The Sweet Life

by Francine Pascal

  Jessica had been jealous they were dating and had dug up something about Sarah plagiarizing Jessica’s old quotes. Todd was convinced it had been purely accidental, but their editor sided with Jessica and now Sarah was blacklisted—probably forever—in the news business.

  “Don’t worry about anything,” Todd said. “We’ll figure something out. For now you’re going to stay with me.”

  “You mean it?” Sarah looked up at his face, eyes hopeful.

  “Absolutely,” he said, even though he did have a tiny flicker of doubt. Was having Sarah move in the right thing? Maybe not, but he knew he had to help her. Quickly, he pushed his misgivings away. He owed her this much. “Let me get your bag.”

  Chapter Eight

  Liam called Jessica’s phone and she let it go to voice mail—again. She had bigger problems now that she was trying to help Bruce swim out of the publicity swamp he’d made for himself when he got arrested. Jessica was sitting in Bruce’s living room, hastily typing an e-mail to another one of her contacts at yet another news show. She didn’t have time for Liam right now. All her energy was focused on helping one of her oldest friends.

  “Eliz—” Bruce began as he walked in the room and then stopped short. “I mean, Jessica. Sorry.” His shoulders slumped in defeat.

  “It’s okay, Bruce,” Jessica said. He’d never mistaken the twins before, but these days, Bruce just wasn’t himself.

  It was almost as if all the fight had gone out of him. He’d been a wreck since Elizabeth had moved out nearly a week ago. He mostly just sat slouched in his chair, his face worn and unshaven. Jessica wished Elizabeth could see how much this was tearing him apart, how much he loved her; then there would be no way she could doubt him.

  It had only been last week when her sister had come to her town house in the early morning hours after Bruce’s arrest. She swung open the door to find Elizabeth standing on the doorstep, tears streaming down her face.

  “My God, what happened?”

  “What didn’t happen?” Elizabeth moaned as she came in and collapsed on the sofa.

  That’s when Jessica heard all the bad news: Bruce had been arrested for trying to break into Robin’s house and, equally shocking, Elizabeth had been the one hiding the girl all along. And now Bruce knew. But the final bombshell hit even harder: Elizabeth had left Bruce.

  “How can you doubt him, Lizzie? We’ve known him forever and you love him.”

  “How can I not doubt him when there are so many holes in his story?”

  Jessica saw the hurt look on her sister’s face and softened her tone. “You can’t really believe this girl you barely know over the man you love.”

  “If you heard her story…I mean, she knew things about us that she only could have heard from Bruce. And then the bartender, he said the same things. If you heard them you would have doubts, too.”

  “There has to be some explanation, Lizzie.” Jessica set her mouth in a determined line. You could say a lot of things about Jessica, but in times like these her best quality stood out: her loyalty. “And you have to find that explanation.”

  “I’m afraid to look deeper; I don’t know what I’ll find. Tonight was a whole different Bruce. He was almost out of control. I’ve never seen him like that before. Jess, I was really scared.”

  “Can you imagine what a shock this whole thing is for him? And on top of everything to find out that you, the person he loves most in the world, was with the enemy? Sure he lost his temper, but you can’t really think he’d hurt you.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I just don’t know.” Jessica put her arms around her sister and held her. “The Bruce I know would never lay a finger on you.” Or on that girl or anybody else.

  “Of course, he didn’t hurt me,” Elizabeth admitted. “It’s just—I’d never seen him that angry.”

  “You have to figure he’s at his wits’ end. This is horrendous what’s happened to him. He just lost it, but you don’t really think he would ever hurt you, do you?”

  “No, I know he wouldn’t.”

  Jessica worked to process everything she’d heard. Bruce’s arrest had changed everything in the PR campaign she was running for him. Even as she hugged her sister, she thought about the precious time ticking away. Bruce needed her help more than ever before. It was like she was choosing sides and taking the one against her sister. But she believed in Bruce and she had to go with that.

  “I hate to even say this, Lizzie, but I think you’re wrong.”

  “Then you have to help Bruce. I know you can and I want you to. Because I can’t.”

