Lovers & Players

by Jackie Collins

  ‘Jealous?’ Gianna inquired, enjoying every minute.

  ‘Are you nuts? Of that old creep?’

  ‘I love it when you get possessive, carino,’ Gianna purred, her hand reaching over to touch his thigh. ‘You are so sexy, sì?’

  He didn’t feel sexy, he felt edgy and unsettled. All he could think about was Amy, and here he was having a conversation with Gianna about being jealous. If she only knew! What a joke.

  ‘Daddy!’ Lulu shrieked, flinging herself at Max. ‘My daddy!’

  ‘What about me?’ Chris asked ruefully. ‘Don’t I get a hug too?’

  The little girl squealed with laughter, delighted to be the centre of attention once more. ‘Okay, Lulu give you hug,’ she said, with a shy smile.

  ‘Have you been a good girl?’ Max asked.

  ‘She’s been very good,’ Amy assured him.

  ‘Wanna go home,’ Lulu said, pulling on his sleeve. ‘Wanna go home now, Daddy.’

  ‘We’re on our way,’ Max said, mouthing a silent thank you to Amy, as she escorted them to the door.

  ‘Did Jett behave himself?’ Chris asked. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted it, for Amy blushed a deep red and he was aware that she had immediately guessed he knew. Shit! He’d made a big mistake.

  ‘I’ll call you later,’ Max said, unaware of Amy’s discomfort.

  Lulu skipped out of the apartment without so much as ‘Thank you.’ Not that Amy minded, she was happy to see them leave.

  Since when had everything become so complicated?

  Oh, yes, since she’d slept with Jett, and, oh, God–Chris obviously knew all about it. The way he’d looked at her after he’d said, ‘Did Jett behave himself?’ It was a dead give-away. How sad was that? Even worse–what if he told Max?

  Unthinkable.

  Or was it?

  Now she had something else to worry about.

  Lady Jane Bentley sat in her bedroom contemplating her future. Her lawyer had acted swiftly and that was good. What wasn’t good was the information she was burdened with. She knew one too many secrets about Red Diamond, and she’d told him she knew, which she should never have done until she was out of the house.

  But–Catch 22 situation–if she left, Red would never settle the money on her that she deserved. And after living with Red Diamond for six years, she’d earned every cent.

  Of course, thirty-five million was a lot of money. But Red Diamond was worth billions. She was entitled to a worthy pay-out–she’d put in her time.

  Her lawyer had told her not to worry. ‘There’s nothing he can do to you,’ he’d said. ‘He can’t throw you out, so stay where you are, and do not leave the house.’

  Her lawyer didn’t have to put up with Red invading her room every so often, and screaming abuse. She’d tried locking the door, but that had only made things worse. He’d hammered on it with his steel-tipped cane, roaring obscenities.

  Diahann, Mae, the cook, and a couple of the maids had come running to see what was going on. Angrily he’d waved his stick at them, and they’d fled.

  Finally Lady Jane had unlocked her door and endured even more verbal abuse.

  As long as it was only verbal, she could take it. If it went any further she was calling the police, and Red would not appreciate that. Especially with all the dreadful publicity about the murder of Max’s ex-wife–a woman to whom Lady Jane had never warmed.

  Mariska Diamond had been a conniving social-climber, and Russian too. She was classless and, in Lady Jane’s book, there was nothing worse than a classless over-achiever.

  Running into the photo session late, Amy was greeted by an ecstatic Nigel standing outside the studio puffing on a cigarette. ‘Wait until you see them together,’ he raved, blowing perfect little smoke-rings. ‘Our clothes have never looked so brilliant! The men’s line is divine. Chic and simple and very Italian. And as for Jett–oh, my God!’ He paused to take a breath. ‘Oh dear, sorry, here I am carrying on about fashion, while you, poor girl—’

  ‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ Amy said, holding up her hand. ‘Except to say that we’re postponing the wedding, so pass the word.’

  ‘No!’ Nigel exclaimed in a shocked tone. ‘How can you?’

  ‘In view of what’s happened, it’s necessary, Nigel. Think about it.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right,’ he said, stubbing out his cigarette on the ground. ‘But it’s such a shame.’

  ‘Is the journalist from People here?’ she asked briskly, determined to get back to work.

  ‘Yolanda’s dealing with him. We didn’t think you’d be in today, let alone come to the photo shoot.’

