Brand of Possession

‘Waiting for what?’

He smiled with malice. ‘I’m going to wait until he’s reached the peak of his interest in you and then I’m going to tell him I’ve already had you.’

‘But you haven’t!’

‘He won’t know that. You should know by now, Stacy, I tell a very convincing story.’

‘You would do a thing like that just because I turned you down?’

‘I’ve done worse with less provocation.’

‘You’re evil!’ she said with feeling. ‘Evil and sick! You’ve started believing all the flattering things the press have to say about you, and when that happens you lose your own identity, as you’re doing. I find it hard to imagine you were ever a nice person, but I suppose you might have been once. Do your worst, Mr Forbes,’ she flicked her head back in a haughty gesture. ‘I couldn’t give a damn what you do,’ she lied.

‘We’ll see,’ he taunted.

Stacy stumbled away from him, feeling almost dazed by the hate he had managed to convey to her while the rest of the people standing about them seemed totally oblivious of the tension between them. At last she reached Juliet’s side, she and another girl breaking off their conversation as Stacy joined them.

‘I wish I knew how you did it,’ teased Anna.

‘Did what?’ Stacy asked lightly.

‘Managed to captivate the two best-looking men here. I haven’t even met Mr Weston yet, he looks absolutely fascinating.’ She turned to Juliet. ‘I’ll see you later.’

‘Well!’ Juliet grinned at Stacy. ‘You’re turning out to be the centre of attention.’

‘Things aren’t always what they seem,’ she mumbled in reply.

‘Have you seen Matthew yet?’

‘No.’

‘He’s back at the hotel somewhere. And you haven’t seen him?’ Juliet frowned worriedly.

‘No.’

Juliet whistled through her teeth. ‘Maybe it’s as well. He was hopping mad last night, I don’t know if he’s calmed down yet.’

Stacy frowned too now. ‘What’s the matter with him?’

Juliet gave a shout of laughter. ‘What’s the matter with him! As if you don’t know,’ she chided.

‘But I don’t.’

‘Come with me to the caravan while I change,’ Juliet suggested. ‘For some reason Paul Forbes keeps muffing this scene, so they’ve decided to scrap it for today. I may as well get back to the hotel. Come on.’

Stacy followed her over to the caravan that some of the lesser known actors and actresses occasionally used to change their clothes in.

‘So,’ Juliet encouraged. ‘Tell me all about it?’

Stacy sighed. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘All of it—as long as you don’t think I’ll be too shocked.’ Juliet laughed. ‘You’ve shocked poor Matthew out of his tiny mind. Personally,’ she added confidingly, ‘I think he’s just piqued because he didn’t have the same luck.’

‘As who?’

‘That’s what I want to know,’ Juliet said impatiently. ‘You left the ballroom last night with Paul Forbes and yet you turned up here with Jake Weston. The mind boggles!’

‘Well, it needn’t,’ Stacy sighed. ‘Neither of them had any luck with me.’