‘Who?’ she evaded.
He gave a cruel bitter laugh. ‘It’s too late for prevarication. Now tell me,’ he shook her, ‘what do you know about my wife?’
‘Nothing!’ She struggled against him. ‘I don’t know anything.’
‘It was Brad, damn him,’ he snapped. ‘You’ve been having a cosy little chat with him about me and my sex-crazed alcoholic wife.’
‘No—’
‘Oh yes,’ he insisted. ‘You have a way of making men talk to you. But he had no right to tell you anything about my marriage.’
‘He did it for the best,’ she explained pleadingly. ‘He thought it would help—’
‘Help what?’ he bit out coldly. ‘We know all we need to know about each other, and what I’ve come to know about you I don’t like.’ He pushed her roughly away from him as if she burnt him. ‘Did you see the similarity between yourself and my wife?’ he taunted.
Stacy’s face went white with shock. ‘No! You’re wrong,’ she choked. ‘She was ill. She—’
His mouth turned back in a sneer. ‘And what do you call your affairs—a healthy appetite?’ he scorned. ‘I can think of a better name for it.’
‘Jake, please—’
‘Oh, get out of my sight!’ he said fiercely, and marched away from her with long angry strides.
CHAPTER NINE
EVERYONE was standing about the film location. A brief storm had made the rape scene in the cave impossible to film this morning, and although it had cleared up now it was still overcast.
These were the times Stacy hated the most, just sitting around waiting for the right weather. And it would have to be today of all days, the day she had been dreading for the last few weeks, and even more so since Paul Forbes’ attack on her.
He came to stand beside her now. ‘Looking forward to it?’ he taunted.
She stopped chewing her lip long enough to glare at him. ‘Like an appendectomy.’
He gave a cruel laugh. ‘That’s a shame, because I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.’
‘You disgust me!’
‘I know.’ He was still laughing as he walked away.
Damn him! Stacy hated him more than she had ever hated anyone in her life before, and once she had got this scene over she hoped she never had to see him ever again.
‘What did he want?’ Juliet had come down to keep her company even though she had officially finished her work.
Stacy grimaced. ‘What do you think?’
‘I suppose he was being his usual obnoxious self.’
‘He can’t be anything else.’
‘I think they’re getting ready for filming now.’ She looked at Stacy’s pale face. ‘They did a good job on your make-up.’
Stacy touched her mouth. ‘It’s not too bad now that the swelling has gone down.’
‘I think they’re ready for you now,’ Juliet said gently.
‘Oh God!’ Stacy’s hand trembled. ‘Wish me luck,’ she begged.
‘I do,’ Juliet squeezed her hand encouragingly. ‘Off you go.’