A Stranger in the Mirror (22 page)

207

They made love all night and talked and laughed, and it was as though they had belonged together always. If Toby had thought he cared for Jill before, he was insane about her now. They lay in bed, and he held her ia his arms protectively, and he thought wonderingly. This is what love is. He turned to gaze at her. She looked warm and disheveled and breathtakingly beautiful, and he had never loved anyone so much. He said, "I want to marry"you." } It was the most natural thing in the world. She hugged him tightly and said, "Oh, yes, Toby." She loved him and she was going to many him. And it was not until hours later that Jill remembered why all this had started in the first place. She had wanted Toby's power. She had wanted to pay back all the people who had used her, hurt her, degraded her. She had wanted vengeance. Now she was going to have it.

208 27

Clifton Lawrence was in trouble. In a way, he supposed, it was his own fault for letting things get this far. He was seated at Toby's bar, and Toby was saying, "I proposed to her this morning, Cliff, and she said yes. I feel like a sixteenyear-old tdd." Clifton tried not to let the shock show on his face. He had to be extremely careful about the way he handled this. He knew one thing: he could not let that little tramp marry Toby Temple. The moment the wedding announcement was made, every cocks man in Hollywood would crawl out of the woodwork, announcing that he had gotten in there first. It was a miracle that Toby had not found out about Jill before now, but it could not be kept from him forever. When he learned the truth, Toby would kill. He would lash out at everyone around him, everyone who had let this happen to him, and Clifton Lawrence would be Ac first to feel the brunt of Toby's rage. No, Clifton could not let this marriage take place. He was tempted to point out that Toby was twenty years older than Jill, but he checked himself. He looked over at Toby and said cautiously, "It might be a mistake to rush things. It takes a long time to really get to know a person. You might change your --" Toby brushed it aside. "You're gonna be my best man. You think we should have the wedding here or up in Vegas?" Clifton knew that he was wasting his breath. There was

209

only one way to prevent this disaster from happening. He had to find a way to stop Jill.

That afternoon, the little agent telephoned Jill and asked her to come to his office. She arrived an hour late, gave him a cheek to kiss, sat down on the edge of the couch and said, "I haven't much time. I'm meeting Toby." "This won't take long." Clifton studied her. It was a different Jill. She bore almost no resemblance to the girl he had first met a few months ago. There was a confidence about her now, an assurance that she had not had earlier. Well, he had dealt with girls like her before. "Jill, I'm going to lay it on the line," Clifton said. "You're bad for Toby. I want you to get out of Hollywood." He took a white envelope out of a drawer. "Here's five thousand dollars cash. That's enough to take you anywhere you want to go." She stared at him a moment, a surprised expression on her face, then leaned back on the couch and began to laugh. "I'm not joking," Clifton Lawrence said. "Do you think Toby would marry you if he found out you've laid everybody in town?" She regarded Clifton for a long moment. She wanted to tell him that he was responsible for everything that had happened to her. He and all the other people in power who had refused to give her a chance. They had made her pay with her body, her pride, her soul. But she knew there was no way she could ever make him understand. He was -trying to bluff her. He would not dare tell Toby about her; it would be Lawrence's word against hers. Jill rose to her feet and walked out of the office. One hour later, Clifton received a call from Toby. Clifton had never heard Toby sound so exdted. "I don't know what you said to Jill, pal, but I have to hand it to you --she can't wait. We're on our way to Las Vegas to get married!"

The Lear jet was thirty-five miles from the Los Angeles 210

International Airport, flying at 250 knots. David Kenyon made contact with the LAX approach control and gave them his position. David was exhilarated. He was on his way to Jill. Cissy had recovered from most of her injuries suffered in the automobile accident, but her face had been badly lacerated. David had sent her to the best plastic surgeon in the world, a doctor in Brazil. She had been gone for six weeks, during which time she had been sending him glowing reports about the doctor. Twenty-four hours ago, David had received a telephone call from Cissy, saying she was not returning. She had fallen in love. David could not believe his good fortune. "That's -- that's wonderful," he managed to slammer. "I hope you and the doctor will be happy." "Oh, it's not the doctor," Gssy replied. "It's someone who owns a little plantation here. He .looks exactly like you, David. The only difference is that he loves me." The crackling of the radio interrupted his thoughts. "Lear Three Alpha Papa, this is Los Angeles Approach Control. You're clear for approach to Runway Twenty-five Left. There will be a United seven-oh-seven behind you. When you land, please taxi to the ramp on your right." "Roger." David began to make his descent, and his heart started to pound. He was on his way to find Jill, to tell her he still loved her, to ask her to marry him. He was walking through the terminal when he passed the newsstand and saw the headline: "toby temple weds actress". He read the story twice and then turned and went into the airport bar. He stayed drunk for three days and then flew back to Texas. 28

