The Stars Trilogy (74 page)

She was truly dismayed.

The luncheon went better than she expected. Rhonda Kendrick, one of the most sought-after casting directors in LA took a look at her and blurted, “Definitely Audrey Hepburn with a bit of Bardot aura if you turn blond.”

She wondered how in hell could Rhonda see those legendary movie stars in her personality. And what was this comparison with those 50s and 60s stars got to do with her career? She found that rather odd.

But Rhonda enlightened her. “When you want to build your career as an actress, you gotta peg yourself with someone from the heydays of Hollywood. The purpose of this is for easier recall. Remember, it all starts from how you look. This business is foremost all about visuals, profit, then art. It’s sad but that’s the reality. It’s conditioning yourself to be as famous, as huge and as lasting. Start taking notes, kid.”

She nodded.

“You start to imitate your role model a bit, pattern your look and image from her, even your acting. Convince your audience that you’re the next Audrey Hepburn or Elizabeth Taylor. Angelina Jolie for example, notwithstanding her past goth image, cannot be confused with anybody else but Elizabeth Taylor, the way she has been mapping her career and her image. But Angie still stands out as herself when she’s not doing the Taylor thing because undeniably, she’s a natural. Now, Megan Fox is noticeably channeling Angie, but Angie is not yet considered a legend, so she looks like a poor copy of Angie.  Madonna has channeled the Marilyn Monroe look for some time and it sold millions of records and yet Madonna is Madonna, a chameleon, because Madge has mastered the one thing an artist needs for guaranteed longevity in this business — adaptability. She never allows herself to become irrelevant and obsolete. Nicole Kidman is Grace Kelly hands down and a bit of Katherine Hepburn. She can’t go wrong with those two as Nic fits the royal and classic look to a tee. However, there are disastrous imitations  because they chose the wrong look or overkilled the look. I could name a dozen actresses but never mind. Oh, there are great overkills, too. Despite packing her chest with too much plastic, Pamela Anderson has managed to cash in on the Bardot look for like forever.”

“I can do Audrey Hepburn.” She imitated the way Audrey Hepburn smoked in Breakfast at Tiffany’s with an imaginary pipe.

Rhonda snapped her fingers. “Perfect!”

After lunch, she had two movies she could audition for when she got back in LA.

Kelsey could move even the Rock of Gibraltar in this business, she thought with awe.

Celine didn’t see Dare the whole day. Kelsey said he’d been holed up with fellow jurors, judging film entries. She spent the day with Kelsey going around the festival site, enjoying the fanfare, meeting more people and viewing the various exhibits scattered around the
Palias de Festivals
with the magnificent French Riviera as the background. The biggest brands that can be found inside a Vogue magazine were probably all there, marketing their stuff. Kelsey just dropped Dare’s name and they were given wine to sip while they went around. She discreetly avoided the drinks by just pretending to take small sips.

Dare did call her up twice, to inquire how she was. She replied politely and hung up.

“Hey, Baz Luhrmann’s film is premiering tonight at the
Grand Lumiere
. Wanna see it? Dare will be there.”

She was reluctant to attend. “Will there be another red carpet thing?”

“That’s the way it goes here, dear. Every feature film premiere is a red carpet affair.”

She sighed. “Can we just go together, Kels? I mean, Chris is so nice and all but I want him to enjoy the festival with his friends. I felt like he was babysitting me the other night.”

“Okay, we’ll go together.”

“Uhm...who’s going with Dare?”

Kelsey smiled knowingly. “Baz, of course, and his cast.”

That made her feel better. “What shall I wear?”

“Let’s go visit the Chanel and Cartier suites. I’m sure they’d have something for you, even on short notice.”

Celine saw Alana a few meters away, resplendent in her figure-hugging, silvery number that made her glow as the little beads in her gown caught light. The woman was standing tall like a supermodel with Raquel Welch’s jaw-dropping body stats. It was hard not to feel destroyed by such goddess-like presence.

She was covertly following the actress’ every move. Once, their eyes met and she saw the glint of triumph in Alana’s eyes. This was indeed the actress’ turf. Alana was the toast of the Cannes while she was the toast of the rags.

In front of Alana, Dare was preparing to walk with director Baz Luhrmann and the lead actors of his film. They were first in line.

Alana suddenly walked up to greet Dare. They exchanged smiles and kissed each other’s cheek.

Cameras went crazy.

“Is she supposed to walk with him?” she whispered in Kelsey’s ear.

“No.”

“That sneaky bitch,” she hissed under her breath, fuming now.

Kelsey fanned the fire by whispering, “Can’t you see what she’s doing? She’s  reminding the world that Dare was hers first before he became yours.”

“Like hell!” she whispered back, overcome by jealousy. She just couldn’t stand watching them together like that anymore and feeling like the outsider. She was THE insider right now, dammit, not that diva!

Without much thought, she marched up, passing through several celebrities and reached Dare and his group.

She deliberately sashayed in front of them, right in the line of sight of the dozens of press people, parading her voluminous, red Chanel gown for maximum effect.

She then squealed dramatically, loud enough for everyone within earshot to hear. “Darling!”

She made eye-contact with Alana, enjoying the woman’s shock and then her utter indignation which the actress failed to mask.

Hah! Take this, bitch!

She slowly walked up to Dare, undulating her hips and elegantly extended her hand toward him.

Their eyes met.

Dare couldn’t believe what was happening.

Celine was blatantly stealing the show from Baz, Mark and Charlize!

What the hell...?!

The press was having a ball, furiously clicking away at the unfolding drama of his freakin’ love life! Couldn’t she have made it less dramatic?

“The princess is waiting, prince,” Charlize told him with a slight nudge of her elbow to his side.

He finally snapped out of his momentary shock.

