“Holy cow,” he breathed.
Pepper watched him cross the room to take Vivienne’s hands and twirl her around; she was pleased by the electricity between them.
Pepper had called in a favor to one of her costumer friends to find a dress for Viv. Of all the choices offered, Pepper knew the forest green dress was the perfect one. Her eyes almost filled with tears at the sight of her friend in the silk, sleeveless sheath with the sweetheart neckline and ruched bodice. The hem of the dress stopped at the knee in the front and floated out in back with a long train. Vivienne looked as beautiful on the outside as Pepper knew she was on the inside.
“Ravishing!” Will was saying. “Gorgeous! Extraordinary!”
“Stop,” Vivienne protested, blushing furiously. She turned her face to Pepper. “Is it okay? It feels a little tight.”
“Good, good, good! If you can breathe, it isn’t tight enough!” Pepper did her best impression of Auntie Mame and took note of Vivienne’s amusement.
“Looks perfect.” Will’s eyes were fixed on her body.
Maybe I ought to leave them alone for a while, Pepper thought, holding her cackle inside.
“Viv, it’s great. I swear.” Pepper crossed her heart.
“I feel silly,” Vivienne murmured. “Like I’m playing dress up in my mother’s clothes.”
“Your mom never had a dress like that.” Pepper grabbed her hand. “Come here and sit down.”
Vivienne obeyed and took a seat at the vanity so Pepper could work on her hair and makeup.
“Not too much.”
“Nope, I promise.”
Only minutes later, Pepper urged her to open her eyes.
“Look in the mirror, girl! You look awesome!”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Vivienne whispered, not recognizing herself.
Pepper had applied light foundation, mascara and light-pink lip gloss. It was all Vivienne needed to enhance the natural beauty of her face. Her long, red hair flowed down her back in large waves. Pepper slipped in a jeweled barrette to pin it off of her face.
Will stepped behind her and put his hands on Vivienne’s bare shoulders.
“Stunning.” Leaning down, he kissed her on the cheek. “Really stunning.”
Pepper shivered with goose bumps as she watched Vivienne blossom from the compliments. If ever two people had potential, it’s them, she thought. But she was finished interfering. She said her piece to each of them and they were going to have to find their way on their own, whether together or apart. I just hope it’s together.
“What time will the car be here?” Pepper turned back toward the mirror to check her hair one more time.
“Ari said it would be here at five.” Vivienne slipped into the borrowed Manolo Blahnik shoes and grew four inches instantly. Pepper thought the bronze-metallic-stamped heels accentuated Vivienne’s outfit perfectly.
“Jake wants to hire the two of you, he’s so impressed. He thinks you convinced me to go out when it was really him.”
“Tell him I don’t need dental.” Will grinned with his perfect teeth and then linked his hand with Vivienne’s.
“Viv, I’m telling you, when you fall off the horse, you get right back on. You’re going out there like nothing’s wrong and make them eat crow.” Pepper crossed the room to take her friend’s other hand. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it read 4:55 p.m. “Let’s go. By the time we float down the elevator, the car will be waiting.”
In a cloud of Arden Beauty perfume and high hopes, Pepper led them out of the suite.
Chapter 31
Will and Pepper looked perfect together as I followed them to the waiting limousine. The driver held the door and Will helped Pepper inside. He turned to take my hand next and I stalled.
“Don’t quit on me now.” He took my hand gently, pulling me toward the car. In spite of his outward confidence, Will’s eyes looked worried and I realized it was for me.
“I’m so nervous.” My knees were knocking and I reached to smooth the soft material on my hips.
“And an hour ago you were all rage and wrath. Just pretend you’re someone else for the night. Have fun with it!”
I bit my lip and started to shake my head.
“You two should go without me. Pepper has that red carpet look. Not me.”
“I call bullshit!” Pepper roared from inside.
“I call bullshit, too.” Will pretended to glare at me. “You look good enough for the Grammys or the Oscars, not some rinky dink TV show premiere. Now get in the car, beautiful!”
