FOOLS AND GENIUSES | ✓

CHAPTER 17

Vijay and Kiara fighting above.

zemblanity

(n.) the inevitable discovery of what one would rather not know

Every morning consisted of a simple routine– Kiara woke up before sunrise, freshened up, made herself a cup of hot ginger lemon tea then sat on her patio as the wind kissed her skin. Raising her face to the rising sun, she sighed as its rays warmed the skin of her face. The shrill tone of her phone broke the quiet serenity of her morning routine, reading Kabir on the caller ID. There were only two reasons he would call her this early in the day, either something incredibly alarming or amazing had happened.

She hoped it was the latter as she picked up, "Good morning."

He huffed a laugh on the other end, "I wouldn't say that just yet."

"Alright," she sighed deeply; "what's the score."

"Pictures of your date a few days ago are circulating the internet."

"What pictures?"

"Give me a minute, I'm sending them over to you."

A text pinged on Kiara's phone as she opened the link, bringing an array of paparazzi photos across her screen. An image of her and Chris on the dance floor in the cosy Hollywood Boulevard bar surfaced as she paused, inhaling sharply. While neither of their faces were clearly visible, there was no mistaking the two celebrities in the photo. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, pressing her to his chest as she tossed her head back against his shoulder in a picture of pure ecstasy. There was no space between their bodies and his other hand was splayed across her toned stomach in a possessive gesture. Another photo taken seconds after he had spun her around showed her held flush against his body, eyes alight with joy in elated stupor. Her hands gripped his flannel shirt with a fervour that did little to hide the responding lust in his gaze.

She closed her eyes and exhaled heavily through her nose, "Shit."

Kabir agreed, snorting, "So you and Chris, huh?"

"Don't even start with that. I don't know what it is either."

"Well you better figure it out quick. We've got to deal with this before the press blows it up."

"Let's just leave it at 'no comment' for the moment. Knowing Chris, he'll only issue a statement after talking to us."

"Sounds good to me. Can you come over in a bit? There's something else I need to talk to you about."

"Okay. Talk to you soon."

Not two minutes later, Kiara's phone was ringing again as Vijay's name popped up on the caller ID. She rubbed her eyes, already predicting the pounding migraine she would likely develop by the end of today.

Looking up in frustration, she groaned, "Give it to me, Jay."

She could practically hear him smirking as he retorted, "Sweetheart, you have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you say those words."

"In your dreams, baby."

He laughed, "At least I know who's been putting all those smiles on your face now."

"Shut up."

"Kabir already called you?"

"Yeah."

"And you have no idea what to say."