Search for a Star by Cindy Jefferies

recent movie. Yes, of course it would have been wonderful if Ellie could have been in on that interview, but she had liked Adam Calwell a lot. Still…Kurt Draagan…Ellie drifted off into a daydream where she and Kurt met in the hotel and hit it off at once. His agent would be ringing up to tell him he had another appointment…but Kurt would only have eyes for Ellie… They’d go out for dinner, and it would be like being in one of his films. He’d gaze at her with his wonderful dark, smoky eyes, and tell her she was everything to him. He’d whisk her off to his country retreat. They’d travel in his luxury custom-built sports car…
    Ellie came back to earth when the lady sitting next to her started rummaging in her carrier bag, and poked her in the ribs with her elbow. “Sorry, love. Just looking for my keys.”
    â€œThat’s okay.”
    The number twenty-seven bus wasn’t exactly like a custom-built sports car, but never mind, the daydream had been good, and Ellie reminded herself that out of all the thousands of Kurt Draagan fans, she was more likely than most to wangle a meeting with him one day. After all, she’d already met Al from Zone One, and he was her favourite singer of all time! Being a journalist for Heart did mean she was likely to meet cool and interesting people more often than the rest of her friends.
    Back in the office, Ellie started to put her notes in order, ready to show Francesca. She was pleased with all the information she’d gathered, but knew that there wouldn’t be room for a big article. Maybe if Francesca looked over what she’d got and gave her some clues about what to use, Ellie might be in with a chance of seeing her own words appear in the magazine, alongside pictures of Adam Calwell and his designs.
    It was exciting thinking that her work might be used, but now it was lunchtime, Ellie had something else on her mind. She wanted to go and see how Sophie was. Hopefully there would be time for a bit of a chat over their sandwiches. Ellie emailed her typed-up notes for Francesca to look at and closed her laptop. Time to go and find Sophie.
    Down in the basement, Ellie entered the post room hesitantly. She wanted to catch up with Sophie, but she still felt awkward about finding her and Flynn together. She didn’t want to interrupt a blazing row…or them making up. But Sophie was alone, writing on a sticky note.
    â€œHi, Ellie! Just writing myself a reminder to order more red ink for the franking machine. I utterly refuse to do it before I’ve eaten my sandwich. I’m starving. There!” She stuck the note onto the wall and smiled. “How’s it going? I haven’t seen you for a while.”
    â€œI’ve been quite busy.”
    Ellie told her about her interview that morning, and then they got onto the subject of Charlie Daniels.
    â€œWhat a shame!” said Sophie when Ellie told her about the trail going cold.
    â€œBut I didn’t come down to talk about me,” said Ellie uncomfortably. “How are things with you?”
    â€œOkay,” said Sophie. “Flynn and I haven’t exactly made up, but he’s not ranting about me and my wasted opportunities any more, so it could be worse.”
    â€œWell,” said Ellie, having a sudden thought, “how about doing something with me to take your mind off him for a bit? Adam Calwell gave me two tickets for the Boat Show, so I could see Maia Tonkin wearing his designs. I was going to ask Francesca if I could go. I don’t actually need to for the article. But it would be fun, don’t you think?”
    â€œI’ve never been to a boat show before,” said Sophie thoughtfully.
    â€œNeither have I!” said Ellie. “And apparently they have a load of boats floating in the exhibition centre. Indoors! And they’re quite big ones, not little dinghies. It sounds fantastic. I just fancied a look, but it