Taking a deep breath, I slipped inside of the black stretch limo, wanting his words to be true. I wanted just a drop of Pepper’s confidence.
Twenty minutes later, the limo took its place in a long line of cars beside the venue.
“We can wait our turn or climb out now and walk the gauntlet.” Will peered out the window taking in the scene.
“Let’s wait.” Pepper nodded to me. She clutched my hand to steady the trembling, which got worse as we got closer.
I reached into my purse and took out my cell phone, trying to take my mind off what was coming. I opened up the web browser and started searching for any other news about mine and Will’s “date” from the evening before. All the pictures and stories were the same, thank God, but there were thousands more comments from readers and fans of the stories, which made my skin crawl. If anything seemed remotely derogatory about me, I skipped it to avoid taking any further hits to my confidence and self-esteem. Pepper got annoyed with my obsession and snatched the phone away from me, throwing it into the front seat with the driver.
“Don’t let her have that back,” Pepper commanded. I smiled and then actually chuckled a little bit.
“Will, dear?” My voice was sugary sweet, an octave above normal.
“Yeah?”
“May I borrow your phone?”
He didn’t even think, just reached into his coat for it.
Pepper kicked him sharply with the toe of her sandal and threatened his life.
“Don’t you dare give her that phone!”
I hid my giggles behind my hand, but she caught me anyway and then gave me a kick, too, only more gently. With some of the tension relieved, I sat back against the soft leather of the seat and tried to relax. Taking Will’s advice, I tried to channel my earlier anger from Tony’s phone call, but I couldn’t. Instead, my teenage insecurities surged back from the moment I read the comment about me being a far cry from Will’s usual choices, making my stomach churn. It took years to get over not being tall and thin and gorgeous like Pepper and, in one afternoon, I let an Internet tabloid threaten it.
The flashbulbs lighting up the sky made the blood in my veins icy. I was nauseous with the thought of facing them. I wanted so much to have the kind of confidence Pepper had, but it did not come naturally to me. The words of my therapist from years ago popped into my head: “Fake it till you make it, Vivienne.”
Will leaned over to nuzzle my neck.
“Exactly.”
“God, did I say that out loud?” I whispered, enjoying his warm breath on my skin.
“Yes, you did. And it’s true.”
“It is,” Pepper agreed. She blew me an air kiss. “Remember when we were kids and we dreamed about being rich and famous? You always wanted to be Stephen King or Toni Morrison. I always wanted to be Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock. It’s all just an act, Viv. Give ’em the performance of your life!”
Pepper almost had me convinced. I was feeling nostalgic for our childhood and teenage years, hopeful that being on a red carpet would be a fun game to play. But then I saw the more than a hundred photographers clustered behind wooden sawhorses, vying for positions and the best shot. I gulped hard and tried to smile.
“You’ll have to do better than that,” Pepper laughed. “Come on. I’ll get out first, then Will and you last. That way we can shield you from the first wave.”
She knocked on the glass and the driver pulled open the door. I could
hear the shutter sounds beginning already as Pepper gracefully lifted herself out.
Will turned to me and took my face in his hands. He kissed me softly and then grabbed my hand before I could change my mind. Getting out of the limo, I bobbed up like a buoy in the ocean and the bright flashes made gold spots explode in my vision.
“Smile,” Will said into my ear as he linked his arm through mine. Pepper appeared on his other side and then we were gliding to the door. I focused my returning vision on the TV network symbol a hundred yards away, a stiff smile pasted on my face.
I could hear the photographers yelling for Will to look this way and that way and he obliged every request. I felt his pace slow and took a step ahead of him, nearly stumbling. They were yelling questions at him and he was answering, giving smiles and poses, only inching progress being made to our escape. My smile disappeared but Pepper’s became more brilliant if that was possible. She posed and spun for the photogs as naturally as if she were at a photo shoot. They shouted for her name and she gave it willingly. They ate her up, calling her name over and over.
