‘Why?’ Steven asked.
‘Because I can’t, that’s why.’
‘He must’ve heard it? Didn’t you rehearse?’
‘No. It’s a surprise. Okay?’
‘Well, maybe you could read it to him later. Y’ know, like when you’re in bed.’
‘Brilliant bad idea,’ she drawled sarcastically.
‘Don’t get uptight. Go tell the organizers to delay it.’
‘They’re already on my case. My speech was supposed to be before dinner. After dinner there’s entertainment.’
‘Why don’t you tell ’em to serve dinner, and by the time it’s finished Lennie will be here and you can make your speech.’
‘Oh, great!’ Lucky said. ‘When everyone’s stuffed and complacent, I get up.’
‘Hey, listen, it’s your problem, not mine. If I were you, I’d give it now.’
‘No, Steven. I’m going to wait, okay?’
‘Whatever you want.’
Right, she thought. The story of my life. I’ve always done whatever I want.
She was mad at Lennie. Oh, sure, he was shooting a movie, but he was the director, so if he’d planned it right he could’ve wrapped early.
She got up and went to talk to the organizers, stopping at several tables along the way, greeting friends and acquaintances in the movie business. Oh, yes, they were all nice to her now because she owned and ran a movie studio. But when she wasn’t in the movie business, would it be true what they said? That in Hollywood, if you didn’t have a hit, people crossed the street to avoid you?
Maybe, maybe not. She couldn’t care less, because she’d always walked her own road. Lucky was not conventional in any way. Perhaps that was why she and Venus were such good friends.
The organizers threw a fit when she told them her plan. She stood firm. They finally agreed. Since she was the star of the evening they had no choice.
Alex joined her as she made her way back to their table. ‘Husband running late, huh?’ he said, taking her arm in a proprietary fashion.
‘Hey – nobody knows better than you what it’s like when you’re in production,’ she said coolly.
‘True,’ he said. ‘But if it was me, and I knew it was your evening, I would’ve wrapped early.’
Alex was voicing her thoughts, and it aggravated her. He had an uncanny way of tuning into what she was thinking. ‘How’s your mother?’ she asked, knowing exactly how to set his teeth on edge. Alex had an extremely domineering mother, the French-born Dominique, who up until the last few years had ruled his life with an iron fist, or at least tried to.
‘Fine,’ he said noncommittally.
‘Still interfering in your life?’ Lucky asked.
‘You’ve got it wrong,’ Alex said calmly. ‘She gave that up a while ago.’
‘Hmm . . .’ Lucky said disbelievingly. ‘One of these days you’ll admit it. You know you’re always trying to please her.’
‘I hardly ever see her any more,’ he said.
‘Have it your way,’ she said. ‘I’ve no desire to get into your personal business. And perhaps you’ll do me the same favour.’
‘I like Lennie,’ he objected. ‘Just because he’s acting like a rude jerk tonight, I don’t hold it against him.’
‘He’s not acting like a jerk,’ Lucky countered, furious at his criticism. ‘He’ll be here any moment.’
‘Okay, okay. In the meantime allow me to escort you back to the table so you don’t have to stop and talk to every asshole who grabs you.’
‘Thanks, Alex. I’m sure this will make the gossip columns very happy.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Lucky Santangelo Golden being escorted across the ballroom by bad-boy director Alex Woods.’
Alex laughed. ‘Big fucking deal.’
‘Where’s Pia?’ Lucky enquired. ‘And where exactly did you come up with this one?’
‘You seem to be under the impression that I only date bimbos and actresses,’ Alex said. ‘Well, let me tell you, this one’s a very capable lawyer.’
‘She is?’ Lucky said, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ Alex said irritably. ‘Don’t you think an attractive woman can function as a lawyer?’
‘Sure I do. And if this one’s so smart, maybe she’ll last longer than five minutes.’
‘You can be such a bitch.’
‘I can be a good friend, too. Never forget that, Alex.’
‘There is something I’ll never forget.’
‘What?’ she said, before she could stop herself.
