Persona (The 'Professional' series) Read Online Free Page A

Cassandra. 
She’s a little insecure at times. I have to make sure she knows how much she
means to me.  Not too much of a hardship though, I must admit!  So,
shall we begin with this interview?”
    Ella took a
breath to steady herself.  Crumbs, those butterflies in her stomach felt
as though they were having a party.  She pushed the feeling aside and dug
for her professional mask.  She looked directly at his striking blue eyes
and nearly faltered.
    “So, Mr
Spittle.  Is Cassandra a regular or one of the many?”  A slight
hesitation followed her question.  She cringed inside, but hid it. 
    Daniel’s
piercing gaze slid quickly over her face. He held her look.
    Ella was
sure she saw a flicker of, was it anger, race over his eyes?  It was
replaced quickly by the crinkling of the skin around his eyes, he smiled at
her.
    “Well, Miss
Hender, you jump straight in don’t you?”  He leaned back in the chair,
crossed one jean clad leg over the other and smiled slowly at her.  Being
a good actor, he didn’t let it show, but she had shocked him slightly by her
first ‘jugular’ question. 
    Perhaps she
was another journalist who made presumptions about actors and actresses? 
 But he was usually a good judge of character.  Perhaps she was
trying to hide her nerves?  “Let’s just say you will be able to make your
own mind up about my love life by the end of the two months.  It would not
be too gentlemanly to go talking about my lover…or lovers, would it now?”
  
    Daniel
pulled on his shirt cuffs, pretending to be slightly annoyed.  He intended
to play the magazine at its own game, give them what they wanted, arrogant,
handsome, playboy actor.  He didn’t want anyone really to know the real
him, apart from his family and his friend, Eric.   That was why he
insisted that Cassandra came home with him last night.  He usually made
sure they stayed as hers, basically, so he could leave when he wanted to, which
she never minded.   However, he had wanted the reporter to see him
with her.  It helped as an actor to look as though everyone wanted to be
with you. 
    He looked
straight at Ella, who was now, looking straight at him calmly, but her eyes
gave away her inner struggle.  Daniel wondered whether Ella knew how much
her grey eyes mirrored her emotions.  
    Strangely,
it really bothered him that Miss Ella Hender would think he treated woman like
‘objects’.  He didn’t, anyone he had dated, he had the upmost respect for
and treated them accordingly.   Christ, even though he had plenty of
opportunity to love them and leave them , he had never technically had a
one night stand.  He always made sure he saw the lady a couple of
times after. 
    The playboy
aspect was a façade he let the media see.  Hell, he got photographed with women
even if he was only chatting to them, but it never did his reputation any
harm. 
    Daniel
twisted slightly in the chair, this train of thought was slightly
unsettling.  He had learned over the years, mainly due to failed
auditions, not to worry what people thought of you.  There would always be
someone trying to put you down, so he stopped worrying.   But he
realised that he did feel unease, about how Ella thought of him.
    Oh gosh,
Ella was inwardly cringing.  Why on earth did I start with that
question for?  It wasn’t even on the list!  A great way to make sure
the working relationship was going to be a good one, not!  
    She looked
at him, he looked annoyed with her.  She had to sort herself out.
 She realised with a start that she had started off sharply as she had
been jealous of the kiss.  Jeff had never kissed her like that! 
    She calmed
herself, there was no reason to feel jealous about Daniel kissing the vision in
lilac and she felt foolish to think she had.  She had nothing to do with
his private life, only report on it.  She wasn’t his girlfriend, for
goodness sake!
    She took
another steadying breath, switched on the recorder and preceded