There was no scheduled shoot for the following day so Rina stayed in bed till noon before placing an order for breakfast. She had forwarded the message she got the previous night to Zayn who told her not to worry about it, as they had agreed. The content of the text made it obvious that whoever it was had stronger links to Zayn than Rina. If he needed any further convincing that the person who took the picture had tailed him to Hong Kong, he had it right there. The person sought to keep Zayn away from Rina. For the first time, Rina was certain it was not about her.Still, it didn’t make it any better. It seemed like attacks and enemies were coming up from both sides and even though they had a firm grasp of it, all it took was a little slip and they would be at their mercy. Rina hoped it didn’t get to that point.After breakfast, she went through a video chat with the social media manager George had employed. She was a young girl fresh out of college, with great enthusiasm and wits. He
“What was that about?” Zayn asked as he fought the urge to take Rina into his arms. If he was being truthful to himself, it was the reason he had come over to her room that afternoon and not the justification he had cooked up in his head. But upon seeing her face, so breathtaking and stunning, Zayn thought he should probably keep his arms to himself. He still didn’t believe in love and he doubted anything could change that. And from what he knew about Rina, she was the child who dreamt of Prince Charming coming to sweep her off her feet.He wasn’t what she needed, and Zayn didn’t want to hurt her. He couldn’t bear to.“I think my socials have been quiet for too long. It's time I own the narrative.” She danced away from him like a bird escaping its cage, plopping back onto the ground and gazing out into the city.“I figured,” Zayn mouthed. “But that wasn’t what I was asking. You wouldn’t have introduced her to me before. I dare say that you are being a tad careless.”“There’s nothing t
Music serenaded the hall as guests slowly trooped in from the entrance adorned with intricately woven garlands. Smiles were etched into their features, and they gazed around in wonder and pleasure. Zayn had ensured that would be their reaction when he had given the job to the event planners. They were the best in Hong Kong, and the idea was to have the biggest and most impressive company launch the city had ever seen.From the gallery, he watched the guests find their seats, chatter sliding through their lips. From his vantage point, he saw when his father sauntered in, holding his mother’s arm in his. They were the greatest source of his strength and he was happy they’d been able to make it. William let them to the table at the front where their names were written in beautiful calligraphy on a card. His mother’s eyes twinkled with pride and Zayn beamed from the sight.Mia had just arrived in Hong Kong and was currently making her way down to the hall after making a quick stop to get
Rina felt nervous getting out of the car. She had been doing this for almost half her life, but that moment meant more to her than before. It was her second time in public after being blacklisted by Scottsdale and betrayed by Kayla. The events of the first time still rang fresh in her memories. Rina remembered every moment, the cheers that turned into boos, the eggs hurled at her from the audience, all the paper.She knew it wouldn’t be like that this time around because people were already beginning to doubt the rumors Kayla had spread. And she would be right by the side of the most powerful man in the country. No one would dare go against him. Still, the nerves ate at her, threatening to pull her under.Rina knew that the minute she got out, her confidence had to be whipped out too, as high as ever, but when her eyes fell on Zayn, it came easily, wrapping its arms around her in a warm embrace. She saw no one else but him, the way his eyes drank her in greedily like it was his first
“Are you doing this because of her?” Jada snapped suddenly, her glare directed at Rina. The loud music drowned out her voice but it was loud enough to get the attention of the closest table. “She’s not worth it, Zayn. Don’t you see what she is doing to you? She did the same thing to all those male actors she worked with. Even Joel Osteen came out to talk about it.”Zayn stared at her with the most blank expression ever. “I don’t get you.”“I saw the article,” she murmured. “But I know it's all some big mistake. You are only doing it to get back at me for breaking your heart, but I understand. That’s the reason I am here – to make amends. I shouldn’t have done that, and I am really sorry about it. Let’s move on. You know we are meant for each other. You were going to marry me.”“Yeah. But that was before I found out you had been sleeping with my brother and perhaps, half the country. Don’t let me regret not coming out to tell everyone what you did because it wouldn’t cost me anything r
She hadn’t prepared for it, hadn’t known he would get up the stage to formally introduce her to millions of people as his at the same time. A loud echo resounded in her head as she watched him smile sweetly at her, and then in a split second, his expression went from goofiness to genuineness. His eyes raked through her as he parted his lips.“I don’t want to know what the world feels like without her. It is the reason why I’m doing this here today.” Zayn moved slowly from the podium, but to Rina, it appeared even slower than normal as her heart pounded against her chest and her head reeled with everything that was happening. She tried to remind herself that none of it was real – that even though he hadn’t told her about that bit, even though surprise was etched into her features and perhaps, a red patch on her cheeks like every girl in her situation would have been, it still was a product of an agreement made a while back.Rina caught the little wink reserved for her as he got closer,
