The meeting had taken shorter than the board had planned, because Rina had come prepared, with a list of everything she wanted. George took the fore, flaunting his bargaining power as he refused to settle for nothing else apart from what they had come with. In the end, Rina had gotten it, along with a job as a second lead role in a series that was beginning the following day. They’d had to adjust the schedule to work around Rina’s time because she also had a job with Claire, which was pretty much important. So, that meant she would have to travel to Hong Kong at intervals. The scenes that starred her had to be kept till she was back.
On their way out, striding down the hallway, Kayla came out of nowhere and blocked Rina’s path. She was furious and didn’t even bother hiding it. Well, there was no need to as no one else was in the hallway, and she had chosen a spot the cameras couldn’t get to.
“Will you be fine?” George asked when Rina nudged him silently to leave.
She nodded, and George gave them one last look before walking away.
“You think you can just waltz in here and have your way?” Kayla snapped suddenly, almost charging at Rina. “It would be the last thing I would let happen. I promise. I am going to make you regret your decision to come back here, Rina. So, I advise that while you still have the time, you should run away. And don’t think Zayn’s arms are the safest place for you, because I would be coming there as well.”
Rina stepped forward slowly. “I feel pity for you, Kayla,” she drawled. “You have so much hate and bitterness in you that you barely notice other things. There is love, light, peace, and joy in the air. Why don’t you try taking one of them rather than bark around like a spineless dog? You can do nothing to me, Kayla. I am untouchable. You should have figured out that much by now.”
Kayla laughed, a cold sound reverberating in the air. “Just because, by some miracle, Claire offered you a job, doesn’t mean you are what you think you are. I will show you that, Rina. Just you wait and see.”
“The only thing I am waiting for you is the day the whole world finds out who you really are, that you are a murderer who killed my baby, and a betrayer who doesn’t mind putting her friend on the line just because of how insecure you can get. That was the reason you came for me. You saw I was a whole lot better than you, that producers would always cast me as their lead while you were handed the leftovers. You saw me getting greater than you, with a stable home and a smile on my face. It worried you that you would never have any of that and you decided to take mine. But it’s never going to happen, Kayla, because you are filled with crap.”
She lunged at Rina immediately, but never had the chance to do anything as a strong hand wrapped around her wrist and pushed her away. Rina looked up to find William walking menacingly towards Kayla, a sinister look in his eyes. “What do you think you were trying to do?” He used his deepest tone, the bass unmistakable.
Kayla swallowed and looked at Rina, then back at William. “This is not over, Rina,” she said before walking away, trying to do that with as much dignity as she could afford.
“I thought you were supposed to be with Zayn today,” Rina said to William when Kayla disappeared away from view. “Didn’t he say he was going to meet some clients?”
“He asked Igor to go with him instead. He thought you would need my help here, and I have to admit that he was right, ma’am.”
“I wouldn’t have let her hit me.”
“But you would have had to protect yourself, and you should never have to do that all alone, because Mr. Graham wants to be able to do that for you. Are we done here, or is there somewhere
else you want to make a stop?”
Rina didn’t even think about it. “Yes. There’s someone else I need to see in the building before calling it a day.”
William walked behind Rina as she crossed the hallway into another, and took the stairs to the second floor until she found the room she was looking for. In that building, the most paid actresses had their own rooms they used for changing and relaxing in between the day, even though their shoots were happening far away. Easily finding Regina’s, she pushed the door open without walking, causing the girl to jump on her feet, spilling the nail polish on the table.
Rina cast a look at the beautician. “Can you please leave us for a moment? I need to speak to Regina alone.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rina thought she saw excitement in the beautician’s eyes as she walked away. She used to be nice to all the workers in the building so it wasn’t far-fetched to think they were excited to see her.
“Ms. Power,” Regina stuttered. “I didn’t know you were coming in today.” Her eyes fell on William and her lips started quivering.
“I’m sure you did,” Rina chuckled. “But you don’t have to be so scared. I’m not here to tell anyone about your side business. I keep to my words as long as you do the same. The recording is safe. I just wanted to inform you that just because I am back here does not mean your job is automatically over. I need you to be my ears. A few things. Keep your eyes on Kayla now more than ever. She is going to try to sabotage my standing here. Even though that is practically fruitless, I need to know her plans so I can use them against her. It is high time everyone found out who she really is.”