Jackie Collins, page 65
EVERYTHING. Oh, yes, Annie would love that. She'd finally be the
center of attention. Maybe it would even kick-start her acting
career.
He knew he wasn't being fair, it wasn't Annie's fault she was a pain in
the ass. It was just that the guilt of what they'd done in Vegas
weighed heavily on all of them.
He padded barefoot and naked into the kitchen. There was nothing in
the fridge except champagne and -Up. He opened the cabinet and found a
can of orange juice. Then he picked up the phone and called home.
Annie answered with a terse "Yes?"
"It's me.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at a friend's."
"Oh?" she said icily. "And what friend is that?"
"Don't question me, Annie," he warned.
"Then don't treat me like a fool. You're with a woman, aren't you?"
"Hey-wherever I am and whoever I'm with, I'm letting you know I'm okay
and I'll be home later."
"Maybe you shouldn't bother coming home."
"Is that a threat, Annie?"
"I don't appreciate being treated like nothing."
"We gotta talk," he said.
"Maybe I should have talked a few years ago.
He knew exactly what she meant and it was time they got it out in the
open, but not now, not on the telephone. "I'll be home later," he
said.
She slammed the phone down.
He took a deep breath. There was no way she was going to ruin his
day.
Swigging orange juice from the can he realized it was the first morning
in a long time that he hadn't wanted to add vodka to it.
Back in the bedroom Lauren was still asleep. He sat on the bed and
stared at her. She was naked, covered only by a thin silk sheet. Her
skin was smooth and white and very soft. He ran his fingers across the
tips of her breasts. She sighed and made little groaning noises.
Slowly she opened her eyes. "I thought this was all a dream," she
murmured, stretching luxuriously.
"We actually got to spend the night together," he said. "First time we
did that."
She sat up, hugging the shet to her chest. "Oh, God! I missed my
plane.
"I love you," he said, stroking her arm.
She tried to sound firm. "Nick, this is hopeless."
"What's hopeless? I'll speak to Annie, you'll talk to Oliver. We'll
work it out, Lauren. We've waited long enough."
She sighed. "You make it all sound so easy."
"It can be easy, if it's what we both want."
"I'm not so sure.
"You're wrong.
"It's more complicated than you think, Nick. We're not two unknown
people. The press will be after us, watching our every move.
Everything we do will be public knowledge."
"So what else is new?"
"It's not just you-now you have a child to consider. What about
her?"
"Trust me, Lauren. We'll work it out."
She sighed again, completely hooked-he had some kind of hypnotic power
over her. She was too weak to resist, and what's more, she didn't want
to. His love embraced her and she wanted more.
"If you say so, she murmured.
"I say so," he said, cradling her in his arms and kissing her very very
slowly. "I want you to know that last night was the most incredible
night of my life. And you are the most incredible woman."
"Last night I should have been on a plane," she said ruefully.
"But you weren't. You were in bed with me where you belongand you have
to admit it was the greatest."
Why was it that every time she was with him her heart started to race
and her body tingled? Yes, he was right, it was the greatest and she
couldn't deny it. Together they had something very special.
They continued to kiss, slowly at first, but more heatedly as his hands
began to explore her body.
She craved his touch. He electrified her. Sex with Lorenzo had been
pleasurable. Sex with Nick was beyond anything she'd ever known. He
took her to new heights and then back again.
Eventually they made love fast and passionately. He teased hertaking
her almost there and then making her wait until she begged for more.
"Tell me what I want to hear," he said urgently. "Tell me-I want to
hear you say it."
She couldn't stop herselœ "I love you, Nick. I always have."
It was noon before they even thought about getting dressed.
"I've got to go," she said, reaching for her clothes.
"Why?"
"Because I have to get back."
"Do you want to?"
She touched his chin. "Silly question."
Before he could convince her not to, she called the airline and booked
another flight.
"We'll stop by your hotel, pick up your bags and I'll drive you to the
airport," he said. "Maybe I should come with you.
"Oh? You'll sit there while I tell Oliver? That'll be very
helpful."
"You're right," he agreed. "I'll take care of things here, and we'll
talk tomorrow. It won't be like last time."
