"Lola was Ryan's number one model until Suzie deviously pushed her aside and drove her to booze," Gloria said. "Before you could blink, Suzie was the new star. Don't let all the air kisses here tonight fool you. It's all an illusion. I'll bet Pierre gives the guest list to the newspaper so they can print it in the society section, furthering his reputation."
"I guess everyone is out for themselves."
"You betcha. Suzie is also almost a shoo-in for the next Breck Girl, a job Lola's had for two years. She's up for contract renewal, and Lola will scratch Suzie's eyes out if Suzie takes that Breck deal away from her."
That's why Lola looked familiar. I'd seen her in Breck ads. I decided right then never to use Breck shampoo again if Suzie took over as model. "Suzie must keep you busy. Do you do makeup only for her?"
Gloria's mouth pursed. "No. I'd never be able to cover my bills with what that blond she-cat pays me, when she pays me. Since I make Suzie look good, I get a lot of referrals and requests from other models, sometimes stars. I got called to do Bobby Vinton's makeup before he went on "The Ed Sullivan Show" back in January."
"Bobby Vinton! How thrilling!" I almost squealed, but restrained myself. Then I flashed back to a night not long ago when I shared a dance with Bradley to Bobby's song "Blue Velvet." I started to remember how it felt to be so close to him, smell his lime aftershave, feel his strong arm around my waist while his other hand held my hand. ... I drew myself up and called myself to order. "Tell me about Bobby."
"He was real nice," Gloria said, one side of her mouth curving. "His regular makeup girl fell sick and couldn't make it. Bobby cracked jokes with me the whole time and left me a big tip. He's great."
"That's too bad about his makeup girl, but at least you had a neat opportunity."
"Yeah." Gloria had turned her attention to Suzie.
My gaze followed hers. To my horror, I saw Suzie reach up and kiss Bradley right under the small, crescent-shaped scar under his left eye. The scar I constantly wanted to trace with my finger.
Gloria grabbed my arm, forcing my attention away from them. "Look, I know we just met, Bebe, but you seem like a really nice person. Sweet, which is something you won't find much of in the modeling biz. You said you love being a single girl in the city. Let me give you some advice: Be a single girl in the city. Bradley Williams isn't the only male around."
I couldn't speak.
Gloria shook her head. "A beautiful girl like you— what are you, nineteen?"
"I'm twenty-two."
"You should be dating! Digging the guys, having fun, going to nightclubs, shows, not pining over one man."
"Yes, you're right," I said, wondering what it would be like going out on the town with a cute guy like the young actor. Shoot, he was leaving with a group of Broadway stars. I didn't think Bradley would be taking me on a date anytime soon.
"Uh-oh," Gloria said, pointing at Pierre with her glass.
I saw a dark expression mar his face. With obvious anger, he had finished greeting guests and noticed Suzie and Bradley close together.
Luckily he was distracted by the arrival of Frank Sinatra and his friends. My jaw dropped. Mama would have died and gone to heaven had she been there.
Gloria was unimpressed. I supposed she'd seen it all.
She persisted: "You think about what I said, Bebe. Lots of men would find you attractive and want to take you out. But you have this sign on your forehead that says, 'Taken.'"
"Do I?"
"Yeah. Stop thinking about Bradley so much. You have to get out more— Oh, damn, I see Suzie motioning for me." She fished in her purse. "We'll see each other at the agency. I'd love to hang out with you, and help you meet some cool guys."
"Okay, Gloria. Maybe I'll see you Saturday at the World's Fair." I put her card in my purse.
Then Gloria spoke from behind her hand. "Oh, and Bebe, as far as killing Suzie goes, I think we'd have to stand in line for the honor."
We shared a laugh; then I watched as she quickly made her way to Suzie's side and they disappeared into a back room together.
I thought I'd have a chance to talk to Bradley, but Pierre snagged him. The tension between the two men was obvious, as Pierre's hands balled into fists, while Bradley leaned against the wall looking like a cat ready to spring.
A man I didn't recognize reached Pierre, capturing his attention.
Bradley appeared as cool as ever when he sauntered over to Lola's side. She giggled and smiled up at him.
