Escape Me Never by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online

awestruck. 'That's Serena Vance, the film star. And do you see who she's with?'
    'Yes,' Cass said. 'I do. Let's find our seats, Lloyd. Just because everyone else is staring at them doesn't mean we have to join in.'
    He gave her a surprised look. 'Aren't you interested?'
    'I shall have plenty of opportunity to study Miss Vance in depth next month,' Cass said drily. 'Didn't you know? She's doing the commercials for the
Eve
perfumes. Barney signed her two days ago.'
    Lloyd sighed. 'I knew the accounts department was the wrong one to belong to,' he said mournfully. 'Can you wangle me an introdction?'
    Cass laughed rather forcedly. 'You could probably take Roger's place. He met her with Barney, and came back moaning that he couldn't get anywhere near her because the scent she's currently using brings on his asthma.'
    'Well it obviously doesn't have the same effect on Mr Grant,' Lloyd said with a chuckle. 'Judging by the way she was clinging to his arm, she looked as if she'd been welded to him.'
    'What a boost to his ego that must be,' Cass muttered. 'As if he needed one.'
    Their seats were in the circle, and it took all her self-control not to lean forward and scan the stalls below.
    The play was as light as a bubble—a risque comedy about the efforts of a practised womaniser to seduce the beautiful divorcee who'd moved into the flat opposite his, and everyone except Cass seemed to think it riotous. I must be losing my sense of humour, she thought ruefully, as she joined in obediently with everyone else's amusement. Her sympathies were with the divorcee every step of the way.
    In the interval she allowed herself to be reluctantly persuaded to go for a drink. She stood in the shelter of a potted palm, and waited while Lloyd fought his way to the bar, her eyes sifting the crowd nervously. Her reactions, she thought, were totally unreasonable, but knowing that didn't alter them by one iota.
    And when Rohan's voice from behind her said coolly, 'Good evening,' she nearly jumped out of her skin.
    She said, 'Oh, hello' and looked wildly round for Lloyd's return.
    He said, 'Serena, this is Ms Linton the genius who is going to put
Eve
back on the map.'
    Serena Vance offered a token handshake, light and dismissive. She said plaintively, 'Darling, the curtain will be going up on the second act at any moment, and I'm dying for a drink. You ordered them didn't you? Do we have to stay huddled in this corner?'
    'Of course not,' Rohan turned to Cass. "May I get you something?'
    'No thank you,' She could see Lloyd struggling through the crowd with their drinks. 'My escort is just coming.'
    Serena Vance gave him the quick all encompassing glance Cass guessed she would give any man, and mentally wrote him off. It was charmingly done, with a smile and a handshake that lasted a great deal longer than the previous one, but Cass wasn't fooled. The fabulous Serena might light up like an electric bulb for any man, but visits to the power station would be strictly allocated according to money and power, she decided cynically.
    'Haswell?' Rohan was saying. 'You work at Finiston Webber too do you?'
    'In the Accounts department,' Lloyd confirmed, looking in a dazed way as if Christmas and his birthday had suddenly occurred on the same day.
    'How fascinating,' Serena drawled. 'And will you be personally involved in this commercial I'm making?'
    'Alas no.' Lloyd shook his head. 'It's Cassie here who's the ideas girl.'
    'Really?' Serena Vance gave Cass another, longer look. It seemed to Cass to be warning her not to get any ideas beyond those needed for the commercial, but she decided that was probably her imagination working overtime.
    People were beginning to stare at them, she noticed with embarrassment, nudging each other as they recognised Serena, peering at her companions and trying to place them in the same glamorous milieu.
    Rohan said easily, 'I'll get those drinks.'
    Serena watched him go, the full curves of her lovely painted mouth taking on a sudden