No Matter What

by Michelle Betham

  “No. It isn’t because of Kenny. Why would it be because of Kenny?”

  “Because of what happened before?”

  “Before? No! No, it’s got nothing to do with that, Kenny has got nothing to do with any of this.”

  She stood up to leave again but Reece knew he was right. He’d seen it in her face.

  “India, wait! Please ... where are you going?”

  She swung round to look at him again. “I’m going to see Michael, ok? I’m going to see him before he has to leave. If that’s alright with you?”

  Reece let her go. It was no use talking to her when she obviously had no interest in listening to anything he had to say. But he was worried about her. He’d seen her change, over the past few weeks especially. The hold Michael had over her didn’t always seem healthy, but what could he do? She was a grown woman, she wasn’t a kid, he couldn’t tell her what to do, he didn’t have that right. But it didn’t stop him worrying – Michael in L.A., India in Las Vegas in close proximity every day to Kenny Ross, a man who, if Vince was right, was still very much in love with her.

  Reece had seen it in her eyes. She didn’t trust herself. Michael didn’t trust Kenny. It didn’t take a genius to work out that that was a situation that nobody could predict the outcome of. But it had a very high possibility of turning into another very unhappy mess.

  ***

  “You ok?” Kenny asked, as India walked past without even acknowledging him.

  She stopped and looked at him. “Jesus, is that the only question people are going to ask me this morning?”

  “Yes, probably, when you’ve got a face like that.”

  “Shut up, Kenny.”

  He held his hands up. “Hey, pardon me for caring.”

  “I don’t need you to care, Kenny. I need you to get out of my way.”

  “He’s not left yet then?”

  She gave him a long look that made Kenny realise he’d almost definitely said the wrong thing.

  “I’m sorry, India, ok? Really, I’m sorry.”

  She just pushed past him, ignoring his apology and practically running to the villa, desperate not to waste anymore time. She found Michael in the living room sorting through some papers.

  “I should hate you, Michael Walsh.”

  He looked up at her. “Oh yeah? And why’s that?”

  “Because I can’t think straight. You’ve got me acting like some kind of crazy bitch.”

  He got up and walked over to her, putting a hand to her face as he kissed her slowly.

  “And that doesn’t help.” She looked at him. “You look tired.”

  “Yeah, well, neither of us got much sleep last night, did we?”

  “No. We didn’t.” She couldn’t help smiling. “It was good though.”

  He smiled too, sliding an arm around her waist. “It was very, very good. You were incredible Mrs Walsh.”

  “You weren’t so bad yourself, mister.”

  He began running the tips of his fingers slowly along her cheek, down her neck and over her cleavage, every touch sending shivers right through her.

  “You know, baby, we’ve got time for one more quick repeat performance. I guarantee it’ll make you feel better, and, if you still hate me after that ...” He shrugged, giving her that movie star smile of his. “… well, let’s just say I don’t think you will. What do you say, beautiful?”

  She looked into his eyes, thinking how quickly he could turn her emotions around. Was that a good thing? She wasn’t sure. She only knew that she loved this man like crazy and if she could have just five more minutes with him then she was going to grab them with both hands. “I’d say, what are we waiting for?”

  ***

  Kenny watched from inside the hotel lobby as India said her goodbyes to Michael outside, watching as he held her tight, kissed her slowly and every movement, every touch made Kenny want to turn away but he couldn’t.

  “Isn’t that just beautiful,” Bobby sighed, clutching his ever present black book against his chest.

  Kenny turned to look at him but said nothing, until Bobby took out a handkerchief and started dabbing his eyes. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “It’s like something out of a movie, isn’t it?” Bobby said, blowing his nose.

  Kenny looked back outside, folding his arms. “No. Not really.”

  “You’re so unromantic, do you know that?”

  “Yeah, I know that. Come on, Bobby, it’s bullshit! He’s only going back to fucking L.A. What’s the big deal?”

  “They’re in love.”

  “And don’t we know it. I’ve had enough. I’m due on set in ten minutes. I guess I’ll see her later.”

  Bobby watched him leave then ran over to India as she walked back inside the hotel, her head down and her arms folded.

  “Come on, angel, give me your hand, come on.”

  India looked up at him and smiled. “I’m fine, Bobby. Really.”

  “You don’t look fine. Listen, how about I organise a little private dinner for us at the villa tonight? All your favourite stuff, and lots and lots of fabulous cocktails. Then we can sit down and watch movies all night, even one of Mr Walsh’s, if you want to. That one he did a couple of years ago where he had his shirt off a lot is a particular favourite of mine.”

  India couldn’t help laughing as Bobby squeezed her hand, smiling too.

  “I love you, Bobby Castle. I have no idea what I’d do without you.”

  “Oh, you’d survive, angel. You just wouldn’t have half as much fun. Come on, let’s get you to make-up. Thanks to that emotional goodbye out there you’ve left them with quite a bit to do this morning.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I tell it how it is, sweetheart. ‘Brief Encounter’ had nothing on that farewell, I was almost in tears.”

  India laughed again. Bobby to the rescue as usual. No wonder everyone wanted him.