Arm in arm, they navigated the huge hall, heading for tables with the foreign guests Zayn had invited. Mia appeared out of nowhere, walking behind Zayn with her pad in hand. Still, she was the most stunning secretary Rina had seen, in her sequined dress, and hair that stayed atop her head elegantly. Not everyone could pull off that look, yet Mia did and she didn’t even seem to realize it.“You can go enjoy the party,” Zayn murmured to her when he saw her fall into step with him. “I can handle this.”Mia didn’t question his decision, turning away at once and heading back square into the party. Zayn moved his hands, planting them firmly on the small of Rina's back as they approached one of the tables. His splayed fingers tingled Rina and caused a heat in her spine. Still, she gave nothing away as one of the foreign guests, an English man with his wife, got up to welcome them.“Congratulations on your launch,” the man beamed, his eyes crinkling. “I am so relieved I didn’t miss this. Can
The party was still in full swing when Zayn’s mom pulled Rina into her arms, her smile the widest in the room. Zayn could see the relief on her face, stretched so wide that it could encompass the whole room. He hated that it had to be that way – that he had to lie to get the firm off his brother’s incapable hands and to make his mother pleased. But Zayn didn’t have time to get to know someone and then, fall in love, like his parents wanted. They might have been in love and it might have gotten them where they were, but Zayn was certain there was an explanation for it.An alignment of plans, maybe. But definitely not love.“You never cease to amaze me, brother,” Nathan beamed, even though he couldn’t hide the anger behind his eyes away from Zayn. He seemed to forget how keen his younger brother was to observations, how much wealth and power he had at his disposal to get things done without lifting a finger. Although Nathan appeared laid back, Zayn could see through his façade. He angle
Zayn sauntered through the high gates he had grown behind, steeling himself for what was going to happen in there. He hadn't been careful enough when it came to this, only discovering mere minutes ago before his father's call came in. This was the reason he always said feelings never ceased to complicate things, and yet, he had fallen victim to it. Zayn should have known better. If he hadn't been so occupied with trying to make sure Rina was fine, even though he knew that was an excuse to be around her, perhaps, he would have noticed this development before it got out of hand. Now, he was left with the task of salvaging it, but his brain wasn't working in that direction. Zayn was worried about Rina, despite everything. He had whipped out his phone on his way to his father's house to call her, but changed his mind mid-way, deciding to call Susan instead when he was done with this little issue. He tried to think about a way out of this, his mind reeling and his eyes darting around the
The moment the call dropped dead, Rina pulled herself off her bed, wincing slightly as she moved to the bathroom. She had a quick bath, and part of her was grateful that Zayn had decided to leave for his mansion. If he had remained in the villa, she wouldn't have been able to do what she had in mind. Zayn's clear instruction rang in her head, but Rina shrugged it off as soon as it occurred to her. She used her anger as her ammunition – anger that she had fallen in love with Zayn when she shouldn't have, anger that she had given herself a false hope that he would come around and admit his feelings knowing fully well that the great Zayn Graham doesn't give two fucks about love and whatever it came with. Walking out of the bathroom, Rina sauntered into her walk-in closet and pulled off something simple from the hanger – a pair of black wide-legged pants and a matching button-down shirt. Pairing it with white heels and a black tote bag, Rina applied light make-up on her face, almost unno
Confusion set in Rina at once, wounding its arms around her so tightly that she didn’t think there was any route of escape. She sat up at once, pulling herself until her back pressed against the headboard, with her head reeling from what she had just heard. “I think you got the wrong person,” she said finally. “My parents are well and alive, and I know their lawyer as well, because it is the same lawyer I use. And his name definitely isn’t Marco.”“Pardon me,” the voice returned, sounding solemn and sad. “What I am about to do is probably not right since it is the first time we are speaking and it isn’t exactly a conversation to have on the phone. But at the same time, I know you wouldn’t meet up with me, unless you are entirely sure about what this is. You are a public figure here, so that means you are really particular about your security.”“You sure did your research,” Rina murmured. “No. Not exactly. I was just so surprised that all this time, you were right within reach while I
