Page 43 of Born in Sin

She stuck her tongue out at him. “Don’t be an ass,” she whispered.

“I’m a fine ass, darling.” He pretended to check himself out on the back of a spoon. “Don’t look now but the shit who has been staring at you all night is approaching with the druggie.”

“Everyone’s been staring at me all night, darling,” she drawled, grinning at his mock upfront. “Don’t get butt hurt about it. I’m sure there is an old lady or two who would like to pinch your butt somewhere out there.”

Kabir leaned in, pretending to be nuzzling her hair. “The old ladies are the ones to watch out for in bed. All that experience…”

He didn’t get to finish before a throat clearing had them pretending to break away from an intimate cinch and look up.

Majid smiled. How was it that she’d never noticed that his smile didn’t reach his eyes? Had it always been like that and she’d missed it? Or had he smiled with his eyes earlier and then changed?

Had that been the hardest part of that night, she wondered. The fact that a friend had betrayed her, sold her out to sociopaths for fun. Virat had warned her, over and over again about Majid, but she hadn’t listened. Because Majid had been her friend and Celina had always needed to believe the best of people. She didn’t, not anymore. She’d learned her lesson. Majid had been a good teacher.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Majid said with that genuine looking fake smile. “We just wanted to introduce ourselves. We’re big fans.”

Kabir nodded, every inch the genial superstar. “Thanks man. We’re always happy to meet the fans.”

Cara ignored them, looking bored and disinterested in the whole conversation. She pulled out her phone and took a couple of selfies, pouting as she did so. “Kabs,” she purred. “Pose with me.”

“Always my darling.” He draped an arm around her and flashed a cringey V with his fingers. Cara resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his antics.

“Do you guys want pictures?” Kabir asked the two men who were still standing there staring at them.

“Yes,” Naveen replied eagerly, dragging Majid along with him. “My wife,” Naveen said, sniffing. “Is a mega fan of yours. She would lose her mind when she sees this picture.”

“I’m sure she would.” The microphone in the background gave a squeal of feedback, making them wince. They positioned themselves, Majid and Naveen standing behind Cara, and Kabir clicked using Naveen’s phone.

“There you go,” Kabir said cheerfully, handing the phone back. “Nice meeting you guys.”

“Have we met before?” Majid asked, not taking Kabir’s hint, his intent eyes on Cara.

“No,” she said dismissively.

“Are you sure?” he persisted.

Cara laughed, a light sound that carried the sting of derision. “We don’t move in the same circles. I’m sure.”

Kabir chuckled, his hand tracing circles on the soft skin of Cara’s bare, upper arm. “Don’t be a bitch, darling,” he murmured, his voice loud enough to bring a deep flush to Majid’s cheeks.

“It’s just,” Majid replied defensively, still looking at Cara. “That you look vaguely familiar.”

“People tend to think we look familiar because they see so much of us on their screens,” Kabir told Majid patronizingly, making the flush deepen.

“My wife,” Naveen interrupted drunkenly. “Would love to meet you.”

Kabir looked at him with the kind of amused condescension you might offer a badly behaved puppy. “I’m sure she would.”

Cara sighed, bored with the whole conversation. “Was there anything else?” she asked Majid pointedly. “Or would you mind letting us get back to our evening? We could, like, sign some autographs or something if it means you would leave?”

She saw the anger spark in his eyes just as she’d expected. Money made people feel invincible. And it was rare for the super rich to meet someone who had more money and power than them, at least in the moment. And Cara had every intention of cracking the whip of power she held right now.

“Car, come on.” Kabir laughed indulgently. “You know we can’t talk to the fans like that. Listen, your wife wants to meet me, right?”

Naveen nodded. Majid’s lips tightened but he bit back whatever response he was going to make.

“Come by the set tomorrow. Car and I are shooting a new movie. My assistant,” Kabir gestured to the man standing a little distance away, “Will send you the details. Your wife can meet me, watch the shooting, maybe we can even get her to be an extra in the scene, if she’d like to.”

“That sounds like a plan.” It was Majid who responded, the answer making Cara’s hackles rise. “Maybe I’ll get that autograph from you then, Ms. Ferns.”

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