FOOLS AND GENIUSES | ✓

CHAPTER 15

Kiara and Trevor's first meeting above.

agathokakological

(adj.) composed of both good and evil

The show must go on. That was the first thought in Kiara's head as she worked through the filming merely a few hours after arriving back from her week in India. While the undercurrents of stress from her weekend still pulsed through her body, she knew the predicament needed to be pushed to the back of her mind in order to function normally. If she heard the words "take it from the top" one more time, it might be the thing that finally tipped her over the edge. 

She had been in a foul mood since Vijay woke her up this morning by stinking up her room, leaving an odour that could only exist in the pits of hell, so the last thing she need was more grief from Hadley. She concentrated on suppressing her annoyance as Hadley made it her mission to push their limits. Rationalising that it was her dedication that made her such a successful producer, Kiara decided flinging her script at Hadley was something that should stay in her imagination and by the looks of it, he felt the same way.

Sometime after the crew split for lunch, Kiara quickly slipped away to pick up her salad bowl only to return to the sounds of Vijay's taunting. As she came closer, she observed the tall man towering over him, noting the tension rippling across his broad shoulders. The man turned around upon sensing her presence and smiled his Cheshire cat grin, spreading his arms for a hug as she ran up to meet him. 

Trevor Antony possessed the most unique background in being both Kerala born and a Rhodes scholar as it meant he was intelligent but impoverished. After studying the dark arts of jurisprudence, he found his true calling while weaselling Britain's most notorious drug kingpin's consigliere out of a murder charge. Trevor realised he was fairly good at it, so much so that he could dip into the criminal underbelly while remaining completely legal. He was sharp and objective about ambition, successfully navigating the echelons of England's complicated culture. That hunger created the billionaire businessman he was today– charismatic and clever, powerful and ruthless, cunning and bright. 

Perhaps the most surprising fact was how this success had been accomplished with minimal blood on his hands. Of course there was the occasional brutality required to established his position, demonstrate he wasn't just pretty words and a face. All the while he had cultivated special relationships with erudite, educated and open-minded politicians around the world. 

Now when one crime syndicate leader threatened another, they often proposed an outrageous ransom to create the right amount of discomfort that left each party feeling rather comfortable. A man of Trevor's stature, however, didn't take too kindly at being subjected to such aggressive methods and in came Samuel, the best corporate lawyer in the business. While he worked within the grey area, there were morals and ethical codes by which he held himself responsible– all of which aligned with Trevor's, although the businessman used more savage methods than the lawyer. It was because of these rules that she raised no complaints against her father's work.

Beaming at Trevor as he bundled her petite form into a comforting hug, Kiara made a face at Vijay in an attempt to erase the growing scowl on his face.

She stepped back, still holding Trevor's hand, "What brings you to the other side of the globe?"

He scratched his beard, "A little birdie told me someone was stupid enough to threaten you."