“People are afraid to be vulnerable. I was afraid but I am now going to allow my heart and mind to say what I must.” And with that little sentence, he let everyone know just how scared he had been through the past three months, alone, struggling to keep himself sane.

  “When did you first meet Keira?” The reporter got straight to the point.

  “When we started shooting for a movie, she was a guest appearance.” Was Cage’s prompt reply.

  “When you were shooting, her close friend that you found solace in each other’s company and became good friends,” the reporter read out from the paper, a stoic expression on his face.

  Cage shook his head. “I found her to be professional. She came with her dialogues and preparation for every stunt or scene. She gave everything to the camera. So, I was grateful for her effort. I was extremely impressed.” He gulped the lump in his throat as he looked back at the man questioning him. “I must have mentioned that to her. She even told me that I inspired her to get back into acting when she saw my picture in a newspaper… I was flattered.” And he sounded dumbfounded that someone who had said those words could turn around and stab him in the back.

  “Being inspired is one thing and being in love is another,” the reporter said gruffly.

  “I am simply telling you what I know. I took it as a compliment. The other conversations we had were about movies and work related matters.” Cage continued.

  “She did another film with you, am I right? And she said that you pleaded with her to take up the role?” The question was quizzical but it was meant to press him for personal information and judgement on what was said.

  “The scriptwriter did go to her and tell her that her role was important. She had problems with the part and how it would affect her career,” he said in a soft voice.

  “There was no relationship?” The reporter asked. The answer came instantaneously.

  “No. None. I wonder if my need to please my actors may have led her on in some way. It’s just something I am wondering. If asking professional questions and applauding her performance is considered… leading on… I don’t know. She… really is a dedicated actor.”
The three knew that he didn’t want to drag the actress too much, probably because he didn’t want it any bigger than it already was. But actually thinking that he had led her on… None of the three thought that was the case. The woman was delusional, everyone in the industry knew a little about how crazy she was. It wasn’t all that awe inspiring to see her resort to such measures.

  “You were being encouraging and professional, in your opinion. This is not a relationship.”
“There was no relationship.” He said again. For all he knew it was going to be his new chant. No relationship.

  “You were invited to the same birthday parties. What was your dynamic with her?” Another question thrown out to show that they might have been involved. Another pointy question.

  “This was while we were shooting the film and they were part of my team,” he explained.

  “Everyone keeps saying… There is no smoke without fire. You were invited to the same parties!” The reporter continued, clearly insinuating something more.

  “There were about hundred other people in those parties. I didn’t single her out of those people. I barely knew her.” Of course, such parties have huge number of staff and celebrities attending, that didn’t mean that any two people attending were seeing each other.

  “Was there any moment where you recollect… where you began to get worried… where you saw something else? That from her side there was a misunderstanding.” Okay, this was a better question, Katherine thought. It wasn’t trying to implicate Cage, but instead giving him the benefit of doubt that there was some sort of a misunderstanding.

  “We were up at a party for a schedule,” he began, thinking back to it. “—where at the end, I was ready to retire for the night and she requested if she could ask me some questions. I was tired so I told her that we could chat in the morning during the flight. I went away to my room and ordered for room service. Someone knocked at the door and suspicious old me peeped through the hole. It was her knocking on the door and I didn’t think she was in the right state of mind to open that door.” All these words were said matter-of-factly… like he wasn’t placing any judgment on her.

  “Like what?” the reporter asked.

  “It was a party. There were drinks involved. I called my assistant and asked her to take her to her room.” His voice was deliberate.

  “So the woman tried to seduce him,” Angelina hissed out. Katherine looked at her friend and then back at the screen.

  “It could be something else,” she shrugged. “You’re just jealous they are being tied together,” Lily commented without looking at either of them. “And who knows… the entertainment industry is full of lies. He could be doing this to spoil her reputation while acting gracious.”
“I don’t think you should talk about our hero like that,” Katherine said, giving her a pointed look.

  “Just saying that there is a chance. The darkness in the industry can swallow just about anyone. No one is immune.”
“What do you think she wanted to speak to you about?” the reporter asked, the conversation was stopped as they focused back on the television.

  “Probably about what she wanted to earlier that evening. Her manager came up to me and apologized for her artist’s behaviour while drunk and I was okay with it. I even told her to tell ‘her’ not to feel embarrassed.” He sounded grounded and like he was just saying the facts. Nothing less. Katherine was actually impressed by how confident he sounded despite saying that he was uncomfortable in front of the reporter. She really commended his stand.

  “Did she speak to you after that?”