Bedmates Soulmates

The Actress Was 'Cancelled'

Kai found his boss cooling his heels in the carpark behind the hospital.

Austyn was on his second cigarette.

'Boss, I've got the footage."

Kal received the order from Austyn fifteen minutes ago.

He immediately called Chief Douglas, who hemmed and hawed.

But in the end, the chief emailed the footage to Kal with great reluctance.

After Kira and Giana were cuffed and taken away, the police canvassed the area and found one functioning traffic camera fifteen metres away from the scene.

I've cued up the video. Kai handed his phone to Austyn

He'd also made a quick stop at the police station to retrieve Kira's and Giana's belongings.

Kira's phone, wallet and backpack were sealed in a plastic evidence bag.

Austyn ground out the cigarette with his heel, then he hit 'play."

Kayleigh's Rolls-Royce came into view.

It stopped.

The bodyguard got out and opened the rear left door.

Kira's face appeared.

Then a commotion inside the car.

Kayleigh scrambling out of the car.

Kira giving chase.

Frank stepping in to intervene, tackling Kira to the ground.

Kayleigh pulling on Kira's hair, slapping her face, again and again.

Even on the grainy video shot some distance away, the agony on Kira's face was plain to see.

There was no sound.

Austyn gripped the phone so hard that his knuckles turned white.

He forced himself to continue watching the silent horror movie.

Kira was on the ground, the bodyguard's knee on her back.

Kayleigh stood over her, tall and arrogant.

The actress raised one leg.

Her stiletto heel was about to come down on Kira's face.

Austyn resisted the urge to hurl the phone away.

He gritted his teeth.

Luckily, Glana flew out of a taxi and made a mad dash to save Kira.

She fought off Kayleigh...

But the bodyguard was too strong for her.

Soon, Giana was overpowered.

Kayleigh kicked her in the stomach.

Kira scrambled up from the ground, picked up a brick and flung it at Kayleigh.

Austyn couldn't see the bleeding from the footage, but Kayleigh's face was contorted with pain and rage.

Frank tended to her and made some calls.

A police car and an ambulance showed up quickly.

Kira and Giana were hauled off the ground.

Officers slapped a pair of handcuffs on each and took them away in the police car.

Austyn played the video again.

Kai watched his boss with bated breath and feared for the safety of his phone.

He'd just got his iPhone 14.

It was less than a day old.

Luckily, his boss returned the phone to him in one piece.

Kal exhaled.

Austyn's face was as impassive as ever, but Kai had been with him long enough to know there was a storm brewing just below the surface.

The level of his wrath was inversely proportional to the decibel of his voice.

Kai had watched the video five times on the way over here.

He knew it spelt doom for the actress.

Kayleigh had gone so far beyond the line that there was no coming back from it.

She'd let Austyn's indulgence of her go to her head.

'Kai.'

'Yes, Boss. The assistant straightened up, ready to take notes.

'Cancel Kayleigh's activities. TV roles, interviews, red carpet events, everything. And pull her contracts, including all the endorsement deals. Send word to her agent. She's not to book any new gig for Kayleigh without my say-so." "For how long, Boss?

*For a year, starting today."

Kai winced.

Twelve months were donkey's years in showbiz.

For an actress to be shelved that long, she might as well just up and quit.

Kayleigh Woods was effectively 'cancelled."

Kai knew the actress wasn't going to get off scot-free this time, but even he'd underestimated Austyn's

The Artizes Was 'Cancelled

wrath.

It was a lesson Kayleigh wasn't going to forget anytime soon.

But then, she had it coming.

"Yes, Boss. I'll get it done by the end of today."

Austyn paused outside the ward.

No sound came from inside.

He turned the doorknob.

Both women were fast asleep.

Giana was lying on her back with her arms by her side.

Kira was on the other bed, curled up into a ball with her knees drawn up to her chest.

Austyn pulled the door shut noiselessly.

He set down the bag containing the properties retrieved from the police station, then he moved to stand by Kira's bedside.

Her left cheek was crushed against the soft pillow.

Her right cheek, upon closer look, was swollen.

If he hadn't watched the footage, he would never know it was Kayleigh's doing.

The sight sent an arrow right through his heart.

Maybe one year's involuntary hiatus for the actress wasn't enough.

Austyn reached out a hand and caressed Kira's face.

If he pressed his finger with just a little bit more force, it left a red mark on her cheek.

Kira didn't stir.

She appeared dead to the world.

Austyn moved strand of stray hair out of her face.

'Mr McCarthy.

Austyn looked up.

Giana was sitting up in bed. 'I have a few questions I would like to ask you

'Shoot."

Glana squirmed under the man's unflinching gaze.

His inscrutable face-reminded her of her headmaster In primary school-a stern, unsmiling man already ready with a lecture.

'Kira told me about her marriage to you."

Austyn didn't speak, though he was slightly surprised.

There was no explicit clause in the contract prohibiting her from revealing the marriage, but Kira had been extremely tight-lipped about it. The Aftress Was Cancelledat

She got all flustered and fidgety every time the two of them were out in public.

She was terrified of having her photos taken together with Austyn.

She must be really close with Giana for her to share this secret.

Austyn waited for Giana to go on.

'She said the two of you have been married for a year."

He nodded.

'But,' Giana gripped a corner of her blanket, 'two months ago, I saw you and the actress Kayleigh on the

news."

She took a deep breath. 'Are you cheating on Kira?"