by Ceri Bladen
“Oh, what can a man do?” He put on a playful voice to lighten the mood, while he punched in the security numbers to open the external door.
Daniel mulled Eric’s words over. It was true to an extent, a lot of people put their careers before their partners. But at the moment, he was no different. It was in with the new, out with the old whenever he got restless. His Dad and Mum were always giving him grief about the amount of women he seemed to have. But no one, up to this point, had ever made him feel any different. So presently, marriage might not be on his agenda, but having fun certainly was.
Daniel nodded to the security guard who was at his usual place, behind the front desk. Daniel pulled a face at his friend and pretended to lower his voice, but he really wanted the security guard to hear him. “Perhaps I will let you have my surplus women! Or, better still, you can vet them out first. Find me one that you think will keep me interested for more than a Nano second!”
He watched as the Security guard tried to discreetly turn away, knowing he was still trying to desperately listen. They both nodded to the guard again and made their way, out of ear shot.
“Or perhaps you should change the type you go out with? They are all gorgeous and famous. None of them lead completely normal lives. It is obvious that they have to spend their time worrying about their hair, figures and nails. It is their job after all.” Eric continued in his previous theme.
Daniel put the key into the front door and pushed it open. “Yes, I know. But unfortunately, I don’t seem to meet ordinary women. I don’t have time to meet many of them in my business.”
Eric sighed, they were going around in circles. “Talking about beauties, aren’t you going out with Cassandra tonight? The sexy blonde with the big…”
“Yes, enough!” laughed Daniel, playfully pushing Eric through the door.
“Eyes, I was going to say!” Eric threw his remark over his shoulder, while heading for the kitchen. “Do you want this steak then, if you are going out for the evening?”
“Too right, I need to eat before I go out with Cassandra. She only orders a salad for her meal and she ends up giving me daggers if I order anything more calorific than fish! So it is easier to fill up before, then there are no scenes at the restaurant.”
“Christ, why on earth do you put up with that? You don’t normally do things that you don’t want to.”
“Because the sex is amazing!”
Eric huffed. “Oh alright, I see your point! Oh well, the false façade of the actors’ life. That reporter is going to have a ball!”
“Come on, time to relax. I’ll cook the steaks, you get drinks. I need this red meat, before I have to use my energy controlling Cassandra.”
Chapter 4
Ella placed her knife and fork on her plate. Since when did having an evening meal become so quiet? She looked across the table at Jeff, hoping, just hoping he would strike up a conversation, any conversation.
She had spent the majority of the meal chattering about her next assignment following the actor Daniel Spittle. She was hoping that Jeff would show any interest in her work. For goodness sake, Daniel Spittle was one of the hottest stars around at the moment. But her live-in-lover showed as much interest in her spending a couple of months with him, as he would if she asked him to take the rubbish out!
She had decided, after she had rattled on, that she would be quiet for a while, just to see if he would talk to her. No! It was now killing her not to carry on talking to fill, what she thought, was an uncomfortable silence.
She looked over at Jeff again. He was finishing off his Thai curry she had prepared. There was a time that he always told her how wonderful her cooking was. Hell, there was a time when things burned on the stove because making love seemed more important! Now, they seemed to eat in silence and she never received any comment about the food she cooked for him.
The silence gave her time to think about her upcoming assignment. She hadn’t wanted to do it at first as it meant periods away from home, but her Editor told her it would be good for her career. She sighed. Perhaps it might do their relationship some good to be apart for a while. He might miss her, or at least start to appreciate what she did for him.
Oh, why hadn’t he shown any emotion when she told him about her next job? Was it a good thing when a lover didn’t become jealous when you were going to be spending time with another male? Did it mean that he trusted you completely? Or did it mean that he couldn’t care less?
