Superstar (26 page)

Carrin found
her mouth dry at Mark's soft, menacing tone and the complete
confidence with which he spoke. Birdie was a tough character,
however.

He snarled, "I
could have my goons arrange a little accident for one of your
friends here, or even you. How'd you like that, huh?"

Mark turned
and pressed a button on the desk. After a moment, Birdie's voice
repeated the words from concealed speakers behind them. The singer
made an ugly sound.

"I'll get more
photos of the bitch."

Mark shook his
head. "I doubt it, but if you do, you'll only hurt her. I won't be
dragged down too, even if it costs me."

"I want my
money, you bastard, and I'm going to get it!" He stood up, glaring
at Mark. "You think you're such a big shot, but you're not. I'll
make you sorry."

Mark murmured,
"If you try anything, I'll make sure no record company will ever
touch you again. I can ruin you a lot easier than you can me."

Birdie snarled
and headed for the door. "You'll be sorry, you bastard!"

He slammed it
behind him as Mark muttered, "Don't let the door hit you on the
butt on the way out."

Carrin let out
the breath that she discovered she had been holding in a huge sigh.
Simon drained his glass and poured another drink. Mark lit a
cheroot.

"Well, that
was entertaining, wasn't it?"

Simon looked
haggard. "What if he causes trouble, like he threatened?"

"That's all
hot air. He won't do a thing, because he knows that what I've said
is true. Without the photos, he can't prove the story isn't
slander, and no magazine will touch it. He can't do any of us any
harm now because we have his threat on tape. What can he do? If
Janice is stupid enough to go back to his place, I'll simply have
to have her fired, recast and re-shoot. Harold will agree."

"That'll put
you way over budget," Simon pointed out.

"I know, but
she won't go back, not after what I had to say about it."

Carrin
finished her drink and sighed. "Well, all our troubles are over,
then. Let's go out to the patio, it's stuffy in here."

Mark
opened the doors, and they walked out into the sunshine. Carrin
headed for the patio furniture and settled under the umbrella that
shaded it. A splashing came from the pool, and the make-up girl
emerged, clad in a bikini. She was pretty in a cute, barbidoll way,
with pale blonde hair, blue eyes and a lithe, tanned body. Simon
grinned at her, and Carrin saw new possibilities there too. Mark
held out a towel for her, and she dried her face with
it.

"Patsy, I'd
like you to meet Carrin and Simon. Two friends of mine."

Patsy grinned
and shook hands all around, then turned adoring eyes on Mark. "I
think we should offer them a drink, don't you, Mark?"

He
nodded. Carrin smiled at the girl, liking her already. She was
playing the little hostess, which was guaranteed to rub Mark up the
wrong way. At Mark's gesture, a maid appeared with a selection of
soft drinks, and they all took one. Mark and Simon sat, and Patsy
pulled her chair close to Mark's. Carrin sat back to watch the
drama unfold. Patsy started to prattle, and Simon joined in. Mark
tried to look interested, but was clearly bored. Patsy clung to his
arm, dripped on his jacket, and all but climbed into his lap.
Whenever Patsy seemed to be flagging, Carrin asked a trivial
question about the latest scandals, which set the girl off again
with renewed enthusiasm.

Once Mark
rolled his eyes, but otherwise he seemed to have the patience of a
saint. Rita served lunch, and Patsy picked at hers, claiming to be
on a diet. Carrin asked which one, and Patsy was off again, clearly
on a pet subject. Even Simon was starting to look a little vague
and glassy-eyed. Eventually it was he who rescued Mark, albeit
unintentionally, by asking to speak to him privately. Mark agreed
with alacrity, and they excused themselves, effectively dumping
Patsy on Carrin. However, Carrin was not without a plan for this
contingency too.

As soon as the
men left, she leant forward and said, "Patsy, you're so lucky to
catch a famous actor like Mark Lord. Are you two planning on tying
the knot?"

Patsy looked
uncertain. "Well, we only met yesterday." She giggled. "Do you
really think I've caught him?"

"I think he's
besotted with you. The way he looks at you, and the way he smiles,
can't you see it?"

"Well, now
that you mention it..."

