The Stars Trilogy (37 page)

“What?”

“Go out?”

“What, like a couple? Not a good idea. Paparazzi everywhere. I don’t want to be a star in a circus. My parents will kill me. Besides, we haven’t gotten to that part yet. We’re still in the getting to know phase. We’re just enjoying each other’s company.”

“If he treats you the wrong way, you tell me.”

“Yes, fairy godfa.”

Ben, Dare and Rocky had been cloistered in the study for an hour now. She was in the kitchen, checking out Yves’ menu for lunch.

“You have three hungry men to feed today, Yves.”

“Don’t worry, they shall have a meal that they won’t soon forget
, ma cherie.”

“Where’s Ken?”

He went to pick up some suits for Dare at the Zegna shop in Beverly Hills.”

“Okay. Call me when lunch is ready. Better have it set up by the pool.”

“Okay,
ma cherie.”

She left Yves and went up to the second level of the mansion.

She didn’t enter the study. Dare had been aloof from her the past days. He rarely glanced at her, didn’t even smile. He was deliberately ignoring her.

Was he mad? What was he mad about? That she told him in not so many words that he was special to her? Did he think she broke a work ethic or something? And if she did, did he not want her to work for him anymore? She wished he would just talk to her. She would take his anger than his indifference anytime.

She went to Kelsey’s office and busied herself with her tasks. She had to remind Dare of the Daredevil gathering this Friday. Also, she had to present to him her concept for the MTV awards. She will need Rocky’s help for it.

An hour later, Yves informed her that lunch was ready.

She went to the study.

They were still deep in discussion.

“Lunch is ready!” she announced cheerfully.

“Great! I’m starving!” Ben said.

“It’s set up at the pool side.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Dare said and walked away, passing by her without a glance.

Needles pricked her chest at his rejection but she still tried not to mind it too much. Maybe he just had a lot of things on his mind today, what with his new movie and all. It was his first time to direct a full-length commercial film. The pressure must be killing him.

Ben put his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, doll.”

Over lunch, Dare was all business, discussing the script with Ben and Rocky. It was too blatant to Celine now, the way he was ignoring her.

“Will you be playing the sailor?” Ben asked Dare.

“No. I’m deciding between Henry Cavill and Jonathan Rhyss-Meyers.”

“Yes, he’s good. I love Jonathan’s works,” Ben agreed.

“Henry will kill it,” Rocky said.

“Either of the two will be fine with me. We’ll set up audition for the role of the Cambodian boy. I’ve been thinking, we should go to Thailand. I have a villa in the southern part, in Phuket. We’ll scout for a location for the war scenes there or in the Phang Nga region. Or in Cambodia itself.”

“Great! I could use a summer vacation.” Ben was excited. “Thailand! Wow!”

“Clear your schedules next week. Are you available, Rock?”

“Anytime, Dare.”

“Get your passports ready then. I’ll arrange everything. This is an official business trip for Phoenix, my film outfit. Kelsey will most probably meet us there.”

“I’m certainly looking forward to this trip. Didn’t know you had a villa there, Dare,” said Ben.

“I bought it from a friend three years ago. It’s beautiful out there. I have a Cirrus SR22 stationed there which we can use to look at the terrain.”

After lunch, the men went back to the study and continued their discussion.

Celine decided to take a nap in one of the chaise lounges dotting the vast veranda overlooking the hills. The breeze was cool and relaxing.

She didn’t know how long she’d dozed off. She was awakened by a slight tapping on her leg.

Felicia, one of the Mexican housekeepers staying in the mansion was bending over her. “Mr. Montgomery is looking for you, Ms. Celine.”

She sat up from the chaise. “Thank you, Felicia. Where is he?”

“In the study.”

“Still?”

“Mr. Ben and Mr. Rocky just left.”

“Oh, okay.”

She passed by the powder room to check her appearance and proceeded to the study. Dare sat behind his massive oak table reading something. He didn’t even look up when she entered the room.

She cleared her throat. “Finished at last?”

“My goddaughter is celebrating her birthday this Saturday. I don’t know what to give her. Any ideas?” he asked, still not looking at her.

The pin pricks in her heart were in the millions now. “Boy or girl?”

“Girl. She’s turning seven.”

“I’ll look at the mall.”

“I also need a superhero costume. I’m 6 feet 2, large.”

“You’re gonna wear it to the party?

“Yeah.”

“Anything else?”

“That would be all. You will accompany me, of course.”

“Shall I wear a costume, too?”

“If you like.”

She went to sit in an armchair, facing him. “Kelsey called me to remind you of the Daredevil gathering this Friday.”

“Ah yes. What time?”

“3 PM. I’ve already coordinated with the LA chapter. Everything’s set. Kelsey took care of everything before she left.”

“Good.”

“I’ve made a new concept for the MTV presentation.”

He looked up then and met her eyes. “Yeah, what is it?”

His eyes were as murky and inscrutable as a swollen river after a heavy rain. She could not read him. This look he was giving her…she hadn’t seen it in any of his movies.

“Well...I’ve been thinking, you really became a household name by playing V. So, we’ll just do a monologue where you talk like V, you know, with all that strange accent and alliterations. You will be directly addressing the MTV youth who have voted for you all these years. I’ll consult Ben for the monologue. You can shoot the scenes here. Maybe thirty seconds long. We’ll get a Fawkes mask, wig and all-black costume.”

