She drew her head back as she watched him with extreme caution. She misunderstood. She had to. “You would treat me like a prisoner?”
“I will keep you safe,” he said gruffly.
“Wait a second. Do you think I somehow caused the miscarriage?” she asked huskily as her throat tightened with emotions. “I did everything the doctor prescribed. I didn’t take any unnecessary risks.”
“No, you are not to blame,” he said. “I let you continue filming even though it meant long hours and hard physical work.”
“You let me?” She hated how the tears stung her eyes.
“I didn’t know that the soundstages you worked on were so unsafe. No pregnant woman—especially not my wife—should have been working in those conditions. I should have made you stop.”
“You just told me earlier that I’m not to blame. Now you think my career harmed our baby.”
He scowled. “I don’t think that, but I’m not willing to take that risk. I will make sure you will not work in Bollywood while you’re carrying my child.”
“Don’t threaten me!”
The anger crackled in the air as Dev strode to the bathroom. “These are not threats. I am outlining possible events. If you are carrying my child, this time I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he said as he slammed the door behind him.
* * *
Dev was not going to get away with this, Tina decided days later as she searched for her cell phone in her handbag. She heard the screech of tires and the immediate cry of the car horns as her driver navigated the luxury sedan through traffic.
Tina punched in the numbers on her cell phone and settled back in her seat. Dev seemed to think he could get away with anything. He thought all he had to do was smile and he could get his way.
She noticed he’d changed tactics after they slept together. Instead of confrontation, he courted her. For the past week Dev had treated her as if she was a queen during the day and his courtesan at night. Tina shifted in her seat as she recalled how Dev had brought her to climax the night before. She wasn’t armed for that kind of battle.
Dev answered on the first ring. “Miss me already, jaan?”
Tina pressed her lips together as her heart leaped from the sound of his voice. “Don’t push your luck with me,” she said sweetly in English as she glanced at the driver.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to visit your mother,” he said. “I had to go to the office for an important meeting.”
She pressed the phone closer to her ear when she heard the shuffle of papers and the clink of glasses in the background. “You’re still in the meeting? Why did you pick up?”
“Because you called. What can I do for you, Tina? Name it and it’s yours.”
Was he acting that way because he had an audience? Tina dismissed that idea. Dev liked buying gifts but it was nothing like the joy he received when he helped her. He liked turning a problem over in his mind and finding a solution for her. There were times when Tina thought she had embarrassed him with her gratitude. Those were the only moments when she had seen his shy smile and the red streak highlighting his cheekbones.
“I just came back from my mother’s house where I heard all about the wedding preparations,” Tina said. “You are being far too generous.”