“Smile,” Will reminded me. He unlinked arms so he could circle my waist instead and pull me closer. My stilted smile returned and then I heard my own name added to the chorus.
“Vivienne Stark! Over here!”
Conditioned like Pavlov’s dogs, I turned when spoken to. The flashes quickened, the shutter clicks became deafening. It never occurred to me they would know who I was, but wasn’t I a bestselling author and the head of a broke foundation now? Wasn’t I all over the Internet because of last night? The realizations made my urge to vomit stronger, but I fought it as hard as I could for Will’s and Pepper’s sakes.
I didn’t even notice Pepper had fallen behind until we were a few steps from safety. I whirled around to look for her and stopped short to see her still posing and strutting for the cameras. She looked like a movie star from times gone by, all glitz and glamour and love for the camera. In that moment, I forgot I was still being captured on film as well, and clapped my hands together for her. Happiness surged through me to see Pepper so alive and in her element. Will rooted her on and she blew kisses to us and to the photographers. Lifting the hem of her dress, she ran on tip-toe to catch up with us.
Back together, we ran inside once again linked at the arms, out of the prying eyes of the press, and I fell into Pepper’s arms, squeezing until she squealed.
“That wasn’t so bad now, was it?” Pepper asked, filled with glee, her adrenaline pumping.
“Not for you! You’re a natural!” I hugged her again and felt myself relax the slightest bit.
“She’s right.” Will nodded in agreement. “From now on, you’re my red carpet stand-in.”
“You got it!” Pepper wiggled her hips. “I need all the exposure I can get. This gal ain’t gettin’ any younger.”
We milled around the backstage area until one of the production assistants told us it was our turn to enter the main area. When we had gotten ten feet away, but were still camouflaged by black curtains and huge cardboard advertisements, I skidded to a halt.
“Wait, I see more flashes.”
“Yeah, there’s one more gauntlet to get through.” Will avoided my eyes.
“Oh no, I’ve had enough.” I crossed my arms against my chest, refusing to take another step. “There has to be another way in without that.”
“I’m afraid there isn’t,” Will admitted. He grabbed a passing production assistant and made him confirm it.
“Shit.”
“You did fine before,” Pepper assured me. She patted my hair and rubbed a thumb against my check to smooth my makeup.
“How do you do this?” I cringed at how whiny I sounded. “I could never do it on a regular basis.”
“You get used to it.” Will shrugged. “The first time is the worst.”
“I don’t plan on having a second time,” I muttered as we were ushered forward.
“Pepper, you go on.” Will pushed her a little. Giving us two thumbs up, she sauntered from behind the black curtains to a less raucous roar from the smaller crowd sequestered behind red velvet ropes. She revived her brilliant smile and pose from before, and performed for several moments, completely at ease with her surroundings. I watched her, filled with jealousy, wishing I could be so carefree. Where had that girl gone, the one I’d been at 14, 15, 16, wishing I could be rich and famous? Why wasn’t this a dream come true for me? Get a grip, Viv.
I buried my face into Will’s chest for one last moment and then we were walking forward. Because we were inside and there were large, bright lights set up at the edge of the walkway, the flashes weren’t as blinding and I was able to see more clearly.
“We have to stop here for just a minute,” Will whispered. “Smile.”
I tried to look natural and prayed I wasn’t failing or making him look ridiculous. To my horror, a very tall brunette with a microphone approached us as if she were on roller skates instead of five-inch stilettos. She thrust the microphone into Will’s face and began speaking as if she were trying to win a Guinness World record for speed talking. I never even caught her name. Ignoring me, she congratulated Will on the tour and his TV show and then peppered him with the usual inane questions. The whole while, I tried to pull away so I could run as far away as possible, but Will’s grip on my waist was vice-tight. It turned out to be a good thing, because then she turned her attention to me and I felt my legs begin to weaken. If not for his clutch, I might have gone to my knees.