"No?"
"We're going to be together."
"Do you think so?"
He bent to kiss her again. "I know so.
She flew back to New York filled with confusion. The last forty-eight
hours seemed like a dream. She'd come out to California so full of
confidence, knowing she could handle any situation, especially Nick
Angel.
But no, it was not to be. Once she was with him all her resolve
failed, and having spent the night in his arms she knew there was no
going back. It was time to tell Oliver their marriage was over. And
when she was free, if Nick was able to extricate himself from his
marriage, they would be together. It was truly their destiny.
Halfway to New York she realized she hadn't called anyone to tell them
she was arriving a day late. Knowing Oliver, he'd be too busy to
notice, but Lorenzo was probably furious she'd missed their meeting.
She'd called her driver from LAX and told him to be at the airport.
Her plan was to go straight to the office, reschedule her meeting with
Lorenzo and then tell Oliver they had to talk.
It was raining in New York, the skies were black and heavy with
thunder.
"Pia Liberty would like you to phone her as soon as you arrive," her
driver informed her.
She picked up the car phone. "Hi, Pia. I'm back."
Pia sounded distraught. "Oh, Lauren, thank God! I've been trying to
reach you."
"What's the matter?" she asked anxiously.
"It's Oliver. Last night he had a massive heart attack."
"Oh God, no!"
"Go straight to New York Hospital, Lauren. Come quickly."
"As far as I'm concerned," Freddie Leon said, "she's got the part. You
want her, don't you?"
"Ask a stupid question . . ." said Nick.
"The studio people ran her test early this morning-they love her.
In fact they're ready to make an offer." He paused. "And guess
what?"
"What?"
Freddie looked pleased with himselœ "I'll negotiate her deal."
Nick reached for a cigarette. "I've never seen you so interested in a
woman.
"Me? Interested?" Freddie said casually. "I'm a happily married
man.
"Yeah, yeah, just like all the rest of em.
"What is it between you and her, Nick?" Freddie asked curiously.
"I sense there's more to this."
"I told you," Nick replied, speaking slowly. "We're old friends."
"So if I was interested . .
"Forget it," he said sharply.
Freddie nodded knowingly. "That's what I thought."
Nick had stopped by to see Freddie on his way home because he wasn't
ready to face Annie. He had a feeling he should talk to his lawyer
first, fill him in on all the facts. But no, surely Annie wasn't going
to come up with the same old threat? And if she did-would they ever
find the body in the desert? It must have decomposed by now, nobody
would be able to identify the man. And how could they pin it on him
anyway?
When he finally got home the housekeeper handed him a note from
Annie.
"Mrs. Angel and Lissa have gone away for a few days," she informed
him.
"Where to?" he asked, aggravated.
"Mrs. Angel didn't say."
He was pissed. Annie had known he wanted to talk to her, she'd d6the
this purposely. And how dare she take Lissa without telling him where
they were going.
Angrily he walked into his study, threw himself into the leather chair
behind his desk and ripped open her letter.
Dear Nick, I refuse to be humiliated in this fashion. It is common
knowledge in Hollywood that you sleep with whores. I do not intend to
be made a laughing stock. If your behavior continues, I will take
Lissa and you will never see your child again.
You should also remember the information I have. Information that has
been a burden for me to keep all these years and would be a great
relief for me to reveal to the authorities.
I like being Mrs. Angel and I plan to remain Mrs. Angel, so I suggest
that if you continue to whore around you be more discreet. Remember
what is at stake.
Your loving wife, Annie He read the letter twice and couldn't believe
it. Bitch! Blackmailing bitch! She wasn't going to quit until they
were both dead.
He picked up the phone and called his lawyer. "Kirk, I need to see
you. Can you drop by the house this afternoon?"
Kirk Hillson, like Freddie Leon, was one of the Hollywood power
elite.
As a top lawyer he had plenty of clout and knew all the right people in
all the right places. Nick had a feeling Annie was not going to be
easy to get rid of, he would need Kirk's full support-which meant there
could be no secrets. It was about time he got the Vegas thing off his
mind. All he'd done was bury a body-he hadn't murdered anyone, for
Christ's sake. The way Annie carried on you'd have thought he'd pulled
the fucking trigger.