  “You’re sure that’s okay with you?”

  “Yes. Please help him.”

  “Right now it’s crucial to contain the media. We have to find ways to keep them from turning against him. After this arrest he’s going to lose a lot of support.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I know.” Just the thought of people turning against Bruce, hating him, calling him a rapist, crushed her, and the tears came again. “I don’t even know what to think about anything anymore,” she said. “But I know I have to do something.”

  With those words, Elizabeth fortified herself. No more tears, now only determination. “I have to find out the truth. Starting now.”

  “Where are you going? Stay here.”

  “I can’t. I’ve got work to do today. Mom and Dad are away. I’ll stay there tonight. And Jess, promise me you’ll say nothing to Bruce.”

  “I promise.”

  From the next week, Jessica spent every day at Bruce’s house. She turned his den into a war room. Papers lined his tabletop. The constant hum of the television ran in the background. The news was all about the Jane Doe who accused Bruce Patman of rape. Bruce’s cook, Mme Dechamps, kept filing in and out, bringing in various kinds of finger foods for the PR team. Jessica was sure even the Oval Office didn’t have this kind of fare. And yet Bruce hardly touched any of it. Not that she blamed him. The news was grim. Bruce had emerged as a villain, the epitome of rich excess: a powerful man bullying the defenseless Jane Doe.

  Jessica’s PR campaign for Bruce had been working brilliantly until his arrest, but now even the celebrities she’d recruited on his behalf were distancing themselves. It was to be expected. As far as the media was concerned, that arrest proved his guilt.

  But Jessica stubbornly believed in his innocence. She had not a single flickering doubt. Her gut told her he hadn’t done it.

  Every morning when Jessica arrived, it was the same. For just an instant Bruce’s face would light up. It was obvious the thought that shot through his mind. Hope overcoming reality. But she wasn’t Elizabeth.

  This morning, however, he seemed just genuinely glad to see Jessica, which was a change from previous mornings. He put his arms around her with such need it almost brought her to tears. For the last three years, ever since Jessica and Todd had gone public with their relationship, Bruce had been more than a little cool, keeping her at arm’s length. But this morning, with his bear hug, she knew she’d broken through. They would be closer friends than ever before.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “We’ll get through this.”

  “That’s not what Ben says.” Bruce stepped back, and Jessica saw Bruce’s corporate attorney, Ben Booker, walking through his mansion. For the last week, Ben had popped in and out. Jessica had guessed right away Ben wasn’t up for the challenge of representing Bruce, but Bruce had been reluctant to go with a different attorney. Jessica thought it was because Bruce was scared or hoping that if he just buried his head in the sand it would all go away. But that needed to change, and the sooner the better. Ben meant well, but in Jessica’s mind, he was about as helpful as a doorstop.

  Jessica started in on Ben the second he walked into the living room.

  “So, do you have a plan for when charges come down?” she asked Ben.

  “We’re hoping no more charges are filed,” Ben said.

  “Right, and I’m hoping to win the lottery, but what happens if Bruce is c
harged with attempted rape?”

  Ben blinked fast. “Well, that would be the worst case. I mean, I guess…”

  “And police come and arrest him. Will they do that, Ben? Will they come here and put handcuffs on him? And then what?”

  Ben went as white as a sheet. Bruce glanced from Ben to Jessica, growing concern on his face.

  “I-I-I don’t know. I mean, I’m not a criminal attorney. I mean…Look, I’m sorry. I just feel a little over my head here.”

  “Bruce, Ben is right. It’s outside his expertise,” Jessica said, knowing Bruce’s loyalty to the family executor. Jessica, the PR professional, tactfully tried to soften the blow to make room for her suggestion. “He’s not a criminal defense attorney, and that’s what you need. And I know just the one. Do you remember Annie Whitman?”

  When Annie Whitman and her paralegal arrived an hour later, she was shocked to see the state her old friend was in. Annie had known Bruce for years, but she’d never seen him looking so depressed or disheveled. There was a sense of defeat that hung in the slump of his shoulders, the way he simply couldn’t be bothered to tuck in his shirt or shave. Even his usually perfect dark hair remained messy and uncombed.