"I've known
Mark for a while, and I think you're just the kind of girl he
needs."

Patsy grinned.
"Really? He seems a bit distant sometimes."

"Definitely.
You're so cheerful. He needs to laugh more, he's far too serious. I
think you'll do wonders for him."

Patsy
squirmed. "Oh, I still can't believe my luck! I was amazed when he
started talking to me yesterday. I mean, me, a make-up girl, with
Mark Lord. It's a dream come true!"

"Of course it
is."

Carrin pitied
the girl, knowing exactly how it felt to be in love with Mark. She
wanted to tell Patsy to go away, go home, and get as far away as
she could before she got hurt. Patsy would never give up the
chance, however, no matter how slight, of landing a superstar like
Mark Lord. Unlike herself, who had more sense than to entertain
such ridiculous notions. Hopefully Patsy would not fall past the
infatuation stage, and bounce back quickly. She spotted Mark and
Simon returning. Mark scowled, but his expression changed to a
neutral one when he drew nearer.

Carrin decided
that she had done enough and got up. "Excuse me, Patsy, but I
really must be going. I have to do some shopping this afternoon and
besides, I'm sure you two want to be alone."

Patsy giggled
and nodded, gazing at Mark with her heart in her eyes. Carrin left
her at the table and intercepted the two men.

"Simon, let's
go, I have some things to do today. You can drop me off and come
back if you like, but I have to go."

Mark smiled,
looking vaguely triumphant. He probably thought that he was getting
to her, and she could not stand to see them together, but he was
wrong. Now that she knew it was a ploy, she did not care. She was
careful not to overdo her act, and did not cling to Simon or make
any comments about the happy couple. Keep it simple.

Simon was
amenable, and took his leave of Mark. In the limousine, he asked,
"What do you have to do this afternoon?"

"Buy a dress.
We're going out tonight, remember?"

"Oh,
yeah."

"Try and sound
a little enthusiastic."

"You're just
trying to make Mark jealous."

She laughed.
"No I'm not. I'm glad he's found someone nice, and Patsy is a
lovely girl. I just feel like going out and having some fun, don't
you? I've been cooped up in a trailer in the desert for a
week."

Carrin wished
that she could take Simon into her confidence, but he was Mark's
best friend, and would undoubtedly tell him. In truth, she was not
trying to make Mark jealous, for in order for him to get jealous,
he would have to feel something for her, wouldn't he? No, she was
just showing him that his little affair meant nothing to her. If
she was going to stay his friend, he must never find out how she
really felt.

Simon dropped
her off at her hotel and went home, after agreeing to pick her up
at seven. Carrin caught a taxi and spent the afternoon in a
glorious shopping spree. She bought several lovely dresses and some
more make up, then went back to the hotel to bath and get ready.
She donned a sparkling silver sequined dress and high heels, a
silver necklace and earrings to match. In front of the mirror, she
did her best to imitate Anne's professional make up, and was well
pleased with the results. She didn't look like Patricia Merril, but
she did look quite glamorous.

When Simon
arrived to pick her up, he whistled. "Wow, you look great."

"Thanks." She
smiled and slipped her arm through his as they exited the
hotel.

In the car,
she asked, "Where are we going?"

"A little club
I know, very exclusive."

Very
dark too, no doubt, Carrin thought. That would not do. As they
drove through the city, she kept her eyes peeled, and soon spotted
what she was looking for. A brightly lighted club, thronging with
people, fans and. best of all, paparazzi. She prodded
Simon.

"Let's go
there."

His face fell.
"Oh, no, that's a place where small time celebrities go, and 'B'
list actors. It's crawling with press."

"It looks like
fun. Come on, don't be a spoilsport."

Simon stared
at her in despair, and she leant forward to tap the glass that
separated them from the driver.

"Driver, pull
up there." She pointed to the club.

Simon groaned
as the long maroon limousine slid into the brightly lit area in
front of the club. A liveried flunky opened the door, and Carrin
slid out, pulling him after her. The paparazzi went wild at the
sight of Simon Grey, and a blinding barrage dazzled Carrin as she
clung to his arm. Simon took it in his stride, smiling and waving,
stopping to sign a few autographs. Inside the club, Carrin gazed
around at the plush, tasteful decor. Gloomy niches hid intimate
couples, and tables were dotted around a dance floor. People hailed
Simon, and they joined a group of young actors whom he knew.