Then I heard laughter coming from the doorway. To my utter surprise, Darlene made a grand entrance, sexy red curls shimmering even in the low light.
Attached to her arm was a handsome older man, maybe in his early sixties, dressed in a black tux and wearing a black Stetson.
My gaze was drawn to three things: Darlene's big grin, her very low-cut black gown, and the impossible- to-be-missed necklace glittering around her throat.
I glanced across the room to where her boyfriend, Stu, eyed her with a wounded expression before turning away.
Darlene, still grinning from ear to ear, began moving in my direction with her date. What had Darlene gotten herself into this time?
CHAPTER THREE
"Bebe, honey! What a blast seeing you here," Darlene called out above the crowd, beaming, still holding the older man's arm.
Up close, I felt the need for shades, her rhinestone—it couldn't be diamond—necklace was so alive with light. Made of round stones, each the same size, the piece lit Darlene's face. That it drew attention to her low-cut gown was not lost on some men in the room, who were openly ogling petite but busty Darlene.
We managed to hug while she held on to her date. I whispered furiously, "Just who is this guy? Stu's here. He'll be mad. And how did you get into this party? Bradley gave me my invitation."
"We're crashing, honey. No one will notice. And I'm finished with Stu," she announced with a pout.
"What! What happened?"
"Never mind, I'll tell you later. Looks like you've got your own problems." Darlene shot a look to where Lola was draped over Bradley like a tarantula. They stood away from Pierre, who was talking to—and obviously brownnosing—Frank Sinatra. Darlene raised her eyebrows at me.
In her Texas drawl, which always managed to get attention in New York, she said, "Where are my manners? Bebe, let me introduce you to Cole Woodruff. Cole owns a big oil refinery in Texas. I met him on my flight from Los Angeles to Dallas. I had a little layover, and Cole was sweet enough to drive me down to his ranch."
I shook hands with Cole. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Woodruff."
Gosh, he was older than Daddy. He did have nice brown eyes and a rugged look about him, but what was Darlene thinking? She already had much younger, much better-looking Stu, heir to the Minty-Mouth Breath Mint fortune, hanging on her every word, taking her on trips, buying her clothes, and Lord knew what else.
"Please call me Cole, Miss Bennett. When Darlene had to come back to New York, I wasn't about to let her go without me. She told me all about you, saying you were another Southern belle. I see my lambkin was right," he said.
Darlene giggled and snuggled against him.
Heat rose to my cheeks. "Cole, please call me Bebe. I don't know what Darlene said, but I assure you none of it is true," I said with a smile.
Cole's eyebrows rose. "Is that so? Well, now, maybe I'll have two fillies on my arm tonight."
"I mean, everything Darlene told you is true," I said hastily.
The three of us laughed.
"I can tell from your accent you're not from Texas like Darlene," Cole said, as if it were a cardinal sin.
"No, Cole, I'm from Virginia."
"Never been there."
I didn't think Virginia's beaches, horse country, and mountains would impress him, so I turned back to Darlene. "Darlene, that's a striking rhinestone necklace. I've never seen you wear it before."
She looked up adoringly at Cole, touching the stones at her throat. "Cole gave it to me, and they're diamonds."<
br />
I drew in a sharp breath.
Cole spoke as one instructing a student. "Now, Bebe, a woman should always know the difference between rhinestones and diamonds. Diamonds can cut glass. If a man gives you a diamond, you can make sure it's real with that little tip. Darlene likes sparkly things, don't you, lambkin?"
I stood with my mouth open. What had she done to make Cole give her a diamond necklace?
I didn't want to know.
Darlene fluttered her lashes up at the older man and said, "Not as much as I like you, Cole."
"See you around," Cole said to me, and led Darlene away. I noticed he was bowlegged.
I felt queasy. In fact, I couldn't stay at Pierre's gala another minute. Between Bradley and Suzie, and now Darlene and Grandpa—I mean Cole—I'd had enough.
I looked around for Stu, remembering I wanted to say hello. He was gone. Oh, Darlene, what have you done?
Before I left, I was determined that Bradley see me all dressed up. Suzie was still in the back, and Bradley remained at Lola's side.
