Rina didn’t try to reach out to Joel throughout her stay in the country and in the middle of her trips to Hong Kong for work. She saw no reason to, especially after how their last meeting had gone. So, when the news of his wedding was celebrated on her screen, there was no need to send him a congratulatory message. Although, she thought about it quite a number of times, considering how he had helped her when no one else had given her the chance, Rina still ended up not doing anything.
It was hard to let go of the interview he’d had, where he had let the host throw her under the bus. And there were the harsh words he threw at her like their friendship hadn’t mattered to him. Rina was certain that Joel had heard about her engagement. She could imagine all the emotions he would have gone through shock, anger, sadness. Or maybe she didn’t matter as much as she thought to him.
Since the news of her engagement to Zayn, Rina hadn’t had a moment when she stepped out without creating a crowd. They ran to meet her at every point, asking questions about how they met and what their plans were for the future. Following that, Rina decided to grant just one request for an interview, along with Zayn since they were both in the country for that period. Zayn didn’t appear in public until necessary, but he was going to do anything Rina wanted. It was one of the things that changed the moment he met her the fact that nothing was impossible to do for her.
On the day of the interview, they went together in his Jaguar XK150, the revving causing people in the TV station to turn around in awe. Their eyes shone widely in surprise as he pulled out in front of the building. Only thirteen of the car was ever produced, and the strangeness of its presence got people whipping out their phones and making videos. Zayn made a show of alighting the car, and walking around to get the other door open, taking Rina’s hands.
She was dressed in a pair of blue denim, a black open chest top, both from Pages of Claire, and a pair of glossy dark boots. Her hair fell in waves around her, and the wind toyed with it, teasing the tresses as she smiled up at Zayn, who was wearing, for the first time in public, a pair of blue denim and a black hoodie. Rina clung onto his arm as they sauntered into the building, the voices getting louder behind them.
“Did you really have to come with this car?” Rina whispered in a hushed tone, amusement laced in it. “You know it was bound to create a ruckus.”
“Ruckus?” Zayn murmured. “I don’t think we have enough crowd for that since this is a private area. And besides, how are you sure it has nothing to do with your fame? The Pages of Claire have made you such an idol everywhere in the world. I can’t drive through the streets without seeing your picture on billboards.”
Rina shrugged. “I’m just a really excellent model. I mean, that’s not such a big deal right?”
Zayn laughed, then halted abruptly, wrapping a hand around her waist and pulling her flush against him. They were on the first floor of the building, where the offices of interns and newly employed reporters were, their desks finely slotted next to each other. Zayn smirked, looking into Rina’s eyes, strong emotions pulsing through. “As much as humility is a nice trait,” he murmured in a low voice. “I love it when you talk about how good you are because as far as I am concerned, you are the best there is in the world. Tote your own horn, baby girl. I love to hear it.”
Rina felt a shudder run through her spine, as his deep-set voice wove its way around her. She heard every single bass, every tremor slipping through his lips. Unconsciously, her eyes fluttered close and her lips parted slightly, totally under his spell. His thumb grazed her lips, and he covered the little space between them, the heat from their bodies searing each other.
They barely heard the footsteps getting closer or the silence that suddenly settled in the room, until the person cleared her throat noisily. Zayn and Rina broke away from each other almost reluctantly, turning to face her. She looked every bit the media personality she portrayed, with her two-piece lilac suit and her hair packed up in a sleek ponytail, not one strand out of place.
“Hello,” she beamed, a meaningful smile etched on her features. “I didn’t think you were going to accept my invite, so first of all, I want to say how grateful I am that you are here, doing this for us.”
The station was one of the most popular in the country, but because Zayn and Rina had earlier rejected the interview request of all the others, some even world-class, they didn’t think they stood a chance. But it was all Rina’s idea, picking this place. It was the very show Joel kept silent when the host spoke about Rina and her being a seductress. This was part of her changing the narrative.
“My fiance thought it would be a great idea to tell the story of our love,” Zayn started, with a polite smile. “And whatever she wants, she gets.”
The lady looked at Rina with an expression that spoke volumes about what she really wanted. Rina could read it clearly. She didn’t think Rina was the right person to be with Zayn, but previously, half the country thought so too. Zayn was the most eligible bachelor, but he was about leaving that list. It was normal to annoy some persons through that.
“Are you ready?” She asked, changing the topic of their conversation easily like she didn’t feel good with how much love and attention Zayn publicly showered Rina with.
“Babe, are you ready?” Zayn said in a low tone to Rina, who nodded and held on to him tightly, nudging the lady to lead the way.