She looked down at the comfy pyjamas she had put on when she returned from work. Okay, so perhaps he didn’t need to be jealous after all. She wasn’t really what you would call model material. Daniel Spittle’s usual arm candy was beautiful; he wouldn’t look at her once, let alone twice. Jeff had no need to be concerned at all.
Ella sighed and picked up the plates ready to stack into the dishwasher. But wouldn’t it be nice for him to show a slight ripple of jealousy or any emotion come to that?
Having already explained to Jeff that she didn’t know where she would be for the next couple of months, she wanted to try to spend some time with him. Her boss had told her in no uncertain terms that she was to be wherever she needed to be. If Daniel Spittle needed her there, she was to be there. If he wanted her to go away, she was to give him space and then return. Actors were notorious for having fickle personalities and she was told to bend and accommodate to get the best story possible.
“So, what would you like to do this evening?” Ella was secretly holding her breath, hoping that Jeff would suggest something romantic, perhaps a film while snuggling up in bed?
His voice interrupted her day dream. “Well, the match is on at 8 o’clock and then I have some paperwork to do. The firm has just got a big account and I need to look over the papers.”
A small squeak came out of her mouth. “Oh couldn’t you do that the next couple of nights as I might not be here?”
“Nah, better to start when it is fresh in my mind. Are you alright to sort out the dishwasher? The match is about to start.” Ella watched as he was already fiddling with the remote control.
“Yes, fine. Think I will do the dishwasher, then go to bed and read. You can join me if you want?”
Jeff, already lost in the football commentary, mumbled a non-committal alright.
For goodness sake, what was happening? They had only lived together for three years. Surely the passion should still be there? Were their sexual appetites so different? Sometimes, after being rebuffed by Jeff yet again, Ella started to think she had a problem. Perhaps she was a sex addict? No, that was ridiculous! Once a week would be nice even, surely that wasn’t too much to ask for? The only thing Ella did know that if they hadn’t made love in a while, she felt quite distant from him, which is what she was feeling right now. It was really not something she wanted to be feeling when meeting an absolute specimen of a man tomorrow.
Perhaps she needed to put on that sexy negligee and hope to distract Jeff from the football enough? Perhaps she would wait for half time!
Chapter 5
Ella took a deep breath and smoothed down her grey pencil skirt.
She had dressed conservatory this morning, in what she called her interview suit. She wanted to feel some confidence when initially meeting Mr Spittle and the suit was like a security blanket for her, professional Miss Hender.
She was surprisingly shy for the job that she choose to pursue, but she found it easy to put on a mask for work. She took another breath, hid the jitters and knocked the door.
A blond man answered the door with a huge megawatt smile. “Welcome, you must be Miss Hender, from Absolutely Magazine? Please come in, Daniel is just having a shower, he will be with us in a little while.” Eric gallantly moved aside to let Ella in through the door.
Ella scanned the room. Just as she thought, a star’s lounge - big ‘top of the range’ television, comfort in abundance, and the room looked like the interior decorator just left. Yes, what she expected, nothing unusual.
Perhaps this
was going to be an easy assignment then? Just a quick write up on the ‘usual’ actor type, gosh, sometimes stereotypes made life a little easier. She relaxed a little and sat in the large comfortable leather seat that Eric had pointed to.
“Coffee?” Eric asked when he headed to the kitchen. “I’ve just made a fresh pot.”
“Yes please. White with no sugar, thank you.”
Ella turned on the smooth leather seat when she heard a man’s voice from behind her.
“Just the same as me, make that two Eric.”
Her breath got stuck in her throat. Breathe, don’t make a fool out of yourself!
Walking out of, what she assumed was a bathroom, was an amazing specimen of a man. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and was drying his jet black hair with another. That left his bronzed, slightly wet chest staring back at her. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Wow, he was even better in the flesh than on all those photos and films she had checked out in preparation for this assignment. Thank goodness Jeff had shown her some attention last night otherwise she would be dribbling!