‘Remember that one special night long ago and far away?’
‘No, Alex, I do not remember it. We both promised we would forget it ever happened. And if you ever tell Lennie, I will personally slice your balls off with a blunt knife. Do you get the picture?’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ he said, thinking that only Lucky could come up with such a descriptive phrase.
‘It’s not funny,’ she said sternly. ‘I am quite serious, so quit with the shit-eating grin and let’s go back to the table where I’ll try to be nice to Mia or Pia, or whatever her name is.’
‘If I didn’t know you better,’ Alex said, fixing her with a quizzical look, ‘I’d think you were jealous of all my girlfriends.’
‘I told you the problem, Alex. I’ve got to talk to them; you get to fuck ’em.’
‘Hey,’ he said, straight-faced. ‘You think it’s fun for me? One blow-job and they expect me to return the compliment.’
She shook her head. ‘You’re absolutely incorrigible.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, with a big crocodile grin. ‘I love it when you talk dirty!’
Chapter Thirteen
The white girl took the black boy into a restroom at a gas station. She locked the door and laid out the white powder next to the basin, then she snorted it with a rolled dollar bill, carefully showing him how to do the same.
‘I’m not gonna get sick, am I?’ he asked, feeling like a dumb ass. ‘Or maybe it’ll turn me into an addict?’
‘You’re really whacked,’ she said, running a hand through her short dark hair. ‘Snort the coke for fuck’s sake and shut up.’
He was drunk enough to do as she said. Drunk and horny. Tonight he was definitely getting lucky. After all, he’d done everything she’d told him to do – stolen the CDs, driven around with her in the jeep, played music and had a blast. Obviously she wanted to be with him. Why else would they be spending all this time together?
The coke tickled his nose. He began to sneeze.
‘For Chrissakes, don’t sneeze in this direction,’ she said irritably. ‘You’ll blow it away.’
‘Where’d you get it anyway?’
‘Why do you keep on asking me that? I’ve got my suppliers.’
‘You do this often?’
‘Don’t you worry about it,’ she said secretively. ‘I do what I do.’
After a few minutes he began to feel pretty damn good. Maybe it was because he was drunk, but the coke must be helping too, because as each moment passed he felt better and better. Shit! He could do anything. Anything she asked him to. He could jump off a fucking mountain if that’s what was gonna get him laid.
Why did he have this fixation on her?
Because she’d always been there. Always in his face. Always challenging him. And when his dad was doing drugs and sliding into one of his manic rages, she’d been there to rescue him.
They left the restroom and got back into the jeep. ‘I’ll drive,’ she said, shoving him over. ‘You’re too wasted.’
‘No, I’m not,’ he argued.
‘Yes, you are,’ she said, getting behind the wheel as he slumped back into the passenger seat. ‘You’re fuckin’ out of it.’
Maybe she was right. Everything was rolling around in circles in front of his eyes. It was like being on a high-speed rollercoaster ride.
Zoomin’ up.
Zoomin’ down.
Zoomin’ in a big wide old circle.
Shit! He didn’t care about anything at all. He was one happy guy.
Chapter Fourteen
‘You know what’s nice?’ Mary Lou said, gently touching Lennie’s arm.
‘No, what’s nice?’ Lennie said, staring straight ahead as he drove the Porsche fast, anxious to get to Lucky’s event as soon as possible.
‘The fact that you and I are brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Family.’
‘Yep,’ Lennie agreed. ‘That is nice.’
‘And the other thing,’ Mary Lou continued, ‘is Carioca and Maria being cousins and all, and the same age. The two of them are so cute together. Have you ever watched them? They play Barbie dolls for hours on end. And the thing I like about it is that Carioca is so politically correct. She’s got the black Barbie, Maria’s got the white Barbie, and they kind of share the Ken doll. It’s so adorable. I love it that they’re so close.’
‘I know,’ Lennie said. ‘The thing I love is that they’re growing up with no prejudices at all, because they understand that whatever colour your skin is, everyone’s the same.’
