Forbidden attraction (The stars book 3)

4: Attack of the killer stone

*Dean*

 "Well I am not going then, it's as simple as that. Tell them I am sick or something". I have my arms crossed on my chest, glaring at Scott and the producer.

 The producer looks annoyed with me. "Dean for God's sake. I get it okay ? Believe me I get it. But we have to follow their rules. You don't see me throwing a tantrum for being stuck in the trailer park".

 "I just really hate that it has to be like this. It feels utterly wrong to me". It is our first day here, and we were getting things ready to start filming, when we got an invitation for a grand party tomorrow evening. My problem with the party ? Only men are welcome. “And I will happily switch with you, I can stay in the trailer park”.

 Scot pads me on the shoulder. "Dean you have to go or it will be a great insult to our host. We kind of need to keep him happy. So for now you need to put your personal feelings aside, you don't want to ruin this for everyone right ?"

 "f**k ! Okay fine, I know we have to follow their rule, but I don't have to like it. I will come to the party. But right now I will go to my room". I walk away, feeling annoyed.

 I don't want to come off as a diva or to create problems. But I really hate the way they differentiate people, not just men and women, but also rich and poor. I I hate even more to be gagged from speaking my mind about it.

 I kind of slam my door open and stalk into the room, feeling utterly annoyed. Startling the young woman who is busy cleaning in there.

 "Oh, so sorry master. I did not know you be back so soon". She almost looked frightened.

 I send her a calming smile. "You have nothing to be sorry about my dear and you didn't have to pick up my mess. I am sorry if I have given you extra work".

 "No don't, no my work. That is why I here". She looks kind of flushed, looking away, but I guess she is not used to men talking kindly to her, if at all.

 She keeps her eyes lowered and I find it infuriating… Not the fact that she does it of course, but that she has been told all her life that she has to, that she isn't worthy of looking at me. "What is your name ?"

 "Sada, master". She starts fretting a bit. She is probably concerned about being here alone with me.

 I sigh. "Well hi Sada, please call me Dean. I am not your master. I am in no way above you".

 "I can't, not allowed. If someone hears, I get trouble". She looks up at me with frightened eyes. She is a pretty girl and it hurts me she has to live like this.

 I send her another friendly smile, but I can hear how my voice is resigning. "I don't want to cause you trouble of course".

 She nods and hurries out of the room. I shake my head and throw myself on the bed, my hands behind my neck.

 But I can't relax, I am starting to regret taking this role, even though it is kind of a big deal for me and I have been looking forward to doing another movie with Joel.

 In the end I get up, and walk out into the garden, hoping it's tranquil beauty can calm me down.

 *Zara*

 I am sitting in my room, Reading a book I have smuggled down from the old library when I hear someone shout in the garden. "f**k ! Oh s**t, who is the i***t who hid a stone there ?"

 It has to be the tall American, no one in the palace would use such a language. But it sounded like he got hurt in some way and I hurry out there to check on him.

 I find him sitting in the grass next to the palm tree. He is cradling one huge bare foot in his hands. I look at him. "Did you hurt your foot ?"

  "I kicked the bush, someone apparently hid a big rock inside it". He removes his hand and I see that his big toe is bleeding quite a lot.

 I quickly walk back towards my room. "Stay still. I will get something to clean that with, so we can see how bad it is".

 I quickly fill a bowl with warm water and grab some small towels. Then I hurry back, finding him waiting where I left him.

 I kneel down by his feet, putting the bowl down on the grass. "Keep as still as possible while I clean it. It might hurt a bit though".

 "You don't have to do this Zara, I can do it myself". He is reaching for the towels.

 Without thinking I reach out and grab his hand to stop him. His hand is huge compared to mine and warm to the touch. It's like a shock runs through me and I pull away my hand. "Just let me handle it, Dean".

 "Okay then, if you insist". He slowly removes his hand and watches as I take a towel. I gently grab his foot and start to clean the blood off.

 So he remembers my name and he is actually doing as I told him. But damn, this foot is really scarily huge.

 "Why were you kicking the bush ? What has the poor thing done to you ?" I look up at him with a little smile.

 He is biting his lip, he is probably trying to hide the pain. He smiles a bit sheepishly. "Uhh I guess I might have been a bit annoyed and the bush was an innocent victim".

 "What could possibly make you angry enough to attack an unarmed bush ?" I can't help but smile.

 He sighs and I grab a new clean towel. His voice has gotten an annoyed edge to it. "It is just the party tomorrow. I don't want to go, but I am being forced to".

 "Why don't you wanna go ? Is something wrong with the party?" I am rather surprised by his statement, but keep my eyes on his foot. It is bleeding a lot less now.

 I am pressing the towel to the wound in hope of stopping the bleeding completely. His voice is so passionate. "Women, it is missing women".

 Without thinking my head snaps up and I am staring directly into his warm eyes. He seems to realise what he just said and his cheeks flush. "Oh God, that came out all wrong didn't it ? What I meant to say was; I disagree strongly with only men being invited".

 "Why do you care about that ?" I look at him with wonder. His eyes are kind and honest and I am unable to look away, even though I know I should.

 He looks thoughtful for a moment. "I hate the way they treat people differently. To me everyone is equal no matter what s*x they are or how big their wallet is. It is all about who you are, not what you are".

 I honestly don't know what to say. I have never in my life heard a man speak in such a way, no woman either actually. Are all the men in America… all men in the West like this ? Or is this one something very special ?

 "I just hate that I am forced to follow a lot of rules that I don't agree with and that I am forced to overlook things that to me are wrong. I would really like to give them a piece of my mind". He runs a hand through his hair.

 I shake my head lightly. "They are right, you can't go talking like this around here, but at least you get to leave soon. You are not the one living this life".

 "You are right. I am so sorry, I have no right to complain. I am the privileged one here". He actually looks embarrassed.

 "No need to apologise, it's not your fault". I empty the rest of the water out on the grass, and put the wet towels in the bowl. "The bleeding has stopped, but you should probably have a doctor look at it".

 "Thank you so much Zara". He grabs my hand squeezing it gently, his eyes locking with mine as I look up and I feel weightless, like I am in free fall.

 I spring to my feet, feeling almost panicked as I rip my hand from his grasp. If someone was to see us like this we would both be in big trouble. I pick up the bowl. "I have to leave".

 Then I halfway run back into my room.