She rose carefully from the chair and stretched out her hand. “Sorry, I’m a little early. I’m Ella Hender from Absolutely Magazine.” A heat shot up her arm when he shook it, she hoped he did not notice the shock ripple across her face.
“Coffee’s up!” hollered Eric, balancing all three on a tray.
“Darling, what about me?” a faraway voice all but purred.
Both Daniel’s and Ella’s heads swung towards the bedroom door. Of course, he would have someone who sounded like honey in his bedroom. She looked back towards Daniel, who had turned a friendly smile on, but he was watching her with slightly narrowed eyes. Ella was somewhat unsettled to find herself a little bit uncomfortable, but being a professional, she hid it well.
“I’ll bring one into you now, sugar. Just you lie there. You know you used all your energy last night!” He gave Ella a wink before turning back into the bedroom with a coffee.
Ella turned quickly so he did not see her blush, she was uncomfortable now.
Eric discreetly shook his head, what was that about? Daniel wasn’t usually so obvious about is personal life. He didn’t usually bring any women back home either. Perhaps he was hamming up his playboy image for the reporter? Oh well, these couple of months were going to be fun!
~~~~
Boy, Daniel was pleased to have finally got rid of Cassandra. The night was good as usual, but she took ages to get rid of this morning – coffee, shower, make up, the list went on. She had even tried to get him back into bed, usually he would have obliged, but he had a reported in the next room and Cassandra could make enough noise to wake the dead!
Although Daniel had to briefly think twice, he had actually enjoyed shocking that reporter this morning! She looked so poised sitting on his chair in her silver grey suit and cool white blouse. He had enjoyed the little o her mouth had made when he had referred to all the energy he and Cassandra had used.
Perhaps this was going to be fun after all. He was going to enjoy ruffling some of those cool feathers.
Chapter 6
Ella was beginning to think she would never get started on the initial interview. She had her notebook on her lap and had already started to make some comments on it while Eric had kindly taken away the coffee cups. She looked at her notes:
Daniel Spittle: actor/model
Initial impression:
Good looking – yes
Confident – yes
Arrogant – perhaps
Playboy – yes
Other observations – late for appointment!
She sighed and inwardly laughed. This wasn’t really what her assignment would be about. These were just quick notes of initial thoughts, not the detailed notes she would have to make. Stereotypes would be touched on, but never used as reality, unless of course, they did apply to Daniel.
She fidgeted in her seat, starting to feel prickly and slightly irritated. She looked at her watch, he was already over an hour late, even though he was just in the adjacent room, doing goodness knows what to whoever was in there. She went red again at the thought.
Ella tapped her pencil against the notebook. This assignment should be quite easy, if it ever got started. The only bump could be her. She felt that she was pretty good at concealing her emotions when working, apart from blushing occasionally. But she had a feeling it was going to be challenging keeping her cool around Daniel, as his outward appearance and flirty behaviour, was something that would affect most women with a beating pulse.
She leaned back in the chair, carefully hiding her notes. She didn’t need Daniel to see her initial observations about him. To be truthful, she hadn’t even wanted to do this ‘follow and write up’. Ella had pleaded with her Editor to let her write up on the actress who had been hounded by the media for years. It was rumoured that she had pushed her rich husband off his horse to get his money. Of course, nothing had ever been proved. She had gone on to marry another four rich husbands. It would have been great to be able to dig up some dirt, gauge her reaction to some well thought out questions.
But no, her editor had lumbered her with sex-on-legs instead! Ella bet her Editor was having a laugh right now. He knew her personally, and was well aware that her outer appearance on jobs was professional, aloof almost. But he was also aware how flustered and shy she really became in certain circumstances.
She heard a noise, that she assumed was the bedroom door, and turned towards to it. At last, a pure beauty of perfume and silk left Daniel’s bedroom. She gave Ella a knowing smile and then made her way towards the exit. She didn’t leave immediately though. No, Daniel and the ‘goddess’ nearly devoured each other with a kiss in the doorway!
