A Stranger in the Mirror By Sidney Sheldon

The next day Toby sent her a diamond bracelet, and Jill knew that everything was all right. She returned the bracelet with a carefully thought-out note. “Thank you, anyway. You make me feel very beautiful.”

“It cost me three grand,” Toby told Clifton proudly, “and she sends it back!” He shook his head incredulously. “What do you think of a girl like that?”

Clifton could have told him exactly what he thought, but all he said was, “She’s certainly unusual, dear boy.”

“Unusual!” Toby exclaimed. “Every broad in this town is on the make for everything they can get their hot little hands on. Jill is the first girl I’ve ever met who doesn’t give a damn about material things. Do you blame me for being crazy about her?”

“No,” Clifton said. But he was beginning to get worried. He knew all about Jill, and he wondered if he should not have spoken up sooner.

“I wouldn’t object if you wanted to take Jill on as a client,” Toby said to Clifton. “I’ll bet she could be a big star.”

Clifton parried it deftly but firmly. “No, thanks, Toby. One superstar on my hands is enough.” He laughed.

That night Toby repeated the remark to Jill.

 

After his unsuccessful attempt with Jill, Toby was careful not to broach the subject of their going to bed together. Toby was actually proud of Jill for refusing him. All the other girls he had gone with had been doormats. But not Jill. When Toby did something Jill thought was out of line, she told him so. One night Toby tongue-lashed a man who was pestering him for an autograph. Later, Jill said, “It’s funny when you’re sarcastic on stage, Toby, but you hurt that man’s feelings.”

Toby had gone back to the man and apologized.

Jill told Toby that she thought his drinking so much was not good for him. He cut down on his consumption. She made a casually critical remark about his clothes, and he changed tailors. Toby allowed Jill to say things that he would not have tolerated from anyone else in the world. No one had ever dared boss him around or criticize him.

Except, of course, his mother.

Jill refused to accept money or expensive gifts from Toby, but he knew that she could not have much money, and her courageous behavior made Toby even more proud of her. One evening at Jill’s apartment, while Toby was waiting for her to finish dressing before dinner, he noticed a stack of bills in the living room. Toby slipped them into his pocket and the next day ordered Clifton to pay them. Toby felt as though he had scored a victory. But he wanted to do something big for Jill, something important.

And he suddenly knew what it was going to be.

 

“Sam—I’m going to do you a great big favor!”

Beware of stars bearing gifts, Sam Winters thought wryly.

“You’ve been going crazy looking for a girl for Keller’s picture, right?” Toby asked. “Well, I got her for you.”

“Anyone I know?” Sam inquired.

“You met her at my house. Jill Castle.”

Sam remembered Jill. Beautiful face and figure, black hair. Far too old to play the teen-ager in the Keller movie. But if Toby Temple wanted her to test for the part, Sam was going to oblige. “Have her come in to see me this afternoon,” he said.

 

Sam saw to it that Jill Castle’s test was carefully handled. She was given one of the studio’s top cameramen, and Keller himself directed the test.

Sam looked at the rushes the following day. As he had guessed, Jill was too mature for the part of the young girl. Aside from that, she was not bad. What she lacked was charisma, the magic that leaped out from the screen.

He telephoned Toby Temple. “I looked at Jill’s test this morning, Toby. She photographs well, and she can read lines, but she’s not a leading lady. She could earn a good living playing minor roles, but if she has her heart set on becoming a star, I think she’s in the wrong business.”

Toby picked up Jill that evening to take her to a dinner being given for a celebrated English director who had just arrived in Hollywood. Jill had been looking forward to it.