Her door cracked open slowly, but it sounded so far off, like someone was making a scratching noise somewhere in the distance. She hissed and thrashed on the bed, willing whoever it was would leave her to her sleep. Just when she thought the source of the noise had gone, she heard it again, nearer this time. It echoed in her ears, pulling her out of an abyss she’d had no idea she had settled in. The space beside her on the bed dipped, and her eyes fell open slowly.“Hey.” His eyes appeared bothered, but at the same time, guarded, like he was trying so hard to be there with her, and at the same time, keeping something away from her. “How do you feel? Does your ankle hurt?”Rina shook her head, but the sudden sharp pain there gave her lie away as she winced. “You should stay in bed for as long as you want, until the pain subsides. Susan will ensure you have everything you will be needing for the three weeks the doctor advised that you remain in bed.”“But…”“Rina,” Zayn breathed. “List
“What happened to her?” Susan asked later that evening after they’d put her to bed. The drugs she was given at the hospital for the pain were bound to make her drowsy, and despite how hard she fought to remain awake, because George had come to see her, she still had to succumb to the pressure of sleep. It was important for the healing of her ankles and Zayn was finally relieved when he closed the door behind her. “She tripped.”“But that isn’t all. Something made her trip.” Susan read it easily from his eyes, tilting her head and waiting for a response. “I’m not sure,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know you might think I am chasing shadows because of how much I have been trying to protect Rina.”“I don’t think so,” Susan replied. “If somebody was trying to hurt her, you would be the best person to know. Nothing I say is valid if you believe in your guts that what happened earlier wasn’t an accident. And you shouldn’t give it a rest until you get to the end of this.”
All of Rina stilled with those words hanging in the air. She had thought about it a million times, about how it would feel when she finally told him. But no amount of mental preparation would have ever prepared her for that moment. She searched his face intently, even though she wanted to hide away from him at the same time. Rina waited for him to scold her, to tell her that their contract had fallen through because of her errant feelings, and that he was no longer interested in getting married to her. But the only thing that circulated round the small space was silence, loud enough to pierce through eardrums. “I am not saying this so you have to say anything in response, or feel a particular way towards me. I just wanted to have it out there. We have been through so much together already, or rather, I have been through so much with you standing by me all the way, showing nothing more than understanding. If this isn’t what you want, I think it would be unfair to keep it away from you
Zayn was at Rina’s first run on set, at one corner of the stage, watching closely as Rina acted a scene for the third time. For some reason, the director had decided to start with the middle of the script, running it up to the beginning, and then down tlo the end. It opened with the scene where Zico and Rina found that they were in love with each other, finally giving their love a chance, much to the hatred of Mandy, who was now the second female lead. The scene played out in a cozy bedroom setting, with Rina walking in with Zico at the end of a long stroll. The plan was to get a bottle of water from his house and then move to hers. But their emotions got the best of them, the sexual tension in the room heightening. The director had asked that the scene be re-acted a thousand times because there wasn’t enough chemistry, and Zayn was beginning to lose his patience. His hands folded into fists by his side, as he glared at Zico’s hands wrapped around Rina’s waist. He could see the reso
Kayla watched Rina speaking to Regina from the top floor and crossed her arms across her chest, wondering what their conversation was about. It couldn’t be anything related to acting, as the submissive look in Regina’s eyes and the haughty look in Rina’s didn’t exactly depict that. Angling her head, Kayla remembered she had seen Regina with her right-hand man just the previous night before he had taken her home from Scottsdale. They’d been out in the garage, talking about something, with their eyes hiding the beginning of a budding romance. Perhaps, that wasn’t all it was. She should have paid more attention, maybe even listened in on their conversation before interrupting them in that manner.Her right-hand man would never divulge any information about Kayla. Or at least, that was what she thought. But just to be safe, Kayla made the decision right there to play her last card. She had been holding on to it for as long as she could remember, but maybe it was time to let go. Smiling cr
Rina got the news of her playing the lead in the new part of the movie, and excitement coursed through her as she made her way down to Scottsdale to sign some papers and get her script. George couldn’t go with her as he had a meeting outside town with a new client, so she went with Igor instead, sitting at the passenger’s side of the car while he skillfully navigated the traffic to get her there on time. Things had gone back to normal since Finn got arrested, and it was like the drama had finally come to a halt. Although, the one thing Rina wanted, which was for Zayn to tell her how he felt about her, was yet to happen. He was still measured and controlled in how he related to her, barely even grazing her skin each time they were in the same room. He'd stopped coming into her bathroom like he usually did each time she was having a bath but now stayed away from the villa as a whole, returning only when entirely necessary. Rina could feel him running away from something. She had notic