TOYL

‘So, Emma, what’s your diary looking like next week?’
    ‘Err, pretty empty,’ she said, thinking quite irrationally that maybe he knew somehow about the planned wedding, and its subsequent cancellation.
    ‘Perfect. Because on Wednesday we’ve got a very special night planned. We’ve hired out a boat on the Thames, for a floating party. All the cast are invited, so you can get to know each other. There’ll also be other people there – the director and producer, scriptwriter, and me of course. I promise it’ll be a great night.’
    ‘Sounds good,’ Emma said.
    ‘You can make it then?’
    ‘Yeah, sure, wouldn’t miss it for anything.’
    ‘Fantastic. You know, this is just the beginning, Emma. The money is just the half of it. Soon you’ll be walking down the red carpet at the London premiere, mixing with the stars. This is the big time. You’ve got your big chance, and I’ve got my perfect leading lady. We should really be drinking champagne.’
    ‘I was wondering,’ Emma said, ‘when you first contacted me you said someone had recommended you to me. Who was it?’
    ‘Can’t say,’ he said, making an apologetic face.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘They asked me to keep their name secret.’
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘It’s not that unusual. I have a lot of contacts who I work with, and sometimes they just like their anonymity. It’s nothing to get too hung up about. If it’s about thanking him, then I’ll pass it on for you.’
    ‘So it’s a him, then?’
    ‘Yes,’ he admitted, rather sheepishly. ‘But honestly, I can’t say any more.’
    ‘I just don’t understand why he doesn’t want me to know who he is.’
    ‘Please, Emma, it’s really not that big a deal.’
    ‘I want to know,’ she said. ‘Otherwise I’m afraid I can’t take the part in the film.’
    Guy looked stunned at the threat. ‘Emma. You’re blowing this out of all proportion.’
    ‘Then you won’t tell me?’
    ‘I’m sorry.’ He held up his hands. ‘I promised.’
    Emma stood up. ‘Then I’ll be going.’

    ***

    Emma closed the door behind her and walked down towards the gate. She couldn’t believe what she had just done. She’d thrown away possibly the one and only big chance that she had to really make it as an actress.
    And what for? For a stupid matter of principle. What did it matter, really, that the person who was kind enough to recommend her for the part wanted to remain anonymous. They must have had their reasons. But added on to all those other secrets of the past week, it was the final straw. Why did everyone have to be so secretive?
    She had just reached the tube when her phone rang.
    ‘I’ll give you one thing, Emma,’ Guy said. ‘You’re certainly strong-willed.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Guy. I know it sounds silly, but…’
    ‘It’s okay. I admire your guts. So you’re really prepared to lose this great chance over this?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Okay then, I’ll tell you, if that’s the only way I can get you in this film. It was your ex-boyfriend, Stuart Harris.’

32

    ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea,’ Lizzy said. ‘You might end up getting hurt again. You know what he did to you last time.’
    ‘But that was years ago. A lot of things have happened since then.’
    ‘Why would you even want to see him again?’ Lizzy questioned. ‘He just dumped you without any explanation. Why invite him back into your life like that?’
    ‘I know what you mean, Lizzy, and I do agree with what you’re saying…’
    ‘I sense a big “but” here.’
    ‘Well, it’s just that he’s the one who has invited himself back into my life. He’s the one who recommended me to Guy Roberts. I just want to find out why he did it.’
    ‘You want to thank him?’
    ‘No,’ Emma replied. ‘But I can’t just leave it like that, knowing that he went a long way to getting me that dream job, but not really knowing why.’
    ‘You think he’s got an ulterior motive?’ Suddenly Lizzy looked more interested herself. ‘You don’t think he might want to get back with you?’
    ‘I’m sure that’s not the reason. If he wanted that, he wouldn’t have made Guy Roberts promise not to tell me he had been involved.’
    ‘You wouldn’t be interested in getting back with him though, would you?’
    ‘No way. He really hurt me – there’s no way.’
    ‘Did you still love him when he left?’
    ‘Yes,’ Emma admitted. ‘But I don’t now.’
    Lizzy blew out her cheeks. ‘Well, I still don’t like