Superstar by T C Southwell Read Free Book Online Page A

director's unsure. They're there in an
advisory capacity. Naturally the director has the final say,
because he knows what works on film. Often even the actors are
consulted, since they have to play the part. And there will be
changes; rewrites, additions, editing, that kind of thing."
    She considered
this. "So I'll have to be here when - if you film it?"
    "You should
be."
    "And it could
take months to shoot?"
    He smiled.
"Usually. This one will, because it involves a lot of action and
stunt work."
    Carrin stared at the dessert that she had mashed into an
unappetising mess. It had been a fruit salad, but now it looked
more like vomit. The idea of spending months working with him every
day, and giving advice on her brainchild appealed to her. Could she
keep her feelings hidden from him for so long? It would be a mammoth task. One
slip and her secret would be out. She would be the laughing stock,
and Mark Lord would have conquered another hapless heart. She could
just imagine the sneers that would follow her, a silly little
country mouse hopelessly in love with a mighty superstar so far out
of her reach that it was ridiculous. If she had to be around
though, what choice did she have? It was a bittersweet situation. Her
longing to be near him was offset by her wish to escape the
hopeless situation. She looked up, and caught him watching her
again. This time he did not look away, his eyes were already
guarded.
    "Couldn't it
be done on the phone?" she suggested. "You know, if the director
has a question, he could phone me."
    "No." His
reply was flat, then he tempered it. "You'd have to see what was
going on, and you can't do that over the phone."
    She sighed.
"Then I guess I'll have to be there, won't I?"
    Mark smiled,
and she glimpsed the boyishness that came with it. "It'll be
fun."
    "They still
might not make the movie, anyway."
    Mark
shrugged and turned his attention back to his dessert. The topic of
conversation changed to hobbies, and she discovered that they
shared a love of horses and fast cars, good books and fine art. She
was surprised by how much they had in common, and how much she
enjoyed his company. He also appeared to enjoy himself, and became
quite animated on some topics. He had a quick wit and an excellent
sense of humour, as well as an extensive knowledge of her favourite
subjects. His expression became unguarded, and on several occasions
she glimpsed warmth in his eyes. He even chuckled at some of her
wittier remarks, although he still did not smile properly. It
seemed as if they could become good friends, and her suspicions
appeared to be ridiculous. Time flew past, and only when Carrin
started to yawn did she realise how late it was, and went to
bed.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    The next
morning, she came downstairs to find that Mark had gone out. The
shy maid brought her coffee in the room where she worked on her
screenplay. Working on the computer renewed her anger at the loss
of her changes, and she asked the maid where Helen was.
    "Mr Lord
dismissed her last night, Miss York," the girl replied. "He ordered
her to pack and leave immediately, so she's gone."
    Carrin stared
at her. "I see."
    So her
suspicions had been right, and Mark had known that it was Helen.
The girl went on, "She was terribly upset. There was quite a scene
after you retired."
    "I'll bet,"
Carrin muttered. "How did Mr Lord know it was her?"
    "Who wiped out
your file?"
    Carrin
nodded.
    "She worked
with computers before she came here, so she knew how to do it. He
made her admit it before he fired her, anyway."
    Carrin
wondered how he had done that, but perhaps it was better that she
did not know. She let the girl go and returned to the mammoth task
that now faced her.
    By lunchtime,
she needed a break, and went into the garden to stretch her legs.
It was pleasant to walk amongst the clipped hedges and bright
flowerbeds. The garden at her home was a sorry collection of tough
shrubs that hardly ever had a flower on them. A sound behind her
made