She got in the elevator and pressed the button.
When Mickey heard about this he was going to be furious.
Anything could have happened.
Reaching the safety of her Mercedes, she slumped weakly over the wheel. Oh, God! At least she was safe.
After a few moments of deep breathing she remembered she had to go to the beauty shop. Tonight was the premiere of Motherfaker, fol owed by a big charity dinner.
In her panic she forgot about phoning Primrose back. She forgot about Abe summoning her sister and brother-in-law to an urgent meeting on Monday morning. She drove straight to Ivana's and surrendered herself into Saxon's tender, loving hands.
"You look a little pale, Mrs. S.," Saxon commented, tossing his mane of blond hair, strutting around, snug in indecently tight white chinos.
"I had a nasty experience," she confessed.
He caught his reflection in the mirror and checked himself out. "Yeah?"
"Very nasty."
"You've got to watch yourself, Mrs. S.," he said vaguely.
"I know."
She did look. Upset. "You want me to cal your husband for you?" he asked casual y.
That was the last thing she wanted. "No, no, I'l be fine," she assured him.
He stepped back and narrowed his eyes, viewing her in the mirror. "So, how do we want to look tonight?"
"I don't care."
Saxon went to work.
When Mickey arrived back at the studio, refreshed after a relaxing session with a Chinese hooker, Lucky couldn't wait to give him the good news. "Mr. Panther has cal ed a meeting for ten o'clock on Monday morning," she informed him. "He'l be here personal y, and he's requested that you and Mrs. Stol i attend. He's also contacted your brother-inlaw, Ben Harrison, and his wife. They'l be flying in from England. Oh, and Miss Franklin has cal ed twice. She says it's urgent."
Mickey stared at his secretary. Luce. This mousy woman.
This harridan. "Fuck!" he snarled, before slamming his way into his office.
Mickey Stol i was not having a good day.
Chapter 46
The photographers gathered outside Spago went into a feeding frenzy when they spotted Cooper Turner arriving with Venus Maria. This was the break they'd been waiting for. The magic couple. A picture capable of making them thousands of dol ars.
Venus and Cooper refused to pose. On the other hand, they didn't duck in the back way. Holding hands, they walked down the little hil to the entrance, giving the photographers plenty of excel ent photo opportunities.
At the front desk, Bernard greeted them with a friendly handshake, and Jannis ushered them to a window table.
Venus immediately ordered a frozen Margarita and one of Wolfgang's famous smoked salmon pizzas with cream cheese.
Cooper was amused. "I thought you were one of those strong-wil ed women. Y'know, the kind who never puts anything between her lips if it's fattening."
"Tonight, I'm doing exactly what pleases me," she replied recklessly.
He nodded agreeably: "Does that mean we'l have sex?"
She burst out laughing. "Cooper! You're -Martin's best friend. Behave like it. Anyway, you promised."
"You know I'm only joking," he said, waving at Ida and Zeppo White, who were dining with Susie Rush and her husband.
She smiled. "Yeah, sure."
Cooper was forty-six years old, the same age as Martin, and yet he had a little-boy quality she loved. He might be the famous Cooper Turner, but to her he was a friend, and a good one.
"How wel do you know Martin's wife?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Deena? I've known her as long as Martin has. I met her before they were married."
"What's she like?"
"Deena's an interesting woman."
"In what way?"
"She's got bal s."
"Like me?"
"Nobody's got your bal s."
The pizza arrived, and Venus Maria dug in. "Does she know about me?" she asked, chewing ravenously.
"Look, Martin's never been the faithful husband type. I told you before. A lot of beautiful women have passed through his life. I'm sure Deena knows what goes on. She chooses to ignore it."
"I'm not just another woman," Venus Maria stated vehemently.
"I know that."
"Are you sure you know it? Has he told you?" she pressed, gulping her Margarita.
"No. But you couldn't be just another woman in anybody's life. You're special, kiddo."
Cooper made her feel good. "You think so, huh?" "I know so." He picked up his glass and toasted her. "You're an original."
"Thank you, Cooper. Coming from you I appreciate it."
