Hired To Be Mine

Chapter 14

Salim was quiet for a second. He wasn't nervous; he had no reason to be. But a tiny part of him was screaming 'Trouble' at the back of his mind. He wasn't ready to tell Nicole about Anya. He wasn't ready, Period. Though he has moved on, it was still a sore subject.

Kelly waited anxiously for his answer and the room fell silent.

"Ask her to wait till the show ends. I will meet her, once everything is over", Salim said quietly with a blank expression. Kelly nodded vigorously and bolted right out the way she came in.

Before she could completely go out of sight, "Kelly", Salim called out to her. She turned around to face him and looked up with expecting eyes. He crossed the distance in quick strides and murmured so that only he could hear, "Keep Nicole away from her". Kelly's eyes widened and she once again nodded before leaving to fulfill the task.

*****

Nicole hurried into the back stage and looked at all the models and the jewelry they were presenting. There were nine pieces of jewelry that she designed, and all had pink color in it with the designs of flowers, leaves, and other elements which depicted nature.

She walked towards a model who wore a platinum bracelet which looked like a wine covering her hand around the wrist and the middle finger. She did a once over of the makeup and dress and checked whether everything was in place or not.

She really didn't want to disappoint Salim on her first project. She somehow was desperate to impress him and receive an appreciation as well.

"Calm down Nicole. You are hyperventilating. We know our job", Alex, an assistant from the designs department said rolling her eyes at Nicole.

Nicole brushed off the rude comment, as she was already familiar with the bitchiness of the women working in her firm. Most of them were only tolerating her, as they suspected that she was Salim's flavor of the month. Salim wasn't a playboy. He might appear as one, but he is far from it. And whenever, people referred her as his 'flavor of the month' or 'f**k-buddy' or 'w***e' etcetera, she found it funny and amusing. If it was anything, Salim was one of the most serious and sincere guy she has ever met.

"Nick!" Kelly's voice echoed through the green room and everybody's eyes snapped to her. Kelly realized her mistake and her eyes widened in embarrassment. Nicole quickly went to her friend's rescue and pulled her outside the green room.

"Yes?" she prompted when Kelly remained silent even after coming out of the room. She had panic written all over her face and Nicole didn't understand why.

"What happened babe?" she asked placing a comforting hand on Kelly's shoulder.

"Ugh", Kelly snapped out of her trance and looked at Nicole with panic, "I wanted to know... how everything is going on", she said quickly.

"Oh", Realization dawned on Nicole and she felt touched with Kelly's concern. "Everything is fine", she chuckled nervously. "Actually no", she added quickly as all the emotions she felt earlier resurfaced. "What if I mess it up? What if there is a wardrobe malfunction or everyone hates my designs? What if the models don't do well on the ramp? I have a lot of other such stupid, insignificant and completely ridiculous thoughts going on in my mind and I am having a panic attack", she started taking deep breathes and fanned her face.

"Okay, relax", Kelly said with a determined look. A suspicion crept into Nicole's mind at Kelly's weird behavior. She felt like Kelly was hiding something, but she ignored the tiny feeling and concentrated the matter at hand. The show.

"Why don't we go out and take a breather. You look like you need it", Kelly said pulling Nicole towards the back exit, without waiting for a reply from her.

"What?" Nicole shrieked, "I can't leave. What if I am needed and there is an emergency?" she dug her heels into the ground to stop Kelly from pulling her out.

Kelly turned around with desperation written on her face, "Why? Everyone knows their work, they have been doing this for forever. And you can always use a fresh air" she said with pleading eyes.

"There is a lot of fresh air here, and I am not going out. What if my hair's ruined? I worked for two hours to tame them like this and I won't let stupid breeze to ruin it", she said crossing her eyes.

"Okay. Fine. No fresh air, at least we can go and check out the auditorium, what say?" she asked with hopeful eyes. Nicole's eyes narrowed in suspicion. She smelt something fishy.

