I’m
really not comfortable in dresses like this. It’s not me, you know
what I mean?’
‘Of course it’s
not you,’ he said patiently. ‘That’s the whole point. You’re
playing a character, remember? And the woman you’re playing has a
taste for good clothes, expensive trinkets, things that match the
sort of life that Colwyn Symons is enjoying. Come on, you can do
it. Just try on the blue dress, you’ll look fabulous, trust
me.’
She retreated
into the changing room then emerged again sheepishly. ‘Can you undo
this one for me, please?’
He slid the
zipper down and she hurried for the shelter of the curtains. The
black dress fell to the floor and she pulled on the stretchy blue
sequinned mini-dress. It fitted closely to every curve, and her
eyebrows rose when she studied her reflection. That was more like
it. With her flash new haircut and this dress, she looked like a
successful participant in a makeover show.
Mike was
waiting right outside the changing room this time, and she was
relieved to see a wicked grin light his face when he saw her.
‘Whoo-ee! That
dress is amazing on you. You look the part in that one,
girlfriend!’ He gave her a high five, and her confidence
soared.
‘Really? Do you
think so?”
‘Sure, look at
yourself.’ He twirled her to face the mirror, where she saw a tall
sophisticated blonde woman dressed in the height of fashion looking
back at her. ‘Now just lose the stunned expression, and he’ll be
falling over himself to get to know you.’
‘Damn right!
Let’s get the bastard!’
He helped her
carry the armloads of bags back to her hotel, where he drew up a
schedule of acting lessons for the next few days.
Robyn was a
quick study despite her lack of experience, and enjoyed the
role-playing exercises that Mike devised for her. After two days,
she was walking confidently in her new high-heeled shoes, speaking
in a fluting English accent, and was almost starting to believe
that she was a jet-set dilettante looking for a partner. They had
decided on the English background after trials of American or
Canadian accents had proved that they slipped under pressure. Mike
figured that the occasional lapse from English into a New Zealand
accent would probably be less noticeable to Colwyn’s ears.
‘Just as well
my Mum was English, I can do her voice quite easily. Now I just
have to remember not to use any Kiwi expressions that would give
the game away.’
‘What sort of
expressions?’ asked Mike curiously.
‘Oh you know,
“she’ll be right”, “kick it in the guts, Trev”, “box of birds”,
that kind of thing. He’d spot those for sure.’
‘I guess he
would. They make no sense to me!’
‘Of course not,
Henry Higgins. This Eliza comes from a different country from wot
you do. Now, one thing we haven’t covered - what happens if Colwyn
gets um, over-friendly? I don’t have to kiss him or anything, do
I?’ Her mouth twisted at the idea.
‘You’ll have to
judge that by the situation. There’s no script for this kind of
thing, you have to play it by ear. If that’s what it takes to get
where you want to be, you may have to make the sacrifice.’
‘Ugh! I’d be
more likely to sink my teeth into his neck!’
‘Perhaps we
should role-play the situation so that you’re ready for it. If
you’ve had a rehearsal of kissing someone you’re not in a
relationship with, it’ll make it easier to do it with someone you
actively dislike. Ready?’
‘Oh I don’t
know, this is getting a bit freaky.’ She squirmed. ‘It’s just too
personal. I haven’t been close with a guy since I broke up with my
boyfriend, and that was over a year ago. And he was the only one…’
The blush set her face glowing again and she looked away.
‘Don’t feel
bad. I separated from my wife three years ago and haven’t been
seeing anyone since. No big deal.’ He pulled her to her feet. ‘Just
remember you’re acting a role - it’s not you doing all
really not comfortable in dresses like this. It’s not me, you know
what I mean?’
‘Of course it’s
not you,’ he said patiently. ‘That’s the whole point. You’re
playing a character, remember? And the woman you’re playing has a
taste for good clothes, expensive trinkets, things that match the
sort of life that Colwyn Symons is enjoying. Come on, you can do
it. Just try on the blue dress, you’ll look fabulous, trust
me.’
She retreated
into the changing room then emerged again sheepishly. ‘Can you undo
this one for me, please?’
He slid the
zipper down and she hurried for the shelter of the curtains. The
black dress fell to the floor and she pulled on the stretchy blue
sequinned mini-dress. It fitted closely to every curve, and her
eyebrows rose when she studied her reflection. That was more like
it. With her flash new haircut and this dress, she looked like a
successful participant in a makeover show.
Mike was
waiting right outside the changing room this time, and she was
relieved to see a wicked grin light his face when he saw her.
‘Whoo-ee! That
dress is amazing on you. You look the part in that one,
girlfriend!’ He gave her a high five, and her confidence
soared.
‘Really? Do you
think so?”
‘Sure, look at
yourself.’ He twirled her to face the mirror, where she saw a tall
sophisticated blonde woman dressed in the height of fashion looking
back at her. ‘Now just lose the stunned expression, and he’ll be
falling over himself to get to know you.’
‘Damn right!
Let’s get the bastard!’
He helped her
carry the armloads of bags back to her hotel, where he drew up a
schedule of acting lessons for the next few days.
Robyn was a
quick study despite her lack of experience, and enjoyed the
role-playing exercises that Mike devised for her. After two days,
she was walking confidently in her new high-heeled shoes, speaking
in a fluting English accent, and was almost starting to believe
that she was a jet-set dilettante looking for a partner. They had
decided on the English background after trials of American or
Canadian accents had proved that they slipped under pressure. Mike
figured that the occasional lapse from English into a New Zealand
accent would probably be less noticeable to Colwyn’s ears.
‘Just as well
my Mum was English, I can do her voice quite easily. Now I just
have to remember not to use any Kiwi expressions that would give
the game away.’
‘What sort of
expressions?’ asked Mike curiously.
‘Oh you know,
“she’ll be right”, “kick it in the guts, Trev”, “box of birds”,
that kind of thing. He’d spot those for sure.’
‘I guess he
would. They make no sense to me!’
‘Of course not,
Henry Higgins. This Eliza comes from a different country from wot
you do. Now, one thing we haven’t covered - what happens if Colwyn
gets um, over-friendly? I don’t have to kiss him or anything, do
I?’ Her mouth twisted at the idea.
‘You’ll have to
judge that by the situation. There’s no script for this kind of
thing, you have to play it by ear. If that’s what it takes to get
where you want to be, you may have to make the sacrifice.’
‘Ugh! I’d be
more likely to sink my teeth into his neck!’
‘Perhaps we
should role-play the situation so that you’re ready for it. If
you’ve had a rehearsal of kissing someone you’re not in a
relationship with, it’ll make it easier to do it with someone you
actively dislike. Ready?’
‘Oh I don’t
know, this is getting a bit freaky.’ She squirmed. ‘It’s just too
personal. I haven’t been close with a guy since I broke up with my
boyfriend, and that was over a year ago. And he was the only one…’
The blush set her face glowing again and she looked away.
‘Don’t feel
bad. I separated from my wife three years ago and haven’t been
seeing anyone since. No big deal.’ He pulled her to her feet. ‘Just
remember you’re acting a role - it’s not you doing all
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