Along Came A Prince (5 page)

“There is one more
thing, Stace.” Hal walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I
want to apologize for being rude to you in front of Sterling and Keyes. I had
no right to be that way. It was totally unprofessional, and I am deeply sorry,
both from the standpoint of being your agent and your friend.”

“We’re all human,
Hal. I’ve had to ask many people to forgive me when I’ve had little temper ‘flare-ups,’
as my brother calls them.” Stacia tapped her red hair and smiled at her agent.
“It
comes with the territory,
or so I’ve been told.” She gave Hal a little hug. “Are you certain this film is
right for me? If you don’t want me to do it for any reason, no matter how
personal, I’ll respect your judgment.”

“It wasn’t right
for Audra Parker, the original actress.” A trace of bitterness coated his
words.

“But she won an
Oscar nomination. I don’t understand.”

“Sorry, Stace. I
know I’m being unfair to you by not telling you everything, but the news they
were considering doing
London Affair
hit me hard in all the wrong
places. I need a little time to recoup.” He ushered her to the door, leaving
her more confused than before.

As the automatic
outer doors of Hal’s office building swung open, exposing her to the brilliant
California sun, Stacia shivered from a chill as cold as the Arctic air. She
couldn’t help but wonder what kind of ghosts were being stirred up by the very
mention of the long ago film entitled
London
Affair
.

“I understand from
what my son was saying, they want to remake
London
Affair
. I’d
hate to see that happen,” Helen Ashley Shores said, her voice still carrying
the purring-sound diction her profession must have required she learn years
ago. “I have some very unpleasant memories from that period of my life.
Publicity would only stir them up again.”

Hal had arranged a
meeting with his mother and Stacia to take place in his office, not only to
discuss the upcoming movie proposal, but also for the two women to get
acquainted privately, without him present.

“But if things
happen to work out and they do this remake, do you think it’s a good career
move for me to be in it?” Stacia asked. “I mean, I’d be the only new actor in
the movie.” Looking down at her hands, she noticed they were trembling.

She was scared of
the responsibility of making or breaking a movie by herself, scared her acting
wasn’t good enough, and because she was in complete awe of the glamorous older
actress sitting beside her in Hal’s office, she also was scared of this woman’s
answer. A star and a child Academy Award winner. Doubt rose like a tidal wave
inside her at the thought of following the greatness of Helen Ashley Shores,
the other actors, and the movie down a path that had radiated success.

Stacia glanced up
into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen and a friendly smile that seemed to light
them up even more. “I don’t know if I have the talent or experience to do
that.” There, she’d confessed the truth to a legend, and that scared her worst
of all.

Helen reached over
and patted Stacia’s arm. “Of course you do, my dear. Acting is your forte’ as
it was once mine. The audience will love you. Your vulnerability will shine
through just as Audra’s did. You are very much like her, you know.”

“That’s what Nathan
and Arthur said, and they also upset Hal terribly when they told us the movie
was
London Affair.
Can you maybe explain to me what the mystery is
concerning this movie? I didn’t want to ask him. He just seemed too emotional
about it.”

“Hal was just
trying to protect me from any future pain and memories from the past. The
circumstances regarding the deaths of Audra and her leading man, Mark Bennett,
at the conclusion of the film were a topic of hot speculation that lasted for a
long time.”

“Is that why you
have such bad memories and why you’re against remaking this movie?” Stacia
hoped her blurted-out comments weren’t too blunt for the woman.

“It’s true I do
have extremely painful memories about events that happened then. They’re too
personal to discuss. Hal and Linda know, and so do a few other people. Please
forgive me, Stacia, for not sharing them with you.” Helen rubbed her hands
together nervously. She seemed unaware she was even doing so. When she noticed
her actions, she put her hands together neatly in her lap.

“I respect your
privacy, but someone sent two $25,000 tickets to me, and they agreed to pay me
$30 million to do the film. That is a lot of money. Plus, I can’t explain the
driving desire I have to play this part. It’s something inside me I don’t
understand. I just
know
it’s something I need to do. No, make that
must
do.” Stacia stomped down hard on her fears and let her innermost
feelings surface. But she had her secrets too, and she didn’t want to tell
Helen about the recurring dream she’d been having every night since the party.