  “And while we’re in make-up we can go over a few things you’ve got to do this afternoon, because there’s quite a bit going on in your life at the minute, India Walsh.”

  Reality was back with a vengeance, and there was nothing she could do to change that. Infact, it was probably for the best. Even if that reality did include Kenny Ross.

  ***

  Charley was falling for Vince. Despite everything she’d promised herself, despite all the times she’d told herself that getting involved with anyone else ever again was a mistake, despite all of that, she was falling in love with Vince Maine and she couldn’t fight it any longer. Everything about him was something she loved. He’d never rushed her, he’d never pushed her into anything, all he’d done was take her to dinner, show her his world and make her feel incredibly special. And wasn’t it about time she was allowed to feel like that? Didn’t she deserve to feel that too?

  Surely it had to be fate that had made her fall in love with the best friend of Michael Walsh, India’s husband. Her once-best friend. Charley believed in fate or, at least, she was starting to. This relationship was more than just about her finding this perfect new man, it was about her life coming back together, about putting the past to rights. It was about fixing things that should never have been broken.

  Vince was the man she was falling in love with but he was also her route to India, although he seemed incredibly reluctant to help her with any of that at the minute. Which she could understand, of course she could. Vince and India were close, he cared about her, he cared about her feelings just as much as he cared about Charley’s and she knew that none of this was easy for him. It was putting him in an impossible position, but all she wanted to do was talk to India.

  “Have you seen Kenny Ross today?” Casey asked, sitting herself down next to Charley in the theatre as they got ready to run through the changes to that evening’s show. “He is looking hot! I can’t believe you used to know him.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t go spreading that about, ok? You know the history; you know I can’t go introducing him to every girl here who wan
ts to meet him. You know it isn’t that easy.”

  Casey looked at her friend. “Are you ok? You look a little tired. And where were you last night by the way? You didn’t get in ‘til way past 4am. Have you got a secret man on the go that I don’t know about?”

  Charley looked at Casey. She was like a sister to her, she’d helped her through so much and she hated lying to her, especially about Vince. She was tired of this relationship being kept under wraps; tired of having no-one to talk to about how she was feeling.

  “Casey, if I tell you something will you promise – and I mean promise, this is very important – will you promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone else, especially not any of the other girls.”

  Casey sat forward in her seat, a look of excitement on her face at the prospect of a secret being revealed. She knew Charley had been hiding something, or someone, but she had no idea what or who and she’d been dying to find out.

  “I promise.”

  “I mean it, Casey. You really have to keep this to yourself.”

  “I promise, Charley. Cross my heart and all that.”

  “Ok.” Charley sat forward too, clasping her hands together in her lap. “I’m seeing Vince Maine.”

  Casey couldn’t stop the look of surprise from spreading across her face, her eyes widening at this sudden revelation. “Vince Maine? You’re seeing the boss?”

  “Sssh! Keep it down will you? Yes. Actually, it’s more than seeing him. I think I’m in love with him, Casey.”

  Casey’s hand flew to her mouth to stop herself from screeching out loud. “Oh my God! Oh ... my ... God! Charley! I knew you were hiding something but, you and Vince Maine? How long?”

  “Just a few weeks, but he’s amazing, Casey. He’s just amazing!”

  “Oh my God! I can’t believe it ... but, didn’t you guys know each other before?”

  “We didn’t really know each other; we’d just met once or twice, through India. And that’s why you can’t say anything, Casey. You can’t say anything because India doesn’t know I’m here in the hotel, or that I’m even in Vegas.”

  “But I thought you wanted to see her?”

  Charley nodded, looking down at the floor. “I do. I need to talk to her. I need to get rid of the last of my demons, Casey, to get everything out in the open and finally put the past to rest.” She looked up at her friend. “I’m not just seeing Vince because of that though, really, I’m not. He isn’t just a route to India, you have to believe that. We were seeing each other before I had any idea she would be filming here but now I know that she is, and now that I have Vince on my side, well, I really need to try and make things right with her.”

  “She doesn’t blame you, Charley, I’m sure of that. From what you’ve told me, she doesn’t seem that kind of person.”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t blame me either, Casey but … but she doesn’t speak to me either and I miss that. I really miss that.” She pushed a hand through her hair and sat back. “Oh, I’m not kidding myself that we’ll ever be best friends again, but if we could just talk ... it would mean so much to me.”

  Casey took Charley’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Vince Maine ... you lucky bitch! I am so jealous!”

  Charley couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t believe it myself sometimes. But you can’t even let him know that you know, Casey, not yet. It’s complicated, but if that’s the way it has to be for now I can live with it because I’m not going to lose this chance I have with him. There’s too much at stake.”

  Casey squeezed her hand again. “My lips are sealed, honey. But now I do know, I want the whole story, tonight, after the show. We’ll go to our favourite diner, order our favourite dinner and you can tell me everything. Deal?”

  Charley smiled, feeling, at least, as though a small weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Deal.”

  The rest would work itself out. She was sure of that. The rest would fall into place. Eventually.

