"Nothin' happened, kid. I faced up to reality." They made it into the party five minutes before Venus Maria arrived and settled by the bar.
Lucky was a born voyeur. She loved watching the action as the stars jostled for position.
"Isn't this fun?" she whispered to Gino as Al King walked by. , "About as much fun as root canal in a heat wave."
"Surprise!" The yel went up.
Venus Maria snatched off her blindfold and gasped. "I don't believe this! Who arranged it?"
"Who do you think?" said a proud Ron by her side. "Oh, my God! What a wonderful surprise. Everybody's here!"
"Natural y, my princess. And you should see the presents.
Oh, are we going to have fun opening them!"
"Thank you, Ron." She turned and kissed him. "You're the best friend a girl could possibly have." "I've got another birthday present for you. It's a fab outfit. You might want to change," Ron suggested. Rueful y she glanced down at her ripped jeans and oversize jacket. "Shit! Cooper--why didn't you tel me?"
"Come along, sweet. I'l take you up to my bedroom."
"Oooh, Ron," she joked. "You real y know how to turn a girl on."
They walked upstairs to Ron's bedroom, receiving a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" on the way. Standing in the middle of the room waiting for her was Martin. She stopped short.
"Surprise, surprise!" said Ron, delighted. "Just the way we planned it."
"Happy birthday," said Martin.
She smiled. "Are you my gift?"
"One of them," interrupted Ron. "Now I'l leave you two alone. But only for a minute. Hurry up and join the party.
Here's another present." He indicated a large gift-wrapped box on the bed.
"Thank you, Ron."
"My pleasure."
He left them alone together.
Venus Maria sauntered slowly over to Martin, entwined her hands around his neck, pressed her body against his, and gave him a long, deep soul kiss. "Mmmmm," she said.
"Welcome back."
They kissed for a few moments, then Venus asked him in a breathy voice--reminiscent of the early Marilyn Monroe--
"Have you missed me?"
"Oh, yes," he said.
"Prove it," she said.
He thrust himself toward her. "Here's your proof." She laughed softly. "Oooh, Martin, you've real y been saving up."
And then she slid to her knees, unzipped his pants, and before he knew what was happening, had him in her mouth.
That was what he liked about Venus . Maria. It was her birthday, and he got the present.
Downstairs Ron caught Antonio and Ken in deep conversation. He hurried over and possessively grabbed Ken's arm.
"Antonio says my photos came out great," Ken said enthusiastical y. "It's going to be a big career boost to be in photographs with Venus Maria. Don't you agree?"
Ron sighed. Why did he always have to find the ambitious ones? Wouldn't it be nice if Ken was happy to stay home and just look handsome.
"Very nice," he said resolutely.
Ken leaned anxiously toward Antonio. "When can I see them?" he asked. "I can't wait."
"Tomorrow. You come to my studio," Antonio said, shooting Ron a triumphant look. "My house is my studio. We have a light lunch and I show you the pictures."
"Great," said Ken.
Ha! Ron thought, glaring at Antonio. Why don't you unzip your pants and show it to him now?
Madame Loretta's girls mingled easily. They were certainly among the most beautiful women in the room. Madame Loretta had an eye. She picked them fresh off the train or plane. They came to Hol ywood to be stars. A little hooking on the way did nothing to harm their careers.
Madame Loretta's stable was famous. Several of her girls had already married movie stars and producers, and another was engaged to an Arab bil ionaire. It gave her a great sense of satisfaction.
Leslie was certainly one of the most special girls she'd ever had, and she wanted to. see her wel looked after.
Tonight Leslie was paired with Tom, one of Ken's male model friends. They'd been told to circulate and charm everyone in sight.
"Are you getting paid for this?" Tom asked.
"Why would I be getting paid?" Leslie replied defensively.
"There's a rumor going around that some of the girls here are--look, I'm not saying you are, but some of the girls work for Madame Loretta."
"There's also a rumor that some of the guys are gay,"
Leslie retorted. "Are you gay?"
