Thrill! (52 page)

Linden replied.

"Mick or Nikki should've had everyone on alert. If they'd been aware - this couldn't've been done."

"It's simply not fair,"

she whispered, her voice breaking.

"I feel so, so ... violated.''

"It's a scene from a movie, Lara,"

Linden said, trying to reassure her.

"It's certainly not you."

"Of course it's me,"

she answered vehemently, eyes flashing danger.

"You'd need a magnifying glass to read the small print that says the photos are from a movie."

Til get into damage control. We'll put a whole other spin on this story."

"How do I know they didn't release these pictures to get publicity for Revenger she asked flatly.

"You think Nikki would do that?"

"I don't know what to think any more,"

she replied, feeling totally betrayed.

"Richard was right, he said they were using me. So did Joey."

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"There's nothing you can do about it now,"

Linden said, taking the tabloid out of her hands.

"The best thing is to ignore it."

"Thanks a lot,"

she said, indignantly.

"You try ignoring it if these pictures were of you."

"I don't think anyone would pay to see me in the buff,"

he deadpanned.

"It's not funny, Linden."

"I know, I know. Honestly Lara, I understand how difficult it is for you."

No, you don't, she wanted to respond. Tou have no idea what it's like to be humiliated this way. Reduced to nothing more than tits and ass.

"OK,"

she said, dismissing him.

"Go do damage control."

He nodded.

"I'll check with you later."

When he was gone she sat down, wondering how she was going to explain it to Joey. He was at an all-day photo shoot, so hopefully no one would mention it to him. She'd tell him tonight when she'd calmed down.

Shortly after Linden left, Nikki arrived. Lara didn't take a beat.

"What in hell happened?"

she demanded coldly.

"How did these pictures get out?"

"Oh, God!"

Nikki groaned.

"You saw them."

"Saw them? I've had Quinn on the phone doing his "I told you so" number. Thank God Joey hasn't seen them yet, he'll go ballistic when he does. Richard's on his way over."

Nikki could barely contain her annoyance.

"Why?"

"Because he called and I asked him to,"

Lara answered defiantly.

"He cares about what goes on in my life, unlike some people."

Tm so sorry,"

Nikki apologized.

"I don't know how anybody could've gotten those shots."

"When I agreed to make Revenge, I expected to be protected,"

Lara said, her voice an icy blast.

"The studios always protect me. Why can't you?"

"Believe me,"

Nikki said earnestly.

"It's not my fault."

"You're the producer of Revenge, that makes the responsibility yours."

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j^-vv^JVJ.11 i^ULiLilNS

"Can't argue with that,"

Nikki said sheepishly.

"Quinn's furious. He says this could have a very negative effect on my career."

Tm sure he's overreacting."

"I understand your ambition, Nikki,"

Lara continued.

"But I didn't expect I was the one who'd end up getting used."

"Now you're being unfair."

"I'm too angry to be fair,"

Lara responded.

"I mean, how would you like to be out there in the tabloids - naked for everyone to see? I've never done nude photographs in my life, and now I find myself in this position because of your damn movie."

Richard arrived shortly after, just as Nikki was leaving the trailer. They exchanged abrupt hellos.

He hurried over to Lara, put his arms around her and held her close, breathing in her seductive scent.

"Wouldn't listen to me, would you?"

he said, hugging her tightly.

She pulled away with a helpless shrug.

"What can I say? You were right."

"If it had been my set, you can rest assured it would never have happened."

"I know,"

she said ruefully.

"This is what you get when you work with amateurs."

"I guess so,"

she replied, sitting down. -'Thanks for coming, Richard, it means a lot to me."

"Sweetheart, I have only your best interests at heart."

"I know."

"You're on my mind all the time."

He paused, gauging her mood.

"I'm sure you know the main reason Nikki and I are no longer together is because you and I still have a very special connection? A connection that can never be broken."

"Don't start, Richard"

she said, hoping he wasn't going to get too caught up in this.

"No,"

he said sharply,

"hear me out, Lara. Screwing around on you was the biggest mistake of my life. And I want you to know that if you can ever forgive me, and think about us getting back together, then I'm always here for you."

"That's very flattering,"

she said, picking up a cold mug of tea

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and sipping it anyway.

"But, Richard, I'm with somebody now. I'm very involved."

"How involved?"

"Well. . -"

She hesitated for a moment.

"Joey and I are thinking of getting married, only please keep it to yourself. No one knows."

He stared into her clear green eyes and wondered how someone so beautiful and nice could be so fucking naive.

"Are you serious?"

he said dis believingly.

She nodded.

"Very."

"Listen to me carefully, Lara,"

he said in measured tones.

"I warned you what would happen on this movie. Now I'm warning you what will happen if you marry Joey."

Why did he always have to try and run her life? Why couldn't he just be her friend?

"Richard,"

she said, attempting to remain calm,

"please don't tell me what to do, because it's really none of your business."

He began pacing.

"Did Joey ever mention Madelaine Francis?"

She shook her head.

"He used to live with her - in fact, he was with her when he met you."

He checked out her reaction. She looked surprised.

"You should talk to Madelaine,"

he added, striking fast.

"Why would I want to do that?"

she asked, her eyes two stubborn pinpoints of light.

He kept going, knowing exactly how to get to her.

"Scared of what you might find out?"

he challenged.