Celine’s eyes were intense and confident but he saw the vulnerability there. She was showing bravado but she could crumble any minute.

His protective instinct immediately rose.

He stepped forward and took Celine’s hand and kissed it.

She smiled at him, a look of utter relief on her face.

He snaked his arm around her waist possessively. “Well, well, well, didn’t you just out yourself for the whole world to see, my sweet mistress?” he whispered to her.

She grinned. “Right now, I don’t give a damn.”

“Really? Let’s see...”

He suddenly tipped her backward and kissed her on the lips. He held their position for a few seconds, letting the press get a good shot of them. Then he pulled her upright again on her feet.

“I hope they got a good angle of that,” he murmured. “Now, smile, baby. We just officially became the king and queen of the rags for the next...I don’t know.”

Her smile was hotter and brighter than the combined camera flashes around them. Deep inside, his heart was palpitating with pride and joy. He was subjecting himself to a woman’s outright display of possessiveness and strangely, he was not feeling pissed one bit. Just shocked. He didn’t know Celine had it in her to do something as spontaneous as this. She could make Alana eat dust in the dramatic entrance department.

Baz, Charlize and Mark joined them, their faces thoroughly amused.

“Shall we march now, children?” Baz said in a serious tone.

“Mr. Luhrmann! I’ve been a fan since Romeo and Juliet!” Celine belatedly exclaimed, her face flushing red with embarrassment now.

Baz winked at her.

Okay, she did it!

There was no turning back now, Celine thought, as she occupied the best seats with Dare inside the theater. They held hands as they watched the film.

Finally, she was beside him. Dare clearly and proudly acknowledged her position in his life for all to see. She was his woman and he was her man.

They were a public couple now. Labels were not important for as long as she knew where she stood in his life. Really, bottom line, that was all that mattered.

Really?
her conscience taunted her.

It has to! Shut up and let me enjoy the moment!
the stronger part of her retorted.

Dare squeezed her hand and she relaxed.

She’d deal with the consequences later.

They left the theater via an exit at the back.  Carlos was waiting for them with a limo.

Celine climbed in while Dare was talking to Cruz a few meters away. She flushed in embarrassment when she saw Kelsey already sitting inside the vehicle. “Oh Kels, I’m so sorry I left you at the red carpet! Were you able to get in the theater?”

“Of course. I walked with JJ Abrams and his wife.”

“I forgot about you when I...”

“Oh, you were great, my dear! You totally thrashed that bitch out of the picture!”

She grimaced. “I was too dramatic, wasn’t I? Do the press hate me now? Am I all over the internet now as the wicked drama princess who stole the show from the queen mother?”

Kelsey laughed. “Don’t worry about that. Hollywood loves drama! We feed on it! Oh my dear, you’re a natural! With such confidence, you will go places in this business. Mark my words.”

She cringed inwardly. That impulsive behavior was truly that, impulsive. She was goaded by sheer jealousy and like Alana, she wanted to assert herself as the true woman in Dare’s life in front of everyone. It was an act of desperation.

Oh God, she can definitely see a pattern here. She was turning herself into a new Alana, Naiomi and Gabby, insecure and trying to prove her worth as the rightful woman fit for one of America’s most adored sons. She was turning into something totally out of her character. And she was starting to feel truly afraid for herself.

Dare got into the limo.

“Hey, gorgeous, you’re doing great here!” Kelsey greeted him.

He snorted. “Thanks to you two, I’m ten times more famous today. Why can’t women behave on the red carpet?”

Kelsey laughed. “Oh come on, without our drama, the red carpet is boring.”

Celine was chagrined, even more embarrassed now of her rash behavior. “I’m sorry.”

Dare turned to her and kissed her cheek. “I’m not really complaining, baby. I just don’t wanna be more famous. I need a life, too, you know? By the way, Baz was asking about you.”

“Really? Why?”

“He was asking if you’re an actress. I said yes. He wants you to audition for a part in his next film.”

“Me? B-but why me?”

“Beats me. Maybe he likes your...” he studied her face. “You’re so beautiful, baby. You were magnificent back there. I’m so proud of you.”

Her heart soared and she felt like crying.. “Oh, Dare...”

He kissed her tenderly.

Soon enough, the kiss deepened.

“Children, I’m here. Wait till you get to your room. Later, I should say as we are going to attend an important gala at the JW Marriot. We can’t miss this. It’s THE ultimate party. Everyone will be there, ” Kelsey reminded them.

They stopped kissing.

“Who’s hosting?” she asked Kelsey.

“Steve Goodwyn.”

Oh dear.
“The American producer?” She wanted to be sure even though she already knew.

“None other.”

“By the way, Dare, it’s curious how Steve’s secretary called me this afternoon and specifically told me that Steve wants you at this gala and for you to bring your new girlfriend.”

OMG! Dad called Uncle Steve! They already know! I’m so dead!

“With my new girlfriend?” Dare commented, amused.

“Her exact words.”

“I didn’t know Steve read the rags.”

“Me neither.”

Celine kept quiet. She was already rehearsing what to say to Steve Goodwyn.

Chapter Thirty-one

“After that Esquire interview, you went to Barbra and challenged her on a poll in her own show- to prove that women would still want to marry you despite your negative view on marriage. You won, of course but did you read what she said about you in W Magazine? She said and I quote, “We should not be angry. In fact, we should be flattered. Dare Montgomery is a huge reminder that women are indeed dominating the world. He is the most insecure, sorry excuse for manhood in Hollywood and he is hiding that behind a harem of women he thinks he’s exploiting, but he’s the one being exploited and thereby subjugated”,  end of quote. Oh my God, Dare, she IS Barbra Winters, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist! She can destroy you! Please, be mindful of what you say in public. I’m so worried about you. :(( ”