Hollywood Divorces / Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (66 page)

‘I could throw Tony Alvarez in a grinder and make mincemeat out of him.’

‘You can’t blame him. Tony’s a Latino man and I
am
his woman.’

‘Jesus Christ!’ Linc groaned, his head pounding.

Everything was going from bad to worse, and the last thing he felt like doing was acting. Light romantic comedy was not his genre. He wanted to get back to doing what he excelled at. Action adventure. At least in action movies he didn’t have to endure endless closeups and turn on the charm.

‘I’ll see you on the set,’ Lola murmured.

Bitch
! They were all bitches.

M
errill Zandack was in a talkative mood. Shelby had hoped to have time to herself on the plane, but when the host was aboard, conversation became a necessary occupation–one of the hazards of flying privately.

The moment she got on board, Merrill invited her to join him at the round table he always sat at. She could hardly refuse, in spite of the heavy cigar smoke swirling around him, which made her feel slightly sick. After takeoff, he handed her a stack of reviews in a leather folder embossed with her name and the date. ‘Had ’em put together in case you haven’t seen ’em all,’ he said.

‘How thoughtful of you, Merrill,’ she said, accepting the folder. ‘You shouldn’t have.’

‘I know how most producers treat the actresses in their movies. Your PR shows you this, the studio shows you that. Problem is you never get to see everything. Read and learn.’

‘Learn what?’ she asked curiously.

‘Learn that you’re at the peak of your career, the place every actor dreams about–the big one.’

‘The big one?’

‘Yeah. For Tom Cruise it was
Risky Business
. Julia Roberts,
Pretty Woman
. For you it’s
Rapture
. From here
on out, every other movie you make, you’ll have to live up to your performance in
Rapture
.’

‘Wonderful,’ she said drily. ‘Why does that make me feel so depressed?’

‘It’s not a bad thing, Shelby,’ he said, indulging in a short coughing fit. ‘
Caught
is the right kind of movie for you to do now. Halle Berry followed
Monster’s Ball
with a Bond movie. Now
that
was an excellent choice.’

‘Are you saying that I can never live up to my performance in
Rapture
?’

‘No, I’m sayin’ that you gotta take advantage of this time. You’re married to a famous man, you gotta make sure he doesn’t try to hold you down.’

‘Linc would
never
do that,’ she said confidently. ‘He encourages me.’

‘You say that
now
. But I
know
what’s likely to happen.’

‘You do?’

‘There’s gonna be professional jealousy,’ Merrill said, nodding to himself. ‘It’s only human nature.’

‘Not between me and Linc.’

‘I’ve been in this business a long time, kiddo. When husband and wife are both actors an’ one does better than the other it
always
gets tricky.’

‘Linc’s not at all jealous of me.’

‘He’s never had to deal with you being more successful than him.’

‘I’m
not
,’ she said, frowning.

‘Wait until you get your nomination,’ Merrill said, blowing a stream of acrid smoke into the cabin.

‘
What
nomination?’ Shelby asked, perplexed.

‘You heard it from me first. You’ll get nominated for
Rapture
.’

‘It would certainly be a great honour. However, I’m not at all sure.’

‘Wanna bet money on it?’

‘I don’t bet, Merrill.’

‘Be smart–listen to what I’m telling you and watch out.’

‘For
what?
’

‘For Linc, goddamn it. He’s your biggest enemy right now. One way or the other he’ll try to sabotage you.’

She’d had enough. The last thing she needed to hear was Merrill Zandack’s view of her husband’s behaviour. ‘Will you excuse me, Merrill?’ she said, getting up from the table. ‘I think I’ll try and take a nap. Do you mind?’

‘Unhappy with what I’m saying, huh?’ he said, his double chins bobbing up and down. ‘Can’t say I blame you.’

‘It’s not that,’ she said, making excuses. ‘I’m tired. I’ve had an incredibly busy week.’

‘Read your reviews. It’ll make you feel better.’

‘Thanks,’ she said, moving to a seat as far away from him as possible.

After an early lunch at the Ivy at the Shore, Jonas seemed more like himself.

‘You were
very
uptight last night,’ Cat remarked, nibbling a chocolate chip cookie. ‘Did you have a problem?’

‘No problem.’

‘Maybe you miss being Merrill’s assistant,’ she teased.

‘
That
’s a given.’

