Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [28]
Seeing Brenna's still-puzzled face, he continued briefly, “Temperament on the set, skipped wardrobe fittings, tardiness. She was a real bitch.”
“She had a contract, didn't she?” Brenna asked. “How did you get around that?”
He smiled with feral satisfaction. “Donovan insists on a clause in all performer's contracts that permits dismissal if the actor proves unsatisfactory at any time.”
Brenna's eyes widened. “Isn't that rather unusual?” she asked, startled.
“The option is very seldom exercised,” he said coolly. “Donovan may create stars, but he won't tolerate a performer behaving like one.” His mouth twisted wryly. “He has no need to. Unknowns and stars alike stand in line to be in a Donovan Ltd. film.”
Brenna nodded slowly, knowing this was true.
For the next twenty minutes they discussed the difference between stage and film work, Dominic outlining clearly the techniques and skills the medium would demand of her.
When he finally rose to go, her head was whirling with information that he had fed her with computer-like efficiency. Shrugging into his jacket, he smoothed his rumpled black hair quickly, and turned back to Brenna with an easy smile. “I think we've covered everything,” he said slowly. “I'll be back late tomorrow evening, so we won't begin work until day after tomorrow. Report to makeup at 6 A.M.”
As she rose and accompanied him to the door, his eyes took in the confusion on her face with a compassionate understanding that she would never have believed he possessed two hours ago.
“It will all come together,” he said quietly, as he opened the door. “Trust me. I promise that you will be a great Mary Durney.” He continued teasingly, “How could you help it with such a brilliant director?”
She smiled. “You're right, how could I help it?” she echoed valiantly. “Good night, Jake. You've been super. How can I ever thank you?”
His dark eyes twinkled wickedly. “If I wasn't on my best behavior, I'd tell you explicitly,” he said with a wide grin. “But as I am walking the path of virtue, I can only beg you not to let it get around that I spent two hours alone with you without making a single pass. It would ruin my reputation!”
“It'll be our secret,” Brenna assured him gravely.
As the door closed behind him with a soft click, she leaned against it for a moment, smiling softly. The past two hours had instilled in her a buoyant confidence in her abilities that she had never known before. She was suddenly blissfully certain that everything was going to work out to her complete satisfaction.
The panicky urge to bolt and run that had possessed her after the passionate interlude with Donovan had gradually faded as the evening progressed. Why should she give up an opportunity that could mean financial security for Randy, and a fantastic start in her chosen profession just because Michael Donovan had decided she was to be his next mistress? The decision was not solely his, she thought defiantly, as she flicked off the lights on the way to the bedroom. She had fended off the most intricate of passes from men who thought she was easy game. She would handle Donovan with the same cool aloofness. Hadn't he promised there would be no confrontation till the picture was finished? It should be a simple matter to see that she was safely out of his reach when the time came.
As for his intention to wear down her resistance before then, she doubted that he would have the opportunity from what Jake Dominic had told her about her proposed schedule. It was going to be nonstop work from now until the final scene was shot. And if Donovan valued his precious timetable as much as he appeared to, he would have to leave her alone to get on with it.
Brenna was determined that he would find her much less compliant at their next encounter. It must have been surprise, coupled with Donovan's undoubted sexual expertise, that had reduced her to such a state of almost abject desire, she thought firmly. Now that she was on guard, she would see that no break