I walked up to them and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Williams. I don't mean to interrupt, but I wanted to meet Lola, our most famous model."
Lola turned unfocused eyes toward me. Now that I was in front of them, I could see that Bradley had his left arm firmly around Lola's waist, holding her upright. She was drunk.
"What a nice thing to say, Miss . . . ?"
"Miss Bennett, my executive secretary, who has a knack for appearing precisely when I need her."
I stood with a neutral expression, while Bradley looked over my bare arms and sophisticated hairstyle. When I dropped my clutch purse—accidentally on purpose—and bent to retrieve it, I could feel his gaze burn over my exposed back.
I stood up, giving him a demure smile. There was an expression in his eyes I hadn't seen since that time he'd kissed me. Softly, he said, "I like your hair better down."
Darn, it was hot in that room.
However, I wasn't going to let Bradley know the effect he had on me. "What can I do for you, Mr. Williams?" Massage your back? Kiss you for an hour? Turn back your bed covers and be waiting for you between the sheets? Oops!
Bradley cleared his throat. "Lola is leaving, and I thought she could use some company on the taxi ride home," he said, tilting his head meaningfully at the inebriated model. He pulled some money from his pocket and palmed it to me for the taxi.
"I'd love to accompany her," I said.
Lola lurched forward. Between Bradley and me, we managed to keep her upright while we edged toward the door. She said, "I'm not that blitzed."
"Don't you have a meeting tomorrow morning, Lola?" Bradley asked. "The one for your Breck Girl contract."
She squinted her eyes. "Oh, yeah."
"A girl needs her beauty rest, even one as lovely as you," I said.
"Beauty rest, yeah. Let's go, Miss . . ."
"Call me Bebe," I said.
Bradley and I escorted her to the door, acting as if nothing were amiss, even when Lola stumbled into a passing waiter, sloshing champagne onto the white cloth covering his tray.
I smiled to further cover Lola's embarrassment, not that she seemed humiliated.
The outside air hit us like a cold blast. The temperature had dropped considerably while I was at the party, and goose bumps rose on my exposed flesh.
Bradley hailed a taxi, then practically inserted Lola into the backseat. "Move over for Miss Bennett, Lola."
While Lola struggled to gain her seat, Bradley turned to me. The white of his shirt seemed very bright. "I appreciate this, Miss Bennett. I hope you enjoyed the party."
"I did," I said casually, as if I saw celebrities every day. "Thank you again for the invitation." I wanted this moment to last, Bradley and I formally dressed against the backdrop of Manhattan. I imagined that we were getting in the taxi together, off to dinner and a show. Thinking about it, I wasn't cold anymore.
"Well, thanks, kid."
The temperature dropped again. Without looking at him, I gracefully entered the taxi and slammed the door closed. I kept my gaze straight ahead, though I knew he was still standing there. "What address, Lola?"
"Sutton Place," she mumbled, her hand on her stomach.
Hoping Lola wouldn't be sick, I gave the taxi driver the location and asked him to drive slowly. I braced myself as we sped away from the curb. I'm proud to say, I did not look back at Bradley.
I turned my attention to Lola, who was slumped against the far door. "How are you feeling?"
She shrugged and lit a cigarette. "I'm all right. I party a lot, and it never does any harm. I've got some pills for a hangover."
Her slack face and signs of wrinkles under her bloodshot eyes told me a different story. If she kept up this pace, she'd soon have a hard time getting modeling gigs.
"Rest well, and I'm sure at the Breck Girl meeting tomorrow they'll be handing you a pen to sign your new contract. I've seen your ads, and they're beautiful," I said, trying to be encouraging.
She sat up straight and blew out smoke. "I'm gonna lose the contract."
"What do you mean?" I asked, although Gloria had already hinted as much.
"That slutty bitch Suzie Wexford, she's gonna get it. She's ruined my career. I hate her!" Lola's voice poured out venom.
"Why do you say that?"
"Suzie's a clever schemer," Lola said, turning in her seat to face me. "She followed me around, and she learned where I had contracts. Then she'd show up at a shoot before I got there, saying the agency sent her because I wasn't feeling well. By the time I'd arrived—so I was a little late—Suzie would already be trying on the dress I was supposed to model, her makeup artist, that New Jersey cow, in tow."