Their waiter interrupted to recite the specials. Venus Maria ordered duck with a rich plum sauce, while Cooper settled for thinly sliced steak.
"By the way," he said, once they'd both ordered, "I've been meaning to tel you."
"What?" she asked eagerly.
"I have to admit it--you're real y something in the dailies. I know I tried to tone down your performance, but whatever you were doing up there, it works. You've got it, kiddo.
Whatever it might be."
His praise delighted her. "That's because I was in the hands of a good director."
"You sure know how to flatter a guy, huh?"
"I know how to do a lot of things," she replied provocatively.
He nodded knowingly. "Yup."
She leaned across the table, an intent expression on her face. "Cooper?"
"What?"
"Do you think Martin wil ever leave Deena?"
He looked at her quizzical y. "Are we back to that?"
"Sorry."
He sighed. "Do you want him to?"
She looked unsure. "Sometimes I think it's what I want more than anything else in the world, and other times I'm not so sure."
"You'd better make up your mind, because whatever he does depends on what you do."
He was tel ing her what she already knew. "I guess you're right."
"But I'l tel you this," he added. "If he does decide to leave Deena, it won't be easy. She's a tough lady." Venus Maria sat up straighter. "I'm tough, too." "Sweetheart, next to Deena, you're a cupcake."
Across town, Emilio sat in a smal , cramped office with Dennis Wal a, putting the finishing touches to his tape-recorded story. He'd come up with everything he could think of. Everything from what color panties Venus Maria wore to how she looked when she got up in the morning.
Dennis was satisfied they had a good story, but he stil pushed for more. "When are you going to show me the photo you talked about?" he asked. "We need it on the double."
"I'm getting it."
"I thought you already had it," Dennis countered.
"Yes, I do, it's somewhere safe," Emilio replied, slouching in his chair. "You don't expect me to keep a valuable picture like that hanging around, do you? My apartment could be broken into. Anyone could get hold of it. Besides, we haven't agreed on a price."
Dennis picked up a can of beer and took a hearty swig.
"The price depends on the photo. If it's worth it, you'l get your money."
Emilio scratched his head. "I'l have it for you soon," he promised.
Dennis rocked back and forth impatiently. "Yeah, wel , soon better be within the next twenty-four hours if we're gonna run it."
"Don't worry, I'l have it for you tomorrow," Emilio replied, thinking to himself, what the hel was he promising here?
He knew there was a photograph, he'd seen it one day when Venus Maria had left her house in a hurry, forgetting to close her safe. When he was staying with her he'd enjoyed taking little exploration trips around the house while she was out. That had been a bonus day. He'd inspected the safe's contents and spotted the picture of Venus with Martin Swanson. What he should have done was taken it then and there, and had it copied. But he hadn't thought about it at the time.
Now it was a question of getting back into her house, opening the safe, and stealing the photograph. Clever as he was,
Emilio wasn't quite sure how he was going to manage such a feat.
Dennis stood up, yawned, and stretched. "That's it for tonight, mate. I've had it," he said, scrunching his empty beer can and tossing it into a trash basket.
Emilio nodded thankful y. He had a hot date. It was amazing how women's attitudes changed toward him once they discovered he had money. He'd already leased a decent car and bought himself some new clothes.
His date was a hot little dancer who wouldn't have second-glanced him two weeks ago. Now she purred, "Sure, Emilio honey. Love to," when he'd cal ed and asked her out. Her name was Rita and she was a bundle of dynamite. Half Puerto Rican, half American, she was the girl of Emilio's dreams. She looked a little like Venus Maria, but so did half the other would-be video stars in L. A.
Dennis and he shook hands. "Tomorrow, mate," Dennis said, slapping him on the shoulder. "I'l be waiting for your cal ."
"Right," agreed Emilio. And they parted company.
Cooper Turner was a good listener. His advice was always constructive. "I understand what you're going through," he said sympathetical y. "You're in love with the guy. There's no way to explain why we fal in love with certain people. You and Martin make a strange couple. You must admit the two of you have absolutely nothing in common. But you love him, and I understand."