  ‘There’s nothing I can do,’ Amy said. ‘I looked after Lulu last night, but now she’s back with Max.’

  ‘But surely Max—’

  ‘I told you, he’s with his daughter,’ she said, walking into the studio. ‘He’s fine, Nigel. You don’t have to worry about him.’

  Then she spotted Jett. He was standing in front of the camera, looking sensational in a lightweight cream-coloured sports jacket, a blue striped shirt and faded jeans. His hair was slightly messed up, his intense blue eyes mesmerizing.

  Gianna was draped all over him in an almost transparent white shirt tied under her magnificent breasts, tight white pants and high-heeled, jewelled sandals. Her auburn hair, piled on top of her head, was a jumble of sexy curls.

  Nigel was right, they made an amazing-looking couple.

  Frank Sinatra crooning ‘Come Fly With Me’ was blaring over the sound system. Antonio would only work to the voices of Sinatra, Tony Bennett or Dean Martin. He was an old-time kind of guy.

  ‘Amy!’ Gianna cooed, spotting Amy and running over to her. ‘I am so sorry! What a tragedia.’ She enveloped Amy in a big warm hug. ‘You will be bene, no?’

  ‘Thanks, Gianna,’ Amy said, exchanging a quick glance with Jett. Were they ever going to get a chance to talk things through? She doubted it.

  ‘Scusi!’ Antonio shouted. ‘We working here! Gianna, bella, the camera, immediatamente!’

  ‘The maestro calls,’ Gianna said, licking her full lips. ‘Did you see Jett? My Yankee boyfriend looks so delizioso. How you say in America–tasty enough to eat?’

  For a moment Amy wanted to scream, just let loose and yell her lungs out. But what good would that do? Everyone would think she was crazy, and she still had a job to take care of. Fixing a smile on her face, she approached Yolanda and the journalist from People. It was time to stop thinking about herself and get back to work.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  ‘Iwas hoping we could talk before you read about Mrs Diamond’s murder in the newspapers,’ Diahann said, over the phone. ‘I left several messages. Why didn’t you call me back before?’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Liberty said. ‘I only just saw a copy of the New York Post.’

  ‘As terrible as it is, it hasn’t really affected us at the house,’ Diahann continued. ‘Max Diamond was divorced from her, although Red Diamond is quite upset about all the publicity.’

  Who cares whether Red Diamond is upset? Liberty thought. I certainly don’t.

  ‘I’m in L.A.,’ she blurted.

  ‘Excuse me?’ Diahann responded.

  ‘I’ve been booked on a modelling assignment.’

  ‘You flew to L.A. without telling me?’

  ‘It happened suddenly.’

  ‘What happened suddenly?’

  ‘My friend Beverly introduced me to a modelling agent,’ she explained. ‘He sent me out on an interview and I got the job. Exciting, isn’t it?’

  Obviously Diahann did not think it was exciting at all. ‘You’re only nineteen, inexperienced,’ she said, sounding worried. ‘What makes you think the people you’re working for are legitimate? They could be white-slaving you. That kind of thing still goes on, you know.’

  ‘You’ve been watching too much CSI on TV, Mama,’ Liberty said. ‘Anyway, in my case it would be black-slaving, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘
It’s true, Liberty,’ Diahann said, ignoring her daughter’s sarcasm. ‘Do you know anything at all about the people who took you there?’

  ‘Nobody took me here,’ Liberty said. ‘The modelling agency is very reputable. I’m staying in a great hotel by the beach, and they’re treating me like a princess. Plus I’m working with a well-known photographer who’s shooting me for the cover of a new magazine.’

  ‘This is all moving too fast for me.’ Diahann sighed. ‘One day you want to be a singer, the next you’re a model.’

  ‘I still want to sing, Mama,’ Liberty said softly. ‘You know that’s always been my ambition. But this job pays a lot of money. I couldn’t turn it down, and I’m glad I didn’t.’

  ‘Everything isn’t always about money,’ Diahann said.

  ‘Really?’ Liberty responded. ‘Wasn’t that why you went to work for Mr Diamond, ’cause you needed the money?’

  ‘That was different.’

  ‘Okay, Mama,’ Liberty said, anxious to get off the phone. ‘Why don’t I tell you all about it when I get home? I’ll even treat you to a big fancy dinner. How’s that?’

