Read Online Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage by Susanna Carr - Free Book Online

had learned to grieve? She had judged him for returning to work right away. For not showing his grief like she did. She didn’t consider that this was how he coped. Dev didn’t weep or stay in bed for days. He lost himself in his work. “She couldn’t possibly be fine. She was married to your father for over thirty years!”
    “Despite the fact that my parents were one of Bollywood’s legendary lovers on film, their marriage wasn’t a love match. It was a business arrangement. They led separate lives and rarely stayed in the same house together.”
    “Still...” she protested weakly. Tina had sensed that Gauri and her husband, Vikram, were more of a partnership than a couple. They had worked together to build the Arjun brand instead of the Arjun family. And yet they had managed to stay together. In contrast, Tina had been deeply in love with Dev and their marriage had fallen apart within a year.
    “They were indifferent to each other,” Dev said. “My mother reacted to my father’s death as if he had been a colleague instead of a husband.”
    Tina shook her head. Dev hadn’t been allowed to grieve with his mother. He hadn’t been able to turn to his wife in his hour of need. How did he manage to meet every challenge head-on without breaking? “Wait, this means that you’re in charge of Arjun Entertainment.”
    Dev nodded and gave a quick glance at his watch. “And I’m very late for a meeting. I’ll have the driver take you home.”
    “And this is why it’s so important to get the investors,” she said softly as she rose from her seat. “The industry isn’t too sure about having a daredevil in charge of one of the largest media companies.”
    Dev cast a suspicious glance at her. “They will soon realize that they have no reason to be concerned.”
    “As long as you can show that you have a stable family life.” The deal he had offered her suddenly made sense. “Kind of hard to do that with a missing wife. My sudden appearance has made things very easy for you.”
    Dev reached out and curled his finger under her chin. Her skin tingled as he guided her to look directly at him. Dev was close—too close—as he leaned forward. His gaze dipped to her mouth and her lips stung with awareness.
    “Whatever you’re planning,” he said softly. His gaze was focused on her mouth. “Don’t.”
    She pursed her lips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Remember the agreement,” he said as he dragged his thumb along the curve of her lip. “I want—I expect—a devoted wife.”
    Tina frowned. Did he think she had the power to hurt him? That was laughable.
    Dev’s harsh features darkened and he abruptly dropped his hand. “I have several meetings and I’m late. I will see you at home tonight. Be good.”
    Maybe she was reading the signs incorrectly, Tina thought as she watched him walk away. She could have sworn she had seen the longing in his eyes and felt the tremor in his hand. Dev didn’t really want her as a wife, but he still desired her.
    And after everything that had happened between them, Tina was ashamed that she still yearned for his touch. She hoped he would never figure that out. If that happened, she would be powerless against him.
    * * *
    “Dev? What are you doing here?”
    Dev glanced up from his computer and saw Nikhil standing in the doorway to his office. He had just noticed that it was dark outside and the office suite was quiet. Everyone had gone home. “What are you talking about? This is my office now.”
    He glanced around. He had always associated his father with this room. It was ostentatious with the oversize glass desk and the expensive gold conference table. The garish movie posters were splotches of color on the white walls.
    “Tina returned home,” his friend reminded him as he stepped into the office. “You should be with her.”
    Dev gestured at his computer screen. “I have work to do.” It was where he wanted to be. He was in charge. He knew