Zayn’s expression turned into a scowl immediately his eyes fell on her. A smile played on her lips as she peered at Rina with the most condescending look ever. “Rina Powers in Zayn Graham’s office,” she mused without any intention of giving it up. “Now, that’s something to get the whole country talking about. But I doubt it would get to you since you are already so used to making the front page of the papers.”
“Jada…”
“But then again, I don’t think it would feel the same if the subject changes. What are you here for, Rina? Begging for aid? You already got Claire on your side by some miracle, and I’m certain she would see right through you before your contractual year is over and you would be back to ground zero. But you see, Zayn over here isn’t that gullible. If you’re here to seduce him, you better think twice about it because he wouldn’t bat an eyelid when he makes you a public nuisance.”
Zayn got up on his feet, his eyes red with anger. “That is the last time I will hear you speak to her in that manner, Jada. Now get out before I do something you would hate.”
She looked at him with surprise in her features. “Zayn? It is Rina Power, remember? Everyone is talking about her. People think…”
“I didn’t ask for people’s opinions and neither did I ask for yours.”
“But…you never get involved with people who have scandals.” Jada couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to. No matter how hard Zayn tried to hide the intensity of how he felt towards Rina, it was practically impossible to take away the strangeness of the situation, at least where Jada was concerned. She loved to think she knew Zayn to a considerable extent, and she had never seen that part of him.
“What do you want, Jada? If my memory serves me well, I recall telling you to never walk in through those doors.”
“Zayn,” she breathed. “Let’s not do this in front of her. Please.”
Rina got off the couch and looked at Zayn. “I guess I will see you later then.” She would have stood up for herself with Jada, but Zayn was already doing such a fine job, and Rina was impressed with how quick his response had been, how genuine his eyes had looked.
“No, Rina. You are going nowhere,” he muttered without looking at her. “Jada, say whatever it is you have to say right this instant or get the hell out of my office. I would rather you took the latter because I have no interest in whatever you have to say.”
“But it’s important,” she breathed moving closer to him. “I came the other day, and you didn’t even listen to me.”
“I really do not want to repeat myself, Jada.”
“I flew all the way in from Jamaica so I could see you. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“You know the answer to that.”
Rina watched the both of them with keen attention. It was obvious something happened between them a while ago, because while Zayn gave nothing away, Jada on the other hand had nothing else to project than their history. It was in the way her hand reached out to touch him, but seemed to think twice about it, suspended in the air before dropping to her side; and her eyes, communicating something else beyond what her lips uttered. She hoped Zayn would give her the attention she craved, but nothing was working and Rina knew nothing would work.
“I…” she looked towards Rina again. “I can’t believe you are making me do this in front of her. What does she even want with you?”
“What Rina is here for is none of your business, Jada. At least, she’s welcome. I can’t say the same for you.”
“Zayn…”
“The only reason you are still standing before me is the fact that I don’t want to make a spectacle of you trying to get security to see you out. But if you keep doing this, I would be left with no choice.”
“I miss you, Zayn,” she blurted, knowing she had no choice but to say it in front of Rina. One thing she knew about him was the fact that once he’d made a decision or an alliance, it was hard getting him to change his mind about it until he wanted to. Zayn Graham did nothing under anyone’s influence.
He laughed, flashing his white teeth.
“I’m serious.” She held onto his hand but he shoved hers off. The hurt in her eyes appeared only for a second before she pushed it back. Jada couldn’t afford Rina to see her that way. “I haven’t seen you in three years, and it has been the worst three years of my life. I can’t say how much I regret what I did to you. It was stupid of me to think that anyone could ever replace you. I know how much I hurt you and…”
“You think you hurt me?” Zayn angled his head and scoffed. “That’s some mighty claim you’ve deluded yourself into believing, Jada.”
“I thought…”
His lips raised in a smirk. “You didn’t hurt me. You are incapable of doing that.”
“So why did you push me away? I was on my knees and you…”
“I was done with you, Jada. Plain and simple. You were not worth spending another minute with, and you still aren’t.”
Her mouth fell open in surprise and moisture pooled at the corner of her eyes. “Why are you doing this to me, Zayn? I apologized, didn’t I? And I’m here right now. I know it’s going to take a lot to get back into your good graces but I am making an attempt. We look good together, you and me. We always have. I watched you on all your appearances, with different women on your arm. You didn’t look happy with them so it wasn’t surprising when you stopped altogether a couple of months ago. You started going alone for events, and I realized you need me back in your life.”
“For someone that has such details about me, you could never be more wrong.”
“What?”
“I’ve heard enough. Get out.”
Her eyes darted towards Rina. “Are you doing this because she’s here?”
“It has nothing to do with me, Jada. I can assure you. But at the same time, next time you utter my name out of your lips, remember that you know who I am, while I, on the other hand, would have never known of your existence before today.”