"How could she get away with that? Wouldn't the client call Ryan to confirm that you were ill?"
"Oh, come on, get with it," Lola scoffed, then took a long drag on her cigarette. "You've seen Suzie operate firsthand. She's been hanging all over your boss since he took over the company. Suzie always beds the president of the agency. She screws anyone she thinks will make her more famous. If the client had called our old boss, Dirk Snellings, Dirk would have confirmed anything Suzie said."
Now I thought I would be sick. Bradley's behavior with Suzie, Gloria's insinuation, and now Lola flat-out telling me that Bradley and Suzie were doing that. . . I forced myself to look out the window and admire the skyscrapers, trying to wash away the dirty picture forming in my mind.
Lola went on: "The fact that Dirk was married with a baby didn't stop Suzie. She seduced him, and he became obsessed with her. Rumors flew that they were doing it in his office sometimes more than once a day. He was her puppet."
I turned back to Lola. "How awful! I mean, him being married—"
Lola let out a bitter laugh. "Things like that don't mean anything to Suzie, and to a lot of other men either. Suzie is the only thing that matters to Suzie. It took me a long time to build my career; then she just waltzed in, cast her spell over Dirk, and slowly took my clients away from me. She spread rumors about me too, like that I was an aging alcoholic, so I couldn't go to another agency." Suddenly Lola's voice rose. "I hate Suzie Wexford! I could kill the bitch!" She stubbed her cigarette out viciously in the little metal tray. "If she takes that Breck contract from me, I'll strangle her."
The cab came to an abrupt halt, and I paid the driver. I had to get out so Lola could exit the car on the curb side.
"Thanks for seeing me home, Deedee."
"It's Bebe."
She slammed the cab door, removed her high-heeled shoes, and limped up the steps to her building, disappearing inside.
Beside me, the cab took off, leaving me standing on the sidewalk without a way to get home.
And with less of my innocence.
I walked down to the cross-street and put my hand in the air. Several cabs flew by in a streak of yellow, but finally one stopped for me, and I got in. "138-140 East Sixty-fifth, please," I said, just wanting to go home.
Once in the apar
tment, I went straight into my bedroom. Stripping to my slip, bra, and girdle, I carefully hung my dress in the back of my closet. I took down my hair. It went off in wild directions from all the teasing and spraying, so I put it back in a ponytail.
I like your hair better down.
Throwing on my pink chenille robe with the big coffee-cup design, I headed for the kitchen and the consolation of a box of Hershey's bars. When I couldn't decide how many to eat, I took the whole box into the living room and flopped down on the pink sectional facing the fireplace and the white-painted brick wall.
Swell, I thought, biting into the chocolate and staring at the wall. That was exactly what I was up against in my quest to win Bradley's heart: a brick wall.
The thought of Bradley being with Suzie in that way haunted me. I took another bite of chocolate and chewed, the melting sweetness comforting me. In the back of my mind I'd always known Bradley didn't have his man-about-town reputation for nothing. But those women had been onetime dates. Suzie was different.
If I were going to make it at Ryan, I would have to tamp down my feelings for Bradley. For all I knew, he was a confirmed bachelor and would never marry. He certainly wouldn't care if his "kid" secretary went out on the town, as Gloria suggested. I ripped open another Hershey's bar and took a big bite.
Brace yourself, men of Manhattan. Bebe Bennett is officially available.
CHAPTER FOUR
The next morning I headed straight for the kitchen and coffee, but my stomach warned me not to eat anything, after I had devoured three Hershey's bars the night before.
I peeked into Darlene's room, but she hadn't come home. Shocked, I realized she'd spent the night with Cole. Maybe he had a hotel suite, and they'd slept in separate bedrooms.
Opening the front door, I retrieved the newspaper and, while drinking my coffee, fumbled to find the society column, a section I never read.
The first thing that met my eye was a picture of Bradley and Suzie with their arms around each other, smiling for the camera. That must have happened after I left. I wondered how Pierre felt about it. There, as predicted, was a list of the gala's attendees, minus my name, though I had signed the guestbook. I threw the paper down in disgust.
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