Ella attempted to look away and swivelled slightly in the chair, but was drawn to the goodbye scene. She tried to be discrete, looking from under her eyelashes, but the kiss was so passionate, she was sure her eyes were wide and her mouth open in shock!
Oh, for goodness sake, why hadn’t she turned around to give the lovebirds some privacy? As Daniel finished the kiss, he had looked straight at her, winked and gave a huge smile! How embarrassing to get caught watching them. She knew she had gone red, so she lowered her chin a few degrees away from his smirk. Ella had felt totally embarrassed, ridiculous even. And how arrogant of him to wink at her!
Daniel closed the door behind Cassandra, silently laughing to himself. Oh, the look on the reporters face! He knew she had been watching, so he put on a big show for her. Let her write about that! But when he made it known he had seen her watching; she had become embarrassed and blushed – sweet! Perhaps she wasn’t one of those hard-nosed journalists after all.
Daniel put on one of his best smiles as he took the leather chair opposite her. He wanted to be opposite her, so he could observe her during the chat. “So sorry, about being late I mean. It was all Cassandra. She’s a little insecure at times. I have to make sure she knows how much she means to me. Not too much of a hardship though, I must admit! So, shall we begin with this interview?”
Ella took a breath to steady herself. Crumbs, those butterflies in her stomach felt as though they were having a party. She pushed the feeling aside and dug for her professional mask. She looked directly at his striking blue eyes and nearly faltered.
“So, Mr Spittle. Is Cassandra a regular or one of the many?” A slight hesitation followed her question. She cringed inside, but hid it.
Daniel’s piercing gaze slid quickly over her face. He held her look.
Ella was sure she saw a flicker of, was it anger, race over his eyes? It was replaced quickly by the crinkling of the skin around his eyes, he smiled at her.
“Well, Miss Hender, you jump straight in don’t you?” He leaned back in the chair, crossed one jean clad leg over the other and smiled slowly at her. Being a good actor, he didn’t let it show, but she had shocked him slightly by her first ‘jugular’ question.
Perhaps she was another journalist who made presumption
s about actors and actresses? But he was usually a good judge of character. Perhaps she was trying to hide her nerves? “Let’s just say you will be able to make your own mind up about my love life by the end of the two months. It would not be too gentlemanly to go talking about my lover…or lovers, would it now?”
Daniel pulled on his shirt cuffs, pretending to be slightly annoyed. He intended to play the magazine at its own game, give them what they wanted, arrogant, handsome, playboy actor. He didn’t want anyone really to know the real him, apart from his family and his friend, Eric. That was why he insisted that Cassandra came home with him last night. He usually made sure they stayed as hers, basically, so he could leave when he wanted to, which she never minded. However, he had wanted the reporter to see him with her. It helped as an actor to look as though everyone wanted to be with you.
He looked straight at Ella, who was now, looking straight at him calmly, but her eyes gave away her inner struggle. Daniel wondered whether Ella knew how much her grey eyes mirrored her emotions.
Strangely, it really bothered him that Miss Ella Hender would think he treated woman like ‘objects’. He didn’t, anyone he had dated, he had the upmost respect for and treated them accordingly. Christ, even though he had plenty of opportunity to love them and leave them, he had never technically had a one night stand. He always made sure he saw the lady a couple of times after.
The playboy aspect was a façade he let the media see. Hell, he got photographed with women even if he was only chatting to them, but it never did his reputation any harm.
Daniel twisted slightly in the chair, this train of thought was slightly unsettling. He had learned over the years, mainly due to failed auditions, not to worry what people thought of you. There would always be someone trying to put you down, so he stopped worrying. But he realised that he did feel unease, about how Ella thought of him.
Oh gosh, Ella was inwardly cringing. Why on earth did I start with that question for? It wasn’t even on the list! A great way to make sure the working relationship was going to be a good one, not!