Page 35 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)
Chapter Eighteen
CARA
Cara sat in her chair, in one corner of the set, her director walking her through the next scene. Her attention, however, was on the people who’d just walked through the door at the far end of the space.
Naveen and his wife led the way, followed by Parash and his second trophy wife. Ashish sauntered in with his girlfriend and finally Majid stepped into view, a beautiful woman beside him. Ameera.
Cara stilled, her gaze on the other woman, Majid’s cousin. Two years, they’d shared a room in that hellhole of a school. They hadn’t been friends, but they’d been civil to each other. And she’d watched with a smile as Celina had crossed her in the corridor that night.
“Cara.” The director tapped her hand to get her attention. “If the visitors are disturbing your focus, we can ask them to leave.”
“No, it’s fine.” She turned her head, focusing on the director and his directions, all while her every nerve ending was tuned into the group that was being given a tour of the sets.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Kabir emerge from makeup and greet them effusively, turning on the charm for the women.
Ameera laid a bold hand on his arm, pretending to take a selfie but nuzzling into his body in a way that was an invitation by itself.
Kabir allowed it, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her in closer. Cara watched as he whispered something in her ear that had Ameera giggling. She saw Majid glance around, his gaze skimming the set. Looking for her, she supposed.
She kept her back to them, allowing her stylist to fiddle with the folds of the dress she was wearing and smoothen out nonexistent frizz in her hair.
“Car,” Kabir’s voice came from behind her. “The fans are here.”
Cara turned, a polished yet remote smile on her face. “Hello,” she said politely, her gaze skimming over the faces, both familiar and strange. She made it a point to look at Majid last. He met her gaze, that familiar expression of puzzled suspicion on his face.
“Positions!” The director’s shout had everyone on set scrambling.
Cara left Kabir to tell the guests where they were to sit and walked over to stand in her position. Kabir joined her a second later, standing beside her as the makeup artists touched up their makeup and blotted the sheen from their faces.
“Your Ice Queen thing is giving me frostbite,” Kabir murmured.
“Hmm.” Cara tilted her face to the right so the lady could dash on some highlighter. “I hope their dicks freeze and fall off then.”
The lights dimmed a second later and there was no time to think of anything but work. Three hours later, when the director was satisfied, they took a break, dropping into their chairs with a relieved sigh.
“I should go over and mingle,” Kabir murmured.
“No.” Cara allowed the makeup artist to spritz water on to her face, sighing at the cooling relief. “Let them come to you.”
“Car-“
“They worship at the altar of arrogance, Kabs. Just give it a moment.”
True to her words, Naveen and Ashish sauntered over a few minutes later to talk to Kabir, Cara pretending to ignore them while listening to every word.
She checked her watch, noted the time and excused herself to speak to the director.
From the periphery of her eye, she saw Majid pull out his phone and frown down at it.
She knew what the scheduled message said, every word burned into her brain
Does betraying a friend make your micropenis grow? Or did you do it just for fun?
His head snapped up, red faced, furious gaze lasering into the back of Cara’s head. She continued chatting with her director, nodding attentively to the notes and feedback he’d made for Kabir and her.
“You know Cara,” the director said now. “Kabir and you are magic onscreen and off. This movie is going to be huge!”
Cara smiled. If she had a rupee for every time she’d heard that…
A small commotion at the other end of the set had her glancing over. Ameera was trying to calm a furious Majid down. But he shook her hand off before striding off the set, leaving the rest of them behind.
Temptation woke within her, a sneaky beast that had often overcome common sense.
She shouldn’t, she knew, and yet, she found herself murmuring an excuse and walking towards the door.
Her security fell in step behind her and she didn’t dissuade him.
She might be tempted to step over the line, but she wasn’t stupid enough to obliterate it.
She ignored Kabir’s sharp glance and walked around the group huddled around him.
Shiva stepped ahead of her, opened the door and scanned the area around. Then he nodded and allowed her to step out. A cool breeze wafted across her face, bringing blessed relief to her overheated cheeks. She walked over to where a few trees provided some shelter.
“Shiva,” she murmured. “Cigarette?”
Shiva started. He’d been working for her for over three years now and had never once seen her light up a cigarette. But she knew he smoked, and she knew he always had a few stashed away in that safari suit of his.
Giving her a distrustful look, he dug through a pocket and handed over a slightly smashed cigarette and lighter.
“I can get a fresh one,” he said.
Cara shook her head, putting the smashed cigarette to her lips and fumbling the lighter. A hand appeared in her periphery and lit the cigarette for her. She took a deep drag and looked up. Majid’s grim face filled her vision. A second later, Shiva’s broad back was between her and that face.
“It’s okay, Shiva,” she said, blowing out smoke. “He’s with the group that’s visiting the set today. Kabir’s fans.”
Her guard moved back slightly. Majid’s rage simmered in the air, a potent force. She knew he’d be here. The only thing that had worked to calm Majid down was nicotine. That had been the truth of his past and apparently, a standard for his present too.
“Your fans too,” he said, his voice soft and silky.
Cara smiled, tilting her head slightly in a tiny nod. “Not enjoying yourself in there?” she asked, as he lit his own cigarette and took a drag from it.
He made a noncommittal sound, taking another drag and blowing perfect little, smoke circles.
“May I ask you something, Ms. Ferns?” he asked, his voice bland and impersonal.
A strong gust of wind blew her hair into her face and she swore as she shoved it back. Her hairstylist was not going to be happy about that.
“Want another selfie?” she asked, stubbing her cigarette out and turning to face him.
“I didn’t say ask you for something, I said ask you something.
” He smiled, the familiar, friendly smile she’d trusted for years.
“I feel like I know you from somewhere, but I am sure I would remember if I ever met the superstar who’s reigned over Bollywood for over a decade now.
So, it must be from before your celebrity days.
Maybe from college, or school, or our wild partying days? ”
“I didn’t go to college.” Cara smiled brittlely. “And I couldn’t afford wild partying days, not when I was working all hours of the day and night.”
“Which leaves school,” he murmured. “I’ve read all your interviews, Ms. Ferns. You’ve never mentioned where you went to school.”
“All of them?” Cara arched an eyebrow. “Is that even possible?”
Majid grinned. “The interesting ones,” he amended.
“Well, I’m glad to know people still find me interesting,” she murmured. “Got to stay relevant right? I have to get back on set. Will you be joining us or have you had your fill?”
“I need another cigarette before I come back,” he answered, tapping one out and holding it out to her.
She shook her head, declining the offer. She walked back towards the set, Shiva falling into step behind her.
“Ms. Ferns,” Majid called out. She turned to face him. His smile had disappeared, the rage she’d sensed earlier returning. “You never did tell me where you went to school.”
Her pulse fluttered, a trapped rabbit. Temptation, as she’d learned in the past, always led to trouble.
“I was homeschooled,” she replied, with an arch of her eyebrow. “Are you going to quiz me on my general knowledge now?”
He shook his head, seemingly embarrassed, running a hand through his hair and looking over her head at something she was sure only he could see.
“May I ask something?” she asked now, tossing his words back at him.
His gaze snapped back to hers, toxic tension roiling off him. But all he said was, “Please.”
“Who exactly do I remind you off?”
Nerves skimmed under her skin, as she watched his gaze rove her face, looking desperately for a connection to the knowing that seemed to plague him. She hoped that desperation followed him into the gates of hell itself.
“Someone from my past,” he said finally.
“Someone special?” she asked, probing at a wound that he would never know throbbed beneath her skin too. “A girlfriend or something?”
Majid laughed, a dry, brittle sound. “No, God no. Nothing like that. She was a friend, a good friend. I would have loved to have something more with her but she…she never saw me that way.”
“Hmm,” Cara murmured. “So, you look for her in everyone you meet?”
His gaze locked with hers. “I’ve only ever seen her in you. No one else.”
Cara smirked. “Well, in that case, I’m sure she was very special.”
“She was.” Something that looked a lot like anguish flared in his eyes. “She was very special. She was, and still is, the best friend I have ever had.”
Screams erupted in her head at those words, desperate pleading, sobs that tore through her and landed on deaf ears.
This man’s deaf ears. Rage flared in Cara’s chest, icily cold in its quest for vengeance, for answers.
But before she could say anything and betray herself, Kabir stepped through the doors.
“There you are,” Kabir said jovially. “Listen, we have one shot left to give and then we’re done for today. These guys have invited me out with them for dinner and drinks. Do you want to join us?”
“No thank you,” she said, faking a yawn and giving him her formal smile. “I’d rather get a good night’s sleep.”
“Don’t be boring, Car.” Kabir draped an arm over her shoulders. “I’m sure they’re a fun bunch.”
“Maybe,” she said, shooting a dismissive glance at Majid who was watching the whole exchange. “But I’m not interested. You guys have a good time.”
She forced herself to nod to Majid. “It was nice meeting you,” she said formally.
“I hope we meet again,” he replied just as politely and formally.
Oh, they would meet again, over and over again, Cara thought as she turned with Kabir to enter the set, Majid at their back. And one final time, when she’d have no mask on. After all, he should meet the best friend he’d ever had again, shouldn’t he?