Rina swallowed and looked at the bouquet Zayn was offering, her eyes widening in surprise. She should have gotten used to his random gifting of flowers, but it managed to stun her every single time. She blinked and coughed noisily, stepping away from him. Rina couldn’t think clearly when she was around Zayn, as a few seconds ago, every part of her wanted to stand on her toes, to graze her lips with his. It had taken the last shred of restraint she had around him to pull away. “Thank you,” she breathed, receiving the flowers. Rina was unable to hide the smile on her face when she realized every color of roses was in the bouquet. She could imagine his cluelessness walking into the florist shop. Rina thought he must have asked the florist which of them a woman would prefer, but unable to come up with something precise, he’d decided to buy them all. But then again, she might just be overthinking it. Everyone got everyone flowers, right? It wasn’t a big deal. “Isn’t a big deal,” Rina rep
The click sound of silverware hitting plates reverberated around the walls as everyone busied themselves with the meal. At first, Rina was skeptical about their reception towards it, knowing that they were perhaps used to eating only the best. But she visibly relaxed upon realizing that they were actually enjoying it. Or at least, that was what the expression on their faces told her. When she reached for the pepper shake, Zayn’s fingers brushed hers and she withdrew her hand with the speed of lighting, recoiling from the sudden electric zap that had gone through her. He must have felt it too because he looked up at her at that moment, his eyes dark with an emotion Rina couldn’t place her hands on. Pulling her gaze away from his perfect features, she opted to eat without the pepper, not willing to risk that happening again. Unknown to her, Susan and William watched the duo with keen attention, having their own reservations. They wondered how long they would both deny what they felt
Rina didn’t expect it. When her expectant gaze flicked through his face, she knew then that he had something planned. Perhaps, it was the fact that she had spent some of the worst days of her life with him, and had grown to recognize the light in his eyes when he mulled over something mischievous. But it was there, etched into his features, unwavering. Zayn regarded her from his seat, amidst all the congratulatory remarks flying in the air, and the scent of the meal mingling with it. Was it strange that the only persons whose good wishes she looked forward to right then were Zayn’s? He got up slowly, like time had gradually come to a halt and the whole world barely realized it. For some reason, she stilled herself for what was to come, her anxiousness and thrumming heart making it difficult for her to hear anything else on the table. The rest of the guests had faded into nothingness, leaving Zayn and Rina alone in the world. She looked into his dark eyes, then thought it was probably
“At least, it's going to be yours for the next five years after we get married, and honestly, I was thinking about changing the name on the property deeds to yours. I noticed you’ve grown attached to the space, and I wouldn’t want to take that away from you.” “Zayn, no,” Rina shook her head. “You can’t give me a whole villa just because…” “I can,” he chuckled. “I own a hundred of these scattered all over the country. And besides, you might consider it an early marriage annulment gift. We will be required to sign a prenup as the contract says, but I don’t want the villa included in that.” “Zayn…” “And you might want to get away from me sometimes,” he continued. “You know how annoying I can be. I’m certain you wouldn’t want to see that for twenty-four hours every single day.” Rina wanted to tell him that there was nothing annoying about him, that it was in fact the opposite. She was lost in his presence each time he came around, and in those moments, nothing ever seemed better.
