Zayn. I know how hard it is for you to do nothing. But it’s only going to be for a while. And when I’m done with this, you won’t have to feel that way anymore.”
Although Zayn wasn’t content with the direction their conversation had taken, he let it go for now. “How have you been holding up?” His tone had gone softer and his eyes more earnest, such a contrast from the expression people were used to seeing out there.
“I’m fine,” Rina replied, smiling. “It’s been a tough couple of days, but I’m tough as well. I’ve got this.”
“I’m sure you do, but if there’s anything you need to do, anything at all, and you need my help, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. That’s what I am here for since we’re going to be married anyway.”
The marriage talk was there again, and Rina wondered how she could change the topic. It had gotten a whole lot more complicated than it used to be, and even though Zayn had yet to hand the contract over to her, she knew it was the basis of their partnership. She needed to make the decision of either getting married to him or letting go of everything he had offered her. And Rina wasn’t scared of maneuvering the road to the top all alone. She just didn’t want to think about how odd it would feel without Zayn around.
“I can drop you off at work today,” he murmured when she didn’t say anything. “It’s on the way back to the mansion. William can get your car over to you whenever you need it.”
“Zayn…”
“You don’t have to worry about anyone finding out. The windows are tinted, remember?”
“Wait. William is back? What about Igor?”
“I sent him on an errand,” Zayn said curtly.
“And I’m guessing if I ask you what the errand is about, you wouldn’t tell me.”
He nodded. “You are correct.”