‘Very profound, Lennie.’
‘Y’ know,’ he said thoughtfully, ‘my mom was a total racist – only she didn’t know it. She’d make all these rude comments when I was a kid, and I never really understood what she meant until I got smart enough to realize. Course, I never blamed her, she didn’t know any better.’
‘Your mother lives in Florida now, huh?’
‘Finally she moved out of California. She met a ninety-year-old retired gangster who took her to Miami. I see her once a year when she comes out here to spend Christmas with the kids.’
‘Is that an ordeal?’ Mary Lou asked.
‘Not really,’ Lennie said. ‘Alice has mellowed as she’s gotten older. Years ago she used to be something else. My dad was a comedian in Vegas and Mom was a stripper – Alice the Swizzle. We were quite a family!’
‘Wow!’ Mary Lou exclaimed. ‘Your mom was a stripper. Didn’t that give you hang-ups with women?’
‘Not really. I guess it could’ve, though. Never thought about it.’
‘I love how you and Lucky first met,’ Mary Lou said, sighing. ‘It’s so romantic, what with you both being married to other people and all.’
‘Well, you know the story. Things worked themselves out. She left her husband and I split up with my wife. Then Lucky and I got together, and neither of us has ever looked back.’
‘You’re a great couple,’ Mary Lou pronounced.
‘Same goes for you and Steven.’
Mary Lou grinned, totally happy. ‘I know.’
Chapter Fifteen
Instead of leaving as she wanted to, Brigette allowed Lina to talk her into making a round of the clubs. Lina insisted, although Brigette would have been much happier at home, in bed, watching TV.
Fredo continued to pay her plenty of attention, but she tuned him out. She was too busy thinking about the men in her life and how dangerous they’d all turned out to be. Sometimes, when she was alone, her thoughts drifted to Tim Wealth and how he’d lost his life because of her. His gaunt face haunted her. Oh, sure, he’d taken advantage of her youth and treated her badly, but he hadn’t deserved to die for it.
Tim Wealth was her recurring nightmare.
Lina kept on pleading with Carlo to dance with her. ‘I do not dance,’ he said politely, dismissing her with an elegant wave of his hand.
‘Then I guess I’ll ’ave to make do with you, Fredo,’ Lina said, jumping up, her long lean body already moving to the beat. ‘Let’s go show ’em how it’s done,’ she said, dragging him on to the crowded dance floor.
Brigette stared straight ahead, her mind still on Tim.
‘What are you thinking?’ Carlo asked, sliding along the banquette, getting uncomfortably close.
She noticed that he had hardly any accent at all, and she wondered where he’d learned English. Lina was right, he was a babe, only she was totally uninterested.
‘Oh . . . stuff,’ she replied vaguely, sipping more champagne because he made her nervous.
‘You are different from other girls,’ he remarked.
‘What “other girls” did you have in mind?’ she asked flippantly.
‘Every time I come to New York, Fredo attempts to impress me with his model friends. They are usually quite stupid. Beautiful but dumb.’
‘Now that’s a myth,’ Brigette said, annoyed that he would lump every model into the same category. ‘All models are not dumb.’
‘I can see that now,’ Carlo said, his probing ice-blue eyes making her more and more uncomfortable.
She took another gulp of champagne. ‘Uh . . . I’m quite tired,’ she said. ‘Would you mind if I took a cab home?’
‘It’s still early,’ Carlo pointed out. ‘Besides, I cannot allow you to go home alone. A gentleman would never do that.’
‘Nobody minds,’ she said, feeling suddenly hot and flustered.
‘I do,’ he said, putting his hand on her arm.
His touch made her even more nervous. She edged away. ‘Y’ know,’ she said, struggling to stay sober, ‘Lina really likes you.’
‘I like her too,’ he answered mildly. ‘That doesn’t mean I have to be with her, does it?’
And then his eyes were all over her again, and she didn’t know what to do. For the first time in a long while she felt a slight flicker of something. Was it attraction? Fear? Too much champagne? She wasn’t quite sure.