“Vivienne Stark! Congratulations on your wonderful novel, The Widow’s Path. What a surprise to see you here tonight and with Will Foster. Is there some news you’d like to share with us?” Her tone was cheeky, perhaps thinking she came across as charming and amusing.
Irritation coursed through me and I glared at her while keeping a chilly smile on my face.
“Will is a good friend of my best friend and we were introduced this week. He’s offered to help promote The Widow’s Path Foundation in its efforts to help the families of fallen soldiers.”
Unbothered by my icy response or attempt to shame her, she cooed appreciatively.
“How wonderful for the foundation. Do you have any comment on the current investigation into the embezzlement of its funds?”
Before I could answer, Will squeezed me to his side and leaned in.
“There isn’t any comment to be made other than Tony Lyleson is the scum of the Earth, stealing money from the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. They’ll catch him and throw his butt in jail.”
I smiled up at him gratefully and turned back to the reporter.
“My sentiments exactly.”
The reporter gave a suspicious smirk and moved the microphone back in front of me.
“What a lovely gown. Who are you wearing tonight?”
“I haven’t a clue,” I said nonchalantly. “It’s borrowed.” With that, Will whisked me back into obscurity and the darkness behind the stage.
Chapter 32
Pepper threw back the rest of her martini and scanned the crowd for Will and Vivienne. They sat beside one another in a booth at the back of Chateau Marmont Restaurant. She watched them laugh and talk, this time more pleased at their easy body language.
Vivienne appeared relaxed, toying with the unfinished glass of champagne in front of her. Will’s right arm rested on the back of the booth and only slightly on her shoulders. Pepper sighed when they touched foreheads for a second and then laughed about something.
She didn’t give one whit about all of Viv’s protestations. Her best friend had looked lovely tonight, on the red carpet and while watching the premiere. She knew Viv was quaking on the inside, but her outward appearance had been flawless. Pepper had always thought Vivienne would have made the better actress. No one ever knew what was going on inside her head because her face was always calm and serene.
Setting her glass on passing waiter’s tray, Pepper reached into her bag for her phone to
send Vivienne a text saying she would grab a cab. She felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Pepper Taylor?”
“Yes?” She turned and her eyes opened wide in surprise. There before her stood one of the most powerful men in Hollywood and the president of EJR Productions.
“I’m Gabriel Seigal.”
“Yes, I know.” Pepper extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Gabriel squeezed her hand.
Pepper liked his wavy, brown hair with the flecks of gray shooting through it. He had kind, blue eyes. His hand was rough but warm, and he smelled of cigar smoke, scotch and leather. His best feature was that he was actually taller than she, even with her four-inch heels.
“I see you’re a friend of Vivienne Stark.” His cultured British accent made her shiver.
“Yes.” Pepper’s shoulders deflated the tiniest bit. All night she had been approached by various members of the Hollywood crowd inquiring about Vivienne. Pepper wasn’t jealous, but frustrated because Vivienne had no interest in the contacts she could make, and Pepper would give her eye teeth to have the ear of any one of them.
“She’s a lovely woman.”
“Yes, I know. We’ve been friends since we were kids.”
“Really?” Gabriel looked surprised. “I hope she goes with EJR Productions. I’m dying to get my hands on the project.”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you there.” Pepper stared at her hands clutching her purse. “We’re pals, but she doesn’t talk business with me.”
“No, that’s not what I mean,” Gabriel said quickly. He shuffled from foot to foot. “I suppose I’m going to sound foolish, but I wanted an excuse to speak with you, and your association with Ms. Stark seemed to be my way in.”
Pepper was startled by his honesty.
“Why would you need an excuse to talk to me? I’ve been here all night.”
Gabriel looked abashed.
“It’s taken me all evening just to approach you. You see, I’m not used to being in the company of such a beautiful woman.”
The Widow and the Rock Star Page 16