Venus Maria nodded wistful y. "I wish I knew why."
Cooper looked wise. "Maybe you're searching for a father figure. He is twenty years older than you." "So are you,.
Cooper. And I wouldn't regard you as a father figure."
He reached across the table and took her hand. "What would you regard me as?"
She smiled. "A very attractive man, who, if I wasn't involved, I could quite easily think about being with. Even though your reputation goes before you." "What reputation?" he asked casual y.
She began to laugh. "There's no way you can hide it, Coop, you're a real tomcat. You've been around this town so long there's not a woman over thirty-five you haven't had, including the married ones."
Cooper had a glint in his eye. "That was when I was young and didn't know any better."
"What are you now, senile?"
"Do you want me to talk to Martin?" he asked, briskly changing the subject. "Find out how he real y feels?"
Venus tossed her platinum curls. Know he's crazy about me. But I guess I wouldn't mind knowing if he sees a future for us."
"I'l do it."
"You wil ?"
"For you--anything."
"Not a hint that we've spoken about him, O. K.? Can you be cool?" she asked anxiously.
"Can / be cool?"
"Wel , can you?" she demanded.
"Sweetheart, I can do whatever you want me to." She was suddenly very serious. "I trust you, Cooper."
He returned her big brown-eyed gaze. "And so you should."
They drove back to her house. She couldn't help thinking how simple it would be if it was Cooper she was in love with. But no, it had to be Martin. It had to be Mr. New York himself.
"Am I coming in?" Cooper asked when they pul ed up outside.
"It depends on what you expect."
He gave her a wry smile. "I expect a cup of coffee." "Then you'd better come in."
Inside the house she activated her answering machine.
There were several messages. Two were business-related, and the third was from Martin. "Did you get my payoff?" his voice said. "I always settle my debts."
The fourth message was from Emilio. "Hey, little sis, nice of you to cal me, I 'preciate it. I bin workin' pretty hard. Scored myself some cash. Is it O. K. if I come by in the morning and put it in your safe? Thanks.. I don't like to leave it lying around the apartment. See you tomorrow."
"Who was that?" Cooper asked_
"My brother," she replied. "God knows what he's done to get himself a stash of cash. And why does he have to bring it here? Why can't he rent a safe-deposit box?" She sighed.
"I tel you--family."
Cooper nodded sympathetical y. "I know what you mean."
He watched her as she flitted around the room. She was making him uncomfortably hot.
"How about a brandy?" she asked. "I can't be bothered making coffee."
Abruptly he stood up. "I've changed my mind. I'm going home. Early cal in the morning."
"Are you sure?"
"Listen, if I stay I'm likely to attack you. So I may as wel get out of here while we're stil on good terms. Agreed?"
She laughed. "The man is honest."
"The man is horny!"
"I'm sorry I can't do anything about it."
He looked at her rueful y. "No, you're. Not." "You're right."
She walked him to the door, stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, Cooper. You've been a real friend tonight."
When she was alone she thought about Martin. The trouble with sleeping with a married man was that you couldn't pick up the phone and cal him when you felt like it.
Restlessly she opened the freezer, helped herself to a carton of chocolate chip ice cream and curled up in front of the television.
Soon she fel asleep.
The hottest young superstar in America slept alone.
Chapter 47
Abe Panther had dressed up for the meeting. He looked dapper for an eighty-eight-year-old man, in white pants and shirt, a blue blazer, a jaunty red scarf tossed casual y around his scrawny neck.
Lucky arrived with Morton Sharkey. She'd rushed back to her rented house from the studio, showered, washed her hair, put on makeup, and piled the wig, glasses, and clothes in a bundle on the bathroom floor ready for the burning ceremony she planned to perform before leaving for New York.
Abe greeted her with a hug and a rascal y wink. "This is it, girlie! This is it!" he said exuberantly.
She grinned back at him. "It sure is, Abe. You look wonderful."
"I'm lookin' forward to Monday mornin'," he said. "It's gonna be a real kil er!"
