Lucy Gordon - Plain Jane in the Spotlight

But he didn’t believe it. All was far from well with a woman who could wear such a dead smile.

‘Well, I can see it solves one problem,’ he said cautiously.

‘It solves all the problems. Think of the catastrophe if I’d been pregnant while Lee… Ugh!’ She shivered. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’

Travis was troubled by an inner desire, as mysterious as it was illogical, to hear that she was saddened by the news. But she was bright, breezy, practical. And she froze his heart.

In the kitchen she made coffee, talking without stopping.

‘I’m really sorry to have given you all this trouble. Just think of me making so much fuss about nothing. You must be good ’n’ mad.’

‘Not at all,’ he said in an equally unrevealing voice. ‘These things happen. You have to deal with matters as they come up. Sooner or later we all of us-’

Stop burbling, Travis told himself in disgust.

‘I hope you don’t mind but I have to vanish,’ he told her. ‘I’ve got a lot of lines to learn. Goodnight.’

He grabbed a sandwich and fled to his room.

So all was well. A potentially awkward situation had vanished. He could continue on his way, planning, calculating, arranging things for his own benefit, doing everything with an eye on his career.

It was absurd to be disappointed at her sensible reaction. What had he expected?

As the light failed he rose and drew the curtains across the great windows, shutting out the view. Just to the side was Charlene’s window, already almost covered by curtain, with just a gap of a few inches left.

There she was, a shadow standing in the gap. Her light was off and in the near darkness it was hard to discern her. He switched off his own light so that he could watch, unobserved in the darkness.

She stood quite still, looking down at Los Angeles, then gazing up into the sky. Now he could see her face a little more clearly. It was sad, and there was a hint of tears on her cheeks. The mask had fallen away, revealing loneliness and despair.

Then she did something that broke his heart, leaning her head against the glass, clasping her arms about her body as though to protect herself from some unknown danger, and rocking back and forth.

That was the truth, he thought, cursing himself for stupidity. And she didn’t trust him enough to let him see her grief. How had he been so easily fooled?

For a few minutes he paced the floor, then walked out into the hall, heading for her room. But at her door he stopped, aghast at what he could hear from the other side.

‘What’s the next flight to London?’ came Charlene’s voice. ‘Midday tomorrow? Right, I’d like to book a ticket-’

The crash of her door being thrown open made her look up. ‘Hey, what are you doing? Give me that phone.’

‘Like hell!’ Travis said, shutting it down. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘Booking my flight home.’

‘And no thought for anyone else,’ he raged. ‘Who cares about the damage you’ll do to me? I put my neck on the line for you, Charlene. I’ve done everything I could to help you. And this is how you thank me. People saw us together, it gave them ideas. Just how do you think I’ll look if they know you’ve fled the country without a backward glance? They’ll laugh themselves sick. I can just hear them-Guess he must be losing his touch! Ho, ho, ho!

‘I didn’t make an issue of this when Lee was still in the picture, but now it’s different. You can rescue me or make a fool of me, and you didn’t give me a thought.’

‘Travis, please, I didn’t realise-’

‘No, you didn’t. I still have problems about that lap dancer. Brenton isn’t giving up, and you’re the only person who can help. So what do you do? Abandon me.’

‘I’m sorry. You’re right; I do owe you some help.’

‘Yes, I think you do, but of course if you don’t want to bother-’ he retorted.

‘I do, I do! I just didn’t think-I’m really sorry-tell me what to do.’

‘I want you to stay here, in this apartment. Let the world think we’re a couple.’

‘But will that help your image? If people believe we’re living together-is that respectable?’

‘It is these days. At one time it would have been a scandal, but now a lot of unmarried couples share a home, and as long as they’re faithful to each other nobody thinks anything of it. It’s lap dancers that get you into trouble. While you’re here, you’re my protection against Brenton and his nasty tricks.’

‘All right; you give the orders.’

‘That’s what I like to hear.’

She was baffling, he thought. Nobody, seeing her now, could have suspected the agonised despair that had consumed her only a few minutes ago. She must be a better actress than he’d realised.

But then, his own performance had been admirable. Outraged pride, indignation at her ‘ingratitude’; these had been master strokes born of desperation. When he’d thought of her returning to England to sit alone in an empty house, he’d known that he had to stop her at all costs. So he’d assumed a new character, aggressive, self-centred, as different from the real Travis as it was possible to get.

If he said it himself, it had been an award-winner of a performance.

At her bedroom door he said, ‘You’ll still be here tomorrow?’

‘Word of honour.’

‘Goodnight. Sleep tight.’

He walked away without even the briefest backward glance. It took a lot of self-control, but he was getting good at that.

AT BREAKFAST next day Travis said, ‘Has Lee called you?’

‘No.’

Nor would he, Travis thought. He’d dive for cover and hope the storm would pass.

‘Have you called him?’ he asked.

‘No.’

‘You can’t put it off for ever.’ He added reluctantly, ‘Would you like me to-?’

‘Thanks, but no. There are some things I must do for myself.’ Charlene gave a little laugh. ‘Oh, Travis, if you could see your face. I’ve never seen a man so relieved.’

‘Yes,’ he admitted. ‘But I’d have done it if you’d really wanted me to.’

How kind he was! she thought. How different from anyone else! Impulsively, she laid a fond hand on his cheek, and he put his own hand over it.

‘Time to make our plans,’ he said. ‘I need to flaunt you a bit. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘Not at all.’

‘We must announce ourselves to the world as a couple. An evening out together, in the spotlight, should do it. The Stollway Hotel is best because they already know you there.’

