Face in the Frame Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    “Oh look, Lucas is coming back,” said Jennifer, glad of the distraction.
    Cass was equally glad and turned to watch the tall figure return, his presence announced by no sound or ceremony but still everyone’s attention was riveted to him.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending tonight,” announced Lucas in a deep, delicious voice that made Cass tingle. “I do hope you’re enjoying my new body of work.” He was interrupted by applause and a whistle of approval. It seemed his bizarre work had been well-received. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he added with a good-natured smile that caused a ripple of laughter. “Please, eat, drink and be merry. It’s a pleasure to have you all here.”
    A man approached Cass from behind and placed a hand on her arm. She spun round, hand already forming into a fist until she realised the short, dumpy man in the dark purple suit with the neatly snipped goatee wasn’t a threat.
    “You’ve got tickets to meet Mr Thorne?” he said in a high pitched voice that bordered on comical.
    They both nodded.
    “This way please.”
    Cass and Jennifer followed the man through the room to the door Lucas had disappeared through earlier where a table was set up against one wall, groaning beneath the weight of food, jugs of water and orange juice and glasses of champagne. Four people were already present, piling their plates high with food.
    “This is great, isn’t it?” said one flushed, excited-looking man. “Meeting Lucas Thorne and all this scran too.”
    “Yes, great,” said Jennifer dryly, wrinkling up her nose as he stuffed three canapés into his mouth at once.
    “Mr Thorne will be with you momentarily, when his admirers eventually relinquish him,” announced the bearded man with adoration in his eyes before leaving.
    “Who’s he?” Cass asked Jennifer, indicating the bearded man as he vanished through the door.
    “Oliver Fender, Lucas’s agent,” she replied.
    “He talks about him as though he’s God.”
    “I’ve noticed him hanging about before. He seems to worship Lucas.”
    “Creepy,” commented Cass before taking another sip of champagne, careful to smile only inwardly at what Brodie would say if he could see her enjoying a second drink. She resolved to go onto orange juice after this one.
    “Lucas tends to bring out that emotion in a lot of people,” mumbled the man through a mouthful of food.
    “What, creepy?” said Cass.
    He frowned at this insult to his hero. “No, I meant the worship,” he said, causing Cass to smirk.
    “We’ve been to all his exhibitions,” said the small, round blond woman standing by his side. “People flock to him, they can’t get enough. He’s just so…magnetic,” she said dreamily, drawing a frown from her husband who was so concerned he actually stopped stuffing food into his mouth.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked her.
    “Well, you know,” she smiled coyly.
    “No I don’t Emily. Enlighten me,” he said, frown deepening.
    Cass and Jennifer extricated themselves as they started to bicker.
    “Makes me glad I’m not married,” commented Cass, cursing herself when Jennifer winced. “Sorry,” she added.
    “I take it you’ve heard about the state of my marriage?”
    “Not much. We don’t gossip about our clients.”
    “It’s alright,” she said, looking down at the carpet. “And yes, you are lucky Cass. If I had my time again…”
    Jennifer never got to finish that sentence because the bearded man flung open the door and announced, “Mr Lucas Thorne.”
    Lucas strode in still clutching his cane, eyes flashing about the room, taking in every face in an instant. Cass swore his gaze stayed on her for slightly longer than the others before swiftly moving on.
    “Thank you for coming tonight,” he said, addressing the room. “I appreciate all your support.”
    It appeared he was about to add something else but Emily bustled up to him and thrust her hand at him, which he