He didn't mind paying Annie a bundle-after all, he could certainly
afford it. But there was no way he was allowing her to give him a hard
time when it came to seeing Lissa. His daughter, along with Lauren,
was the most precious thing in his life, he'd fight for her all the
way.
When Kirk arrived he told him the whole story, omitting only Cyndra's
name. It wasn't fair to involve her until he checked it with her
first.
Kirk, a sleek, well-preserved man with startling horse teeth, was
noncommittal. "It makes you an accessory," he remarked, sipping a
glass of unchilled Evian.
"I know," Nick agreed. "Why do you think I've stuck with Annie all
these years?"
"On the other hand, maybe she imagined the whole thing," Kirk said,
getting up and walking to the window.
"What do you mean?"
"Well-what's she going to prove? Does she know where you buried the
body? Do you know?"
"I kinda remember," Nick said hesitantly. "I think I know where I
drove to-but I can't be sure."
"By this time the evidence will be gone, believe me."
"Yeah, but is it worth taking a risk?"
Kirk glanced at his Rolex-he was late for a golf game. "With no more
proof than she has, they won't touch you. You're Nick Angel."
"Then I want out," Nick said firmly.
"Have you met someone else?" Kirk asked.
"There is someone else," Nick explained. "She's been in my life a long
time-it's just that we've never gotten together before now."
"Is she worth it?"
"She's worth anything it'll cost me."
"It would be better if there wasn't somebody else," Kirk said, admiring
his manicure. "You know what they say about a woman scorned?"
"Annie won't be scorned. She doesn't give a shit about me anyway.
All she cares about is the money and status. She's pissed my career
took off the way it did and she never made it."
"I've heard that story a hundred times," said Kirk. "But whatever you
-say she'll try to hurt you."
"I want out," Nick repeated. "It's time."
"Does she have a lawyer?" Kirk asked.
"You're her lawyer."
"I can't represent both of you. Perhaps I should recommend someone.
By the way, have you told Freddie?"
"Not yet."
"You should bring him in on this."
"You mean tell him about Vegas?"
"Not at this stage. But he should know you're planning to divorce
Annie."
"I'll tell him."
"Excellent." Kirk headed for the door. "I don't foresee any
problems.
If you're prepared to give her ninety-nine percent of your money we'll
be fine."
Nick laughed. "Jeer, lawyers' humor-just what I need."
Kirk smiled. "It'll cost you, so I hope your freedom's worth it."
"You know something, Kirk? I'd pay her every dime I had if I could be
free tomorrow."
And he meant it. Being with Lauren was the most important thing in his
life. He couldn't wait.
retha Mae had been bedridden for several weeks. Cyndra had nurses
there day and night to look after her. The doctor had recently
informed her that Aretha Mae was suffering from bronchial pneumonia and
should be in the hospital.
"No hospitals," she said firmly. "I want her at home where I can watch
her."
"She'd get better care in the hospital," the doctor pointed out.
"No," Cyndra replied, remembering what had happened to Luke.
"My mother stays here."
Marik tried to persuade her. "C'mon, baby, let them take her to the
hospital."
"No," Cyndra said flatly. "Those places kill people."
"She's dying anyway," Marik said.
"Oh, that's encouraging."
But she knew he spoke the truth. Aretha Mae did not have long to go.
Every evening at six o'clock she went into her mother's room and sat
with her. She held her hand, the frail little hand that had once
cooked greasy fries and bacon, slapped her kids, brought them up and
allowed them to survive.
"How you doin', Mama?" she whispered, leaning in close.
Aretha Mae stared up at her. "I soon be with Luke," she said.
"Soon be happy."
"Mama, I have something to ask you," Cyndra said, speaking softly.
"Yes?"
"You have to be very truthful with me. You must promise."
"Tell me, girl. What is it?"
"Who's my real father?"
Aretha Mae looked up at her with sunken eyes and was silent for a long
while. "Benjamin Browning-he be your father," she said at last.
