Silence reigned in the office the moment Jada stepped out, the door closing behind her. He sighed and plopped back into his seat, feeling like he’d just run a marathon. Zayn always felt that way with Jada, like he’d embarked on a mission to complete his house chores in an hour exhausted and totally unmotivated to do any other thing for the rest of the day. Rina on the other hand, thought it was a very funny encounter. Still, she couldn’t stop the bubbles of anger that had begun to form in her.
“I’m sorry about that,” Zayn muttered, wishing Jada and Rina hadn’t met that way. In fact, he had no plans of them meeting at all, but trust Jada to waltz in as she pleased. Making a mental note to inform the doorman for the second time that Jada wasn’t allowed inside his building, he tapped Rina softly and patted the space next to him. They weren’t done talking before Jada’s rude interruption.
“It’s fine,” Rina said dismissively. “I shouldn’t have come here unannounced. Of course, you would have your own business and it would only be rude of me to keep interrupting as I please.”
“Jada isn’t my business.” Zayn couldn’t even bear the thought of it. “She was…I used to date her about three years ago. We parted ways on bad terms, for her not for me of course, because I don’t give a fuck about her or what she did, just that I would never take it. And now, she’s back, strangely, with a quest to get back with me. It’s sick because I would never do it in a thousand years.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself,” Rina said slowly, even though she felt oddly good about it. It made her feel like she mattered like Zayn thought highly of her. And there she went again, overthinking things.
“I think it’s important we understand each other perfectly if we are going to spend the next five years of our lives together,” he replied. “Just in case something like this happens again, I would need you to understand that I’m not seeing any other person. Not that I would allow something like this to ever happen again.”
Rina swallowed. “You aren’t seeing any other person?”
“Were you expecting me to be?”
She didn’t know what to tell him. Both paths seemed like routes she didn’t want to take, especially when she was trying to get rid of what happened that morning in her head. The awkwardness of the lingering memory was gone with the sudden and dramatic appearance of Jada, and Rina willed to remain that way for as long as it could.
“I haven’t been with anyone since I met you, Rina,” Zayn said with all seriousness. “And even if we are still trying to work around that term of the contract, I don’t think I want to be with another woman.”
The silence was deafening. Rina looked into his eyes, scared of the sudden warmth she felt in the pit of her stomach. Zayn was oddly vulnerable with her, even though he did it in a tough way, and because she didn’t know that, it was hard for her to absorb every bit of it without feeling fuzzy. At that moment, she felt the compellable urge to tell him that even if it wasn’t a conscious decision, being with someone else would never cross her mind. Being with Zayn had made her want nothing else, but at the same time, she was scared to want him.
“You look like you have a lot to say,” he murmured. “But you don’t want the words out in the open. And I get it. So we are just going to dump this part of the conversation along with what transpired this morning in a box of things we don’t get to talk or think about. Lunch?”
Rina blinked. The pace of the conversation was fast. “I don’t … in public?”
“Whichever you prefer. Although, hundreds of people probably already saw you coming up here and questions are bound to arise in their minds. Does she have a business with the CEO, are they friends, are they working together? But if you still think we should keep our relationship hidden, I can have Mia place an order.”
“I’m not ready,” Rina murmured. “Everything is going on at the same time, so this is just the wrong moment to tell the world that we’re going to get married. You understand, don’t you?”
Zayn nodded and smiled. “Like I said, I’m fine with whatever you are cool with. All that matters is your well-being.”
He walked over to his desk and picked up the telephone, hitting a number. In a minute, Mia appeared in his office, her eyes ready for his instructions.
“I need you to take note of a few things. First, Jada, the person who just stepped out, isn’t allowed in here. Second, Rina Power’s business in here is none of your concern, and under no circumstance should it be discussed with anyone, even in this building. And third, order us some Chinese. I’m having my lunch here.”
“You were supposed to meet with the contractors by lunchtime. Should I cancel?”
“Yes. Tell them I’ll reach out for another date, and check my schedule to ascertain which works. Remember to run it by me first before contacting them again.”
“Yes, Sir.” She turned around and walked out, the door clicking behind her.
“Thank you for inviting George over this morning,” Rina said. “It was very thoughtful of you. It took my mind off things.”
“Anytime.”
The world might be having a clash at that time, with gut and venom out lying on the ground, but it wouldn’t matter to Rina right then, because all that mattered was the fact that she was with Zayn. She got immersed in his being each time he was around. Rina felt herself falling with every minute that passed, but there was no way she could let it happen.
Falling for the most powerful man in the country wasn’t exactly an ideal thing to do.