‘I’m a jolly fine photographer,’ mocked Giles.
Claudia decided it was about time she came between Cindy’s adoring gaze and Conrad. She snaked her arm around his neck and whispered something in his ear.
He looked surprised. ‘Here?’ he said. ‘Now?’
She giggled. ‘No one will see. Want me to?’
He laughed hoarsely. ‘You’re a wild broad. Save it for later, huh?’
Conrad ordered champagne for the whole table, and everyone proceeded to get well and truly loaded. ‘I’m going to throw a big party tomorrow night,’ he said.
Claudia was delighted. ‘For me, darling?’
‘Yeah, for you – anyone – you’re all invited.’
‘Oh, goodie – how super,’ trilled Shirley. ‘Where and what time, sweetie?’
‘Make it at my hotel – Plaza Carlton – I’ll take over a big room there – about ten o’clock.’
‘Crazy,’ said Claudia. ‘Did everybody hear that – tomorrow at ten.’ She kissed Conrad’s ear. ‘I’m just going to the loo – be right back.’ She threaded her way through the crowded tables to reception. ‘I want to make a quick phone call,’ she said to the girl behind the desk.
‘Go ahead,’ said the girl passing over the house phone.
It was after three o’clock. She dialled the number slowly, a strange smile playing around her lips.
A sleepy voice answered the phone.
‘Hello, David darling,’ she whispered. ‘I’m having a great time. How about you?’ She hung up immediately. ‘Just letting my husband know everything’s cool,’ she said to the surprised girl and swept back inside.
* * *
Waking up the next morning was not too much fun. Seeing Conrad asleep beside her like a discontented slug made her stomach turn. Her head felt heavy and her skin like much-used parchment. She made it to the bathroom and took an icy-cold shower. It was absolutely freezing agony, but the after-effects were worth it.
They had not returned to Conrad’s hotel earlier that morning but instead had ended up in her apartment.
After the shower she dressed carefully and did a meticulous makeup, all ready to accompany Conrad to the studio. Then she made some coffee and finally shook him.
He awoke badly. Much coughing and foul sounds in his throat, bloodshot eyes, bad breath and BO. ‘Christ, what time is it?’ he muttered, the universal cry of people waking up in other people’s apartments.
‘It’s just ten o’clock.’ She handed him some coffee.
‘Where’s the phone?’
She groped around under the bed, where she had placed the phone off the hook.
He called his secretary and issued a list of instructions. ‘I’ve got to go back to the hotel and get changed,’ he said, struggling into his clothes.
‘I’m coming with you.’
‘What for?’
‘For my test you promised me.’
He stared at her. ‘I’m not going to forget your goddamn test – but it can’t be done just like that, today. It’s got to be set up.’
‘I’ll come with you while you set it up.’
He shook his head. ‘You don’t give up, do you?’ He picked up the phone and called his secretary again. ‘Listen. I want a test fixed for a Miss Claudia—’ He looked at her blankly.
‘Parker,’ she said quickly.
‘Parker. Fix it up as soon as possible. Her agent will call you later today to get the details.’ He hung up. ‘OK, baby?’
She kissed him. ‘You bet! Listen, you haven’t forgotten the party tonight?’
‘Party?’
‘Yes. Don’t you remember? You asked a whole group of people to a party tonight at your hotel.’
‘Oh, yeah – that’s right. I’ll get it in hand, and I’ll see you later.’
‘I’ll come by a couple of hours early in case you need anything.’
‘The way I feel right now, I won’t need anything – but you never know.’ He gave a ribald laugh and left.
Chapter Eleven
Linda phoned Paul at work as soon as the children had gone to school and David to the office. He was anxious to see her.
‘I can’t manage it,’ she said.
He was most persuasive and eventually she agreed to meet him during his lunch hour.
It was a crisp sunny day, and they met in Green Park. She had never seen him in a suit before, and it didn’t look quite right somehow. She decided it was because it was off the rack and store-bought suits always managed to look just that little bit wrong.
