Excess All Areas (32 page)

‘
Not traditionally, but on this occasion it’s appreciated,’ Nicholas replied with a hesitant smile.

He left the table and walked towards the stage as everyone continued to clap. He negotiated the steps and shook James’ hand before preparing his notes on the lectern.

The applauding stopped and Nicholas looked out upon the guests.

‘
Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s really nice to see so many people here tonight to share in this celebration. As James has already said, your country, in particular your islands, are a thing of beauty and we all feel extremely privileged to have been able to use such stunning locations for this movie,’ Nicholas began.

The guests applauded his show of appreciation.

‘
At this point I was due to tell you all a little bit about the film itself and the reason why Greece was chosen as the setting but, I think it’s obvious why Greece was chosen, the scenery is incomparable and the people are generosity itself and I’ve been told I only have a ten minute slot and what I really want to talk to you about tonight I consider to be a great deal more important than any film,’ Nicholas continued.

Freya looked over at Martha. She was now scrambling for her bag. When she had located it she began frantically leafing through papers.

‘
I’m going to talk to you this evening about something very personal to me and I’m going to start by showing you a photograph, taken by a very talented photographer, Miss Freya Johnson,’ Nicholas spoke.

The people in the room let out a united gasp. On the big screen appeared one of the photographs that Freya had taken of Nicholas at Villa Kamia.

It was a shot of him, naked, taken from behind, looking out to sea. Freya hadn’t seen the result of her session. It was a good photograph, it was black and white and it showed off Nicholas’ physique to perfection.

‘
What the Hell is going on? This isn’t in the speech I have,’ Martha hissed as she carried on leafing through paperwork.

‘
It’s a good photograph,’ Hilary remarked to the table in general.

‘
You mean he has a cute butt,’ Freya said to her with a smile.

‘
Well, I…’ Hilary responded, trying not to blush.

Nicholas waited for the murmuring and surprised comments to die down before he recommenced.

‘
You’re now probably wondering why I’m showing you a photograph of me, wearing nothing but a smile. Well, it’s one photograph of many that I’ve had taken to highlight a cause to which I am going to donate my ten million dollar fee from this film,’ Nicholas carried on.

There were more gasps and whispers from the crowd at the show of generosity.

It was only at that moment that Freya realised what he was going to say to this room full of people. She held her breath and felt for him. He was standing on the stage alone, all eyes on him, people waiting to hear what he was going to say.

‘
I really don’t want to make this a completely sentimental speech, but, I’ve been hiding something from everyone for quite a while now and up until recently I was happy to go on hiding it. But someone I met just a short time ago has taught me a great deal about myself, about who I am, the position I’m in and how I should be using that position to make a difference to others. So I’m standing up here to tell you that I had testicular cancer,’ Nicholas announced.

There were no murmurs this time, just silence. Everyone was looking at Nicholas, unmoving, listening intently, observing his stance, waiting with bated breath, wondering what he was going to say next.

‘
Testicular cancer is on the increase and this affects men usually between the ages of twenty five and forty five. Now you will understand that we’re talking about partners, sons, husbands and fathers at the prime of their lives. The treatment for testicular cancer is extremely effective if it’s diagnosed early enough. The death rates are falling, but they could be reduced more dramatically if men checked themselves on a regular basis. Before I had cancer I never examined myself and it was only by chance that my tumour was discovered. I was lucky. But I don’t want anyone here to leave themselves to chance. Which is why, apart from donating my fee from this film, I’m proposing to sell these rather intimate photographs of me to the highest bidder,’ Nicholas told the room.

Freya smiled. This was amazing. This was exactly how someone in his position, with all his wealth and fame, should be using his influence.

‘
A million!’ a voice shouted from the back of the room, amongst the press pack.

‘
Five million!’ another voice called.

‘
Your generosity is appreciated but if you could just hold fire for the moment and place any bids with my PA Martha - she will be able to coordinate things,’ Nicholas spoke.

He took a deep breath and looked down at his notes.

‘
Well, that’s about all I wanted to say. I have some leaflets about signs and symptoms if anyone would like one. It’s important to me that you don’t feel sorry for me. I’m not standing up here because I need a hug; I’m one of the survivors. The purpose of my telling you my story is to raise awareness and hopefully some money to go towards research and care. Gentlemen, I would like you all to check yourselves when you get home. Ladies, check your men. Let’s make sure that no one in this room, or anyone you know, dies from embarrassment. Thank you,’ Nicholas concluded and he stepped away from the lectern.

Freya was first to her feet, clapping wildly and soon the whole room was filled with applause as everyone rose to their feet in admiration.

Everyone wanted to shake Nicholas’ hand as he made his way back to the table and Martha was already being mobbed by people from newspapers and magazines as a bidding war on the photographs commenced.

‘
Nick, I had no idea,’ Bob commented as Nicholas returned to the table.

‘
Why would you? It’s fine,’ Nicholas remarked as he retook his seat next to Freya.

‘
Hey,’ he said, greeting her with a smile.

‘
I have a bone to pick with you. You didn’t tell me you would be exhibiting my work tonight,’ Freya replied, smiling back at him.

‘
I wanted to surprise you,’ Nicholas answered.

‘
I don’t think I was the only one to get a surprise - Martha went white,’ Freya told him.

‘
She looks kind of grey right now,’ Nicholas remarked, as he watched Martha frantically jotting things down on a pad of paper.

