Page 4 of Bad Star

Margaret sighed. “There’s a photograph. Looks like a nice restaurant. Italian, I guess. He’s a good looking man. I recognize him now. He’s wearing a nice suit.”

“What about his girlfriend?”

“I’ve no idea what she’s wearing. Not very much. Her legs are ridiculous. Can’t tell much about her face. She’s hiding it behind a pair of huge sunglasses.”

Rainn felt tears form in her eyes. She wasn’t sure whether it was because of sadness, or frustration at her own naivety.

“Oh, come on, Rainn,” coaxed Margaret. “Don’t feel like that.” She handed her a tissue. “Now we know who he is, there’s no need to feel bad.”

“You mean because he would never want someone like me.” Sobbed Rainn.

“That’s not what I’m saying. Quite the opposite. You would never want someone like him. I can’t say I know much about Jack Bradley, but all I know is bad. You deserve better than someone like that.”

“What do you know?” asked Rainn.

“Well, I know that he uses his wealth and fame to surround himself with young, trophy girlfriends who are usually no more than a pair of long legs and a pair of designer sunglasses. I’m sure he doesn’t even like them anyway, as he cheats repeatedly, with no qualms. I read that this has made him lose all respect for women and cynical to the core. He strikes me as the jealous type. Possessive even though he won’t stay faithful himself.”

Margaret paused to sip her tea with a very superior air.

“I know he is going through a very public career crisis. It’s probably why he was flying round in his Porsche.”

“He wasn’t speeding,” interrupted Rainn.

“Well, whatever,” shrugged Margaret. “Then there’s the rumours of drug use and his horrible temper. You could imagine how the violence in his films might spill over to his private life.”

“Is that a fact or your opinion?” asked Rainn.

Margaret folded the paper. “It’s what people say.” And then to change the subject, she asked “Have you heard from John?”

“John?” repeated Rainn, as if she had never heard of him. “Oh, God, John! I hadn’t thought.”

“You mean you haven’t told him about the accident?”

“I didn’t have chance!” protested Rainn, wondering if she looked guilty. “I probably should have.”

“You two are still friends, aren’t you?”

“Of course we are. We’re always friends. Always have been. Always will be.”

“Invite him for dinner,” said Margaret. “I’ll make something. You, me, Yvonne and John. It will be fun.”

“You’ve just flown in, you can’t be making dinner.”

“Nonsense,” snorted Margaret, standing up. “You can call him. Your phone is in the kitchen, I’ll get it.”