Thrill! (37 page)

Now that he was in the movie, Joey decided it might be a smart move to charm Nikki. He went over to her.

"I owe you a big thank you,"

he said.

"I know you had a lot t'do with gettin"

me this gig."

"Thank Lara, not me,"

she replied, a touch snippy.

"Oh, I will."

"Make sure you do,"

she said, heading for the coffee maker.

He fell into step behind her.

"You two are good friends, huh?"

"We certainly are."

"That's great. Friendships are important."

Nikki stopped, regarding him for a long silent moment. What did he want? Her approval? Obyiously.

"A lot of people love Lara very much, including me and Richard,"

she said at last.

"So, Joey, you should know that if you ever hurt her'

"Hey,"

he interrupted,

"I may be new in her life, but I love and respect Lara, I always will."

Nikki nodded and walked away.

She wasn't easy, but Joey figured he'd better persevere - as Lara's best friend he needed her on his side.

257 Lara took her place at the head of the big conference table, motioning Joey to sit beside her. He did so.

Mick stood up, waving his gangly arms in the air. He then made an impassioned speech.

Nikki was impressed. A good director had to be a powerful leader, and with all his foibles Mick seemed to be just that.

Aiden Sean arrived late, clad in grungy jeans, a wrinkled Tshirt, and a black baseball cap emblazoned with a scarlet Eat my sorrow. Dark shades covered his eyes.

"Glad you could make it,"

Nikki said coolly as he passed her chair.

He lowered his shades, peering at her over the top.

"Don't worry

"bout me,"

he mumbled.

"You got problems closer to home."

She frowned. Could he possibly know that she and Richard weren't getting along?

"What do you mean by thatT

"Forget it,"

he said, slouching over to a chair at the end of the table.

The reading began.

Joey got off on the way Lara handled herself. As she read Rebecca, the schoolteacher, so she became the character. It was almost as if her glowing beauty slipped away and she was the plain, timid woman.

Twenty pages into the script came the rape scene. Lara handled it like the true professional she was. And Joey did well with the few scenes he had.

The script was extremely powerful - a real tour de force for Lara. At the end of the reading she was emotionally drained.

Mick rushed over, kissing her full on the mouth.

"You're the greatest,"

he said, beaming and twitching.

"Never thought you could make it work this good, but lady - you're fanfuckingtastic!"

She was happy that she'd done the words justice.

"Thanks, Mick,"

she said shyly, thinking how she couldn't wait to go home and be with Joey, snuggled in the safety of his arms.

Nikki hugged her, unable to stay mad.

"I'm so happy,"

she said excitedly.

"You're so much more than just a movie star, and it's about time people realized it. This movie will finally bring you the recognition you deserve."

258

"I'll do my best,"

Lara said modestly.

"Your best is amazing!"

Nikki replied, laughing.

They hugged each other again.

"I'm sorry if I've been on your case,"

Nikki continued.

"I realize that if you like Joey, he must be an OK guy. And he did fine today. He's actually very good."

"I didn't mean to force you to hire him,"

Lara said.

"It's only that how often does someone come along who's special? And if Joey wasn't working, he'd have to go back to New York, then you'd be stuck with one miserable actress."

"It all worked out,"

Nikki said cheerfully.

"Now - the big question. Are you comfortable with Mick?"

"He's no Richard, but I'm sure we'll get along."

"I feel so much better about everything today,"

Nikki exclaimed.

"Even Aiden's cutting it."

"Did you know that Richard called me?"

"What did he want? To complain about Joey?"

"He asked me to lunch tomorrow. Will you come?"

"I can't, too busy."

"You don't mind?"

Nikki laughed.

"You and Richard having lunch? Oh yeah, I'm really bent out of shape. Although it would've been nice if he'd invited me too."

"He's your husband."

"Yeah, lucky me,"

Nikki said, grinning ruefully.

"Is everything OK?"

Lara asked, picking up bad vibrations.

"Sure,"

Nikki replied, determined not to throw her troubles in Lara's lap.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"If you want to talk . . ."

"Yeah, yeah, I know - you've been there, done that. Thanks, anyway."

Lara glanced around, searching for Joey. He was over the other side of the room talking to a young production assistant with long curly hair and a spectacular body. She felt a tingle of jealousy. Ridiculous! She'd never been jealous before. Joey had her emotions completely out of control.

"How's it working out with Summer?"

she asked, forcing herself to turn back to Nikki.

259 "Considering I hardly ever see her, I guess it's fine,"

Nikki said.

"I decided rather than nag her to death, I'd allow her plenty of freedom. She wants to move here."

"Is that such a good idea?"

Lara asked gently.

"This is a tough town for a teenager to be loose in."

"I know,"

Nikki said with a deep sigh.

"But right now I haven't got time to play mother."

"Perhaps you should send her back to Chicago until you finish the movie."

"You're right, that's exactly what I should do. I'll call Sheldon tomorrow."

"She shouldn't be running around by herself."

Nikki frowned.

"Did Summer tell you something I should hear about?"

"No, it's just that I remember when I first came to LA I was only nineteen, and believe me - I know how the sleazy guys in this town hit on young girls."

"Ah yes,"

Nikki said, with a smile.

"But I'm sure you handled it with your usual indomitable style."

Lara's eyes clouded over. If Nikki only knew, she thought.

