Persona (The 'Professional' series) (12 page)

Her heart
lifted.  She whispered, conscious of Jeff next to her. “No.”

“Sshhh. 
Why are you whispering?”  Daniel whispered back.   “Oh, have you
got someone in bed with you, ssshhh?”

Ella smiled
to herself, Daniel was drunk.  “Yes I have.”

“Oh.” 
She heard the slight disappointment in Daniel’s reply.

Alcohol made
him bolder.  “Ella?”

“Yes
Daniel?”

“I would
like you in my bed.”

Her heart squeezed,
she would like to be in his bed too. 

“Do you know
what I would do with you if you were?  It wouldn’t involve sleeping. I
would…”

A blush rose
on her cheeks, it was her time to say, “Sshh!  Daniel go to bed now. 
I will see you very soon.”

“Great, I’m
looking forward to seeing you.  I love you Ella.”  He put the phone
down.

“I love you
too,” she whispered at the dialling tone, clutching the phone to her chest.

Ella rolled
her shoulders after she hung her dress in the wardrobe.  Nearly another
week following Daniel around, recording his life was over, only a couple of
weeks to go now.  Then she would have to work out what she was going to do
with her life.

On the
journey back, in the back of the vehicle that Daniel had sent for her, she
contemplated everything that had happened to her recently, how her life had
changed.   

After lots
of discussions and tears, between her and Jeff, they had decided to go their
separate ways.  It was more her than him, he seemed to want to go on
trying, which had surprised Ella.  Once the decision was made, there was
surprising little to do, they had kept most of their finances separate. 
They had decided that Jeff would stay on in the apartment and continue paying
the rent.  So, Ella had packed as many clothes as she could and brought
them with her to Daniels.   

She wondered
how she was going to broach the subject of her single status with Daniel after
his drunken phone call.  She had previously used Jeff effectively as a
shield from any advances Daniel made, it kept a distance.  She thought it
was mainly because she was unused to being so affected by someone and
needed
to keep him at a distance.  What would happen if he knew she wasn’t with
Jeff anymore?  She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted him to know.  If
truth be known, she was slightly frightened at her feelings for him. 

Not telling
him seemed the safest option at the time, but when she got back, there was no
dilemma.  Daniel had obviously forgotten he had
drunk phoned
her,
nothing was mentioned at all.  She was unsure if she was relieved or not
about that.  He was still very courteous and kind to her, but she noticed
a slight distance within him.  She sighed, perhaps that was a good
thing.  She had re-read her article on him the other day and was shocked
to see how personal it had become.  She needed to re-establish the
professional distance, so in reality, Daniel was helping. 

She sat on
the end of the bed, looking at her full wardrobe.  This was her wardrobe
now until she rented somewhere else.  Luckily, only the driver and
security guard, who had kindly helped her carry the suitcases up, had seen how
much baggage she had arrived back with.   Perhaps it was better that
only a few people knew that she was homeless. 

Ella
stiffened and looked towards the door when she heard a knock.  Hurriedly,
she shut the wardrobe door before answering.  Daniel walked in carrying a
glass of wine for her and a gorgeous smile.

“I thought
you could do with one of these, before dinner.”  He raised up a wine
glass, filled with cold white wine, to show her.  He hesitated slightly
and then walked across the room to pass it to her. 

When he gave
it to her, his hands suddenly felt very empty, so he caught his thumbs in his
jeans pockets.  Gosh, she looked beautiful with the light behind
her.  She was biting her bottom lip with, was that a guilty look on her
face? 

Daniel
suddenly felt uncomfortable, he had an overwhelming urge to touch her and find
out what she looked so guilty about.  He was glad his hands were
restricted.  He turned and walked back towards the door, before he did
anything he might regret.  

“I forgot to
mention before, but there is a.… shall we call it – a
get together
at
Scarlett’s house on the weekend.  Before she starts filming, she usually
invites the cast and crew over to get to know each other.  I would imagine
that you would like to come?  There are plenty of people there that you
could interview for your article.”

