“The commentator said that?” She couldn’t believe it, especially after all the hurdles she’d had to cross to get to that point. Still, Rina couldn’t let herself become relaxed. Not yet. It didn’t matter that doubts were beginning to snake through the hearts of the very persons who had tossed her out onto the streets. It could easily change in a heartbeat as long as Kayla still had her wits, powers, and Finn. Although Finn was a very disposable part of the drama, Rina was very conscious of the fact that the only reason Kayla was with him was because she wanted everything Rina owned. It was that very notion she wanted to annihilate.
Zayn nodded, still seated on the edge of the bed, considerably far from Rina. “Now that the country is beginning to wonder if they were right, I think the possibility of you getting attacked by anti-fans has slimmed down considerably. Still, you must be extra careful. Your No. 1 enemy is still out there, and we don’t know what she’s going to do next. I presume she’s not going to stay calm with Claire announcing you as their main model for the season.”
But nothing could dampen Rina’s mood about the announcement. She was over the moon, ecstatic about the new chapter she was about to embark upon. Dreaming about it as a child felt exactly that way like a dream that would never see the light of day. But now that it was happening, Rina could boast of herself, she could say that her hard work and perseverance had gotten her that far. She wondered if her parents had heard the announcement and how they felt about it.
“They didn’t say anything about an announcement in the contract,” Rina muttered. “But then again, there has to be something to like, right? They are the biggest fashion and magazine brand in the world. The media is like their second home. Still, why does it feel like someone somewhere is pulling the strings, helping me out?”
Zayn’s expression didn’t waver even for a second, as he skilfully changed the topic to an easier one. “With the announcement, I know there are going to be reporters swarming your cottage since they have no clue where you are right now.”
“Is it done?” She unconsciously took a step closer to him, forgetting all about the flimsiness of her nightdress.
Zayn suppressed a groan and nodded, keeping his eyes on her face. “It has been done for a while now, but I didn’t think it was fine for you to move there just yet. That was why I didn’t tell you. But I realized it was selfish of me to keep you in here, especially if you really want to go back to your space.”
“Who says you are the one keeping me in here?” Rina suddenly muttered, taking Zayn by surprise.
“I thought…you always asked about the cottage. That was your safe space after you were blacklisted and abandoned by Finn. I thought you really wanted to go back.”
Silence permeated the room as the duo stared at each other for what seemed like the longest time. Rina wondered how clueless he could be, and at the same time, so aware of her every need. She wasn’t there because he wanted her to. In fact, she hadn’t thought about returning to her cottage in a while now. If there was any reason she wanted to be back there, it was because she didn’t like the fact that Susan had to be at the villa too when she always lived in the mansion.
“I wanted to, at first,” Rina sighed, finally piercing through the silence. “But … never mind. I shouldn’t have bothered you this early. You have to get to work, and I’m here, keeping you back. Have a fruitful day, Mr. Graham.”
Rina turned around, angry with herself for how close she’d been to telling him how she truly felt. “What did you expect him to do about it?” she yelled in her head. “To whip out flowers and get down on one knee, proclaiming love? Rina, this is all for show. He has an aim in the long run, and it doesn’t have you anywhere near it.”
“Rina, stop walking away from me.”
She didn’t halt, crossing the remaining distance and wrapping her hand around the handle. She twisted and pulled, but the door slammed right above her head almost immediately. A gasp escaped her lips and she turned around sharply, seeing Zayn towering over her easily, with one of his hands resting on the door.
“I told you to stop walking away from me!”
“I was done speaking,” Rina swallowed, painstakingly aware of how close they were to each other. She told herself she was going to let her gaze remain on the ground until he pulled away from her, but it happened so fast, so detached from her consciousness. One minute, she was staring at his feet, and the other, she found herself looking up into his eyes, the sight arresting every part of her.
“But I wasn’t done listening to you. You were about to say something.”
“It doesn’t even matter,” she whispered.
“Let me be the judge of that.” Zayn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Why are you still here in the villa? And don’t tell me it is because of your cottage. I just told you it was all fixed up and you didn’t even get angry that I kept it away from you all this while. It is almost like you didn’t want me to tell you.”
“Is that it?” Rina blurted, whipping out her last shred of defiance. “You want me to yell at you for not telling me that my cottage was ready. Fine! Zayn, what were you thinking doing that?”
He smirked, then took an impossible step forward. Rina didn’t have anywhere to go, trapped between Zayn and the door. She felt her back hit the wood, and she let out a sharp breath. Looking back at the door for a split second, Rina realized the situation she was in. And even though she knew she should fight it off, and get out as fast as she could, no part of her wanted to do that.