Rina was out of the hotel before 9:30 am, a record time considering her usual routine. She had ditched the bathtub and opted for the shower instead, using no makeup and putting her hair up in a messy bun, since she was going to have to do all of that when it was time for the shoot. Since her contract specified that she could only be dressed in Pages of Claire’s outfits for the one year of its existence, she went for something casual from one of their lines, white joggers and a matching tank top, with Converse and a tote bag.
The person Claire sent to get over, a young man no older than his middle-thirties with hair that looked like it just came out of the salon, piercing green eyes, and a day-old stubble seemingly intentionally left out, walked her to the limousine that had brought her the previous day, getting the door open for her. He waited for her to get in before walking around and sitting behind the wheel.
The visor between them was lowered, and he started the car but didn’t pull out of the driveway yet. “I couldn’t do a proper introduction in there since you were in such a hurry. I’m Michael, and I will be your assistant and security personnel for the one year of your contract. You can call me at any time of the day, and I will ensure I get whatever you need over as long as you are in Hong Kong. I will be responsible for getting you from the airport to the hotel and back each time you are around for a shoot and public appearance, so feel free to use me to your satisfaction.”
“Thank you, Michael,” Rina murmured, grateful that Claire had made things so easy for her. He nodded and closed the visor before pulling out into the road. Rina didn’t know the location of the fashion house so she settled into the seat of the car, retrieving her phone from her tote. Not bothering to check if Zayn had sent a message, she called George who answered on the first ring.
“A lot has happened in the few hours that you’ve been gone,” he said at once, excitement laced in his tone. “For some reason, certain people doubted the genuine nature of the announcement but someone spotted you at the airport in Hong Kong and took a picture. It has been circulating around the internet like wildfire. Now, everyone has their opinions about your working with Claire, but I can say for a fact that this is working in your favor.”
“Really?” she sat up at once, pleasure flushing through her. “I haven’t had the time to go online since I got here, and I don’t know when I would, but can you help me with something?”
“Anything.”
“I need you to hire a social media manager on my behalf. Conduct the interview and ensure whoever you hire is someone who isn’t looking for my downfall and someone who can’t be easily won over, because people are going to try. I can trust you with that, right?”
“You can,” George murmured. “But why do you suddenly need one after all this time?”
“I figured that if I am going to get back at the people who threw me out onto the streets and sabotaged my life, I might as well go all out. I need to document my stay here in Hong Kong and I need someone to showcase what I have right now to the public. At least, on my page, I would have control over the discourse there, rather than leave it to people who don’t care about me.”
“That makes a lot of sense. I will get right into it. Remember to have fun in Hong Kong.”
“I will,” Rina murmured, then asked a question before she could chicken out of it. “By some chance, has Zayn reached out to you since I left? He has been unreachable for a while now, and I’m just wondering if he is fine.”
“Did you both get into an argument?”
“No!” Rina answered sharply. “I mean, I just…”
“I haven’t heard from him since he invited me over for breakfast that morning. You know the only reason he even bothers to talk to me is because of the relationship I have with you.”
“You’re right,” Rina sighed. “I’ll just keep trying then. Maybe he had an unplanned engagement or something.”
“You really sound worried.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay,” George laughed. “Have a great day.”
The moment the line clicked dead, the limousine came to a slow halt in front of a huge building that seemed to take up a lot of space in the middle of town. Michael got around to help Rina out of the car, then motioned someone forward and tossed the key at him before leading her inside the building.
It felt like Rina had stepped into another world, with the high walls, and the vibrant colors spread over every surface. If Joel Osteen was the most popular fashion designer back at home, he was nowhere close to Claire’s prestige, not even her appearance. They didn’t pass through the store since there was another route inside, and for that, Rina was grateful.
Because they were already late, Michael didn’t slow down his steps, leaving Rina with no time to appreciate the beauty all around her. People moved past, fast on their feet, and sometimes, bellowing questions at one another, about colors or designs. She felt immersed in the environment and looked forward to working with them.
Michael led her into a quiet part of the building, opening the door to a team of corporate individuals, dressed in dark-colored suits. Only one of them looked different, as he was in a casual outfit of a pair of slacks, and a t-shirt. Rina looked behind her to ask Michael what she was to do next, but he had disappeared to the other side of the door, leaving her alone with the strange faces staring at her.
The door opened again and Claire strolled in with a bright smile. “Shall we begin, then?”