Tom blushed. "I'm an actor."
"Are you trying to say there's no gay actors?" "I'm bisexual,"
he explained.
"I guess that covers a multitude of sins," she murmured.
When Venus reappeared with Martin by her side, a buzz traveled around the room. She'd transformed herself from a waif in blue jeans into the Venus Maria everyone knew and loved--the sexy, strutting, outrageous video queen.
Chal enging, vampy, unafraid. Now she had on her birthday present from Ron, a Jean-Paul Gaultier tunic dress, over which she wore a jeweled vest, and on her wrists, several red-and-blackenameled bangles.
"Everyone's staring at us," she whispered to Martin. "I guess they're surprised to see you."
"No photographs," he warned.
"Don't be so paranoid. Ron wouldn't al ow photographers at a party like this."
A waiter handed them champagne. Martin squeezed her hand. "I'm here to stay."
She sipped the champagne and wrinkled her nose.
"Real y?"
"It's what you want, isn't it?"
She smiled. "Oh, yes, Martin. It's what I want. It real y is."
But even as she said it, she knew she wasn't sure.
Chapter 100
"Are we having fun?" Cooper asked dryly.
Lucky smiled at him. "I always make the best of everything.
It's an interesting party."
"If you like parties," Cooper said restlessly. "And you don't?"
"I'd sooner be home in bed reading a good book." "From what I hear, the last thing you do in your bedroom is read a good book."
He gave her a perplexed look. "Why is it that everyone thinks I'm this insatiable stud?"
"Because you are!", "You know that for a fact, do you?"
"I've read plenty about you."
"And you believe everything you read, of course?" She grinned. "Natural y. Don't you?"
He moved on. "How come I never see you with your husband? Where is Lennie anyway?"
"He's in Europe right now."
"What do you two have? One of those marriages where he goes his way and you go yours?"
"It's real y none of your business."
"I see. It's perfectly O. K. for you to discuss my love life--but when it comes to yours, hands off, right?"
She sighed. "Right now we're having a . . . problem or two."
That's al Cooper needed to hear. He'd been attracted to Lucky from the first time he'd seen her. "I'm very good at solving problems. It's my specialty."
"I'm sure it is. But I can solve my own, thank you."
They locked eyes. If it wasn't for Lennie, she would find Cooper Turner irresistibly attractive, in spite of his lethal reputation.
So what? In her time she'd had a reputation too. "You're a very intriguing woman," Cooper said, refusing to break the stare.
Lucky did it for him. "Tel me," she said, "do you have a generic line? Or do you come up with something new for every occasion?"
Gino was over at the bar getting a refil .
"Hel o, Gino."
He turned around and discovered himself facing Paige.
"Hey--what're you doin' here?"
"The same as you. Having a lousy time."
"Are you with Ryder?"
"No."
He noticed she was not wearing her wedding ring, and he began to wonder. "Who are you with?"
She put a perfectly manicured hand over his. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you, Gino."
He
could smel her musky scent. "Yeah?"
"Did you keep that ring?"
"What ring?"
She rol ed her eyes. " 'What ring?' he says. The big diamond ring, remember? The one you handed me when you asked me to leave Ryder."
He took a slug of scotch. She was making him hot. "No, I took it back. Why do you wanna know?" "Pity," she said quietly.
"What's goin' on here, Paige?"
She licked her ful lips. "What do you think?" "I got a feeling you're--"
She finished the sentence for him. "Ready to go home with you, Gino."
"Permanently?"
"Yes."
He burst out laughing. "About time!"
"Martin, perhaps I can get a quote from you." Martin recoiled in horror. What the hel was Adam Bobo Grant doing here? Ron had said there was to be no press, absolutely none.
"Good evening, Bobo," he said amiably, smart enough not to let his displeasure show.
"I'm so very sorry to hear about you and Deena," Bobo gushed, placing a sympathetic hand on his arm. "But what must be must be."
Martin glanced around the room, desperately searching for Ron. When he found him, he was going to strangle him. If Bobo wrote anything about tonight, Deena would try to take everything he had.
