Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage(77)

                “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.

                He rested his fists on the desk and forced himself to look at his wife. “My publicity department is in a panic,” Dev said. “It appears that your mother is shopping around a tell-all exposé.”

                “My mother?”

                “Not only will it discuss how horribly I treated you and how amazing I am in bed, but it will also explain your mysterious disappearance.”

                “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” she blurted out. “You know I would never do something like this.”

                “Do I?” he asked silkily as the anger ate at him like acid. “And yet you threatened me with this not too long ago. At the time I didn’t believe it. I didn’t think you had it in you.”