Ella felt
excitement surge through her. “Oh yes, that would be wonderful.”  She
smiled at him. “What type of get together is it?  What I mean is, is it
formal or casual?”

Daniel
smiled apologetically and shook his head.  “As we are talking about
Scarlett here, it will be formal, black tie, evening dress sort of thing. 
She doesn’t
do
casual.  You might want to take tomorrow off work to
find a dress, go to the hairdressers or whatever you women do to look
good.” 

He looked
towards the overstuffed wardrobe and raised an eyebrow. “Unless you have got
something suitable in there?”  He noticed she blushed.

“No, yes. I
mean great, I will take tomorrow off.  If that is acceptable with you?”

He started
through the door, stopped and turned back around.   “You will need to
pack an overnight bag too.”  He had a thoughtful look on his face.

Ella’s breath
caught, her mind recalling the last time she went away with him. “Will Eric be
coming with us?”   If she didn’t have Jeff as a shield this time,
perhaps Eric would do as a substitute.  She wasn’t sure she would be able
to keep away from him otherwise. 

“Yes. 
Dinner is in half an hour.”  He left and closed the door.

Ella had a
delightful time shopping.  She even had a couple of hours to forget the
stresses of ex-lovers, psychos trying to kill her, and her attraction to Daniel.
Well actually, that was a bit of a lie, as she spent most of the day wondering
if Daniel would prefer this or that dress, what should she do with her hair to
look more sophisticated and basically thought about his opinions on anything
she bought!

She sat down
at the table in the restaurant, took her shoes off and wiggled her toes
discreetly under the tablecloth. Oh, that felt good.   She hoped her
feet were not too swollen, as, after lunch, she would have to find a pair of
shoes to go with the lovely peacock coloured dress she had purchased this
morning.  Something high, to make her legs look longer, and to make her
feel taller next to Scarlett. 

She looked
at all the packages that she had placed on the chair next to her and
giggled.  It had been ages since she had indulged herself and maxed out
her credit cards.  Usually, she had put her extra monies into the ‘bill’
pot with Jeff to cover the rent, amongst other things.  She sighed, that
was something she would have to do again very soon, but this time on her own,
no more splurges for a while. 

She looked
at her cold white wine, condensation on the outside of the glass.  No, she
would worry about that a little later down the line. 

She watched
as the waiter put the seafood paella down in front of her.  She sighed
contently as she sniffed, she was going to enjoy today.

Ella felt as
though she was gawping.  The house they were renting near Scarlett’s was
astounding; all windows, glass, marble and on the beach too!  The luxury
was nearly overwhelming.  She felt like a child again on Christmas Eve,
she was so excited.   

Running her
fingertips over everything in her path, she walked towards the large glass
windows that took over nearly all of the adjacent wall.  It was
magnificent as it pictured the beach and sea outside like a living picture
frame.  She was so overawed and caught up by the scene, she didn’t hear
Daniel walk up behind her.

“Fancy a
skinny dip at midnight?” he whispered into her ear from behind, as his hands
gently clasped her shoulders.

A ripple
shot down to Ella’s toes when his warm breath tickled her neck near her
earlobe.  She inwardly trembled, his nearness was wrecking the inner calm
she had just seconds before.  She knew how he affected her, just his
nearness was sending her senses haywire.  She could swear her body was
trying to retreat backwards towards his heat, she kept her feet firmly planted,
and laughed to ease her tension instead.

Daniel
straightened back up.  It was too tempting to start kissing her exposed
neck.  He could see her pulse beating wildly and it was sending his system
into overdrive.  Christ, he wanted her, so badly; it was now starting to
hurt to be near her.

Something
was sizzling and vibrating through the atmosphere, but both tried to ignore
it.  For now.