They strolled along hand in hand, but Linda didn’t feel easy. She felt overdressed in her smart outfit with matching crocodile shoes and bag. She knew she looked all wrong strolling hand in hand with Paul Bedford in Green Park. It wasn’t that she felt old, or at least older than him – but she felt, in spite of the fact that she didn’t want to feel that way – she felt as if she was slumming.
‘What’s on your mind?’ he asked. ‘Something bothering you?’
‘I don’t know, Paul. This is all wrong. I’m not the sort of woman that can get involved in an affair. I have my children and my home, and I feel I have to keep trying with my husband. I can’t just give up and become involved with you. That’s no answer at all.’
He was irritated. ‘What’s the matter, Linda? Frightened of losing your security if David finds out?’
‘No. I’m frightened of losing my self-respect.’
They walked in silence for a while and then he said, ‘What are you trying to say?’
‘I’m trying to say that I can’t lead two lives. I want to stop it now before it goes any further.’
His voice sounded bleak. ‘I don’t want you to leave me. I’ve been waiting to meet someone like you. You’re a warm person. I need a warm person. I won’t make any demands on you, just to see you when you’re free.’
‘It’s not enough for either of us. I don’t think we should see each other again.’ She withdrew her hand.
His mood changed. ‘You’re like all the others. I should have known you’re just a hard bitch at heart, frightened of losing all your home comforts. Women have hearts like bloody adding machines. Look at Margarethe – dropped me for my father just because he had a few bob. My bloody mother killed herself to get away from him. Fuck the lot of you.’
‘I’m sorry, Paul – but I’m not going to be a substitute for your mother or Margarethe. I’m too old for that. Forget the past and go and find someone you can be happy with.’
‘Is that what you want?’
‘Yes. It is.’
He sneered at her. ‘Well, you were a bloody easy lay – and not bad for an old bird.’
She turned and started to walk quickly away.
‘Who’s going to screw you now, you randy bitch!’ he yelled after her.
She felt the colour rise in her face, and started to run, not stopping until she reached her car.
She drove home, cold tears running down her face all the way.
* * *
The Grossmans were sitting in the bar of their hotel, Lori cool in pale-lilac chiffon, silver hair swept back in elaborate curls, neckline plunging to show off two satin-smooth white breasts.
The Coopers arrived to meet them on time. Linda was wearing a black silk dress and pale-beige mink wrap. David, conventional in a midnight-blue suit, white shirt, blue tie, and big sapphire cufflinks.
They all had a drink and then moved on to the Savoy Grill.
Jay enlivened the evening with amusing tales about Hollywood. David chatted amicably about business and politics. The two women were mostly silent. Lori was obviously disappointed that Princess Margaret wasn’t there. She complained about the lack of ice and checked her makeup a lot.
Jay finally said, ‘For Christ’s sake, stop looking in the mirror. We all know you’re beautiful. It’s the reason I married you, isn’t it?’
She pouted a lot after that.
When they were at the coffee stage Jay said, ‘Hey – how about dropping
by the party Conrad’s giving tonight? We promised we would.’
‘I’m really tired,’ Linda said apologetically. ‘It was the children’s first day at school and what with all the preparation I’m rather exhausted.’
‘Come on, Linda,’ said David jovially, ‘we’ll go for an hour.’ He was feeling rather pleased with himself due to the fact that he had avoided getting in touch with Claudia all day. Little tramp, teach her a lesson. And how about that, phoning him up in the middle of the night to make him jealous? He would show her. She would have to come begging to be forgiven.
‘Yes, Linda, you must come,’ said Jay. ‘It will be a laugh, I can promise you that.’
‘Just for an hour then,’ she said reluctantly.
She accompanied Lori to the ladies’ room, where between applying powder and blusher Lori drawled, ‘That son of a bitch thinks I’m a damn idiot. He’ll find out who’s the idiot when I get half of everything he’s got.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ said Linda politely.
‘It’s California law – I know it’s California law.’ At that Lori sank into silence, carefully applying another coat of lip gloss.
The party was in full swing when they arrived. There were sixty or seventy people there already, and more arriving all the time. A huge buffet of food covered one side of the room, with three bars strategically placed, and a six-piece live group to which people were dancing.