  ‘When will you be back?’

  ‘Thursday night.’

  ‘Libby,’ Diahann said hesitantly, ‘the two of us…we need to sit down and have a conversation.’

  ‘About what?’ Liberty asked, wondering if Diahann had heard that Cindi had moved out, and now she was preparing to give her a lecture on the dangers of a young girl living alone in New York.

  ‘The things I told you about your father, well…I wasn’t quite truthful with you.’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘There’s something else you should know.’

  ‘What?’ she asked sharply.

  ‘Not over the phone.’

  ‘Mama,’ she sighed, ‘for God’s sake, why are you playing with my emotions like this?’

  ‘When I explain it to you, you’ll understand.’

  ‘Will I, Mama?’ she said, shaking her head. ‘Will I?’

  Upset and confused, she walked back to the lunch table and handed Teddy his phone. Just when she’d thought she had answers, Diahann had to come up with this.

  She wished she hadn’t phoned her mom back, it had ruined her day. And where was Cindi when she needed her? They’d always talked about everything and now she had nobody to share things with–good or bad.

  The ‘team’ whisked her off for more changes. A different hairstyle, make-up touch-ups, an incredibly sexy one-piece red swimsuit with strategic cut-outs.

  Once they were back on the beach, Teddy, who was a real sweetheart, asked her if everything was all right.

  ‘Why?’ she asked apprehensively. ‘Am I not looking Okay?’

  ‘You’re coming across in the Polaroids as a tad uptight.’

  ‘Oh, God, I’m sorry. It’s my mom,’ she confessed. ‘She’s impossible to understand.’

  ‘Ah,’ Teddy said wisely. ‘If we understood our parents, the world would be a much calmer place.’

  ‘Right,’ Liberty agreed.

  Making a concentrated effort, she put the conversation with Diahann out of her head, and once more threw herself into posing.

  At six o’clock Chip announced they were through for the day. ‘I’m inviting everyone for dinner,’ he said, crooked grin going full force. ‘Ivy at the Shore. Seven-thirty in the lobby.’

  ‘What’s Ivy at the Shore?’ Liberty asked Uma, the stylist, as they walked towards the hotel.

  ‘A restaurant,’ Uma replied, giving her a look as if to say, What rock have you been hiding under?

  ‘Uh…I don’t have anything to wear.’ Liberty said, frowning.

  ‘This is L.A.,’ Teddy said. ‘Nobody dresses up here, unless it’s a big event or you’re Paris Hilton.’

  ‘Jeans’ll do it,’ Quinn added. ‘It’s casual.’

  They all headed into the lobby of Shutters. As they started towards the elevator a male voice called out, ‘Lib?’

  ‘OhmiGod!’ Quinn exclaimed, in a stage whisper. ‘It’s Tony A. Do you know him?’

  Liberty stopped and stared as a handsome young man dressed all in white rushed towards them, trailed by what appeared to be his ‘team’.

  ‘Tony?’ she questioned excitedly. ‘Is that you?’

  ‘Libby? I don’t believe it!’ he yelled, hugging her, then standing back. ‘Look at you! You’re a glamour queen.’

  ‘You’re the queen,’ Quinn muttered, under his breath.

  ‘Shut up!’ Teddy hissed. ‘Liberty actually knows him!’

  ‘Who’s Tony A?’ Uma asked, as they all watched Liberty and Tony embrace.

  ‘Only the hottest Latino singer since Ricky Martin wowed ’em at the Grammys,’ Teddy said, rubbing his hands together.

  ‘Gay playing it straight,’ Quinn said, sotto voce. ‘But, I have to admit, gorgeous all the same.’

  ‘This is amazing!’ Tony said, shaking his head in admiration as he checked Liberty out. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Shooting a cover for a magazine.’

  ‘You’re a model?’ he said, flashing whiter than white teeth in a dazzling smile.

  ‘And you’re Tony A,’ she responded. ‘Wow! I’ve listened to your song on the radio. I never put it together that it was you.’

  Tony Artura, the Puerto Rican boy who used to live next door to her in Harlem, until Diahann had yanked her away to Manhattan and the Diamond mansion. The boy who’d taken her roller-blading in Central Park, taught her to pick at a guitar, helped her with her homework. And then, when she’d moved back to live with Aunt Aretha and Cindi, he was the boy she’d been serious with until his mom had decided they were moving to Miami.