Inga appeared. There was actual y a pleasant expression on her face. "Good evening, Lucky," she said.
Good evening, Lucky! Inga acknowledged her existence!
Abe must have promised her a bundle.
"Wel , girlie, you ready to take over?" Abe asked. "You got al your plans in place?"
"I can tel you this, Abe. I'm going to be changing the way Panther does things. No more exploitation films. No more using women. Panther Studios is about to become the equal opportunity studio."
He cackled. "An' you real y think you'l make money that way?"
She took a beat. "Sometimes," she replied slowly,
"standing up for principles is more important than making money."
Abe cocked his head to one side. "You know some-thin', girlie? I wouldn't mind meetin' that father of yours. He taught you good." *
She nodded. "He certainly did. We'l al have dinner next time he's out here."
"If I'm around."
"Don't give me that. You're going to be around forever."
The lawyers were lined up and waiting. Morton had two assistants with him, while Abe's lawyers consisted of two businesslike men in three-piece suits. Abe made quite a ceremony over signing the final papers. He'd had Inga put out the best glassware, al the better to serve vintage champagne. .
Just before signing he handed Lucky a Cartier box. "Got you this, girlie," he said, pleased with himself. "Wanted you to have a souvenir of today."
Lucky was quite touched. She opened the box. Inside was an exquisite gold panther pin. On the back was inscribed
"To Lucky, from Abe Panther. Kil 'em, girlie!"
She leaned over and kissed him. "This is beautiful, Abe. I'l wear it proudly. And I'l look after your studio." Her black eyes gleamed. "Bet on it!"
Abe signed the papers with a flourish, and the champagne flowed. "Here's to the end of an era," he said, toasting her.
"The start of somethin' new."
"It'l be something new al right," Lucky said. "I made you a promise and I'l keep it. Pan
ther Studios wil be great again."
They locked eyes. Lucky Santangelo and Abe Panther: nearly sixty years separated them, but they were perfectly in tune.
An hour later Boogie drove her to the airport. She was elated beyond her wildest expectations. Lucky Santangelo.
Owner and President of Panther Studios. Goddamn it! Who would ever have believed it? She couldn't wait to see Lennie's face. And the rest of him.
Triumphantly she boarded the chartered plane. Boogie made sure the luggage was aboard, then joined her.
It was a clear L. A. night. Lucky gazed out the window as the smooth jet zoomed down the runway and took off into the star-studded night sky.
She ordered champagne from the steward and toasted the sea of lights spread out like a shimmering blanket beneath her.
"Here's to you, L. A.," she said. "And here's to Panther."
A new adventure was just beginning.
Chapter 48
The white triple-stretch limo snaked its way through the crowds to the front of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hol ywood Boulevard. A red carpet led from the sidewalk into the theater. Lining the sides of the carpet were various members of the press and camera crews from many different countries. The huge crowds spil ed over into the road. When they saw the white limo approaching, a chant went up from the crowd. "Johnny! Johnny! Johnny!"
screamed the masses. "We want Johnny! We want Johnny Romano!"
Safely ensconced in his limo, Johnny Romano could hear the tribal yel . He grinned at his date, a pretty young actress with large breasts and a twinkling smile. He'd cal ed her at the last moment because the woman he'd real y wanted on his arm was Venus Maria. But since Venus wouldn't honor him with her presence, he'd settled for this one.
Also in the car were his two faithful bodyguards and his manager.
When the limo pul ed to a halt, they al stayed put for a couple of minutes, al owing the excitement to build outside on the sidewalk.
"What's going on?" the actress asked. "Why are we waiting?"
"Foreplay," Johnny replied with a suggestive wink.
First the manager got out of the car, fol owed by the bodyguards, fol owed by Johnny's date, and final y the great Johnny Romano himself.
A hysterical scream went up from the crowd. Johnny acknowledged his fans with a kingly wave, pausing by the limo for a few seconds before strutting down the red carpet, his bodyguards flanking him on either side, his date trailing behind, his manager bringing up the rear. Reporters and camera crews pleaded for a moment of his time.
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