Page 23 of Persuading Penny
SEVEN
Seeing as Keely insistedthat I arrive early, that is precisely what I did the next day. I pulled up to the home that served as the Elliots’ residence and noticed the green Range Rover pulling into a spot nearby.
“You’re in charge of finances, right?”Cliff barked the moment we both stepped out of our respective vehicles.
“Yes,” I said.
“The payment didn’t come through.”
“What? Are you sure?”
“No. I’m just making that up to have an excuse to talk to you,” he barked back. “Yes. Of course, I’m sure.”
I reached into the back seat of my car and pulled out the documents relevant to his payments. “I have here that you’re with the Process Bank.”
“That’s right.”
“And your account number is 9116 2754 8127?”
“Well, I don’t know that by heart,” he barked back.
Growing frustrated with his imperious tone, I barked back, “Well, look it up.”
Surprised by my outcry, he pulled out his phone, looked through to his bank information and read out, “9116 2734 8127.”
“Well, there you have it. I have here 2754 and you’ve just told me it’s 2734.”
“Good,” he said as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. “I imagine that you will now fix your mistake.”
“My mistake? It is you who filled out the bank information form.” I pulled out the form. “Here. That’s your handwriting.”
He barely looked at the page.
“Your 5s look like 3s.”
“It’s the other way around, but regardless,” he said, resuming his haughty air. “Fix it.”
And with that he walked off to get to work.
I fumed for a brief moment as my many emotions collided with one another.
Still ruffled by the exchange, I went to the back of the house and sat on a stool near the back door. At this discrete distance I watched the crew set up, watched the actors take their marks and watched as Cliff did his magic shooting several scenes in the gardens.
Then Bridget arrived for her scene. As Anne Elliot, she was barely recognizable. Her hair was pulled back in an unflattering manner, with an odd curl down her forehead. Her attire was drab and unremarkable, muted blues and greens, compared to the livelier colors of the others in the scene.When she spoke, she said her lines perfectly, with the full weight they required. She never stammered or hesitated.
Increasingly, the cast and crew were impressed with her abilities and talk of her previous work was never mentioned.
Of those who were impressed with her work was Cliff. During a break earlier in the week, he’d quickly gone to her and had spoken with her for quite some time. They’d laughed together and she’d frequently set her hand on his arm.
And now, as Keely called for another break, Bridget quickly ran to Cliff, and he welcomed her with a broad smile. Even from my distant perch, I could hear her laughter, no doubt brought on by Cliff’s quick wit.
A rush of hot tears blurred my vision, but I sniffed the emotions back and refused to allow the ache to take over me.
But the emotions bubbled up, fought with my reasoning and ultimately won. As much as I tried to shake it off, seeing him with her...smiling, laughing, clearly enjoying himself...it hurt. It hurt more than any pain I’d felt in a long time; probably since that day when I’d dropped that letter in the mail.