Hovering near the fireplace, Mickey and Abigaile came face to face.
"You're disgusting," Mickey hissed.
"I'm disgusting," Abigaile replied. "What about you and that
. . . that whore?"
"It's better than being with a hairdresser. He's younger than you. How can you put yourself in this ridiculous position?"
"Don't tel me what to do, Mickey Stol i. You walked out, and when you walked, you closed the door behind you. My life is my own now."
"I want to walk back in again," Mickey blurted, surprising himself.
"You do?"
"Yes, I do. How about it, Abby?"
fried chicken, barbecued spareribs, pan-fried potatoes, creamed corn, hot, crusty garlic bread, and huge salads.
"Al my favorite foods!" Venus Maria said excitedly. "Ron, you real y pul ed out al the stops. I'm so happy. This is a sensational evening. How did you ever keep it a secret?"
"It wasn't easy," he replied. "But you're worth it." She sat between Ron and Martin, reveling in al the attention.
Nobody had ever thrown her a birthday party before, and she was touched.
Lucky came over and sat down with a plate piled high with food. "Soul food--my favorite," she said. Venus Maria grinned. "Mine too. By the way, have you met Martin Swanson?"
Lucky extended her hand. He returned her firm grip with a limp handshake. Hmmm. When she was at school, the girls used to joke about guys with limp handshakes. Limp handshake, limp dick, they'd al said. If it was true, what was Venus Maria doing with him?
Lucky kept her thoughts in check. "I've heard lots about you," she said.
"I knew your late husband," Martin replied. "Dimitri was an interesting man."
"Did you ever do business with him?" she asked. "We talked, but never got around to it."
"Just as wel . Dimitri was a kil er."
Martin raised an eyebrow. "I'm not exactly a pussycat."
"I didn't say you were, but Dimitri was a real kil er in business."
"I understand we're going head to head," Martin remarked.
"What do you mean?"
"You've bought Panther. I'm taking over Orpheus. In fact, Mickey Stol i is going to run it for me."
"If you ever get rid of Zeppo."
"Oh, I'l get rid of him." He waited a beat. `-`You must be sorry to lose Mickey."
"Yes," she said sadly. "We'l real y miss him at Panther."
"And I expect you'l be even sorrier to lose Venus."
"Who said she's losing me?" Venus interrupted. "We haven't discussed it yet," Martin said smoothly, "but I have wonderful plans for you at Orpheus."
"I'm very happy at Panther," Venus replied, waving to Angel and Buddy Hudson. "Lucky has had Bombshel rewritten for me. And Strut is terrific. Wait until you see it. I'm not moving anywhere."
Martin smiled politely. "Now is not the time to discuss it," he said. "I'l tel you what we have planned for you at another time."
Venus began to back up. "Martin, I don't care what you've got planned. I'm with Panther, period. O. K.?" He didn't pursue the subject. Once he got Venus Maria alone, he would educate her on the facts of life. If they were to be married, she would be an Orpheus star. No argument.
A waiter tapped Lucky on the shoulder. "Miz Santangelo?"
"Yes?"
"I have a message from your father."
She accepted a scrawled note from Gino.
You're on your own, kid. Paige and I have gone off to the Beverly Wilshire. Don't hold your breath. Maybe I'l be back tomorrow! P. S. You were right. I'm not as old as I thought!
The cake was tremendous--so big it had to be wheeled in on its own special trol ey.
As Venus blew out the candles, a naked boy burst through the top.
"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed. "Just what I always wanted!"
Hundreds of bal oons fel from the ceiling as twenty Brazilian dancers formed a conga line through the loom.
Venus turned to Ron. "This is real y amazing," she said, hugging him.
"A party to remember," he replied. "From one old friend to another."
They looked at each other, remembering the early days.
"Thanks, Ron," she said warmly. "I love you so much."
And nobody noticed the man cal ed Link slip in among the guests.
Chapter 101
For al our sakes we should hope that day never comes.