She stood up from the table, swaying slightly because she was not used to drinking so much. ‘I absolutely have to go,’ she said, feeling dizzy and light-headed. ‘Please say good night to everyone for me.’
He stood also. He was much taller than she, and he had extremely broad shoulders. He smelled of some masculine scent that she found quite intoxicating.
‘I will escort you home and come back,’ he said.
‘I told you, it’s not necessary,’ she said, panicking slightly as the room began to spin.
‘I will be most insulted if you don’t allow me to do this.’
Who cares? she wanted to scream. Who cares if I insult you?
‘Come,’ he said, taking her arm. ‘I will have the maître d’ inform our friends that I shall return shortly.’
What could she do? Lina and Fredo were on the dance floor, lost in a sea of gyrating bodies. And she knew if she didn’t get out of there fast she might faint.
‘Okay,’ she said at last, knowing she should have said no, absolutely not, but somehow or other, Carlo had managed to penetrate her defences.
They got into a cab outside the club and rode in silence to her apartment. She closed her eyes and almost fell asleep. When they arrived she leaned across the seat and attempted to shake his hand. ‘Thanks for bringing me home. Good night.’
‘An Italian gentleman would never allow a lady to go up to her apartment alone,’ he said. ‘I will escort you to your door.’
‘No, please,’ she protested, getting out of the cab. ‘I’m perfectly safe.’
But he was already right behind her.
They walked into the building together, past the night porter, into the elevator and up to her apartment. She fumbled in her purse for her key, found it, and couldn’t fit it in the lock.
Very gently he removed the key from her trembling hands and inserted it himself. Before she knew it he was in the apartment with her.
Why are my hands shaking? she thought, furious with herself. Why am I allowing him to cross the line?
She hit a light switch. Her apartment was all pale beige and marble, with huge Moroccan pillows scattered across the floor, oversized coffee tables, Tiffany lamps and real art on the walls.
‘You have a most interesting style, Brigette,’ he said. ‘May I fix us a drink?’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said quickly, feeling even more disoriented and dizzy. ‘I can’t let you stay. Lina’s waiting for you, so’s Fredo. You’ve got to get back to the clu
b.’
And she turned away.
Her mistake. He grabbed her from behind, surprising her completely, turning her towards him, crushing his mouth down on hers so hard that she could barely breathe.
She struggled to get free, but as she did so a strange thing happened – her body reacted in such a way that she found herself unable to resist. It was almost as if she were powerless.
‘Why are you doing this?’ she managed.
‘Because we both want me to,’ he said, and immediately began kissing her again.
This was crazy. She’d held out all this time, and now suddenly here was this stranger, this Italian who lived in London, and he was kissing her, and she was incapable of fighting him off.
Too much Cristal. No more drinking for you, young lady.
‘Carlo, you’ve got to go,’ she said, finally summoning the strength to push him away.
‘Why?’ he said calmly. ‘Are you married?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Engaged?’
‘No.’
‘Do you have a boyfriend?’
‘I don’t.’
‘Then what is stopping us? Are you a lesbian?’
‘That’s ridiculous . . .’
He thrust his strong hands into her long blonde hair and concentrated on her mouth.
She tried to pull back, but her body wouldn’t let her. Besides, everything was spinning again . . .
‘Brigette,’ he murmured, between deep, soulful kisses. ‘Ah, my sweet, adorable Brigette . . .’
Chapter Sixteen
It was past nine and dinner was finished.
‘You’ve got to make your speech without Lennie here,’ Steven urged. ‘It’s getting too late to wait any longer.’
‘Where are they?’ Lucky demanded, impatiently drumming her fingers on the table. ‘They left the location an hour ago. It doesn’t take that long at this time of night.’
‘I don’t know, Lucky, but you have to make your speech. You can’t do it after the entertainment – half the people will have left by that time.’
‘All right, Steven, don’t nag,’ she said irritably, signalling one of the organizers. ‘I’m ready,’ she said briskly. ‘Let’s get going.’
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