‘
You were wonderful up there. And what you’re doing, it’s just amazing. I know what it must have felt like, getting up there in front of everyone and talking about it,’ Freya told him, taking hold of his hand.

‘
It’s because of you Freya, that I found the courage to stand up there and tell people about it. You’ve faced your demons these past few days and I know how hard that was for you. I thought it was about time I cleared out my skeletons too - so that we can start with a clean closet,’ Nicholas told her seriously.

Freya smiled and squeezed his hand tightly.

‘
Come back to America with me,’ Nicholas stated.

‘
What?!’ Freya exclaimed.

‘
Come back to America with me - live with me,’ Nicholas repeated.

‘
I…’ Freya began.

‘
Nicholas, could we just have some photographs of you holding up the leaflets?’

It was a shout from one of the many photographers standing around the table. Roger and the security team were trying desperately to keep everyone in order.

‘
Freya?’

The questions continued, the interruption snowballed as everyone in the room wanted a piece of Nicholas. He gave in and turned to them, hastily smiling for the photographers.

She hadn’t had a chance to answer the question and, if she was honest, she was glad - she had no idea what her answer would have been.

Freya watched him, having photographs taken and charming reporters, looking so at ease.

‘
Did you know? About the cancer?’ Hilary’s voice suddenly spoke.

Freya turned her head to look at the actress.

‘
Yes,’ she answered.

‘
Why didn’t he tell anyone?’ Hilary questioned.

‘
I don’t know. Perhaps living in his world, where image and perfection seems to be so important to everyone, he felt he couldn’t tell anyone,’ Freya responded.

‘
But that’s so sad,’ Hilary remarked.

‘
It’s more than sad, it’s bloody tragic. And don’t you think your industry should change? I don’t want to get on my soap box here, but perhaps if people were more focussed on people’s personalities and not their appearance, Nicholas might have felt able to share what he was going through and been able to ask for support,’ Freya stated.

‘
You can’t look at a personality,’ Hilary responded.

‘
Not if you can’t see beyond the superficial exterior of people. We’re all in the same basic package Hilary. Granted some of us have bigger ones than others, but it’s what’s inside that sets us apart,’ Freya spoke.

‘
I don’t really understand you,’ Hilary admitted.

‘
No, I know you don’t. But take you for example. Great package, but wouldn’t it be nice to actually eat?’ Freya replied.

‘
I
do
eat,’ Hilary responded defensively.

‘
No you don’t. I’ve watched you. You take a bite and spit it into your napkin. Then you push the food around your plate a bit,’ Freya told her.

‘
I do not,’ Hilary answered.

‘
Yes you do. Why? To stay thin?’ Freya wanted to know.

‘
I
do
eat. I’ve just never been a big eater that’s all,’ Hilary responded.

‘
You keep telling yourself that,’ Freya replied, taking a roll from the basket on the table and taking a bite of it.

‘
I wouldn’t get very many film roles if I looked like you,’ Hilary told her, taking a sip of her water.

‘
So you don’t eat because you think you should conform to some ideal the industry’s set for you, where you have to look like a Barbie doll? That’s what I’m trying to say. It was the same for Nicholas, the all-American action hero. He was so terrified of what people would think he didn’t confide in anyone about his cancer,’ Freya spoke.

‘
That’s just the way things are,’ Hilary answered, still nervously sipping at her tonic water.

‘
Well, I think it’s wrong,’ Freya stated defiantly.

‘
Freya, the car’s waiting for you to take you around the city,’ Roger spoke, appearing at her shoulder.

‘
Oh, OK,’ she replied.

She picked up her bag and let Roger lead her to the entrance of the Plaza Hall.

The flashbulbs went off one after another as Freya stepped out of the building and Roger walked her to the car.

‘
Nick’s going to meet you back at the hotel. He said he’ll hopefully be done by one. The driver’s going to take you wherever you want to go,’ Roger informed her.

‘
Thanks. Listen Roger, when all the madness is over I’d really like to meet your wife. Maybe we could have a drink or something sometime,’ Freya suggested.

‘
I think she would like that,’ he agreed.

‘
See you,’ Freya spoke and she got into the car.

Thirty Three

Freya knew exactly where she wanted to go and that was the Parthenon. When she arrived at the monument it was lit up with warm yellow and orange light that filtered onto the ancient stones.

It had been built some two thousand five hundred years ago as a temple to the goddess Athena and had also been the Church of the Virgin Mary and a mosque, until it became an archaeological ruin after a gunpowder explosion blew the roof from the building.

Freya had last visited the site many years ago, but she annually visited the British Museum which still housed the Elgin marbles. It was a beautiful sight and she was glad she had Claude to capture the scene.

She looked down onto the city from her position by the monument and took a deep breath, drinking in its beauty.

What was she going to do? Everything in her life had changed in the space of a week, but how did she feel about the change? Was it a change for the better? How happy had she really been before this week? Was she truly happy now? And, if she was happy then what had made her happy? The location? Being back in Greece had always made her happy. Was it being with Emma again? The faultless friend who was the only person she felt she could rely on? Or was it Nicholas? Sensitive, kind, refreshingly different Nicholas who treated her with respect, valued her as a person and made love to her like she was a Greek goddess. She had never felt that way with anyone before. She didn’t really know the answer.

But what about his world? He came from a place she thought she would never have to revisit. The wealth, the luxury and the pompous people in it. It came as part of his profession she knew and she also knew that he loved what he did. But did he care about her enough to understand that she really couldn’t live under a microscope or in some gold covered, diamond encrusted cage of scrutiny.