Deena thought about her words to Steven Berkeley and Jerry Myerson. How many months ago had she said them?
And deep down, had she ever imagined that the day would come?
Probably not. But it was here, and Deena didn't shirk the task that lay ahead of her.
She sat in the Ford outside Venus Maria's house, parked a few yards away. She knew the house was empty except for the housekeeper, who slept in the back. And she also knew what kind of alarm system there was, where the beams were located, and exactly what it took to trigger it off. The information she'd paid for had been very thorough.
Venus Maria. The girl's image danced in front of her eyes.
A tramp. A little tramp. A bitch. The Bitch. What did Martin see in her? He didn't love her--she merely represented sex.
And Deena knew she had to save him from Venus Maria's venal clutches. When The Bitch arrived home, she was going to take care of the problem forever. And nobody would ever suspect her. Deena was far too smart for that.
Besides, as far as everyone was concerned, she was asleep in her room at the health spa in Palm Springs. How could they possibly track her to Los Angeles?
Deena al owed her mind to drift back in time. Fourteen . . .
she'd been fourteen when she'd caught her father in bed with another woman. . . .
Deena Akveld was a coltish-looking girl. She had a serious, pale face, long, red hair, and lived for the weekends she spent with her father. The two of them weekends she spent with her father. The two of them always went off together. Her father liked to hunt and fish, and since Deena was an only child, and he'd never had a son, Rione Akveld took her everywhere with him. She could run like a boy. She could fish like a boy. She could shoot like a boy. Her father was proud of her.
Deena had even remained flat-chested. Quite a feat, when al the girls around her were sprouting breasts. She was proud of the fact that she was as strong and surefooted as any boy.
Rione Akveld ran a smal inn outside Amsterdam. It was a kickoff point for people who desired to go hunting and fishing. He gave his guests room and board, and supplied them with camping facilities.
When she wasn't in school, Deena helped around the inn.
She made beds, did washing up and light cleaning. It was not hard work. And as long as she had the weekends with her father to look forward to, she was perf
ectly content.
On this particular weekend she'd been fourteen for just a month.
Her mother, who worked during the week as a translator. at the American Embassy, arrived home tired. "You can't go with your father today," she said. "You're to stay here and help me."
Deena was crushed. It was a Sunday, their best day together. "But Daddy expects me to join him," she cried.
"Not today," her mother repeated. "You wil help me. There is plenty to do here."
Deena was furious, but as the day progressed her mother began to feel a little better, and seeing that her daughter was so upset, she final y gave permission for Deena to join her father in their one-room hunting lodge an hour away.
Deena thanked her mother, kissed her, hopped on her bicycle and set off. She had several new jokes to tel her father. She'd heard them at school the previous week and remembered them for him. It was so nice when they were out in his boat, the sun shining and the breeze blowing--just the two of them alone together.
Deena was happy. Whistling to herself, she rode her bicycle as fast as she could.
When she arrived at the lodge she was delighted to see her father's smal black car parked outside. Good. He wasn't down at the lake without her.
She entered happily, ready to surprise him.
He was surprised, al right. He was naked in the center of the bed, crouched over, his bare behind rutting up and down like a wild pig, and he was making horrible groaning noises.
For a moment Deena didn't understand. What was the matter with him? Was he sick?
And then she saw the woman spread out under him. A naked woman with huge breasts and a massive amount of pubic hair, her mouth wide open, making little sighing noises. "Oh, I love it. Give me more--more--more!"
Deena was perfectly calm. She picked up her father's hunting rifle, which was propped next to the door.
Her father seemed to sense her presence, and moved off the woman just in time.
Deena fired the gun.
A bul et smashed into the woman's chest, kil ing her instantly. Deena scored a direct hit, just as her father had taught her.
"Oh, Jesus!" her father screamed, rushing toward her and knocking the rifle out of her grip. "What have you done?
What in God's name have you done?"
Deena stared at him blankly. It had al happened so fast she wasn't sure what she'd done. "You kil ed her! You kil ed her!" her father yel ed.