He nodded. “Alright. I’ll go with that.”

“I’ll have the script ready tomorrow. Do you have somebody who usually shoots and directs your VTRs?”

“I do but...why not hire Rocky?”

“He would love to do it, of course.”

“Okay, tell him. Thanks.”

He went back to whatever he was reading.

She had been dismissed. She stood up and quietly left the room.

Her tears fell.

Chapter Sixteen 

“I’ve read about your divorce. I’m so sorry your marriage to Alana didn’t work out. I’m sad because I know you’re sad. Even if I didn’t like it before that you got married, I don’t ever want you to be sad and feeling alone. I hope you’re not feeling alone. I wish I can be there with you. I’ll  take care of you. I’ll make you laugh. I’ll make you pancakes. Don’t be sad okay? I love you...”

ATTENDING THE INTERNATIONAL DAREDEVILS meet and greet had always been one of her dreams but Celine didn’t know then that fate would fast-forward her route toward meeting her ultimate celeb crush.

She won’t go to the gathering tonight as the president of Daredevils Philippines but as Dare’s secretary and representative in lieu of Kelsey. There was no representation from the  Philippine Chapter. She announced it in the website that she was in another country on a very important business trip. She was in the USA alright, on an important mission, so it wasn’t an outright lie.

To make sure she won’t be recognized by the other chapter presidents who were her online friends, she altered her appearance by adding volume and extenders to her hair, turning it into a mix of auburn and blond. She wore a one-piece, tangerine elastic dress with long sleeves but very short hemline with a demure front but a plunging back, almost showing the curve of her ass. She paired it with black, suede 5-inch, thigh-high boots. Her make-up was heavy, especially on the eyes. Nobody would recognize her tonight. She didn’t even recognize herself in the mirror.

“What the hell...?” Dare looked dumbstruck when he saw her.

She made a pose, looking nonchalant, as if he had not been ignoring her for days. “Bridget Bardot look. Like it? The theme of the party is 60’s Hollywood.”

He gave her an impassive once-over, but his words were cutting. “You look like a hooker from Sunset Boulevard.”

Her face fell.

“But I love it!” exclaimed Ken who joined them in the driveway. ”You look smashing, darling! Oh, I miss vintage fashion!”

She tried to smile even if she wanted to walk out. “Thanks, Ken. And you’re looking dapper yourself!”

“Thanks to Gucci!” Ken beamed. Then he looked at Dare. “Now this...is perfection.”

She couldn’t agree more. Dare was beyond awesome in his black evening suit. No words can describe his sheer masculine beauty.

Ken fixed Dare’s tie and straightened his lapels. “I think we’re gonna go for Zegna from now on with your suits. They got your perfect cut.”

Dare made a low growling sound in his throat and opened the limo’s door. “Alright, get in, you two.”

Minutes later, Cruz was driving them towards the LA Convention Center.

“I didn’t know it was this huge!” Celine gushed to Ken when they were seated at their table.

“In Dare’s world, huge is the operative word, my dear!” Ken cackled.

The meet-up was something the US chapters had been planning for months. It was the first ever international gathering for the Daredevil fans and it had to be huge.

Celine had been an active participant in its conception early on, until she decided to come to LA and fast track her destiny. She had closely followed the planning development at the LA Daredevils website. Little did she know that she would actually play a huge part in the actual event.

Dare donated a huge amount for the entire activity. He rented one hall of the LACC, hired an events management firm to manage the show and turn the place into a dinner concert hall. Mario Lopez was hosting the show, to the delight of the Daredevils. There were probably around a thousand selected attendees from all over the globe. Eighty percent of them were women and a few straight and not so straight guys. There were no official delegates from Daredevils Philippines but she was there.
Yes!
Entertainment Live was covering the event.

Food and beverages were catered in abundance and games were played. The prizes were either sponsored or donated by the giant brands that Dare endorsed. It was an extravaganza in all aspects.

Dare was busy chatting with some club presidents at a nearby table. He was so charming and gracious to his fans the whole evening, obliging all requests for photographs, hugging and kissing them with a huge smile. He was the consummate megastar and his fans truly loved him.

She loved him, too, but she was humbled by the love of the true blue Daredevils. She felt insignificant compared to the collective affection Dare was getting from his fans.

Later, she was seated with Dare and Ken at a special table, having dinner when Mario went up the stage again.

“And now...ladies and gentlemen, Dare has a gift for you all. To make this event very memorable, Dare has invited a special guest to entertain you tonight while you have your dinner. Isn’t Dare Montgomery the best?”

Screams of excitement reverberated in the entire hall as this was totally unexpected. She didn’t even know about it.

Suddenly, the stage shifted and the curtains rose. The lights changed into multi-colored hues and out came a full band!

More screams.

“Oh my! Who is it, Ken?”

Ken just shrugged and said nothing.

Mario continued with his spiel. “This guy needs no introduction as you all know him! He admitted to being a certified Daredevil himself! Dude, come out here!”

Celine nearly choked on her fillet mignon when she saw the guest performer who emerged from the side line.

She abruptly stood up, knocking her wine glass, her eyes wide in shock.

The screams were now deafening. Women rushed to the foot of the stage in frenzy.

Enrique Iglesias lifted the microphone he was holding to his lips and addressed his enthusiastic audience. “Hello, ladies.”