  Tony Artura, her first big crush. Now he was Tony A–the new Latino singing sensation with a big hit record. What a rush!

  ‘Y’ know,’ he said, still smiling, ‘I often thought about you, wondered how you were doin’.’

  ‘Then how come you didn’t phone or write?’

  He shrugged. ‘Things changed when we moved out of New York. I got into a performing-arts school that kept me real busy. It was all work, work, work. My mom had big ambitions for me.’

  ‘You look great,’ Liberty said, reaching out to touch his spiky blond hair, streaked by the sun.

  ‘So do you. I always knew you’d turn out to be a beauty.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You were such a skinny little runt–with those long spider legs and wild green eyes.’

  ‘And you had a mullet!’ she teased. ‘Guess you want to forget about that.’

  They both started laughing. ‘How about we get together later for a drink?’ Tony suggested. ‘Catch up on everything.’

  ‘What time?’

  ‘I’m performing at a charity event in Beverly Hills. I should be back around eleven.’

  ‘Call me,’ she said, hoping he would. ‘If I’m still awake I’d love to.’

  A dark-haired, slim-hipped Hispanic man inserted himself between them. ‘Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?’ he said to Tony, arching his finely plucked eyebrows.

  ‘Yeah, sure,’ Tony replied, a touch awkwardly. ‘Hector, this is Liberty.’

  ‘Hello…Liberty,’ Hector said, giving her a full-on dirty look.

  ‘Libby and me were at school together,’ Tony explained, ‘and we lived next door to each other.’

  ‘Back in the day,’ Liberty said, smiling.

  ‘Cosy,’ Hector said, placing a hand possessively on Tony’s arm–a gesture that was not lost on Liberty. ‘We have to go,’ Hector continued. ‘We cannot be late.’

  ‘Well,’ Liberty said wistfully, ‘it was great seeing you, Tony. Your success is fantastic.’

  ‘You too, my little Libby. Sooo beautiful.’

  ‘Come on,’ Hector said, impatiently tapping his watch. ‘The limo is waiting.’

  ‘I guess the limo is waiting,’ Liberty said, still smiling.

  ‘I guess it is,’ Tony responded, smiling back. ‘’Bye for now.
Don’t forget, I’ll call you later.’

  Impulsively she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. ‘Thanks for all the fun memories,’ she whispered. ‘You made growing up kind of special.’

  Before she could say anything else, Hector successfully dragged him away.

  Teddy was in a state of excitement. ‘You know Tony A,’ he said, his voice filled with admiration. ‘You actually know him.’

  ‘Obviously she does,’ Uma said drily, herding them all into the elevator.

  ‘Then if you know him so well,’ Quinn said, ‘you should advise him to haul his sexy little butt out of the closet. His gay fans are not pleased he’s pretending to be straight. Who exactly does he think he’s fooling?’

  ‘He wasn’t gay when I knew him,’ Liberty said.

  ‘He certainly is now,’ Quinn replied crisply. ‘He’s the talk of the gay community.’

  ‘He is?’

  ‘Everyone knows. And that was the boyfriend.’

  ‘What makes you think he’s got a boyfriend?’ Liberty asked, remembering the fun she and Tony had shared, fooling around without actually going all the way. She’d been a very young teenager at the time, but she recalled that Tony had been a fantastic kisser–almost on a par with Damon. And he’d never objected to the many blow-jobs she’d put his way.

  Ah…fond memories…

  ‘Because it’s obvious,’ Quinn snapped. ‘That guy was in full drool mode over Tony, and he hated you.’

  ‘He did?’

  ‘Hated you. If Tony had stayed any longer, Hector would’ve thrown a jealous fit! Do not expect a phone call later. Hector will not allow it.’

  The elevator ground to a halt at her floor, and she got off.

  ‘See you in the lobby at seven-thirty,’ Teddy called after her. ‘Don’t forget–very casual.’

  Sure. Like she had anything that wasn’t casual. She hadn’t possessed a dress since she was twelve.

  So, she thought, Tony Artura is Tony A. If it can happen for him…

  She opened the door to her room and was amazed to find it filled with orchids. White orchids, lilac orchids, pink orchids–exotic and beautiful baskets dominated every surface space.

  A white card was propped up against the biggest arrangement. She opened the card and read the message: