Stop it. You can’t hide this anymore. No more excuses. It was time to tell him. Why not now, on their wedding anniversary? Dev cared about her and she had to trust him. Tina knew he would take care of her if anything went wrong and she had nothing to fear.
Tina tugged at her pink sari and made a face. She hated wearing it but she liked how Dev responded when she wore the feminine garment. She needed all the help she could get to place him in a receptive mood.
She looked down at the pile of this week’s movie magazines on the coffee table in front of her. A few of them had the Arjun family portrait, commemorating Vikram’s long career. Another magazine cover caught her eye. Her stomach clenched when she saw a picture of Dev and Shreya in an embrace.
Why? Why did they have to show these pictures and share these stories on her anniversary? How many “it won’t last” or “trouble in paradise” stories must she suffer through?
Tina reached out for it and stopped. She didn’t want to know. She wasn’t going to read the article or the headline. What purpose would it serve? If she kept reading the gossip it would chip away at the trust she had in Dev. If he said he was not having an affair with Shreya, she would believe him. She wouldn’t require proof, just like he trusted her when she swore she hadn’t slept with anyone during their separation.
“Tina?”
Tina closed her eyes when she heard the familiar voice. What was her mother-in-law doing here? How could she have forgotten that Gauri Arjun had an office suite in the building?
She reluctantly turned around and saw Dev’s mother enter the room. The older woman was stunning in a vibrant green sari. Her hair flowed smoothly against her shoulders and it was all Tina could do not to smooth her own short, spiky hair. What was it about this woman that always made her feel awkward and insignificant?
Tina rose from her seat and adjusted her sari as she politely greeted her mother-in-law. The woman waved away her attempts impatiently.
“What is this about you going to Hollywood?” Gauri asked. “This is unacceptable. The Arjun family is the face of the Hindi film industry. Going to Los Angeles is a betrayal of our heritage and our culture.”
Tina’s eyes widened as she jerked in surprise. “Who says I’m going to Hollywood?”
“The rumors are everywhere that you are going to star in a television show. An Arjun on American television!” Gauri shuddered. Tina wasn’t sure which part of the American television it was that bothered her.
But why did Gauri believe she was... Tina winced as she remembered the tidbit of information she had shared with her mother. The casual remark the television director had said at the treatment center about how they should work together. Nothing was signed or agreed upon, but that didn’t matter. Reema was going to make it look like Tina was in high demand. This was yet another indication for Tina that she needed to get another manager.
“Now is not a good time to discuss this, Maaji,” Tina muttered as she nervously clasped her fingers in her lap.
“My son isn’t going to Hollywood,” Gauri said in a hiss. “His destiny is here.”
Tina frowned. “Who says he’s going to Hollywood?”
“You are his wife. You go where he goes. Unless...” She reared her head back. “What are you saying?”
“I believe she is saying that I’m not invited.” Dev drawled. Tina whirled around to see Dev leaning at the door. Her heart stopped for a moment when she saw glittery coldness in his eyes. “Congratulations on the role.”
Why would he think she had a role? A role she hadn’t even discussed with him. A role that would require leaving Mumbai. Leaving him.
Did he think she would do that without talking to him? Of course he would. She had left him like that in the past. But she was different now. They were different. Why didn’t he see that? “Dev, let me explain.”
“There’s no need,” he said as he strode to his desk. He showed no emotions but Tina could tell by his choppy movements and the muscle bunching in his jaw that he was holding back his fury. “You are getting the career that you’ve longed for, leaving behind the husband you no longer want and settling a few scores before you leave. Am I missing anything?”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE SILENCE PULSED in the office after his mother muttered something and left. Dev felt the tension coiling inside him, so swift and ferocious, that he was surprised his body didn’t shatter. She had used their marriage—used him—as leverage to further her career. He never thought Tina would betray him like this.