Read Online Superstar by T C Southwell - Free Book Online

determination.
    They went from
table to table around the room, and Mark turned down many offers to
join the occupants. A lot of lovely women kissed and hugged him,
and men shook his hand. Many commented on how rarely they saw him
out on the town, to which he shrugged and replied that he did not
like to run the gauntlet of reporters that flocked to the
functions. They all agreed with him and quipped about his being
camera shy.
    Their
faces became blurred in Carrin's mind, there were so many of them,
and at last they returned to their own table. Most of Mark's
friends were seated again, and Jenna leant close to Simon Grey,
darting glances at Mark. Carrin decided to go to the ladies’ room,
and excused herself. A security man with an earplug smiled as she
walked into the bathroom, which was a palatial affair of marble and
mirrors. She was washing her hands when Jenna came in, and the
supermodel glared at her.
    "So, I see you
managed to get him to buy you a dress."
    Carrin glanced
down at her outfit. "No, it's on loan."
    "On loan! No
one loans a dress like that."
    "Well I'm not
keeping it."
    Jenna jeered, "You think you've landed him, don't you? Let me
tell you -"
    "I'm not
trying to land him, Jenna," Carrin interrupted. "Tomorrow I'm going
home, and I'll probably never see him again."
    The supermodel
laughed. "So he's tired of you already. That was quick. He usually
keeps his bed partners for a few weeks at least."
    Carrin
scowled. "I'm not his bed partner. I'm doing business with him,
nothing more."
    "He doesn't
buy dresses for business associates, or bring them to a do like
this, stupid. You've been seen with him now, and photographed by
the paparazzi. Your name will be linked with his, whether you like
it or not, and they won't say that you're a business associate,
believe me."
    "Everybody
knows better than to believe the garbage they print in
magazines."
    Jenna moved closer, towering over Carrin. "A lot of it is very
accurate, and when they say that you're his latest conquest,
they'll be right."
    Carrin
glared up at the supermodel. "I know all about him, Jenna. I know
his dark secrets, and I wouldn't touch him with a barge
pole."
    Jenna Morden looked stunned, her mouth dropping open. "You sound
like you mean it -"
    "I do." Carrin
pushed past her and headed for the door.
    Jenna stared after her, looking confused. "What
secrets?"
    Carrin
returned to the table, where Mark glanced at her and raised a brow,
probably noticing the sparkle of anger in her eyes. She was annoyed
with him as well, for had it not been for his unpleasant
personality, Jenna would not be so bitter and nasty.
    Simon
Grey asked her to dance, and she accepted, ignoring Mark's glare.
He looked annoyed when she rose, and several of his friends glanced
at him with a mixture of sympathy and amazement. As she and Simon
reached the dance floor, the music slowed and the lights dimmed.
Carrin immediately regretted agreeing to dance with him, but it was
too late. He took her in his arms, and she followed his lead. Since
Simon Grey was six foot four, she soon got a crick in her neck, and
her back grew stiff. Jenna returned and sat next to Mark, leaning
close to speak to him.
    Simon leant
down to murmur, "You've certainly put Mark's nose out of
joint."
    "Why?"
    "By dancing
with me, of course."
    "I can dance
with whoever I like."
    He chuckled.
"But not before you've danced with your own partner."
    A twinge of
remorse went through her. "Well he didn't ask me. And why did
you?"
    "I didn't
think you'd accept, to be honest. I was just having a dig at
him."
    "I thought he
was your friend?"
    Simon
grinned. "He is. I was just a bit peeved about the way he dumped
Jenna."
    Carrin
gasped. "He dumped Jenna? I thought she dumped him."
    "Dump Mark
Lord?" He laughed. "You must be joking."
    "Well I think
she had a lucky escape."
    "Are you
serious? Jenna would give her eye teeth to have him
back."
    "She's welcome
to him."
    Simon held her
away to stare down at her. "You really are a