  He didn’t look anything like the handsome, cocky boy with the arresting blue eyes whom she’d known in high school. She’d had a brief fling with him back then—back when she’d been Easy Annie.

  She remembered him better than most. He’d been gentle with her. And when they were alone, he’d been sweet, even. But with an audience, back in high school, he turned into that arrogant, conceited teenage Bruce Patman who was every girl’s heartthrob. And knew it. But Annie was one of the few people who didn’t mind his overconfidence. She found it attractive—even in high school.

  She knew he’d changed since high school and since his parents’ accident. According to Jessica, a big part of the change was falling in love with Elizabeth. And now he’d lost her, too. Annie’s heart ached for him. Having come through her own bitter divorce, she knew firsthand about loss. “Annie,” Bruce said, and gave her a big hug. Even looking tired and run-down, Bruce still carried a bit of that old charisma. Suddenly, instead of the big-time successful defense lawyer, Annie was right back in high school, feeling like a giggly girl again. He’d always had that effect on her.

  “It’s time you hired Annie,” Jessica said without preamble.

  “Are you sure?” He glanced at Jessica, and Annie could read the doubt on his face.

  She’d seen it before. Not everyone believed she could really be as good as people said. She’d gone to more than one deposition when a prosecutor had made the devastating mistake of thinking she looked harmless. Annie knew her business very well.

  “Bruce, I’ve run a few scenarios of what we can expect from the D.A.’s office. Here are some of the charges they might decide to file.” In a no-nonsense way she presented Bruce with some papers. “I’ve had my paralegal do some research, and I think, given what I know about your case, whatever route the prosecutor chooses to go, their case is weak and circumstantial at best. There’s no DNA. No eyewitness accounts of an actual attack, aside from Robin’s, no hospital report or rape kit, and additionally, cross-examination is a specialty of mine in any case.”

  Instantly, a change came over Bruce’s face. He glanced at Jessica, who nodded as if to say, I told you so.

  “Wow, Annie…you’ve changed.” Bruce managed not to sound too surprised, which Annie appreciated. “I mean, I knew, even back in high school, you had a lot of potential.”

  Annie glowed under the praise. There would always be a part of her that would be that insecure high school girl who just wanted the popular kids to like her.

  Now, here she was, helping two of the most popular kids ever in Sweet Valley. She felt the warmth of pride.

  “Annie is the best there is,” Jessica said. “If she’s on our side, the prosecutor’s screwed.” Annie and Jessica exchanged smiles. And for the first time in many long, miserable days, Bruce Patman smiled. The three of them felt pretty good. At least, for the moment.

  Chapter Nine

  Elizabeth had been staring out the office windows of the third floor of the newsroom at the Tribune for who knew how long. Seconds? Minutes? An hour?

  No matter how hard she tried to focus on the school board story in front of her, she just couldn’t do it. Every time she looked at the blinking cursor on her screen, she just thought about Bruce.

  Jessica had offered her the guest bedroom, but she had turned it down, deciding to stay at the Wakefields while they were on another one of their endless cruises.

  She knew Jessica had been spending a lot of time at Bruce’s house and she was truly glad of that. She desperately wanted Bruce to beat the charges if he really was innocent. But another part of her just wanted the truth to come out—whatever it was.

  Elizabeth sighed as she sat at her desk. It was all so awful. If Robin was telling the truth, Bruce was destroyed. If Robin was lying, Elizabeth had betrayed Bruce and lost him forever. Both scenarios were so painful she couldn’t bear to think either one was true. Yet it had to be one or the other. Her mind spun in circles, trying to digest it all.

  “Elizabeth! My office—now!” shouted Tim White, the assistant managing editor, from the door of his glassed-in office. He sounded furious. Tim wasn’t the gruff newspaper editor stereotype you see in all the movies. Tim always had a smile and a joke at the ready, which is why Elizabeth knew she was in serious trouble.

