Kisser (2010)

would.”
    Elaine grabbed a passing waiter and ordered up the dessert tray. Normally, she would have moved to another table by then, but she seemed to be enjoying the conversation.
    The waiter appeared, and Carrie chose a crème brûlée.
    “How many people were at the dinner party, and were they all theater people?”
    “Twelve, and yes, they were actors, composers, producers, the works. I was rather looking forward to doing myself some good there, but Old Woodie spoiled that.”
    “Well,” Stone said, “by lunchtime tomorrow you will be famous among a certain level of the Broadway cognoscenti; people will be dining out on that story for weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it made the gossip columns.”
    “Would that be a good thing?” Carrie asked.
    “Good for everybody but Mr. Woodie,” Stone replied. “You’ll be immediately famous, as long as they spell your name right.”
    “Oh, good.”
    “What part did he offer you?”
    “The lead in his new musical.”
    Stone was stunned. “The lead ? What sort of audition did you do?”
    “I sang ‘I Loves You Porgy’ from Porgy and Bess and a Sond heim tune, ‘I’m Still Here,’ and I danced a little . This was in the theater.”
    “And he let you get all the way through the two songs?”
    “Yes, and there were a dozen or so people sitting in the orchestra seats who all stood up and applauded. That’s when Mr. Wood invited me up to his office to talk.”
    “That sounds like something out of a movie about a Broadway show,” Stone said. “Small-town girl shows up in the big city and wows everybody at her first audition.”
    “Well, it wasn’t my first audition,” Carrie said. “I had to audition for the lip modeling, too.”
    “And who did you have to kiss?” Dino asked.
    “A mirror. I didn’t mind that; a mirror has no hands.” Her crème brûlée arrived, and she did it justice.
    “Coffee?” Stone asked
    “A double espresso, please.”
    “No trouble sleeping?” Stone asked.
    “No trouble at all,” she replied, giving him a little smile that made those beautiful lips enchanting again. “The benefit of a clear conscience.”
    “Always a good thing to have,” Stone said. “Tell me, do you remember the names of the people at the dinner party?”
    “Most of them. My date, Tony, will know them all.”
    “And have their addresses?”
    “Yes, I think so. They were all his friends.”
    “First thing tomorrow morning you should write little notes to those people, expressing your regret for having to depart the party and say how sorry you were that you didn’t have time to get to know them better. Start with your hostess.”
    “Just to remind them who I am?”
    “Exactly, and please be sure your address, phone number, and cell number are clearly printed on your letterhead. If the letters don’t get you other auditions, they will, at least, get you some dinner invitations—dinners Mr. Wood will not be attending.”
    “What a good idea, Stone,” she said. “Now, will you be my attorney so that I can sue Mr. Woodie?”
    “I’m afraid I have a serious conflict of interest that would prevent my representing you. However, I’d be happy to give you some free advice and to recommend an appropriate attorney.”
    “What’s the conflict of interest?” Carrie asked.
    “I am so impressed with your beauty, your intelligence, and your quick wit that I would much rather take you out to dinner than take you to court.”
    She laughed. “I think I would like that, too,” she said. She opened a tiny purse and gave him a beautifully engraved card, and Stone reciprocated.
    “Now, give me the free advice.”
    “I don’t think you should sue Mr. Wood—at least, not right away. I think the dinner party incident will show up in tomorrow’s papers, and with nearly all the details. Mr. Wood can’t hold you responsible for that; he has only himself to blame. And who knows? You might even end up working for him some day, but under more favorable circumstances. Do you have your Equity card yet?” This referred to Actor’s Equity, the union representing stage actors.
    “No, but all I need is one job to get it.”
    “I think you are more likely to get that first job, if you don’t have a reputation for suing producers for sexual harassment. Anyway, having drawn a very firm line in the sand with Mr. Wood, you will henceforth have a reputation as an actress who does not brook unwanted advances from potential employers, and you will be