She stood up, wishing he'd leave.

"This is ridiculous,"

she said impatiently.

"Do it for me, sweetheart,"

he said, using his best powers of persuasion.

"Meet the woman, if only for a few minutes."

"There's no reason'

"For old times, Lara."

"Oh, all right,"

she said, agreeing reluctantly, her curiosity aroused.

"But I can assure you, it won't make any difference."

He smiled to himself. Wanna bet?

"She's in my car,"

he said. Til go fetch her."

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^^4^_Jfl GREG GORMAN was a master photographer with ^^4)10^** several coffee-table books full of photos of stars. Joey was impressed. And the good thing was that Greg liked him, encouraged him to shine. So there he was in Greg's Beverly Boulevard studio, centre stage, under the lights, the camera clicking away, and Toni Braxton belting out a sexy love song on the stereo.

Joey got off on being the centre of attention. Getting primped and fussed over was his idea of a good time. And the good news was he hadn't even had to pay for the session, because Lara had spoken to an executive at Orpheus Studios - the studio responsible for The Dreamer - and gotten them to pay for it.

Greg stopped to change film, and the make-up person, hairdresser and stylist all descended on Joey at once.

This is how it should be, he reflected. Me - on a star trip. It's about time.

He grinned and stretched. He had a career. He had a fantastic woman he planned to marry. After all the shit, things were finally turning his way.

# # "ft

Richard ushered Madelaine into Lara's trailer. She was sitting on the banquette seating, tapping her fingers impatiently on a plastic table.

"Hi,"

she said, a little cold and a little tense.

"Hi, honey,"

Richard said warmly.

"Say hello to Madelaine Francis."

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Lara nodded brusquely.

Madelaine stared at the beautiful actress. She was even more gorgeous in the flesh than on the screen.

Richard edged toward the door.

"Why don't I leave you two alone,"

he suggested.

"Fine,"

Lara replied, wondering why she'd agreed to do this. Oh yes, she knew - Richard and his persuasive ways had struck again.

As soon as he was gone, she shifted uncomfortably.

"I feel most awkward about this,"

she said.

"So do I,"

Madelaine agreed.

"It's Richard's idea,"

she added.

"And quite frankly, if you have anything to say about Joey, I think he should be here to listen."

"Wouldn't bother me,"

Madelaine said, sitting down.

"In fact, he should be here."

"Richard doesn't like Joey,"

Lara stated with a weary sigh.

"He's busy digging for dirt."

"Perhaps he's trying to protect you."

"From what?"

she answered sharply, appalled at the woman's nerve.

"Just a thought,"

Madelaine murmured.

"Anyway, how do you fit into this?"

Lara asked, her tone abrupt.

"Did you know Joey's fiancee?"

"Why does everyone keep mentioning a fiancee?"

Madelaine said, irritably.

"When I got him the part in The Dreamer, he was living with me?

"You?"

Lara said, hardly able to conceal her surprise. The woman was old enough to be his mother.

"When Joey and I met, he was engaged to a girl called Phillipa. Are you Phillipa?"

"No,"

Madelaine said, adding a dry

"And I'm not a girl, as you've probably noticed."

"I didn't mean'

"Look, Miss Ivory,"

Madelaine said brusquely,

"Joey Lorenzo and I were lovers until he met you. After that, it appears I was no longer useful."

Lara took a long deep breath. Why is this happening to me? she thought. Why?

371 Because you're an ugly little slut and. you don't deserve any happiness.

Her father's words came back to haunt her. So harsh. So unforgettable.

"Did Richard put you up to this?"

she asked at last.

"Not at all,"

Madelaine said.

"I've been an agent for twenty-five years, I have an impeccable reputation. You can ask anyone about me."

She began searching in her purse for a cigarette.

"Mind if I smoke?"

"Go ahead,"

Lara said flatly.

"Unfortunately, several years ago I foolishly got involved with Joey,"

Madelaine said, lighting up.

"We were together almost a year, then he took off for six years. I have no idea where he went. When he returned, he moved back into my apartment."

She dragged deeply on her cigarette.

"And this is something I didn't tell your ex

- when Joey left the first time, he stole seven thousand dollars of my money."

Lara felt a queasy sensation in the pit of her stomach. Instinct told her this woman was speaking the truth.

"What about Phillipa?"

she asked in a strained voice.

"There is no Phillipa,"

Madelaine said, waving her cigarette in the air.

"He made her up. Joey has a very lively imagination."

"Why . . . why would he do that?"

Lara stammered.

"Who knows with Joey? I can only assume he didn't want to tell you about me."

"He could have,"

Lara said bravely.

"There's nothing wrong with living with an older woman'

"Be realistic, dear,"

Madelaine interrupted.

"He was with me for what I could do for him. The ungrateful bastard stole my money, and I let him get away with it. If you'd found that out, you might have regarded him differently."

Lara got up and began wandering aimlessly around the trailer.

"What else do you know about him?"

she asked.

"Not very much. Joey was always secretive about his background - didn't want me prying."

Lara remembered the number she'd called in New York Phillipa's number. If it was the same as Madelaine's that definitely

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meant she was telling the truth. She asked Madelaine for her home number, then buzzed Cassie and had her check it with the call sheet from The Dreamer.

It was the same number.

She turned back to Madelaine.