The evening
passed pleasantly. Carrin danced with Simon and a good many other
men, enjoyed a delicious supper and tried a variety of new drinks.
Simon got a bit drunk and a little loud, but when she asked him to
take her home, he complied. The indefatigable paparazzi snapped
their picture as they left, and then they were whispering back to
the hotel in Simon's limousine. She gave him a peck on the cheek
out of sheer gratitude when she said goodnight, and went into the
hotel.

Carrin spent
the weekend alone. She did some shopping, visited a park and fed
the ducks, saw a few movies and worked on the script. She wondered
how Mark was getting on with Patsy, and the knowledge that her
revenge would be sweet comforted her.

On Monday she
drove back to the location with Warren, who phoned and asked her if
she wanted a lift. She greeted Mark cheerfully, noticing that he
looked a little frayed around the edges. For two days, she ignored
his flirting with Patsy and treated him with polite
friendliness.

On
Wednesday, the muck hit the fan. She was in the trailer, working on
some dialogue changes when the door was ripped open, and Mark
stormed in. Carrin braced herself. The make-up girl and stuntwoman
who were relaxing on the sofa fled. Mark slammed a glossy magazine
down on her script so hard some pages blew off the table. Carrin
did not blink.

"You spent a
slutty weekend with Simon!"

Carrin glanced
down at the photo on the open page of the magazine. It was a good
one of her and Simon at the door of the club. The caption read,
'Simon Grey, out on the town with Carrin York, screenwriter for
Mark Lord's new film, Deadly Games.' She raised her eyes to meet
Mark's furious ones.

"We went out
on Friday, that's all."

Mark placed
his hands on the table and leant closer. "Didn't I warn you about
him? What the hell are you playing at? You'll go out with him but
not me?"

"We went out
as friends. He wasn't looking for a bed-warmer."

He growled,
"Simon's always looking for a bed-warmer."

"No, he
respects me. We're friends."

"Oh, now
you're friends? Just last week he was only an acquaintance!"

She shrugged.
"Well that's how it works, acquaintances become friends."

"And then
lovers."

"Not
necessarily."

"Why are you
doing this to me?"

Carrin shook
her head. "I'm not doing anything to you. I wanted to go out,
that's all. Since when is that a crime?"

"Why
Simon?"

"He's a
friend, and I know he's okay. He's not going to get drunk and
stupid like Tony."

He stabbed the
magazine with a finger. "Why that club, where the paparazzi hang
around? You wanted me to see this, didn't you? You wanted to make
me angry, jealous!"

She stood up.
"I liked the look of the place, as if it's any of your business,
and you're not jealous, you're just having an ego attack because
you think Simon will succeed where you failed."

Mark slammed
his fists down on the table, making her jump. He looked dangerously
furious. "Dammit, Carrin! Don't tell me I'm not jealous. I know
what I feel!"

"It's a good
act. When I turned you down, you ran off and sweet-talked Patsy, so
don't tell me you feel anything for me, because it's a lie."

With a roar,
Mark swept everything off the table and smashed it aside. He
grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back against the wall. "If
Simon lays a hand on you, I'll kill him! You're playing a dangerous
game with me!"

His sudden
violence frightened her. Helen's bruised face sprang unbidden into
her mind, and she recoiled. Defiance came to her rescue. "I'm not
playing a game. I can go out with whomever I like, whenever I want.
You found a bed warmer, and I went out with Simon, that's all there
is to it."

He banged his
fist on the wall beside her head, and she flinched. "What does it
take to get through to you?" he yelled. "What the hell do I have to
do?"

"Seducing a make-up girl doesn't make me think any better
of you."

"I didn't
seduce her! I wanted to make you feel something, dammit! Do you
think I would stoop so low?"

Carrin wished
that he was not so close, almost pressing her against the wall, and
she had no retreat. His anger made her regret the whole stupid idea
that had caused this. She had not expected such a violent
reaction.