Rainn’s phone was on the kitchen table. As Margaret went to pick it up, she saw Jack’s name flashing as an incoming call.  Without thinking, she answered the call before the phone rang, pushed open the kitchen door and stepped out into the back garden.

“Yes?” she said.

“Rainn, is that you?”

“She’s sleeping,” said Margaret.  “She is still very weak and needs some time to recover.”

“Yes, of course,” said Jack.  “I understand.  Could you ask her to call me back when she wakes?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Said Margaret.

“What the hell! What are you talking about?”

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to talk to Rainn anymore.” She stated calmly.

“Who gives a damn what you think? Who are you anyway? Put Rainn on. I don’t know you.” Demanded Jack angrily.

“You don’t know me, but we all know you, Mr Bradley.  We all know what you are like because the whole of your private life is plastered across the gossip pages of our newspapers.  And to be honest, it doesn’t look pretty.  It actually looks very ugly.” Snapped Margaret.

“Don’t talk to me like that, you snooty bitch. Put Rainn on now.”

“Or what?” asked Margaret.  “Are you going to shout at me like you shout at those poor extras in your film sets? Slap me like you slap your girlfriends? Or maybe you’ll run me over next in your Porsche.”

“I have never slapped anyone! If you dare repeat that accusation, my lawyers will be down on you like a ton of bricks!”

“Whatever,” yawned Margaret.

“Listen,” said Jack, trying hard to be calm, “I would really appreciate it if I could speak to Rainn. She knows me better than you. Everything you’ve read in the newspapers is just horrible gossip.  Rainn knows me, the real me, and I think you should let her decide for herself. It’s nice that you’re protective of her, but she’s certainly no fool. She is well-capable of making decisions for herself.”

“Perhaps,” said Margaret. “But she’s had a nasty shock. I’m worried about her.  And I’m certain she doesn’t need someone like you pestering her for your own objectives.”

“I’m not pestering her and I have no idea what you mean by my ‘own objectives’.  I just want to speak to her and I think she wants to speak to me.” Pleaded Jack.

“Come on, Mr Bradley.  Your acting might have convinced Rainn in her current susceptible state. It might convince gullible cinema audiences on Saturday nights, but it doesn’t convince me.  I can see you want to use Rainn as a convenient prop to improve your public image.  A pretty blind girl you helped after an accident. It’s perfect.”

“You despicable cow.” Snarled Jack.

Margaret sniffed.  “I work in PR, Mr Bradley.  I know how it works.”

“Let me tell you this. I pampered Rainn because I was taken aback by her stunning beauty. Not because I felt guilty, it was her beauty.  I admit that.  I am a man who enjoys beautiful women and Rainn is as beautiful as I have ever seen.”

“Do you expect some kind of award?” snorted Margaret, her voice laden with sarcasm.

“I pampered her with nice things, but I quickly realized that expensive gifts don’t mean that much to her.  Do you know what she liked the best?  Do you know what she appreciated more than anything else?  She loved it when I read to her.  Can you believe that?  I’ve never met a girl who has appreciated a story more than an expensive perfume.”

“You shock me, Mr Bradley.  I can hardly believe that Chelsea Lopez doesn’t enjoy a quiet evening in curled up by the fire with Chekhov.”

“I didn’t just read to her,” he said evenly, as he managed to control his frustration and obvious dislike.  “I talked to her, told her things about my life I’ve never told anyone.  And she listened and didn’t judge me.”

“She’s a good listener,” said Margaret.  “That much is true.  It’s a shame she had to listen to all your celebrity neurosis.”

“Please listen, I feel things for Rainn I’ve never felt for anyone before. She is witty, clever and has a purity I’ve never experienced.”

“I can well believe that, Mr Bradley.  Your sordid life seems to be particularly devoid of anything resembling purity.  So you will understand my reluctance to let you sour her purity with your infamy.”

“Please,” begged Jack, “Rainn has made me feel like a real person.  At long last I have found someone who makes me feel whole.  Don’t try to come between us.  It will end badly for you, if you do.”

“Mr Bradley, that sounds like a threat.  This is not one of your blockbusters.  Spare me the melodrama.”

Jack spoke quietly, with meaning.  “You won’t come between us.  You are irrelevant.”  

Margaret sighed.  “I may be irrelevant.  But Rainn already has a boyfriend and he is not.  So you might as well give up now.”

“What?” shouted Jack, unable to control the fury in his voice.  “What boyfriend?  She never mentioned a boyfriend.”

“I’m sorry.  But she has a long-term boyfriend, so your interest is unwanted.”

“What’s his name?” snarled Jack.

“John,” retorted Margaret, without thinking.

“Well, you can tell John the same thing I told you.  Neither of you will stand between Rainn and I.”

“Goodbye, Mr Bradley.  I shall block your number now.”

“Do what you like.  It will make no difference.”

Margaret ended the call and blocked him as she said she would.  She was angry and acted before she had a chance to feel bad about doing something behind Rainn’s back.  If Rainn had heard the way he had spoken, she wouldn’t have wanted to speak to him, she reasoned.  She phoned John and invited him for dinner and he happily accepted.

Rainn looked up enquiringly as Margaret came back into the room. “Did I get a call?” she asked.

“Yes you did, from John” lied Margaret, “So I answered and invited him for dinner.  I hope you don’t mind.”