They pushed their way through to the nearest bar and ordered drinks. Jay appeared to know quite a few people. He introduced everybody, and soon David was chatting away.
‘Come with me to find Conrad,’ Jay said to Linda. ‘I’ve got to let him know I put in an appearance.’
They found Conrad sitting at a table eating chocolate ice cream and drinking straight bourbon. Claudia was by his side – wearing a bright-red ruffled dress and a lot of fake diamonds.
Conrad issued genial greetings and invited them to sit down, moving two other people to do so.
‘You remember Mrs. Cooper – Linda,’ Jay said.
‘Sure, sure. What do you think of the party? I know how to do these things right, huh?’
‘You certainly do,’ Jay said admiringly.
‘Hallo, Mrs. Cooper,’ Claudia said, slurring her words. She had been drinking steadily for several hours. ‘Is Mr Cooper about?’
‘Why, yes,’ said Linda. ‘Did you want to see him about something?’
‘Yes, as a matter of fact I do.’ She knocked a glass down on the table accidentally, the dark alcohol making a splashy stain on the tablecloth. ‘I want to tell him what he can do with his bloody Beauty Maid campaign. Stuff it up his ass – that’s what he can do with it.’ She hiccuped.
Linda stared at her coolly. ‘I’ll see he gets the message, dear.’ She turned to talk to Jay.
Claudia stood up. ‘Think I’ll give him the bloody message myself,’ she said and weaved unsteadily off.
‘What’s the matter with her?’ Linda said.
Jay shrugged. ‘I don’t know. What’s with your girlfriend, Con?’
Conrad laughed. ‘The broad’s nutty. I’ve promised her a bit in the movie. It’s gone to her head.’
‘What bit?’
‘How about a semi-naked broad standing beside the credits, sort of torn-slave-dress jazz. This kid’s got a great body – and if she photographs OK, we’ll use her. Whattayasay?’
‘Fine,’ said Jay with a smile. ‘Sounds like it has a lot of class.’
Linda rose from the table. ‘Excuse me a minute,’ she said. She walked around the room looking for David, but she couldn’t find him or the girl. She sighed. It was probably nothing – the girl was drunk.
She spotted Lori surrounded by a group of admiring males and went over.
Lori was saying, ‘Well, where I come from women are treated like ladies. You see—’
‘Have you seen David?’ Linda interrupted.
‘Yeah.’ She hardly glanced at Linda. ‘He went out on the terrace.’
It’s stupid, Linda thought. I shouldn’t be tracking him down like this, it’s childish. She made her way onto the terrace and found it deserted.
Just as she was leaving, she heard a low, throaty chuckle. She looked again and saw over in the corner a couple in a close embrace.
She backed into the shadows and edged nearer. The girl was pulling his head down to her breast, which was popping out of the top of her dress. She was fondling him intimately.
‘You’re the craziest, Claudia,’ he muttered. ‘The best ever.’ Now he was pulling her dress right down so it hung around her waist. ‘I missed you so much. One night without having you was murder.’
Shocked and sickened, Linda backed away. They hadn’t seen her. Dazed, she wandered back into the main room.
She was heading for the door when Jay appeared and grabbed her arm. ‘What’s the matter? You look terrible. What happened?’
She looked at him with unseeing eyes. ‘I’ve got to get out of here,’ she mumbled, pushing his arm away and making for the door.
He caught hold of her arm again firmly and steered her to the nearest bar.
‘The lady wants a large brandy, and fast,’ he said. ‘Now, tell me what happened.’ He took her hand and held it tight. ‘Tell me,’ he repeated in a softer voice.
She looked at him with eyes full of shock. ‘I suspected he played around – maybe – once in a while up in Manchester or somewhere, but this… With me right here. It’s horrible.’
The waiter brought the brandy, and she took large gulps.
‘I – I was looking for David. I wanted to warn him about that drunk tramp. Lori said he was on the terrace. I went out and he was there with her. They were necking – she had half her dress off. They were saying these things to each other…’
‘Oh, God!’ said Jay. ‘That stupid son of a bitch. Look – the girl was drunk. Maybe he was trying to get rid of her.’