George was dressed in a casual outfit that morning, a pair of track pants, a tight-fitting polo, and a face cap. On his shoulders hung a gym bag with a towel wrapped around his neck. The gym where he regularly worked out was located on the other end of town, on the first floor of the apartment building where he lived. But that morning, he decided to do it there, at the private sports complex where most stars visited. He had a pass since a friend worked the gate, and he didn’t look out of place since his face wasn’t an uncommon one in the industry.It took him back to the time at Scottsdale Entertainment when the actors and workers alike all seemed to have a bad opinion about Rina and he would walk past them, unable to do a thing about it. George smiled and nodded in silent greeting as we moved past the sweaty bodies, who had first halted when they saw him. But he heard the gossip the minute they thought he’d stepped out of a hearing distance. They all wondered what he was doing there,
Gasps went around the huddled group, a few of them placing their hands over their mouths. The dread was apparent in their eyes, and the judgments were hard to ignore. Regina played it perfectly, weaving the story with the right amount of suspense, waiting for them to ask leading questions before waltzing into it like a very slow choreographed dance. Her eyes shone in the heat of the moment, and her gait improved like one who had all the answers in her palms.“She must have hit rock bottom,” the premium bitch from the TV series whispered, as if scared anyone would pick up the topic of their conversation. But that was mere hypocrisy as she had the most fan base out of everyone standing there, and she wouldn’t even wait to get back home before tweeting about it, and putting a post up on Instagram. George was hoping she would do something more – perhaps, go on live and start a discussion about Rina Power. It would help the task he was about to embark on.“Or maybe she’s just going back to
Rina sat on the island stool in the kitchen, looking over the contract for the umpteenth time. It felt too good to be true, and she was worried that it would be taken away from her at the moment she least expected. Still, she knew the Pages of Claire couldn’t possibly be messing with her. They didn’t even have the time for that. Rina had followed the brand since she was a child, and knew almost everything about them, from the date of expansion to every member of Claire’s family. She had been obsessed at some point and remembered how her parents always chided her for focusing on her studies instead.She was glad she hadn’t listened to them.Appending her signature with her pen, she slid the iPad onto the island and downed the last bit of orange juice in her glass. Dropping from the stool, she sauntered over to the sink to rinse out the glass when the buzz of her phone drew her attention back to the island. Rina wiped her hands and grabbed her phone, reading the message from George in a
The sterile white walls of the Medical Hospital seemed to close in on Rina as she sat in the cold, sterile room. The doctor's words echoed in her mind, a relentless refrain of despair. "I'm sorry, Ms. Powers, but you've lost the baby."Her vision blurred as tears welled up, blinding her to the world around her. Rina had been so full of hope, she had been so certain that this pregnancy would be the new beginning she desperately needed in her marriage. She had clung to that hope, nurtured it with dreams of a family reunion, of a second chance at happiness.But now, all those dreams were shattered like fragile glass, leaving nothing but a painful ache in her chest. She clutched the edge of the hospital bed, her knuckles white, her heart heavy. "No," she sobbed, weakly denying the harsh reality.As she left the hospital, her steps were slow and heavy, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her shoulders. The taxi ride home was a blur of city lights and rain-slicked streets. Ri
Rina sat on the island stool in the kitchen, looking over the contract for the umpteenth time. It felt too good to be true, and she was worried that it would be taken away from her at the moment she least expected. Still, she knew the Pages of Claire couldn’t possibly be messing with her. They didn’t even have the time for that. Rina had followed the brand since she was a child, and knew almost everything about them, from the date of expansion to every member of Claire’s family. She had been obsessed at some point and remembered how her parents always chided her for focusing on her studies instead.She was glad she hadn’t listened to them.Appending her signature with her pen, she slid the iPad onto the island and downed the last bit of orange juice in her glass. Dropping from the stool, she sauntered over to the sink to rinse out the glass when the buzz of her phone drew her attention back to the island. Rina wiped her hands and grabbed her phone, reading the message from George in a
Gasps went around the huddled group, a few of them placing their hands over their mouths. The dread was apparent in their eyes, and the judgments were hard to ignore. Regina played it perfectly, weaving the story with the right amount of suspense, waiting for them to ask leading questions before waltzing into it like a very slow choreographed dance. Her eyes shone in the heat of the moment, and her gait improved like one who had all the answers in her palms.“She must have hit rock bottom,” the premium bitch from the TV series whispered, as if scared anyone would pick up the topic of their conversation. But that was mere hypocrisy as she had the most fan base out of everyone standing there, and she wouldn’t even wait to get back home before tweeting about it, and putting a post up on Instagram. George was hoping she would do something more – perhaps, go on live and start a discussion about Rina Power. It would help the task he was about to embark on.“Or maybe she’s just going back to
George was dressed in a casual outfit that morning, a pair of track pants, a tight-fitting polo, and a face cap. On his shoulders hung a gym bag with a towel wrapped around his neck. The gym where he regularly worked out was located on the other end of town, on the first floor of the apartment building where he lived. But that morning, he decided to do it there, at the private sports complex where most stars visited. He had a pass since a friend worked the gate, and he didn’t look out of place since his face wasn’t an uncommon one in the industry.It took him back to the time at Scottsdale Entertainment when the actors and workers alike all seemed to have a bad opinion about Rina and he would walk past them, unable to do a thing about it. George smiled and nodded in silent greeting as we moved past the sweaty bodies, who had first halted when they saw him. But he heard the gossip the minute they thought he’d stepped out of a hearing distance. They all wondered what he was doing there,
“At least, it's going to be yours for the next five years after we get married, and honestly, I was thinking about changing the name on the property deeds to yours. I noticed you’ve grown attached to the space, and I wouldn’t want to take that away from you.” “Zayn, no,” Rina shook her head. “You can’t give me a whole villa just because…” “I can,” he chuckled. “I own a hundred of these scattered all over the country. And besides, you might consider it an early marriage annulment gift. We will be required to sign a prenup as the contract says, but I don’t want the villa included in that.” “Zayn…” “And you might want to get away from me sometimes,” he continued. “You know how annoying I can be. I’m certain you wouldn’t want to see that for twenty-four hours every single day.” Rina wanted to tell him that there was nothing annoying about him, that it was in fact the opposite. She was lost in his presence each time he came around, and in those moments, nothing ever seemed better.