“Come
on.  Let’s relax for a while, before we unpack.  Then we can go to
Scarlett’s…um…gathering.  What drink would you like?”  Daniel moved
towards the stocked bar.

~~~~

“How long
are you going to be?”  Daniel shouted up the spiral staircase while
looking at his watch.  He wasn’t too bothered about being on time, but
Eric was already sitting in the car waiting.

“I’m
coming.”  Ella replied from the top of the stairwell, looking down the
marble steps.  She bit her bottom lip in anxiety, and then stopped, she
remembered the coral lipstick she had just put on.  

She glanced
down at the white marble stairs, hoping that she wouldn’t fall in her high
shoes.  She caught sight of the back of Daniel, clad in a black dinner
suit.  Gosh, she felt like Scarlett O’Hara walking down the stairs to
Rhett Butler!  He was so handsome.  Even though she knew that she
looked her best tonight, she felt the uncomfortable ripple that he was far too
out of her league, he would never be interested in her.  She faltered
slightly, hoping her didn’t notice her hesitation.

Daniel heard
Ella’s shoes on the stairs; he turned and looked up ready to give her a
smile.  His breath caught in his lungs.  She looked stunning; he
couldn’t stop staring.  She had pinned her hair up on top of her head, it
usually hung as a sleek bob.  The peacock blue dress clung suggestively to
both her hips and chest.  The front dipped down to show a hint of
wonderful cleavage, he swallowed.  His blood was roaring through his body
and his mouth was dry, but he looked outwardly calm.   

He kissed
her hand when she reached the bottom of the steps, bowing the top part of his
body. “You look stunning Ella.” 

He joked to
lighten the electric atmosphere. “Your chariot, well Eric, awaits!”

~~~~

Scarlett’s party
was in full swing when they arrived.  Her house was as impressive as the
one they were staying in, more so perhaps, with all the decorations she had
organised. 

As soon as
they entered the room, Scarlett swooped over to welcome them with lots of air
kisses, although Ella noticed, she didn’t give Daniel air kisses, they were
real enough. 

After brief
pleasantries, Scarlett whisked Daniel away on a whirl of meeting crew and
cast.  Eric smiled a knowing smile at Ella and passed her a pink looking
drink, complete with olive, which he had taken off a passing tray.  They
walked over to a group in the corner. 

Eric
introduced Ella to the group they had joined. One of them was one of the film’s
investors, Harry Miller.  He had a navy blue shirt, practically unbuttoned
all the way down to his navel, showcasing his thick gold necklace.  He
took out his handkerchief to wipe away the sweat from his forehead. 
“Well, who do we have here?”  The man all but leered. 

Ella smiled
politely, hiding behind her professional mask, but inwardly cringing. 
After some polite answers to his questions, and replies to hers to help her
with her assignment, she made a quick move from the group.

Eric, held
her elbow to lead her away and sniggered in her ear.  “Some of his answers
should make your article more interesting!”

“Are all
film investors like him?” Ella’s look was sceptical, but she had a smile on her
lips.

“No, of
course not.  Harry came into his money at a young age and hasn’t had to
work since, so he pretty much does as he pleases.  He likes investing in
films, I think he likes to meet the actresses!”  Eric looked over towards
Harry, who was now sweet talking one of the extras on the film.  “He is a
good fellow though, despite his outward appearance.”  

“If you say
so.  His outward appearance is a bit… gangster meets 1970s porn star!”

Eric gave a
throaty laugh.  “I
will not
ask how you know about 1970s porn
stars!”

Ella
giggled, thank goodness Daniel wasn’t around, that comment was bound to have
made her blush and be embarrassed.  It was so easy with Eric, no
attraction therefore, no complications.

Daniel’s
head turned towards Eric and Ella’s laugh.  Christ, he wanted to be with
his friends.  He clenched his jaw, he had a job to do, so the faster he
made
the rounds
, the faster he could join them.