It was a storybook honeymoon. Toby and Jill flew in a private jet to Las Hadas, where they were the guests of the Patinos at their fairyland resort carved out of the Mexican jungle and beach. The newlyweds were given a private villa surrounded by cacti, hibiscus and brilliantly colored bouganvillea, where exotic birds serenaded them all night. They spent ten days exploring and yachting and being partied. They ate delicious dinners at the Legazpi prepared by gourmet chefs and swam in the fresh-water pools. Jill shopped at the exquisite boutiques at the Plaza. From Mexico they flew to Biarritz where they stayed at L'Hotel du Palais, the spectacular palace that Napoleon III built for his Empress Eugenie. The honeymooners gambled at the casinos and went to the bullfights and fished and made love all night. From the Cote Basque they drove east to Gstaad, thirty-five hundred feet above sea level in the Bernese Oberiand. They took sightseeing flights among the peaks, skimming Mont Blanc and the Matterhom. They skied the dazzling white slopes and rode dog sleds and attended fondue parties and danced. Toby had never been so happy. He had found the woman to make his life complete. He was no longer lonely.

Toby could have continued the honeymoon forever, but Jill was eager to get home. She was not interested in any of these places, nor in any of these people. She felt like a newly

212

crowned queen who was being kept from her country. Jill Castle was burning to return to Hollywood. Mrs. Toby Temple had scores to settle.

213

BOOK THREE 29

There is a smell to failure. It is a stench that clings like a miasma. Just as dogs can detect the odor of fear in a human being, so people can sense when a man is on his way down. Particularly in Hollywood. Everyone in the Business knew that Clifton Lawrence was finished, even before he knew it. They could smell it in the air around him. Clifton had not heard from Toby or Jill in the week since they had returned from their honeymoon. He had sent an expensive gift and had left three telephone messages, which had been ignored. Jill. Somehow she had managed to turn Toby's mind against him. Clifton knew that he had to effect a truce. He and Toby meant too much to each other to let anyone come between them. Clifton drove out to the house on a morning when he knew Toby would be at the studio. Jill saw him coming up the driveway and opened the door for him. She looked stunningly beautiful, and he said so. She was friendly. They sat in the garden and had coffee, and she told him about the honeymoon and the places they had been. She said, "I'm sorry Toby hasn't returned your calls. Cliff. You can't believe how frantic it's been around here." She smiled apologetically, and Clifton knew then that he had been wrong about her. She was not his enemy. "I'd like us to start fresh and be friends," he said. "Thank you, Cliff. So would I."

217 Clifton felt an immeasurable sense of relief. "I want to give a dinner party for you and Toby. I'll take over the private room at the Bistro. A week from Saturday. Black tie, a hundred of your most intimate friends. How does that sound?" "Lovely. Toby will be pleased." ^~~-

Jill waited until the afternoon of the party to telephone and say, "I'm so sorry. Cliff. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to make it tonight. I'm a little tired. Toby thinks I should stay home and rest." Clifton managed to hide his feelings. "I'm sorry about that, Jill, but I understand. Toby will be able to come, won't he?" He heard her sigh over the telephone. "I'm afraid not, dear boy. He won't go anywhere without me. But you have a nice party." And she hung up. It was too late to call off the party. The bill was three thousand dollars. But it cost Clifton much more than that. He had been stood up by the guest of honor, his one and only client, and everyone there, the studios heads, the stars, the directors -- all the people who mattered in Hollywood -- were aware of it. Clifton tried to cover up by saying that Toby was not feeling well. It was the worst thing he could have done. When he picked up a copy of the Herald Examiner the next afternoon, there was a photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Toby Temple that had been taken at the Dodgers Stadium the night before.

