Zayn was in his office when Mia stuck her head through his doors, announcing he had a visitor. At first, he thought it was Jada, as he had been wondering why she was in the building the last time and hadn’t appeared since then. Zayn hadn’t had the time to go probing, but he was hoping it was a one-time thing, even though deep down, he knew Jada wasn’t the type of person to start something and leave it unattended to.
“It isn’t a woman named Jada, is it?” He questioned, looking back at his computer screen.
“No, sir,” Mia answered, causing him to look up at her. He didn’t have any meetings for that hour and wasn’t expecting anyone else. Mia knew that the only way people got to see him was through a prior appointment so everything about this was strange.
“It’s Mr. Osteen,” she announced. “I was going to turn him down the moment he showed up but it sounded really urgent. And since you’ve had a personal meeting with him before, I figured you might want to know he came over to see you.”
“Of course,” he murmured, even if Joel was the last person he wanted to see. “Let him in, please. But next time, Mia, don’t send any messages across if there isn’t a prior appointment. You know the exceptions. They haven’t been broadened.”
Mia nodded in understanding before pushing away from the door. In a minute, she reappeared with Joel behind her, then stepped aside to let him walk in through the door before walking back to her desk.
“Mr. Graham,” Joel uttered so fervently that Zayn’s name almost sounded like a prayer slipping off his lips. He bowed low in greeting before realizing with a start that he was in a formal setting and needed to hold his hand out for a handshake. Zayn obliged him, holding his palm in his firmly, but at the same time, making a mental note to end the relationship he had with the fashion house. The only reason he had agreed to sponsor them in the first place, which was so out of character, was because Rina worked there. And now, since she no longer did, and didn’t seem to talk about him anymore, Zayn saw no reason to keep pumping his money in there.
“This is a surprise,” Zayn muttered as he clasped his hands on the table, with an unmistakable sarcasm in his tone. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“I…”
“I have to quickly add that I have only a few minutes to spare. With no prior appointment, Mia didn’t include this in my schedule, and you know how busy I am.”
“Of course,” Joel said, merely grateful he was allowed an audience. “The last time we saw, sir, you seemed upset with me. I was going to try to fix a date where we could meet to go over the expenditure and income from the fashion show, but I must have met you at a really bad time.”
“No, you didn’t,” Zayn answered curtly. “And I am not upset with you. I barely have the time to be upset with anyone. There’s no reason for us to go over the expenditure and income, Mr. Osteen. I told you that your fashion house can have it all. Consider it a part of the sponsorship package”
“That is most gracious of you, Sir.” Zayn thought Joel was going to hit his head on the desk with how low he bowed. “I promise that O. S. N will never let you down.”
It didn’t matter to Zayn, because their relationship was going to be coming to an end in a few minutes.
“I’m certain you didn’t come here for just that.” His eyes strayed to the clock hanging above the door, then back at Joel.
“It’s just that…” he sighed. “The last time we spoke…well, not the last time, but…you told me it was fine to come to talk to you if I had erm…personal issues.”
Zayn narrowed his eyes at him. “I did?”
“When we spoke about the anonymous model…the person I was in love with.”
He hid the scowl on his face, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back on his chair. The conversation had taken an interesting turn, though Zayn couldn’t say it was exactly the route he wanted to be on. Grabbing a pen from his pen holder, he clicked the top repeatedly, the sound distracting him from the reminder that Joel had his eyes on the same person that belonged to him.
“And how is that going for you? Did you tell her?”
“I did, but she didn’t want me that way.” He sighed. “But that isn’t even the point. She left O. S. N abruptly, after everything I did for her. I’ve tried telling her that fame isn’t everything, that she can be fine with me, even though it is not in the way I want. I…Rina…There was a public apology earlier today by one of her former colleagues, and I know that it didn’t just happen by chance. Rina was behind it, and I am scared about the extent to which she would go just to gain her stardom back. These days, I question if she’s the same person I fell in love with.”
“I’m certain she is,” Zayn replied, a muscle working in his jaw. “You were just too close-minded to see it.”
He looked up with a start.
“And you wonder why she didn’t like you that way,” Zayn mused, unable to keep his irritation hidden for much longer. “Sometimes, Joel, I think it is sheer luck that you managed to start O. S. N and get it to the point it has reached right now because you lack perception and a broad mind. Ponder on that as you take your leave.”
“Mr. Graham…”
“And next time you plan on seeing me, leave Mia a message. I will be sure to decline but feel free to do it.”
Joel got up, confusion etched on his features. He looked at Zayn one more time before heading to the door.
“And Joel,” Zayn called. “Consider this a formal communication of the end of our sponsorship relationship.”