  CHAPTER 35

  “Girls’ night in is it?” Kenny smiled, as India opened the door of the villa dressed in pink pyjama bottoms and a white t-shirt, her hair in curlers.

  “Bobby’s doing my hair. Come in will you, these villas may be classed as private but you’ll be amazed at the lengths the paparazzi will go to to get a picture, and I’m not sure this is a particularly good look for me.”

  Kenny looked at her, still smiling. “Oh, I don’t know ... sorry, Bobby’s doing your hair?”

  She closed the door behind them. “You’re not familiar with the girls’ night in, are you?”

  “No, apparently not.”

  He followed her into the living room where the TV was tuned to VH1 and cushions were scattered all over the floor, along with various items of make-up, hair products and a huge pile of photographs of India. Kenny picked one up and looked at it. She was beautiful in person but in photographs she was just stunning.

  India took it off him and put it back on the pile. “I may look like I’m having fun but there’s no such thing as a night off. I’m signing these for a charity auction at Terry’s old school.”

  Kenny didn’t miss the look that quickly passed across India’s face at the mention of her brother. She’d kept close contact with the school he’d worked at since his death and she did a lot of work with them, particularly in keeping the soccer team up and running. She felt she owed that to Terry, and it made her feel as though a part of him would always be with her, which was something she badly needed because she missed him every day. Every single day.

  “So, where’s Vidal Sassoon then?” Kenny asked, digging his hands deep into his pockets.

  “He’s mixing cocktails in the kitchen. Do you want one?”

  “No. Thanks. I don’t want to gatecrash your evening.”

  “Bobby won’t mind,” India smiled. “In fact, he’d probably love it.”

  Kenny laughed, helping India pick up some empty glasses from the floor. “Yeah, well, I might have to disappoint him then. I’ve got other plans.”

  “Oh. Ok.” India surprised herself at the disappointment she’d felt when he’d said that. “Anything interesting?”

  “Nothing exciting ... India, look at me will you? Can I talk to you?”

  She didn’t look at him, she couldn’t because she’d suddenly felt the mood change and it unsettled her. “Is something wrong, Kenny?”

  “I’m your best friend, India. For ten years I’ve been your best friend, the closest person to you out of anyone here. Even Michael. But since we got to Vegas I feel like I’m losing you.”

  He hadn’t meant to say that out loud but he’d been feeling it. It was true. He did feel like he was losing her; to Michael, to Bobby, even to Reece and he was scared of her getting too far away from him.

  “Are you here for a reason?” She still wasn’t looking at him.

  “I just wanted to see you, India. You’re my friend and I just wanted to see you.”

  She sat down on the arm of the sofa, finally looking at him. “You’ve been seeing me all day.”

  “On set. I’ve been seeing you on a movie set. I want us to hang out, to do stuff together, to go out and have some fun, like we used to do.”

  “I thought you said you had plans.”

  He pushed a hand through his hair, sighing. “I don’t have plans, I never have plans, you know that. Come on, let’s go grab a beer somewhere.”

  She hesitated for a second, wondering if it would be such a bad thing to go out with Kenny for a couple of hours. She could do with getting out of the villa and she was in Vegas, after all. Shouldn’t she make the most of it?

  “India?”

  She looked up at him again. “Well, I can’t go out looking like this can I?”

  Kenny smiled. “You look ok to me.”

  She smiled back. Decision made. “Give me ten minutes. Go and see Bobby and make sure he’s got a cocktail waiting for me when I get back downstairs.”

  ***

  Michael was working from as early as 4 or 5
am in the morning until well after midnight most days. He wanted to; it was taking his mind off India. If he kept occupied he didn’t think about what was going on over there in Vegas, if he was busy he didn’t have time to worry.

  The movie was going well. Everything was going fine, and working with Reece was ok. It was good. They knew the way the other one worked and that helped, although their relationship had changed somewhat over the years. They weren’t just fellow actors now, they were also family.

  He’d spent the past few hours sitting in the screening room, going through the days rushes and he was pleased with how it had gone today. It had been a long day and he probably should go home but the thought of an empty house didn’t make the prospect that appealing. There wasn’t much else he could do around here, though, he’d stretched it out for long enough as it was.

  “Are you still here?”

  Michael turned around to see Layla Boyd standing in the doorway of the screening room. Layla Boyd was a young, blonde and very pretty-in-an-obvious-kind-of-way twenty-three year old actress that had been cast in a supporting role in this movie.

  Michael hadn’t been particularly keen on her himself, preferring someone else altogether for the part but he’d been persuaded to give her a chance. The fact her father owned the casting agency involved with this movie had also had something to do with it, something else which hadn’t pleased Michael. He preferred roles to be given out based on merit, not nepotism. This was only Layla’s second movie and she’d yet to bag a leading role, maybe because she wasn’t anything special. She was ok, but she certainly didn’t have any of the talent India had had at her age, but the actors she was working with were managing to bring out something in her that might mean she had a future in Hollywood. She was ambitious, he’d give her that much.

  Michael looked away and gathered his things together, picking up his cell ‘phone and putting it in his pocket, checking to see if he had any messages first.