She assumed the
woman running in her dream through the darkness, terrified of bombers, could be
associated somehow to the plot of the movie,
London Affair,
because it
took place in London. But Stacia couldn’t overlook two mysterious facts that
kept haunting her. One, she’d never seen the film, so how could she have known
the plot? And secondly, the first night she’d had the dream was the night of
the party –
before
she even knew what movie Nathan and Arthur had chosen
to remake.

“Well, Stacia, I
don’t see why my feelings should have anything to do with your decision
because, after all, it’s your choice to make, not mine. And if you don’t do it,
someone else will, and I’d rather have you doing Audra’s part. As I said,
you’re so much like her. You seem the perfect choice to play her role. The film
will keep the high quality of the original with you playing the lead.” Helen sighed
and offered Stacia a resolute smile. “Anyway, it was a long time ago. I’ve
grown up and healed since then. If you feel so strongly about it, you should say
yes. And you have my blessings. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

“Are you sure you
mean this?”

 Helen nodded.

“Then, if it isn’t
too hard for you,” Stacia said, “I’ll accept their offer. And I’m hoping we can
get together soon, so we can discuss everything you remember about the film and
especially Audra. Anything you can tell me will help me with the role.”

♥♥

When Hal joined
them a short time later in his office, he brought with him a tray of small
éclairs, chocolate-covered strawberries and mini-mint cookies, as well as
beverages.

“Stacia,” he said,
“tell my mother about the Caviar-On-Ice party while I play host here.”

 “I’ve
never seen anything like it,” Stacia replied. “Nor have I ever seen anyone with
the enormous talent of Prince Clayton.”

“And
good looks. I saw him on TV the next morning,” Helen explained as she reached
for an éclair from the plate Hal passed her.

“Well, I guess he
did have rather nice brown hair and eyes.”

“Leave it to you,
Stace, to get that close,” Hal joked when he offered her treats.

“Oh, Hal, don’t
tease the poor girl,” Helen scolded. “Now, Stacia, tell me about his
sculptures.”

“I felt as if I’d
walked into a winter paradise. I was fascinated by what he’d created, and when
I met him, he seemed really nice.”

“You met him!” Hal
seemed surprised. “You didn’t tell me that.”

Embarrassed,
Stacia looked down. “Oh, it was nothing, really. We sorta bumped into each
other. It was only for a moment. Then after dinner, we danced, and he asked me
to stay with him to try to get more donations for the charity from the guests.”

“Is there
something else you’re not telling us, Stacia?” Hal asked.

“Are you playing
detective now, son?” His mother answered his question with another one.

“Just a hunch,
Mom. I know Stacia pretty well, and I think she’s not telling us everything.”

“If she isn’t,
stop trying to get it out of her, and leave her alone. Girls are allowed to
have secrets, you know.” She smiled at Stacia.

“There is a little
more. I did have lunch and dinner with him the next day, but he left the day
after that. So whatever happened between us was here and gone, just like he is.
I doubt I’ll ever see him again.”

“Ahem.” Hal
cleared his throat. “Speaking of the prince,” he began, “did you know he lives
in his father’s grandiose palace in the Swiss Alps with no roads leading to it?
The only entrance, except for the helicopter pad on the roof, is through the
front gate when guests step off their planes. As for the security there, Fort
Knox could take a lesson from the king. Guards are posted at the front gate,
the back entrance and the roof. And as if that’s not enough, missiles are ready
to shoot off at the touch of a button in order to guard and protect it from an
airborne attack. Needless to say, the best electronic technology is also implemented
there.”

Stacia was glad
Hal started on the subject of the prince’s life, because then he wouldn’t query
her any further. “Why all the security?” she asked.

“Probably because
this exiled king is fanatical regarding the safety of his family and friends
and his financial dealings. If you owned the richest bank in the world inside
the walls of that fortress, how would you protect it?” Hal grabbed a newspaper
from his desk and pointed to the article. “His reviews claim the prince is
being hailed as the Fredric Remington of ice sculpturing, a high compliment. They
also say he’s the best artist in his field, not only because of his carvings
but also because of his use of lights in highlighting them.”

Stacia stared at
Clay’s photo in the newspaper, and her heart started fluttering faster. She
couldn’t help but remember the intimate kisses they’d shared right before he
left. “He was so nice for being a prince and that rich.”

“I’ve heard it
said, the richer they are, the nicer they are. Maybe that’s true with him,” Hal
remarked. “Anyway, I’ve set up an appointment for you to see
London Affair
at the studio to get the full screen effect. I think it’s a good idea for you
to watch it before you sign your contract. Is that all right?”

