Read Superstar for Free Online Page A

to leave, but Mark's soft voice halted her.
    "Carrin."
    Carrin turned
to face the man she had insulted earlier. He smoked a cheroot, a
brandy snifter in one hand, and his eyes were shadowed with
fatigue.
    "I don't know
what I've done to offend you, but I wish you'd tell me so that I
can make amends."
    Carrin
experienced a weird mixture of emotions so strong that she longed
to turn and run. His soft voice and the sincerity with which he
spoke warmed her heart and sent a pang of remorse through her. It
was as if her dream had come to life. Alarm bells sounded in her
brain, however, and her hackles rose. She had heard that same soft,
sincere tone in his films. It was as easy for him to fake now as it
was then. He was a charmer, and whatever he had planned for her, he
obviously needed her co-operation, so he was trying to lull her
into thinking that he was a nice guy. She steeled herself, refusing
to look at that famous, beautiful face and his intense eyes that
pierced her soul, studying her feet instead.
    "Nothing.
You've done nothing. I'm sorry for what I said; it wasn't meant the
way it sounded."
    "I see." He
puffed the cheroot. "Then you wouldn't mind coming out with me to a
function I must attend on Friday?"
    Carrin's
head jerked up, and she stared at him. Was this it? Why on earth
would he want to take her when he had Jenna? Was he using her to
make Jenna jealous? How ridiculous. Aware that he was waiting, she
blurted, "What about Jenna?"
    He
ground out the cheroot with his boot. "Jenna’s going with Simon
Grey."
    Carrin
frowned. What the hell was going on? At the dinner party, Jenna had
not had any time for Simon Grey. Now she was going out with Simon?
She had left Mark? Just last night they had made love, and now she
was with another man? Things moved too fast for a simple country
girl, in Hollywood. Mark still waited for her answer, and she put
aside her pride to tell the truth. No other excuse would
do.
    "I don't have
anything to wear."
    "Ah. Yes, I
noticed. If you don't object, I can order a dress for you."
    Carrin
suppressed a gasp. She did object, most strongly! She would not
accept expensive gifts from a man she barely knew. Mark must have
divined her objection, for he held up a hand before she could air
it.
    "On loan."
    Carrin
considered his suggestion, which was more reasonable. She could not
think of another valid excuse, and besides, it sounded rather
exciting, going to a function on the arm of a world-famous actor.
If he was using her, then she would use him too.
    As if worried
that she needed more persuading, Mark added, "It will be good
publicity for you. There will be lots of producers, directors and
such there. I'll introduce you."
    She smiled.
"I'd like that very much."
    "What, being
introduced?"
    "No, going
with you."
    "Ah." He
seemed startled. "Well good. How's the screenplay coming
along?"
    "Very
well."
    Mark sipped
his brandy. "I'll take you to a boutique tomorrow, okay?"
    She nodded.
"Sure."
    An awkward
silence fell, then Mark said, "Good night."
    He entered the
house, and Carrin stared after him. He seemed so nice, but she knew
what a cold-hearted man he really was. He was just a good actor,
she told herself. The problem was, he was always acting.
    The next day,
at lunchtime, Helen came into the room where Carrin was working to
announce that Mr Lord was ready to take her to the boutique. Carrin
saved her work and stood up, not missing the angry glint in Helen's
eyes. Downstairs, Mark waited in the car, talking on the phone as
before. He hung up when she climbed in and cast her a slight,
inscrutable smile. She returned it stiffly, and he looked away. On
the way to the boutique, he asked about the screenplay and she
discussed her changes with him, the conversation business-like.
Mark donned sunglasses when they left the car, but still, people
stopped to stare, and a few started forward as if to intercept him.
Carrin followed him into the shop's cool confines, and the door was
closed to the public.
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