"Sure", she shrugged and the two women walked hand in hand towards the audience. The place was still empty other than a few workers running around, cleaning and dusting arranging the seats. Among the empty crowd, she saw a woman standing with her back faced towards them.

Nicole untangled her hand with Kelly's and walked towards her. "Hey", she called out to the woman, and she turned around. "You are a little early", Nicole said with a smile on her face.

The woman smiled back at Nicole. She had black eyes, which were lined with khol. She knew it wasn't mascara, because she uses it. Her big eyes looked even bigger, making her look exquisite. She was a muslim, which was pretty obvious with the choice of clothing. She wore a black hijab around her face, which covered her hair, ears and half of the forehead. Her fair skin was a great contrast against the black hijab. Underneath her hijab, Nicole could make out the maroon and black Anarkali dress which was of Indian fashion.

She didn't knew much of the fashion society, about who was who, but she could clearly make out that this woman was Salim's friend. She must be, or else why would she be here? She looked so out of place in a fashion show.

"I am Nicole Thornton", she said thrusting her hand forward.

The woman repeated her action, "Anya Khan", she said.

"Anya", Nicole nodded shaking her hand. A sense of recognition crossed her mind but she couldn't place it.

"I gather, you are the designer of the day", Anya said. Nicole caught onto the slight accent in her tone and her doubts confirmed. Though Salim didn't have any accent, she heard other American-Indians to recognize it.

"Guilty", she chuckled nervously.

"Don't worry", Anya placed her other arm as well on Nicole's, in a comforting way, "You will do great", she said. Nicole smiled her gratitude.

"Anya", Kelly's breathy voice caught their attention as they turned to see a flustered Kelly in front of them. It looked like 'she' was going to have a panic attack. "I told you to wait in the other green room at the back stage, so... what are you doing here?" she chuckled nervously as if to make light of the rude question.

Nicole's eyes bulged huge as she saw, how the ever polite Kelly speak to their guest like this. "I am so sorry. I got a call from home and there was no reception, so...", Anya trailed off guiltily,

"No need to apologize Ms. Khan", Nicole said quickly, "You are not somewhere you shouldn't be. Its perfectly alright" she said giving Kelly a warning look. What the hell is wrong with her today?

"So, what brings you to this show?" Nicole asked casually as she guided Anya to the front row seat. "Interested in the evening auction?" she asked as Anya sat down. Nicole moved to sit beside her but Kelly beat her to it and sat beside Anya and gave Nicole a sheepish smile, who looked at her with a frown. With no other option, she sat beside Kelly.

"No. I am here to meet Salim", Anya said with a smile. Nicole wasn't the jealous type, but the thought of a woman coming all the way to a fashion show just to meet her man, was a little disturbing. What's so urgent that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?

"Anything important?" she asked casually,

"You could say that. Only Salim can help me out", she added with a nostalgic look on her face. Nicole stared at the woman with narrowed eyes. She didn't like her now, as much as she did a few minutes ago.

Nicole was about to strike a conversation when Kelly interrupted by leaning forward and blocking Nicole from staring at Anya for too long, as if she was afraid Nicole would find out something she shouldn't. Nicole's frown deepened,

"Sam", she snapped. "My younger sister Sam", she said looking at both the woman. Anya and Nicole turned to her with a 'what about her' look.

"She went to Vegas with her boyfriend", she said with a awkward chuckle.

"Oh!" Nicole exclaimed excitedly, "That's great. I always wanted to go there, but I never got the chance. Lucky Sam", she said and looked at Anya for her opinion. Anya had a frown on her face,

"Are your parents okay with it?" she asked Kelly curiously,

"Uh.. no actually. She lied that she has an excursion and asked me to cover up for her", Kelly shrugged,

"A romantic getaway huh?!" Nicole smirked, "That's naughty", Kelly and she shared a giggle which Anya didn't find amusing at all.