“Anytime,” Stacia
said.

“This will be your
last chance to get out of doing the movie. If there’s anything you don’t like
about the film, you can still back out.”

She doubted that
would happen, because unknown forces seemed to be whispering to her, telling
her making the movie was part of her destiny.

It was just too
bad those forces didn’t include the prince in their summation.

♥♥

The next morning Stacia’s
cell phone rang right in the middle of her breakfast. She answered it and heard
the prince’s sexy voice. What a way to start the day!

“This is Clay. I
was wondering if you’re going to be busy for the next few days.”

Surprised, she
asked the obvious question. “What do you have in mind?”

“How do you feel
about flying over to London? I’d send my plane to pick you up. I’m sorry I
won’t be able to come with the plane. I’m having a little ice sculpture show at
Harrods, and I thought you might like to see it. It’ll be called Ice-On-Ice
this time. The first
ice
refers to the diamonds. It seems my sculptures
will be
dripping
in diamonds. Let’s hope, however, my real ice doesn’t
do the same. After the show, we could spend some time together, depending on how
long you could stay.”

“I’ve
never been to London,” she confessed.

“Well,
I’m a good tour guide for that city. It’s like a second home to me. I’ll show
you around. Will you come?”

Hesitation
pondered over the decision. She wanted to jump in with a resounding yes, yet
there were complications. For one, she hadn’t been to a foreign country before.
That would be fun, educating and very interesting. All the things Clay was too.
After thinking about it for a moment, she guessed she’d go with her heart for
once and let her head figure out later if it was the right decision or not.
“I’d love to,” she said, before he could rescind his offer…or she could change
her mind.

“Great,”
he said. “Just name the day. I’ll have a limo waiting at the airport and a
hotel reservation for as long as you’d like to stay.”

“It
will have to be a couple days from now. I have to sign my contract before I can
leave.”

“That’ll
work. I’ll call you back with your flight information and other reservations.
I’m looking forward to seeing you again,” he said, his voice low and intimate,
accenting the words in the last sentence he’d spoken.

She
closed her eyes. Her imagination ignited the sensual emotions she was feeling
toward him. “Me too,” she purred as intimately as he had into his phone. What
was it about this man that turned her on no matter what he said or did? 

“I’ll
talk to you later then. And, Stacia, thank you.”

“Thank
you,” she said and clicked off her cell. She felt like dancing with happiness,
and she stood up so fast the breakfast dishes on her table teetered back and
forth. She steadied the plates and glasses, and then swirled and twirled around
the kitchen as if she were at a royal ball. Stacia could almost feel the prince
dancing with her.

♥♥

“There’s
been a new development, Stace,” Hal said when he telephoned her later that
afternoon. “Farrell has agreed to be a film consultant on
London Affair
.”

“You
can’t be serious!” Stacia exclaimed. She was shocked. Working side by side with
a W. C. Fields wannabe was something she didn’t care to do, especially not on a
daily basis.

“Remember, their
financial backer also presented Farrell with a ticket to the ice party the
other night. That’s why he was sitting next to you. However, his
alcohol-induced exhibition was not planned. He was supposed to answer any
questions the three of you had about the movie and help persuade you to star in
it without revealing its title to you,” Hal informed her. “Their backer is no
dummy, though. Farrell’s contract will be issued with the stipulation he remain
sober until the picture’s finished. If he’s caught drinking, he’s through. The
backer believes that if Farrell is sober, he’ll be an enormous help with the
film.”

“And how do you
feel about this?”

“I told you before
Farrell used to be a good guy. He was always nice to my mother as a child, plus
can you imagine having the producer of the original picture consulting on this
movie? The idea has its merits, and he may prove to be an asset in some way to
you also.”

“Right.” She
doubted that. A note of sarcasm tinted her words, “And how do you think a sober
Farrell Fontaine will act?”

“Different. Very
different. Let’s hope they did the right thing by hiring someone who’s a
gutter’s edge away from falling into it. My main concern in this whole thing is
what’s right for you. Your bank sent me a copy of the deposit slip showing $30
million has already been deposited in an irrevocable – that is, unless you
break your contract, or don’t sign it – escrow account. Payments will be issued
per your contract. They’ll hand deliver the original to me tomorrow. The
deposit receipt was of no help to us in tracking your mystery backer. There
were no clues, only the signature of the president of the bank. Oh yes, before
I forget, you’ll be signing your contract on Friday.”