Shafted by Mandasue Heller Page A

But I’m only doing it for you,’ he added quickly, as if she ought to be grateful. ‘And it’s got to be on my terms.’
    ‘Too late,’ Georgie said when he’d finished. ‘I’ve already told them you don’t want it.’
    ‘Well, tell them I’ve changed my mind,’ he blustered, a note of desperation sparking in his voice. ‘Christ, Georgie, I thought you knew me better than that? A job’s a job, so why the hell would I turn it down?’
    Because you’re an arrogant little bugger who still thinks he’s calling all the shots , Georgie thought.
    Sighing, she said, ‘Okay, I’ll see what I can do. But don’t hold your breath, because they’ve probably found somebody else by now.’
    ‘Just try,’ Larry said, his tone defeated now as he added, ‘ Please. ’
    Sensing that it had taken a lot for him to climb down like this, Georgie said, ‘Okay, leave it with me, I’ll see what I can do.’ Then, seizing the rare opportunity that his humility had presented her, she said, ‘Just one thing, Larry . . . if you get lucky and they haven’t already filled the slot, don’t be turning up drunk and looking ghastly, or that really will be the end of you and me. You know I love you dearly, but it’s time you stopped feeling sorry for yourself and quit the drinking before you lose everything. And I’m not just talking material possessions, I’m talking looks and personality. Alcohol destroys them both, and before you know it you’ll have nothing left to offer.’
    ‘I’ll sort it,’ Larry said, having no intention of doing any such thing but wanting to shut her up because she was depressing him.

5
    Terri Lawson was the producer of Cops ’n’ Bobbies , Shock-Wave’s first foray into the transatlantic market. Sitting in the plush office they were using while they were in England, she and her assistant Jon Street were checking over some stills from a shoot when Julie, the Mancunian temp receptionist-cum-secretary, burst in.
    ‘He’s here!’ she announced, her eyes alight with an excitement that Terri wouldn’t have imagined she was capable of feeling, given that she usually sighed her way through the day as if life was a burden. ‘D’y’ want me to send him in?’
    ‘In a minute,’ Terri told her firmly. ‘And please knock next time. We could have been doing anything.’
    Giving a disparaging I doubt that very much snort, Julie closed the door and sashayed back into the reception office to tell Larry and his agent that the boss would see them in a minute.
    Thanking her, Georgie wandered over to the window to take a look at the view.
    Taking her mobile phone out of her bag, Julie whispered, ‘Could you do me a massive favour and say hello to my friend, Larry? Only she’ll never believe I really met you otherwise.’
    Telling her that he’d be delighted, Larry trailed a fingertip over her thumb when she handed her phone to him and smiled when he felt the tremor pass through her.
    ‘Her name’s Emma,’ she gasped, her pretty face flushed. ‘And I’m Julie.’
    ‘Nice name,’ Larry drawled silkily. ‘Had a girlfriend called Julie once. Lovely-looking girl – bit like yourself.’
    Almost wetting herself, Julie gazed up at him with adoration in her eyes, murmuring, ‘I can’t believe you’re actually here. I used to watch Star Struck all the time, but it’s not the same without you. And me and my friends thought it was disgusting when they sacked you like that.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it,’ Larry said. Then, holding up a finger when the phone was answered, he said, ‘Is that Emma? Hi, this is Larry Logan. Julie asked me to say hello.’
    ‘Don’t lie!’ the girl at the other end of the phone squealed. ‘No way is that you! Say that thing you always said at the end of your show.’
    Chuckling, Larry said, ‘Join me next week for another round of Star Struck – the only game where you , the public, can win big money for knowing the secrets of the stars!’
    Jerking the phone