But Ryan just continued to stare at her as if she was speaking a foreign language.
Trying to make sense of what was happening, as well as Ryan’s obvious confusion, Beth’s mind suddenly shot through a range of emotions – bewilderment, doubt and finally, understanding.
She took a hesitant step back, her heart thumping with adrenalin. ‘You’re not joking, are you? You really don’t know what this is about.’
Seemingly taken aback by her sudden change in mood, Ryan appeared unsure what to do with his hands. He reached out for Beth momentarily, but identifying a very clear transformation in her demeanour, decided instead to stuff his hands in his pockets.
‘I – I am actually not sure what I’m supposed to be joking about,’ he said, looking deflated. ‘What were you saying… about movies and clues and stuff? AndThe Thomas Crown Affair? What the hell is that?’
Beth shook her head as if trying to convince him that hemustknow what she was talking about and was simply suffering from a temporary bout of amnesia, or determined to continue playing dumb. But if this was the case she couldn’t determine why. Another movie re-enactment of some sort maybe? If so she certainly didn’t think she’d seen it.
‘Yes,The Thomas Crown Affair. The movie with Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan. That painting was in it.San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk.’ She pointed again to the wall where the Monet was hanging.
Ryan turned to see what she was indicating, as if he hadn’t been aware of what he had been looking at moments previously, and turned back to her. ‘Really? Well, that’s cool.’
But Beth was having none of this sudden ambiguity. ‘Of course you had to know that, because how else would you have put the clue together?’ She swallowed hard, feeling a chill creep up her spine.
But Ryan merely smiled and shrugged. ‘Sorry, never saw that movie. And I had no idea about the painting.’
She stood open-mouthed, looking at him, trying to make sense of his words. ‘You never saw… wait. So, you just did a bit of research, then? Of course you did,’ she continued, now sounding as if she was trying to convince the both of them. ‘Hold on. So what about…?’ She thought back through each clue that she had been given. Surely there was some sort of mistake?
‘What aboutRomancing the Stone? Have you seen that?’
He pondered for a second. ‘Years ago, I think. But what does it matter if—’
‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s?’
Again, appearing to summon his memory, he nodded vaguely. ‘Yeah, certain parts, here and there.’
‘So when we were talking about movies all those times – my favourite New York movies,’ Beth asked, everything gradually starting to become clearer, ‘it was just simple chit-chat?’ She swallowed as realisation finally hit home – and sunk in.
Again, Ryan looked baffled. ‘Beth, I’m really not sure what you—’
‘What aboutThe Seven Year Itch?’ she continued glumly, already knowing the answer.
To this, he smiled broadly. ‘The Marilyn Monroe flick? Well, sure, I mean I know of it, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever watched the whole thing… I mean, who doesn’t remember that shot of her in that dress?’
Beth couldn’t even be persuaded to smile at this point. ‘Did you know that that scene was originally filmed right here in New York?’
‘Seriously? Where?’
She raised her hands to her face and rubbed her temples, unable to believe what was happening. ‘Oh, God. I got this all wrong.’
‘Got what wrong?’ Ryan asked, his handsome features falling once again into confusion. ‘Hey, Beth, I know you love movies and everything, but is it really that big a deal if I haven’t seen those ones? I mean, we have plenty of time to see them together.’
Beth turned her attention back to Ryan and realized that in just a few moments everything had changed. He didn’t evenlookthe same to her any more – she had miscast him. She had put him in a role he wasn’t suited for. Everything was suddenly crystal clear, and she couldn’t believe that she had got it so wrong.
She turned back to Jodi, who up until this point had been quietly observing the exchange from a distance. But it was clear that she had also figured out what was going on. She too understood Beth’s mistake, and duly stepped forward to help out her friend.
‘Sorry, Ryan, I think Beth’s made a mistake,’ Jodi said without looking at him. She was focused on Beth, who was looking unsteadily all around her, as if she was about to crumple to the ground. ‘You OK, honey?’
She shook her head. ‘No, not at all. It’s not him, Jodi. I got it wrong and I thought I—’
‘It’s OK, an easy mistake.’ Jodi cut her off when she realized that Ryan was still very much invested in this conversation. She turned to him and smiled the way a person might at a child. ‘Ryan, sweetie, Beth’s going to have to call you later. There’s been a misunderstanding and I think that she needs some space.’
Her point was perfectly plain, but Beth was so embarrassed she found that she couldn’t even bring herself to look at Ryan for his reaction. She wondered now if she had led him on throughout all of this, made him think there was a chance she would change her mind about being with him. Especially this morning.
The thrill of the treasure hunt and her suspicion that he was behind it had evidently modified her behaviour towards him accordingly. She was mortified. Was this all her fault? She had cast him in a leading role, and now knew that he wasn’t her knight in shining armour, never really could have been. She had imagined Ryan to be someone that he was not; had imbued him with the most romantic and attractive characteristics of her favourite romantic heroes. Had she ever really seen him for who he was, or was she so completely taken by what she wanted him to be?