Rina didn’t expect it. When her expectant gaze flicked through his face, she knew then that he had something planned. Perhaps, it was the fact that she had spent some of the worst days of her life with him, and had grown to recognize the light in his eyes when he mulled over something mischievous. But it was there, etched into his features, unwavering. Zayn regarded her from his seat, amidst all the congratulatory remarks flying in the air, and the scent of the meal mingling with it. Was it strange that the only persons whose good wishes she looked forward to right then were Zayn’s? He got up slowly, like time had gradually come to a halt and the whole world barely realized it. For some reason, she stilled herself for what was to come, her anxiousness and thrumming heart making it difficult for her to hear anything else on the table. The rest of the guests had faded into nothingness, leaving Zayn and Rina alone in the world. She looked into his dark eyes, then thought it was probably
The click sound of silverware hitting plates reverberated around the walls as everyone busied themselves with the meal. At first, Rina was skeptical about their reception towards it, knowing that they were perhaps used to eating only the best. But she visibly relaxed upon realizing that they were actually enjoying it. Or at least, that was what the expression on their faces told her. When she reached for the pepper shake, Zayn’s fingers brushed hers and she withdrew her hand with the speed of lighting, recoiling from the sudden electric zap that had gone through her. He must have felt it too because he looked up at her at that moment, his eyes dark with an emotion Rina couldn’t place her hands on. Pulling her gaze away from his perfect features, she opted to eat without the pepper, not willing to risk that happening again. Unknown to her, Susan and William watched the duo with keen attention, having their own reservations. They wondered how long they would both deny what they felt
Rina swallowed and looked at the bouquet Zayn was offering, her eyes widening in surprise. She should have gotten used to his random gifting of flowers, but it managed to stun her every single time. She blinked and coughed noisily, stepping away from him. Rina couldn’t think clearly when she was around Zayn, as a few seconds ago, every part of her wanted to stand on her toes, to graze her lips with his. It had taken the last shred of restraint she had around him to pull away. “Thank you,” she breathed, receiving the flowers. Rina was unable to hide the smile on her face when she realized every color of roses was in the bouquet. She could imagine his cluelessness walking into the florist shop. Rina thought he must have asked the florist which of them a woman would prefer, but unable to come up with something precise, he’d decided to buy them all. But then again, she might just be overthinking it. Everyone got everyone flowers, right? It wasn’t a big deal. “Isn’t a big deal,” Rina rep
On their way back home, Zayn and William stopped at the wine store in the middle of town. They walked in together, towering well above the other purchasers as they walked the aisles, an attendant following closely behind, her knees almost reaching the ground in obeisance and pure surprise that Zayn had visited the store himself. Most times, he made orders and had them delivered to his mansion, so they seldom got to see him around. The shock on their faces when the door was pushed open and he strode in, was palpable, as the attendants argued between themselves about who was going to attend to him.“Sir, is there anything in particular you are looking for? You can take a look at your regulars on this other aisle.” The petite lady pointed to the aisle next to the one they were in, her eyes eager and her smile on the verge of tearing her lips.“I’m searching for something in particular,” Zayn answered without looking at her. He continued checking the bottles on the aisle one after the oth
The white lights enveloped the conference room as opinions were offered and decisions were made. Zayn was in his comfort zone, one hand casually resting on the arm of the chair and the other clicking a pen repeatedly. His eyes worked fast in line with his mind, thinking about the pros and cons of every suggestion made. Sometimes, he scribbled something down, but most times, his almost perfect memory made it dispensable.Mia, on the other hand, had a perfectly written minute, her hands moving fast against the keypad of her computer, and her eyes never missing a thing. She was already the longest secretary that had ever worked for Zayn, and he had to admit that she was great at her job. That made things a whole lot easier for him.The stakeholders seemed fine with the progress report, until they brushed a subject Zayn didn’t want to compromise on. They suggested that one of them should head the market review and analysis over there, as well as the financial department, since they had be