Clifton Lawrence knew now that he was fighting for his life. If Toby dropped him, there .would be no one around to pick him up. None of the big agencies would take him on, because he could bring them no clients; and he could not bear the thought of starting all over again on his own. It was too late for that. He had to find a way to make peace with Jill. He telephoned Jill and told her he would like to come to the house to talk to her. "Of course," she said. "I was telling Toby last night that we haven't seen enough of you lately." "I'll be over in fifteen minutes," Clifton said. He walked

218

over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a double Scotch. He had been doing too much of that lately. It was a bad habit to drink during a working day, but who was he kidding? What work? Every day he received important offers for Toby, but he could not get the great man to sit down and even discuss them with him. In &e past, they had talked over everything. He remembered all &e wonderful times they had had, the trips they had taken, the parties and the laughs and the girls. They had been as close as twins. Toby had needed him, had counted on him. And now... Clifton poured another drink and was pleased to see his hands were not trembling so much. When Clifton arrived at the Temples' house, Jill was seated on &e terrace, having coffee. She looked up and smiled as she saw him approach. You're a salesman, Clifton told himself. Sell her on you. "It's nice to see you. Cliff. Sit down." "Thanks, Jill." He took a seat across from her at a large wrought-iron table and studied her. She was wearing a white summer dress, and &e contrast wi& her black hair and golden, tanned skin was stunning. She looked younger, and � &e only word he could think of somehow � innocent. She was watching him wi& warm, friendly eyes. "Would you like some breakfast. Cliff?" "No, &anks. I ate hours ago." "Toby isn't here." "I know. I wanted to talk to you alone." "What can I do for you?" "Accept my apology," Clifton urged. He had never begged anyone for any&ing in his life, but he was begging now. "We �I got off on &e wrong foot. Maybe it was my fault. It probably was. Toby's been my client and my friend for so long &at I � I wanted to protect him. Can you understand &at?" Jill nodded, her brown eyes fixed on him, and said, "Of course. Cliff." He took a deep brea&. "I don't know whe&er he ever told you &e story, but I'm &e one who got Toby started. I knew he was going to be a big star &e first time I saw him." He saw that he had her full attention. "I handled a lot of important clients then, Jill. I let them all go so that I could concentrate on Toby's career." "Toby's talked to me about how much you've done for him," she said. "Has he?" He hated the eagerness in his voice. Jill smiled. "He told me about the day he pretended that Sam Goldwyn telephoned you and how .you went to see Toby anyway. That was nice." Clifton leaned forward and said, "I don't want anything to happen to the relationship that Toby and I have. I need you in my corner. I'm asking you to forget everything that happened between us. I apologize for being out of line. I thought I was protecting Toby. Well, I was wrong. I think you're going to be great for him." "I want to be. Very much." "If Toby drops me, I -- I think it would kill me. I'm not just talking about business. He and I have -- he's been like a son to me. I love him." He despised himself for it, but he heard himself begging again. "Please, Jill, for God's sake..." He stopped, his voice choked. She looked at him a long moment with those deep brown eyes and then held out her hand. "I don't hold grudges," Jill said. "Can you come to dinner tomorrow night?" Clifton took a deep breath and then smiled happily and said, "Thanks." He found that his eyes were suddenly misty. "I -- I won't forget this. Ever." The following morning, when Clifton arrived at his office, there was a registered letter notifying him that his services had been terminated and that he no longer had the authority to act as Toby Temple's agent.

220

30

Jill Castle Temple was the most exciting thing to hit Hollywood since Cinemascope. In a company town where everyone played the game of admiring the emperor's clothes, Jill used her tongue like a scythe. In a city where flattery was the daily currency of conversation, Jill fearlessly spoke her mind. She had Toby beside her and she brandished his power like a club, attacking all the important studio executives. They had never experienced anything like it before. They did not dare offend Jill, because they did not want to offend Toby. He was Hollywood's most bankable star, and they wanted him, needed him. Toby was bigger than ever. His television show was still number one in the Nielsen Ratings every week, his movies were enormous money makers, and when Toby played Las Vegas, the casinos doubled their profits. Toby was the hottest property in show business. They wanted him for guest shots, record albums, personal appearances, merchandising, benefits, movies, they wanted they wanted they wanted. The most important people in town fell all over themselves to please Toby. They quickly learned that the way to please Toby was to please Jill. She began to schedule all of Toby's appointments herself and to organize his life so that there was room in it only for those of whom she approved. She put up an impenetrable barricade around him, and none but the rich and famous and the powerful were allowed to go through it. She was the keeper of the flame. The little Polish girl from Odessa, Texas, entertained and was entertained by