"Isn't she just eighteen years old?" Anya asked with the same look,

"Yeah. She just turned eighteen last month. This trip is a gift from her boyfriend for her birthday",

"Isn't it illegal to go to Vegas for eighteen year olds?" she asked, her tone radiating disapproval, which made Kelly squirm in her seat. Nicole knew she was regretting to bring this topic up right now,

"It's okay Anya. They are teenagers. That's what they do. Experience new things and have fun", Nicole said quickly coming to the rescue of her friend.

"Fun? If something goes wrong, then they will know 'fun'!" she snapped and shook her head at Kelly. "How could you do this to your parents", she asked.

"What did I do? And where did my parents come from?" Kelly asked, her voice raising an octave.

"You know how religious they are. What will they say when they find out about Sam's little adventure", she asked

"Firstly, our parents are religious. We aren't. And secondly, they will never know", Kelly shrugged, her voice laced with irritation.

"Yeah? What if something goes wrong in Vegas? Who will be responsible then?" she asked crossing her arms against her chest. Nicole was too shocked to say something. She had a lot of snarky comebacks but she didn't want to risk an argument with a woman who could be Salim's friend.

"Wrong? Like what? Like getting arrested for illegally trespassing Vegas? Or getting killed by Jake the ripper?" Nicole never heard so much sarcasm from Kelly,

"When I say wrong, they don't have to get killed or arrested. They could get into an accident for instance", she said calmly

"Oh right. Like they can't get into an accident if they are driving in New York or any other city perhaps", she hummed thoughtfully in sarcasm. Anya's nose flared and she could say the woman was getting angry.

"Your parents trust you both and this isn't the way you should pay them back. And going to Vegas isn't a small thing and that too with a boyfriend", she said.

"What's wrong with Kayden? He is a decent guy, I have met him before", Kelly frowned.

" Oh please. You know very well why he is taking Sam to Vegas for a weekend. Do you really think his intentions are honorable?" Anya asked,

"Geez! They might have s*x, what is the big deal about it? She is eighteen. She can make that decision for herself. I don't need to interfere and neither do you", she said venomously.

"What would your parents say about it? Do you guys have no respect for them?" she asked in a low dangerous voice.

"Enough okay", Kelly snapped and stood up. "We love our parents and we don't need to prove it to a shallow person like you. She lied to them because she didn't want to hurt them by telling them the truth because they are religious and won't approve of such trips. We don't hate our parents for asking us to follow their footsteps. But at the same time, we aren't so spineless to kill our desires and live our life half heartedly. I am working in the fashion industry, against my parents wishes because I love my work. Sam went to Vegas because she is on love with her boyfriend. Unlike 'you'" she spat pointing an accusing finger at Anya, "Some people fight for what they love. They just don't give up and run away under the fear of parents, society and culture", she yelled.

By this time Nicole was standing and gaping at an enraged Kelly with wide eyes. She never heard so much emotion from Kelly and the speech she just gave made her all the more curious about Anya. Who is she?

Kelly took a deep breath and when she opened her eyes, she looked calm. Calm but angry, determined yet cold. She looked Anya straight in the eye and said "Not everyone is a coward like you, Mrs. Anya Shahid Khan".

With those last words, Kelly left the two woman, one standing and the other standing, both shell shocked and walked out of the room. As Nicole's eyes followed Kelly's exit, she saw Salim standing there with his hands shoved into his pockets and a hard look on his face. Nicole was caught in his stare, which was directed into an empty space. She moved her eyes slowly from his distant looking face and glanced at Anya. She had tears running down her face which she didn't attempt to wipe.

She sat there, crying silently. Nicole didn't know how to console the woman or why she was crying.

Was it because of what Kelly said or was there some other reason.

"Anya", Salim's voice snapped her back towards him. She stared at his passive face, when suddenly she was brushed aside by Anya who got up and ran towards him, with wide arms. Salim's arms enveloped her in a comforting hug as sobs racked through her body.

She didn't hear what they were whispering to each other. Not because they were at a distance but because the sound of her shattered heart was too loud to hear anything else. She felt numb as she saw them embrace each other like long lost lovers.

She didn't even realize where her legs were leading her, all she knew was, she had to get away from there, before she lost her last of the senses too.