She glanced in Joey's direction again. He was on his way toward her. Grabbing her arm, he smiled broadly.

"Isn't she the greatest?"

he said to Nikki.

"This woman is amazin'!"

"'I've always thought so."

He drew Lara close to him, his hand creeping down and squeezing her ass.

"My star. My baby. You're the best!"

Hmm, Nikki thought. He wants everyone to know he has power of ownership.

Lara didn't seem to mind; in fact, from the way she gazed up at him, Joey could do whatever he wanted and get away with it.

"Why don't we leave one of the cars here and go home together?"

he suggested.

"Send Mr and Mrs C. to pick it up."

"I can't make them drive all the way to the Valley,"

Lara objected.

"Why not? They work for you."

"Yes, but. . ."

"OK, settled. We're takin"

the Jag."

260

"I guess you're taking the Jag,"

Nikki said drily.

"I guess we are,"

Lara replied, perfectly happy to let Joey take

charge.

In the parking structure, Lara got into the passenger seat of the Taeuar, while Joey sat behind the wheel. He leaned over and kissed her.

"I'm so proud of you,"

he said.

"Whenever I look at you, an"

realize you're mine, I can hardly believe it."

"How about you?"

she said, smiling.

"I'm proud too. You were

great."

"C'mon, I've hardly got anythin"

to do."

"What you did have was very impressive."

"Flattery will get you the key to my dick!"

Til have it gold-plated,"

she deadpanned.

"Show off'

They both laughed as he steered the car out into the street.

"Y'know, I was thinking,"

he said.

"After this movie's finished, we should take off-go to Bali, Tahiti, somewhere exotic."

Tm always too busy working."

"I bet you've been everywhere, huh?"

"The only places I get to see are locations."

"You wanna do it, then?"

Til check my schedule."

"Lara,"

he said, looking at her quizzically,

"tell the truth - before me, didja do everythin'by schedule?"

"As a matter of fact, yes,"

she admitted sheepishly.

"Then as soon as you finish the movie, we're tearin"

up your schedule,

"cause from now on it's a whole new life."

She smiled contentedly.

"Whatever you say, Joey."

# # #

ummer met Tina at an outdoor restaurant on Sunset Plaza Drive, ma was sitting with an attractive older woman who Summer reckoned was about the same age as her mother.

"Meet Darlene,"

Tina said, introducing them.

"Darlene's cool. Reorganizes things."

Hi, Summer,"

Darlene said with a pleasant smile. Her hair was

261 dark blond and upswept, and her teeth white and even. She was expensively dressed in Chanel, and real diamonds glittered on her ears and fingers.

"Hi,"

Summer responded, quite impressed with this woman's obyious sophistication.

"Sit down, dear,"

Darlene said.

She sat in a chair next to Tina, noticing Darlene's perfect manicure and blood-red inch-long nails.

"Well, Summer,"

Darlene said,

"I understand you might be interested in working for me."

Summer glanced at Tina, who nodded reassuringly.

"It's what we talked about,"

Tina reminded her.

"Y'know - the movie star thing."

"Oh,"

Summer said.

"Uh . . . yes."

"It so happens,"

Darlene said smoothly,

"that there's an extremely handsome young movie star who'd love to meet you."

Talk about things moving fast!

"There is?"

"Are you interested?"

She had absolutely nothing to lose, and money and freedom to gain.

"Sure,"

she said quickly.

Darlene licked her generous lips.

"How does five hundred dollars in cash sound to you?"

Summer couldn't believe this was happening to her.

"Uh . . . amazing,"

she managed.

"Just one thing,"

Darlene said.

"You're not a virgin, are you? You do know how to look after yourself?"

No, I am not a, virgin on account of the fnet that my dear daddy has been screwing me since I was ten.

"Yes, I know how to look after myself,"

she said, thinking that a condom and a joint would get her through any tricky situation.

"Tomorrow night,"

Darlene said, getting up from the table.

"I'll set it up. Tina will give you the details."

She nodded approvingly at Tina.

"You were right, dear. Summer's quite lovely."

And with that she walked over to a chaufFeured Mercedes waiting kerbside, got inside, and the car slid off.

"Wow!"

Summer exclaimed.

"Who is she?"

"Isn't she great?"

Tina said admiringly.

"I want to be her one day. You should see her house!"

262

"Where did you meet her?"

Summer asked, swiping a slice of pizza from Tina's plate.

"Around,"

Tina said vaguely.

"I was doing a modelling job and one of the other models introduced us. Darlene's primo. I've made tons of money with her. You can, too, only whatever you do, don't tell her you're only fifteen - I said you're seventeen. Remember that."

"I knowj she said. What kind of idiot did Tina take her for?

"And keep this to yourself,"

Tina warned.

"No telling Jed or any of the others. This is our secret."

Tm good at keeping secrets."

"Knew I could trust you."

And Summer beckoned the waiter and ordered a whole pizza for herself, because soon she was going to be rich.

263

^^^_^Jfb RICHARD SNAPPED his fingers at the wine waiter ^^^PH^A and requested a bottle of Chardonnay.

"I'm not drinking,"

Lara said, already wishing she hadn't agreed to lunch with him.

"Come on, sweetheart,"

he said persuasively.

"For old times"

sake."

"Old times"

sake?"

she said, irritated.

"I thought the purpose of this lunch was that you wanted to talk to me about Joey."