Rina was stunned into silence. She found her lips parting and closing repeatedly, unable to get her tongue to function. Zayn watched her intently, wondering what he was going to do about this. It was true what he told her. He never took an attitude from anyone because he knew who he was in the country. And no one even ever dared to do that with him too. Of course, except for his brother, Nathan.
But the rules seemed to be different for Rina and no matter what he did, it was practically impossible to change them. Where she was concerned, he always overlooked things, and those acts were always beyond his control like no part of him wanted to treat her the way he treated others. Even his rationality seemed to agree with it.
“Rina,” he breathed. “Say something.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Let’s start from the reason you are taking a bath in the middle of the day, and go up to why you are upset with me. I’ve pushed up all my meetings for the day, and I don’t have anything else to do other than being here with you, sorting this out.”
“Did you cancel your meetings for me?” The question was supposed to remain in her head, where she pondered on it. But by the time she realized it had slipped out of her lips, it was already too late to take it back. She braced herself for the mocking response that was bound to follow, but Zayn simply nodded.
“I was bothered.”
“Zayn Graham was bothered?”
He chuckled. “I know how impossible that sounds, but I couldn’t get the thought that you were angry away from my head. And I wanted to make things better between us. I know you are going through a lot right now, and I don’t want to be the person to add to that heap. So, why are you taking a bath?”
“Why does there have to be a specific reason I’m taking a bath”
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Deflecting. Rina, I’m not Finn and I would never be him. And I know nothing I say might probably change your notion, but at least, you know I’m not planning to get married to you and then take your money, divorce you at the end of the day, and parade the city with your best friend.”
“Former best friend,” Rina was quick to correct.
“Right. I know you don’t take a bath in the middle of the day unless you are trying to get your mind off something. So, what happened?” It sounded stalkerish to Zayn admitting that he knew her routine and had them committed to heart. But it had happened unconsciously. His eyes just always seemed to wander to her round the clock, and he always wondered what she was up to during the day.
“I didn’t get the job,” she muttered. “Or more like I didn’t take it. I couldn’t.”
Zayn nodded. “Is there a specific reason you couldn’t? When we spoke yesterday, you sounded really excited about the offer. What went wrong?”
Rina bit her lips, not wanting to bring that mass of anger to the fore again. But she knew that Zayn wouldn’t let it go until she told him what happened. And even if she didn’t, he would still find out through his means anyway. It was better he heard it from her.
“I was asked to star in a pornography.”
Zayn blinked. “What the hell did you just say?”
“I refused, of course, but it got me so upset and I had to…”
“Did you find out who was behind this?”
“Zayn…”
“I would still find out if you don’t tell me, and trust me, it would be way worse.”
“Regina,” Rina sighed. “She is signed under Scottsdale Entertainment. I never knew she hated me until I met George at the building’s cafeteria. She said she was going to do everything within her power to bring me down.”
“R,” he muttered, the wheels of his head turning. “She’s the artiste.”
“How do you know about that?”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Zayn, no!” Rina shook her head. “Don’t do anything. Let her be.”
“Don’t tell me this will be one of those things you let roll down your back because I’m so sorry Rina, but I can’t let this be. They messed with the person who is going to be my wife, and I don’t care if they don’t know that yet, but it is the same thing as messing with me. And I would not take that. Not from anyone.”
“I have no plans of letting it go,” she said, staring straight into his eyes. That need was back the undying urge to get back at Regina. “I have a recording of the whole meeting, of every single word she said. I don’t want to be the person responsible for destroying her career, but…”
“I really do not give a shit about her career.”
“But that would place me at the same level as Kayla, and I cannot reduce myself to that.”
Zayn closed the distance and sat at the edge of the tub. Rina was awfully aware of their proximity, of how she had nothing covering her body, just the bubbles that were gradually disappearing. Her eyes roamed around his face, and she swallowed.
“You are not Kayla. She lied against you, but you are only making the world know the kind of person Regina is. Anyone who wants to step all over you surely deserves that.” Rina gazed at his moving lips, willing herself to stop before he noticed. When they suddenly fell silent, she raised her eyes to his.
“I…” she stuttered, collecting her thoughts. “People might think the recording was doctored so why don’t I make her admit to them herself? I can pay her a visit to her production house. According to the contract signed at Allure, we cannot do something like that until the contract expires. What she’s doing could mean the end of her career there, coupled with some other legal issues of all her admissions in the recording.”
“You’re one smart woman,” Zayn drawled. “But this time, Igor is going inside the building with you. Everyone would easily recognize William and I know you wouldn’t want that.”
Rina nodded.
“I’ll leave you to finish your bath,” Zayn muttered, getting up.
“But we’re not done talking.”
“I’m trying so hard not to kiss you right now, Rina, so I’m just going to wait in the study until you’re done.”