  Reluctantly, she pushed back her rolling chair from her computer. She felt the eyes of the newsroom on her as she walked toward his office. The problem with working with a bunch of reporters was that they never missed anything.

  “What’s up?” she asked once she got to his door. She glanced over at the other chair in Tim’s office and saw Andy Marker sitting there, looking grim. Andy was the Tribune reporter assigned to Bruce’s story.

  “Andy just told me that you not only know where Jane Doe lives, but you signed her lease. Is this true?”

  Elizabeth glanced at Andy, who avoided her eyes.

  “How did you find that lease?” she demanded.

  “I’m not revealing my source,” Andy said. “It’s confidential.”

  Elizabeth was impressed with Andy’s sleuthing. He was even better than she thought. She wondered if he’d been following her around to get leads in the case. Still, it annoyed her, too. She didn’t blame him for seeking the information. It was his job. She only wished Andy had come to her first before he’d gone to Tim.

  “It doesn’t matter how he knows,” Tim said.

  “Sorry, Tim. I was going to tell you…”

  “You’re becoming part of the story. You know that’s not what we do here.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I…” Elizabeth felt like the world was coming down on her head. First she’d lost Bruce, and now it seemed like she was going to lose her job, too. She didn’t know if she could stand it.

  “You’ve got to give me something to tell Walt,” Tim said, rocking back in his chair behind his desk. Walt was the managing editor and Tim’s boss. He was hard-nosed and gruff and never, ever smiled. “He’s going to go crazy when he hears this. Walt’s fired people for less.”

  “I know.”

  “You know I hate to be the bad guy, but I really have no choice here.”

  “Tim, I’m really sorry. I just…”

  “You fell for the poor kid’s pitiful story. I know. But now the thing is, Elizabeth, you and I have jobs to do. We don’t always like our jobs, but that’s what they pay us for. You understand what I’m telling you?” Elizabeth shook her head. Tim rubbed his temples. “We need an exclusive interview with Jane Doe. Tell her we absolutely will keep her name confidential, but we need the exclusive. You have to interview her.”

  “Hey—wait, this is my story,” Andy protested.

  “Not anymore. You two have to work together. Elizabeth, give me the interview with Jane Doe and then all is forgiven.”

 
“But…” Elizabeth couldn’t even begin to imagine telling Robin the truth, much less getting her to agree to being quoted in the newspaper, even if they kept her name out of it. “This girl is skittish and scared and there’s no way she would agree to be quoted.”

  “Tell Jane Doe her name won’t run,” Tim said. “Since you two are such good buddies, I know you can convince her to give you the story.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Well, find a way, or you get to tell Walt why you’re neck-deep in this story.”

  Elizabeth knew she had no choice. Not if she wanted to keep her job.

  “Okay, Tim.”

  “That’s what I like to hear,” Tim said.

  Chapter Ten

  While Elizabeth reluctantly grabbed her jacket and keys from her desk, Lila Fowler was busy across town filming the next installment of The True Housewives of Sweet Valley. Lila and two of the other Housewives sat in Lila’s elaborately decorated living room.

  It was supposed to be a wine and cheese afternoon party, but Lila had filled her glass with seltzer and had pointedly skipped the cheese for a snack of pickles and peanut butter. Lila wasn’t actually pregnant, but she’d seen enough movies to know how she ought to act.

  “I thought food cravings didn’t start until the second trimester,” said Marina Delgardo, sipping from her glass of wine.

  “Lay off, Marina,” Devone Waters said, putting down her own wineglass. “It’s not easy being pregnant. Give the woman a break.”

  Marina stared at Lila’s still-flat abdomen. “She’s been pregnant two seconds, and already she’s got cravings? Please.”

  Lila sent Marina a back off or you’ll regret teasing a pregnant woman look. Ever since Lila had announced she was expecting her estranged husband Ken’s baby, Devone had been her true friend and supporter. Marina, however, wasn’t nearly so warm, and sat stubbornly on the fence, hedging her bets and ensuring she would be on the side of whichever Housewife won the standoff: Lila or Ashley Morgan.