Thrill! by Jackie Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

her again. Somehow she managed to ignore the nagging voice of her subconscious that kept assuring her he would.
     
    Patsy Boon, his acting coach, was a big brassy Australian blond, who favoured billow)"
    kaftans and addressed him as
    "sweetie'.
    "Do it this way, sweetie."
     
    "'Never slouch, sweetie."
     
    "Pitch is everything, sweetie."
     
    Patsy chain-drank tea and spent half her time in the bathroom, but she gave him confidence. He hadn't acted in six years and he needed the reassurance that he could still do it.
     
    Of course he immediately charmed Patsy, and she soon offered extra coaching for free.
     
    By the time he set off on location, he felt pretty secure he was ready to deliver a worthy performance - one that might get him noticed and back on track. Fuck it. He had no time to waste.
     
    As soon as he arrived in the Hamptons, Madelaine called.
    "What's the hotel like?"
    she asked.
     
    "Small, nothin"
    fancy."
     
    38
    "I thought I might come down for the weekend - spend a couple of days."
     
    "That'd be great, Maddy."
     
    ]vfo. It wouldn't. Didn't want the cast and crew knowing he vvas schtupping the old bag. Even worse - an agent old bag. They'd all think she'd gotten him the part. Truth was she hadn't. His talent had gotten him the part. His presence.
     
    He was smart enough not to put her off. At the last minute he'd think of something to keep her safely in New York.
     
    He was supposed to go straight to the wardrobe trailer and get fitted for his clothes. Instead he took a stroll around, getting his bearings. Parked behind the hotel were the huge mobile movie trailers, lined up like a long circus procession. Clothes, make-up, camera equipment, props, lighting, the stars"
    trailers, and a scattering of trucks and cars driven by union men who sat around swapping dirty jokes and playing cards. Joey checked out the names on the stars"
    trailers. Kyle Carson and Lara Ivory. One of these days maybe his name would be on the side of a trailer. Joey Lorenzo. That would be a day to make him proud.
     
    After exploring, he went back to his room and took a shot of vodka from the minibar. It wasn't like he had a drinking problem, he simply wanted to be as relaxed and charming as possible when he hit the set.
     
    The truth was he wanted everyone to love him.
     
    39

Chapter Seven
    ^^^^Jfl
    "I WANT to read the script before anyone else,"
    ^^^Pi^P^A Lara said, holding the phone away from her ear as Roxy, her hair person, attempted to streak her hair, folding thin strands of honey-blond locks into skinny strips of tinfoil.
     
    "You loved the book that much?"
    Nikki exclaimed excitedly.
     
    "Couldn't put it down. I was up all night reading. I look like Quasimodo today."
     
    "Yeah, sure,"
    muttered Roxy.
    "In a freakin"
    pig's ear."
    Roxy was a Brooklyn girl with razor-cut bright-red hair, a skinny body, and several fierce-looking body piercings. She'd done Lara's hair on three movies and they had a congenial working relationship.
     
    "I should have something I'm happy with soon,"
    Nikki said.
    "Maybe I'll deliver it myself, spend a day or two."
     
    "Will Richard allow you to do that?"
     
    "'Allow me!"
    Nikki said, laughing.
    "Are you serious? Besides, when we get back to LA he'll be shut in the editing rooms eighteen hours a day - you know what he's like when he's finishing a movie."
     
    "Yes, I remember,"
    Lara said, recalling many long and lonely nights.
     
    "I'm completely psyched you like the book!"
    Nikki said.
     
    "It's very empowering."
     
    "True story. I met the woman it happened to, she's a real survivor."
     
    "Get me a script as soon as possible,"
    Lara said.
    "If it's as strong as the book, we're in business."
     
    40
    "Oh, wow! This is crazy."
     
    "Why?"
     
    "
    "Cause there's no way we can afford you."
     
    "How about scale and a piece of the action?"
     
    "Quinn would never let you do that."
     
    "I spoke to him this morning."
     
    "You didr
    "He may think he controls my career - the truth