Linda’s eyes were scornful. ‘With words like – “one night without having you was murder”?’
‘What do you want to do?’ asked Jay. ‘Shall I take you home?’
She shook her head. ‘What can I do? This is it for me. I’m finished with him. I want a divorce. I hate him.’ Her voice shook. ‘I don’t ever want to speak to him again.’
‘Look – it’s no good making decisions while you’re upset. Let me take you home. I’ll come straight back and talk to David, tell him not to go home tonight.’
She laughed bitterly. ‘Tell him not to ever come home again. Tell him to go off with his “best-ever” little slut. Tell him he can do what he wants – ’cos I don’t care anymore. I’m through.’ She took another large gulp of brandy. ‘I’m going to start crying in a minute – please get me out of here.’
They got a taxi outside the hotel. Linda was worried that either Lori or David would miss them and that maybe David would race her home, but Jay reassured her. ‘I’ll be back within an hour, and if he does miss you he’ll just be looking around. As for Lori, she won’t even know I’m gone.’
Linda sighed. ‘I’m so embarrassed, dragging you away from the party and everything. The whole situation is so awful.’
‘Don’t be embarrassed.’ He took her hand comfortingly. ‘If it’s any solace I was involved in exactly the same situation myself. In Hollywood at a real swinging party, my first wife, Jenny, vanished. I searched all over and eventually found her in bed with the host. So you see, I do understand.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I was a schmuck. I gave her another chance. Came home early one day and found her banging the delivery boy.’
They sat in silence for a while, then Jay said, ‘I suppose for some people one woman or one man is enough – but not for any of the people I know. I guess one gets what one deserves out of life. I’ve been married three times – each time to a beautiful girl with about as much thinking power as a rabbit. It must be a sickness with me – I marry stupid, dumb, beautiful broads.’
Linda hesitated. ‘I �
�� I was unfaithful to David this week. The first time in eleven years of marriage. I’m so ashamed about it now. It was with a boy – a twenty-two-year-old boy – I don’t know why…’ She trailed off. ‘David hadn’t touched me in months. We were so far apart, he was never home. It just happened. I suppose I’m as guilty as he is.’
‘Never feel guilty. What good can that do? Sleep on things, and see how you feel in the morning. You’ve got young children – don’t make any hasty decisions.’
‘Good night, Jay – thank you for everything.’
‘Linda, I’ll call you tomorrow. Rest easy – it will be all right.’
* * *
Claudia found David in a group with Lori. She edged quietly up behind him, and pressing her body against his back, she covered his eyes with her hands and said in a Marilyn Monroe-type voice, ‘Guess who, baby!’
There was no mistaking that body. He was surprised and sharply excited. She had the most incredible effect on him: he just had to know she was there to want her. He turned slowly, eyes looking around to see if Linda was anywhere about. She wasn’t.
‘Hello, Claudia.’
‘Hello, Claudia.’ She mimicked his voice. ‘Don’t I get a better greeting than that? By the way, you can stuff your Beauty Maid campaign up your ass, cha-cha-cha!’
The group he had been standing with were all listening, including Lori.
He took Claudia firmly by the arm, bruising her flesh. ‘Let’s go and find Linda,’ he said, walking off and pulling her with him.
‘Let’s go find Linda!’ she said incredulously. ‘You’ve got to be joking!’
He marched her onto the terrace, finding a deserted dark corner. As soon as he let go of her she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. ‘Did you miss me?’ she whispered. ‘I was going to be so mad at you, but I couldn’t.’ She giggled. ‘I’m smashed, you know.’
‘You’re a bitch, leaving me sitting in that restaurant, phoning up in the middle of the night. You were going to be mad? What about me?’
She nibbled his ear, rubbing her body against him.
Her dress was held up by two thin shoulder straps. He peeled them off, pulling her dress down to her waist. She wore nothing underneath. Hungrily she guided his mouth to her breasts.
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