They met at a restaurant, the air comfortable with a classical piece playing in the background. The screen in the distance flashed Rina’s picture for the umpteenth time that day, with the very unexpected announcement by Pages of Claire, and she scoffed, wishing she had the autonomy to turn it off. It made absolutely no sense that someone like her, after getting blacklisted by Scottsdale Enterprises would reach this level in the modeling industry, a level she had not gotten to herself. It irked her to her marrows, even though she barely knew her till that two days back, only previously heard stories about her.
He sauntered in about thirty minutes late, and she wasn’t any bit surprised. He always operated that way fixed a particular date and time for a meeting only to end up strolling in whenever he liked. He called it the god power the ability to make everyone else wait for him and almost need his presence. But she thought it was a lack of discipline something his brother wasn’t. Zayn didn’t need to make the whole world wait for him, because his mere presence brought the waves he could only dream about. People went silent whenever he spoke, eager to listen and follow his instructions. That was what power and authority felt like, not coming late to a damn lunch.
“Sorry, I’m late,” he muttered, his lips raising in a smirk. She knew he wasn’t sorry. Nothing could ever get him to that level. Still, she let it be, ignoring the confident look in his eyes. “Dad called Zayn and me to a meeting to remind us of his terms of taking over his company. Honestly, I think it was totally unnecessary. He should just hand it over to me.”
“He doesn’t trust you,” she drawled, retrieving her glass of cocktail from the table, and bringing the straw to her lips. “You know that much, don’t you? He wants Zayn to take over that company, regardless of the fact that he already has the Graham Conglomerate and he is going to do everything within his power to achieve that. But you would at least get something. Perhaps, a managerial role.”
“That is the reason I need you, Jada,” Nathan said, leaning back into his seat. “Yet, you are taking your damn time in getting through to him. One would wonder if your affections for him are real, or perhaps, you are just like everyone else who wants to attach themselves to him for the wealth and power.”
“You know that’s not true,” she spat.
“I didn’t realize that three years ago when you were always underneath me, your moans reverberating around the room. You couldn’t get enough of me, but then again, it wasn’t just me.”
“We agreed we were never going to talk about that if I returned,” Jada whispered harshly, turning her head to check if anyone had heard that. Although people knew about their breakup since they were both public personalities, no one knew the intricate details. Zayn had kept it away from the media because he didn’t want to be associated with something like that not that he was doing it for Jada’s reputation. But at the same time, she didn’t care what it was for. All that mattered was that she could show her face in the country again without anyone throwing shades at her.
“I make the rules here, Jada,” Nathan drawled, his eyes drinking every inch of her. “You no longer have as much power as you used to. You get the picture, don’t you?”
She rolled her eyes and tried to keep the look on her face, but deep down, Jada was aware that she had lost her stance where Nathan was concerned. She slid the glass of cocktail on the table and clasped her hands. “What did your father say?”
“I told you. The only way he would let Zayn take over the company is if he gets married this year, and knowing Zayn, he is probably open to getting married just to ensure I don’t get the company. Now, I need you to try to be his wife.”
“I don’t get it.” Jada shook her head. “If we get married, he is going to have the company. How does that work in your favor?”
“I’m not telling you to get married to him, Jada. Try to seduce him. Get back to him. Let’s be honest. Zayn can never let go of what happened. So you’re going to be my inside man. Get me details on what he’s up to, the places he goes, the people he has business with, everything. And maybe if he decides to get married to you at the end of the day, it would all be fine. But before then, I would have slowly bought out his company from his hands. I want Graham Conglomerate, not the small company our father is offering.”
“What if I refuse?”
“I send you back to Jamaica, and you have nothing to do with Zayn ever again.”
“Nathan…”
“Oh, I’m not done yet.” He regarded her like he had all the power in the world. “I would let the world know that you cheated on Zayn with me and you didn’t mind it at all.”
“Nathan!”
“So are we game?”
She slumped in her seat as Rina came on again. This time, she couldn’t stop the string of curses that escaped her lips. “What are we going to do about her?”
“Who?”
Jada nudged in the direction of the screen.
“Rina Powers,” Nathan mused, angling his head. “I didn’t see this one coming. Why was Rina in Zayn’s office? What exactly was she looking for?”
“And why was he damn protective of her?” Jada added. “You needed to have seen the way he almost devoured me because I tried to talk her down like that lady can ever be talked down.”
“I will look around, and see what they are up to. But save me the stress and get on with the plan. Get into Zayn’s circle and bring me some answers.”