by Carlyn Cade
Stacia gave them both a smile and wondered who they were to be invited to this grand affair. She’d describe them as typical computer nerds, but then one of the first things she learned when she came to Hollywood was to not judge a person by what was on the outside. The inside was where the energy existed, and most of the time, it was bursting to jump out of the most unlikely people.
“May I have your attention, please?” The host of the evening, Sam Prescott, whom Stacia recognized as a self-made billionaire, spoke into a microphone and commanded the loud buzzing of the guests’ conversations to stop. Silence drifted throughout the crowd.
“As you know, this evening’s event is for the benefit of pancreatic cancer research.” The clapping response began until it flooded the entire room. “Thank you. Because of this, various people involved with the responsibility of putting it together have donated their services.”
More applause arose as Sam continued. “It’s my pleasure to introduce to you the person I feel is most responsible for making the evening an over-the-top donation success. He has contributed not only a substantial personal donation, but also his time and talent to create the incredible ice carvings for tonight’s party. Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like you to meet Prince Clayton Alexander.”
A black velvet curtain behind the podium opened, and the prince appeared.
Stacia’s breath caught in her throat while thunderous applause erupted throughout the room. Her hand flew to cover her mouth in surprise and disbelief. For the second time that evening, she uttered the words, Oh no, it couldn’t be, to herself. The man who had bumped into her at the caviar fish fountain was the prince? He sure hadn’t looked like one, or for that matter, the sculptor of these magnificent carvings. Stacia smiled, wondering how he’d gotten his pants dry. Being a prince, he probably carried extra tuxes as a staple wherever he went.
When he reached the microphone, a sexy grin lit up his face. “Thank you,” he said. “Now, let’s eat!”
But Sam Prescott wasn’t going to let him get away with being modest and unassuming. “Come on, Clay, take at least one bow for the hard work you did.”
The applause began to roar again. The prince held up his hands to silence the crowd.
“Thanks again everyone, but it’s you who are making tonight a success.” The prince smiled broadly. “And anyone who wants to donate more than the price of the ticket this evening should see Sam or me. We’ll accept whatever you offer to help find a cure for this horrific disease.”
All that charm and those good looks weren’t lost on Stacia. She was ready to write a check to him for the entire balance in her checkbook. Judging from the audience’s enthusiastic clapping, they must have agreed with her as their applause seemed endless.
When it finally ceased, a seven-course banquet began. According to the program laying on her plate, the gala had imported a famous chef from Europe who had created an artistry of foods for this special occasion. In between courses, Stacia was glad for one of the side effects of alcohol – sleepiness. Farrell had drifted off sitting up, his head resting on his propped-up hand. Even though every so often a snore was grunted, she was spared any further conversation with him.
On the other side, the conversation proved to be warm and friendly.
“Are you enjoying the evening?” Nathan Sterling asked.
“It’s had its surprises.” That didn’t even begin to sum it up. She still wondered what these two men did in Hollywood, but she didn’t know exactly how to ask without insulting them by admitting she didn’t know who they were, but she tried anyway. “I’m sorry, but I’m not familiar with your work.”
“Oh, we’re just a couple of film producers, directors and whatever hat we need to wear in order to make our mark in Hollywood. Right now, we’re wearing producer hats for our newest project. We believe this film will offer something new and exciting to movie audiences.”
“And what is that?” she asked politely.
“You’ve seen those TV commercials where they super-impose a famous actor from long ago into a newly-shot commercial with today’s products. For instance, Paula Abdul’s Coca-Cola commercial in 2007, where she danced with Gene Kelly and Groucho Marx and kibitzed with Cary Grant, was extraordinary,” Nathan said. “Well, we want to do the reverse and expand it. We want to take an actor from now and place that person into the leading role for an entire movie from the past. The rest of the movie will remain intact as it was filmed decades ago.”
“To simplify,” Arthur said as he entered the conversation, “today’s actor would play the role the original one did and be dressed in the same costumes as the first actor was.”
Nathan took over again with renewed exuberance. “We think most actors would give anything for the opportunity to act, for instance, in an epic like Gone with the Wind doing Clark Gable’s or Vivian Leigh’s role. Or think of Brad Pitt playing James Dean’s role in Giant and acting alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. In other words, it will be similar to a time travel experience.”
Stacia immediately thought of herself replacing Vivian Leigh in Gone with the Wind and getting the opportunity to act “with” the legendary Clark Gable. “You’re right,” she said. “What an intriguing concept for a film.”
The two men exchanged quick glances and then turned their attention to Stacia and smiled at her.
“Forrest Gump dipped into the same technology when Tom Hanks’ image was dropped into old historic scenes,” Arthur remarked. “Even the Academy Awards in 2000 used it with Billy Crystal appearing in mini-scenes from old movies with the original actors. The Carl Reiner movie, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, was closest in concept to using this procedure in 1982. Old movies and famous actors were interwoven with Steve Martin. The difference was the actors and dialogue spoken by them had to fit into scenes from the movie, which had its own plot.”