‘Fine. What about the “stage directions”? You’ll have to give me detailed instructions.’

‘Good idea. Do you remember, when you go into the hotel there’s a broad staircase leading up from Reception to a landing with a huge picture? Go up there to admire the picture. Stay there until I arrive.’

‘And while you’re looking for me you must turn around slowly a few times,’ she said, ‘so everyone can get a good view of you.’

‘Right. Walk down the stairs very slowly. I’ll be waiting at the bottom, looking up at you, riveted with admiration. Or should it be adoration?’

‘Hmm, I don’t think so,’ she said, considering this seriously. ‘Admiration will be enough for now. Adoration can come later.’

‘Aren’t I allowed to fall ecstatically at your feet, overcome with worship?’

‘Not just yet, I think.’

‘Very well, I’ll control my ardour-for the moment. Later I’ll turn up the heat and sigh yearningly at my goddess. Hey, do you mind? Women don’t usually burst out laughing when I say things like that.’

‘They would if they could listen to you now,’ she choked, struggling to get her mirth under control. ‘And just how often do you say “things like that”?’

‘Let’s leave it,’ he said hastily. ‘I’m glad you find it so funny.’

‘You’re not glad at all,’ she teased.

He ground his teeth. ‘Have you finished?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then I’ll continue. You come down the stairs and when you reach me I’ll take your hand and draw you close. With any luck, somebody will have a cellphone with a camera, so we’ll give them a sight to enjoy.’

‘What will you be wearing?’

‘Dinner jacket and bow tie. What about you? I think you’ll need a new wardrobe while you’re here, which gives us a bit of a problem.’

‘What kind of a problem?’

‘Since you’re doing this for me, it’s my responsibility to pay for the new clothes. But if I offer I suppose you’ll come over all offended, and if our last meetings are anything to go by you’ll thump the living daylights out of me. Ah, well, I guess I’ll just have to get used to it. Here.’ He pushed a credit card across the table.

‘Go to-’ He named a famous purveyor of fashionable clothes for both men and women. ‘I’ll call them and say you have my permission to use that. Get a whole wardrobe.’

‘Just the dress for tonight. Restrained and respectable! They’ll take one look and know that you’ve opted for a life of virtue.’ She eyed him satirically. ‘However unlikely that might seem!’

He grinned. ‘I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may incriminate me.’ He checked his watch. ‘Hey, I’ve got to be going. I’m being interviewed by a journalist.’

‘What will you tell them?’

‘Nothing much. Just drop a few mysterious hints. Get them wondering. That’s far more effective.’

‘You really know how to make people dance to your tune, don’t you? I suppose that’s as big a talent as acting.’

‘Yes, and I’m not the only one who has it,’ he said, regarding her significantly.

* * *

Wanting to do him proud, Charlene concentrated fiercely on getting her appearance right for that evening. The gown she chose was dark red velvet with a neckline that came modestly up to the base of her throat, but which hugged her slender figure temptingly. She reckoned that was a good compromise.

She was pleased, too, with the way the hairdresser swept up her hair in an exquisite display of elegance, leaving just a few long curls drifting down over her neck.

It was important to be always ready to embrace new experiences. Tonight she was going to dine with the handsomest, most charming man she’d ever met, revelling in the attention he would pay her and the envy of other women. And that was quite definitely a new experience.

‘Time for curtain up!’ she murmured. ‘Let the performance begin.’

At the agreed time, Travis entered the hotel lobby. There was an immediate rustle of interest as he went to stand at the foot of the stairs as she descended slowly, her eyes fixed on him, as his were on her. In a white tuxedo and bow tie, he was at his starry best.

If I was a dreamy teenager, she thought, amused, I could fall for him. Lucky for both of us that I’m not.

Following the stage directions, he reached out and took her hand, murmuring, ‘Charlene.’ Then he brushed his lips against her fingers, whispering her name again.

‘Travis.’ She sighed.

Holding her head high, she allowed him to draw her across the floor to the restaurant. A waiter showed them to the table and was about to pull out her chair when Travis stopped him, indicating that he alone would perform this service for his lady. Only when he was certain that she was at ease did he attend to his own comfort.

When the wine waiter appeared he asked her tenderly, ‘Do you have a preference…my darling?’

‘I’ll let you choose.’ She sighed.

He gave an order, adding, ‘And a bottle of your very best champagne.’ Leaning towards Charlene, he added, ‘We need to celebrate.’

The waiter eyed them with new interest, ears alert for Charlene’s reply. ‘Isn’t it a little soon to celebrate?’ she asked.

‘Not for us,’ Travis assured her. When the waiter was out of earshot he murmured, ‘That got him.’

‘You’re just a natural-born deceiver,’ she murmured back.

‘Thank you for the compliment. Of course I am. It’s what acting’s all about. He who deceives best gets top billing.’

‘And the best pay?’

‘Naturally. A wise old actor once told me, “When the crowds are cheering, the applause is deafening and they’re fighting to hire you, never forget that you could be out of work tomorrow.” And he was right.’

Which was why, she thought, he was so determined to protect what he had, using any method necessary.

The food was served. It was excellent, and they both tucked in with pleasure. As he ate, Travis was studying her appearance with approval.

‘Superb,’ he said. ‘Modest but attractive. Give my congratulations to the wardrobe mistress.’

When they had finished eating and were alone again, Travis said, ‘I think this is the right moment.’

‘Right moment for what?’

‘I stopped in a jeweller’s shop and bought you a small gift.’

‘That sounds like it would fit the script,’ she said, nodding wisely.