“However, in comparison to everything filmed before, what we’re planning is as revolutionary and innovative as silent movies compared to movies with sound.” Nathan’s voice rose in excitement as he spoke. “We’ve already picked a film after watching hundreds of old movies, and we have someone in mind to play the lead part. We even have an investor who’s very serious about financing us, as long as he gets actor and film approval. Hollywood loves something new, and we think we have it, or will have it first, if the actor we want agrees to appear in the movie we chose.”
Soft romantic music began to play at that moment, and she glanced away from the two producers and toward the stage to see a full orchestra playing together as one to create beautiful, sensuous music that touched her heart and captured her soul.
“Miss Saunders, may I have this dance?” a male voice politely asked.
Stacia turned her head slightly, and there stood the prince. A feather could have knocked her off her chair and unto the floor for a ten-count. Speechless, she could only nod her response. She felt like a teenaged wallflower being asked to dance by the prom king. All awkward and star struck. Trying to regain some composure and finding she actually could speak, she excused herself from Nathan and Arthur and started to rise from her chair.
The prince offered her his hand.
She placed her hand in his and stood up. How did my legs get so wobbly? Her stomach wasn’t feeling too calm either.
The prince led her onto the dance floor, not once letting go of her hand.
And then she was in his arms.
The mirror ball attached to the ceiling swirled above them, sending its slivered, sparkling lights rotating around the entire room like diamonds lighting up the night sky.
She twisted the old saying, “To be or not to be” into a new one – “To swoon or not to swoon!”
Come on, Stacia. You’ve met handsome men before. You’ve even played against leading men and kissed them in front of everyone on the set. Relax, and just follow his lead. She smiled up at him.
He smiled down at her. “I’m Clay,” he said.
“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you befor
e. I thought you might possibly be one of the wait…” She stopped and embarrassment joined her other feelings.
He laughed and twirled her around, holding on to her fingertips. “I should have been wearing a sign, I guess. Except waiting on you would be an extreme pleasure.”
She knew she blushed, just as she’d done earlier that evening. “What would your sign have said?” She glanced up at him.
“Maybe ‘Looking for Cinderella,’ because I sure found her.” Holding her close, almost without a breathing space, he gazed down into her eyes.
Whoa, better keep it light, Cinderella girl, or you won’t make it through this dance. “Tell me, Prince Charming, do you have any dragons to slay in your kingdom?”
He grinned. “I don’t slay them. I make friends with them.”
“Hmm. A prince with a sense of humor. They don’t seem to have that in any of the fairy tales I’ve read.”
Without a further comment, he dipped her with finesse like no dance partner had ever done to her before. Then his arms surrounded her. His eyes caressed her. His body moved her to a rhythm all his own.
Is swooning still an option? she wondered again as she put her arms around his neck.
The song finally ended and swept into another one, equally romantic.
She stood there not wanting to remove her arms draped around his neck, or disturb his encircling her waist. Finally, she lowered hers and moved away.
“Would you like to dance again?” Clay asked. “Or we could get away from this crowd? There’s a terrace outside where we could continue our conversation as I promised you earlier. Unless I was interrupting something important, and you need to get back to your table.” His eyes never left hers.
So many choices, but which to choose? Stacia knew which one she wanted to do. So go for it! “I could use some fresh air,” she said.
“That was my choice also,” he replied, his voice suddenly sexy and low as he started to lead her toward the open door.
They walked over to the terrace stone wall on the balcony, leaned over, and placed their arms on the ledge. They stood there and looked out over Hollywood’s blazing, city lights.
“I really am sorry for spilling my champagne on you earlier,” Stacia said.
“I’m not sorry. Because of that incident, I met you.” He turned and grinned at her.
She smiled. “You really are charming, you know.”
“My mother taught me it’s better to be nice than naughty.”
Stacia switched his words around. “Sometimes it’s more fun to be naughty than nice.”
“Are you taking up my education where my mother left off?”
“Um…see that nice table and chairs over there? Let’s go sit down, okay?”
“Lead the way,” he said. He tapped her shoulder. “By the way, have you ever played dodge ball?”
She settled down in one of the chairs. “No, why?”
“Because you dodged my question like an expert game player.” His now-familiar grin covered his face and made him more irresistible than ever.
She laughed. “Your mother taught you well, is all I have to say.”
A cocktail waitress appeared at their table as if by magic. “Could I get you something from the bar?” she asked as she lit the candle in the flower display setting on the table.
“How about a bottle of your best champagne?” Clay requested. “Is that all right, Stacia, or would you prefer something else to drink?”
“Champagne’s fine.” What else would a prince order?
“Tell me all about Stacia Saunders, the actress.”
“Let me see. I love my work, or I should say, I am my work.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t really know.” She grinned. “I’ve heard other people say that, though. In my case, it’s the most important thing in my life…at the present time, of course.”
Their waitress brought the champagne in a silver bucket filled with ice and put it down on the floor on its silver legs.
Everything’s filled with Hollywood glamor, Stacia thought.
“Would you like me to open it, sir?” the server asked.
Clay shook his head. “I’m fine with it.” When she left, he looked at Stacia as he began to open the champagne bottle. “No extra-curricular activities in your life, like boyfriends, lovers or a husband?”
She snickered. “Lovers? You’re kidding, right? Would I even answer that if I had one…or more? Actually, I will answer. It’s no to all of the above. I figure there’s a time and place for everything to happen, and right now, I’m single and my career comes first.”
“You mean you can’t do both?”
“Nope.” She took a sip of her champagne he’d so expertly opened and poured to the correct level in their glasses.
“I do ice sculpturing, which is very time consuming, yet I’d find plenty of time for a woman in my life, if I found someone special. Ice sculptures are great, but you can’t hug one in bed.”
“Is that more of your mother’s education I’m hearing?”
“Could be. We’re very close, yet I’ve always been able to choose what I want to do with my life.”
“And your father?”
“He taught me how to be a man and instilled in me how to treat a woman the right way.”
“Sounds like you have wonderful parents.”
“I do,” Clay agreed then changed the subject. “You can hear the music out here as loud as it is inside. You know what that means, right?”
“What?”
“We can dance and not be bothered by the crowd.”
“Let’s do it,” Stacia said.
He stood and stepped to the back of her chair and held it while she got up. A moment later, and she was in his arms once more.
One dance turned into another and another. Stacia felt as if they were dancing among the stars in the night-blackened sky. An instant of intense emotions zigzagged throughout her body.
Suddenly, the music ended. Time for the orchestra’s intermission, she guessed, and time for her to drift back to earth, and let her feet touch the ground where her sensible life could begin again.
The ball was over, but the prince and she were still together. They returned to their table.
“I don’t want our time together to end, but I have to go back inside and mingle,” the prince said. “Sam told me that’s what we must do in order to get additional donations for our charity, but I have an idea how to accomplish both. Would you accompany me and help me with my duties? Having you by my side could only bring in more donations.”
Stacia was stunned by his invitation, although she didn’t hesitate with her answer. “I’d be happy to help, but aren’t you concerned what people may say seeing us together all evening?”
“Are you?”
She shook her head.
“There is one thing, though,” he added with a sexy grin. “I may have a difficult time concentrating on other people when I just want to be alone with you.”
♥♥
During the next few hours, little by little, the noise from the crowd inside the ballroom lessened until there was barely a sound left. Only subdued talking and quiet laughter. The orchestra was packing their instruments to go home, and the cleanup crew had almost finished their jobs. The noise from the bar still escaped outside but in a lowered tone. Lights had been turned on to their brightest to signal the evening’s entertainment had ended.
Back on the terrace once more, Stacia looked into the ballroom. “What time is it?”
Clay checked his watch. “Midnight.”
“Wow, the bewitching hour, or so they say. I guess it’s time for Cinderella to run out of here.”
“Are you going to leave your slipper, so I have to hunt for you, or may I see you home where I can find you again?”
“I have a limo waiting for me.”
“Is it made from a pumpkin? If so, it’s probably turned back into one now, because everyone knows what happens when the clock strik
es twelve. So, you see, there’s no need to hurry. I have a limo too, and it won’t turn back into a pumpkin, as that doesn’t happen to a prince. So if you’d like, I can take you home.”
She laughed. “By the things you said tonight, you’ve made being a prince not so surreal, but similar to commoners like me. It’s been a most enjoyable evening. Thank you.”
“And that’s it? I only get to share one evening with you?”
“You know what, Clay, I think we’re oceans apart. Both in distance and in the lives we lead and who we are. I’m dedicated to my career and you’re –”
He interrupted her. “Right now we’re not oceans apart. We’re very close.” He took two steps toward her and cradled her hands in his. “See?”
Time stood still. She couldn’t move and didn’t want to, unless she could move closer to him. Boy, did his father ever teach him how to treat a woman! Clay must have gotten a college degree for that lesson alone.
He dropped his arms and stepped back. “Stacia, we’ve been a success as a team tonight with the donations we’ve raised for charity. I also think our dancing was successful also, but I leave town in two days, and I’d like to get to know you better. Tomorrow is all we have. How about it?”
At that moment, the word no was not in her vocabulary. “I’d like that too,” she whispered.
CHAPTER TWO
Stacia awoke early the next morning when the phone rang. “Hello, Hal,” she said after glancing at the caller ID.
“This has been an interesting morning already,” Hal Montgomery said.
“Why?”
“I got a phone call seconds after I arrived in my office.”
“What’s up?”
“Do you remember talking to Nathan Sterling and Arthur Keyes last night about their new venture?”
“They talked. I mostly listened.”
“And how did you feel about it?”
“The idea absolutely intrigued me.”
Her agent laughed. “But not as much as a certain prince, I understand. Sterling and Keyes didn’t get a chance to finalize the job they were assigned to do.”