‘There’s no way you can go back to your old assistant job. After we wrap you must insist to Merrill that he puts you on all his future movies.’

‘You think he’d do that?’ Jonas asked tentatively.

‘Why not? After all, I’m sure he calls you twice a day to check up on me. Am I right?’

‘Of course he does.’

‘And what do you tell him?’

‘That you’re a genius.’

‘Thanks,’ she said, with a mischievous grin. ‘Exactly what I wanted to hear.’

‘Did you speak to Jump this morning?’

‘Yeah. His latest threat is to throw all my stuff out on to the street.’

‘What’re you doing about that?’

‘A few months ago my girlfriend, Luanne, was staying at our loft with her baby. I’ll call her, ask her to do me a favour and pack up my stuff.’

‘Sounds like an idea.’

‘I guarantee Jump’ll claim all our CDs and books, which is a drag ’cause
I
bought most of them.’

‘Perhaps you’ve heard of Tower Records and Book Soup?’ he said offhandedly. ‘Not to mention Amazon.’

‘You’re so practical, Jonas. That’s what I like about you.’

‘So now it’s my practicality you like?’

‘Nothing wrong with that,’ she said, taking another cookie. ‘Now, all we’ve got to do is find you a girlfriend, ’cause all work and no play—’

‘
You
can talk,’ he interrupted.

‘I’ve no time for a guy.’

‘That makes two of us.’

‘What?
You
’ve no time for a guy either?’

‘She’s such a joker.’

‘I try to keep it real,’ she said, signalling for the check.

They left the restaurant and drove to the location early. Cat stood around conferring with some of her crew who were already there. Then she went into her trailer and continued working on the storyboards.

After a while there was a knock, and Nick put his head round the door. ‘Hey,’ he said, all tousled hair and cocky
grin, cigarette glued to his bottom lip. ‘Didja enjoy yourself last night?’

‘You’ve got some interesting friends,’ she offered.

‘Yeah, I do, don’t I? We all moved to L.A. at the same time. I was the one who got lucky, which means that right now
I
’m the one pickin’ up everyone’s tab. The second they make it, it’ll be their turn.’

‘Sounds fair.’

‘What didja think of the girls?’

‘Lovely,’ she said, vaguely sarcastic. ‘Which one got unlucky? Oops, sorry! I mean lucky.’

‘Both of them,’ he boasted.

‘Did you have enough to go round?’

‘Seems like you haven’t heard about my reputation,’ he said, with a knowing wink.

‘Is it as big as you seem to think it is?’ she retorted.

‘Wanna find out?’

‘No, thanks.’

He chain-lit another cigarette. ‘How long you and your old man been split?’

‘Not that long. Why?’

‘You caught him with another girl, right?’

‘I’m not sharing the details.’

‘You gotta be feeling
way
horny.’

‘Ex
cuse
me?’

‘I
said
, you must be feeling horny.’

‘Y’know what, Nick?’ she said impatiently. ‘I’m trying to work here.’

‘Got it,’ he said, with another jaunty wink. ‘See you on the set.’

Somehow Shelby harboured a romantic fantasy that Linc would be at the airport to meet her. Unfortunately, her
romantic fantasy was exactly that–a fantasy. There was no Linc. Instead there was a car and driver who delivered her to the hotel.

Flying always made her anxious, and she was tired. She hoped that Linc had not made any plans for that evening.

The manager of the hotel was waiting in the lobby to greet her. ‘We are delighted you will be staying with us this weekend, Ms Cheney.’

‘Please call me Mrs Blackwood,’ she said, as he helped her with her hand luggage.

‘Certainly, Mrs Blackwood. Your husband is enjoying his stay with us. I hope you will too. We do our best to please.’

‘I’m sure you do.’

‘If you’re ready, I’ll escort you up to Mr Blackwood’s suite.’

It was large and luxurious. Linc wasn’t there–he was probably still working. Shelby didn’t mind because she wanted to take a shower and freshen up before she saw him.

A knock on the door heralded a bell-boy with flowers and a huge basket of fruit.

For a moment she thought the flowers were from Linc, but the note accompanying them was a ‘welcome to New York’ gesture from the producer of
Rapture
.

She tipped the bell-boy and began to unpack. When she’d finished, she took a shower and put on a simple white dress, one of Linc’s favourites.

For a moment she thought about calling his cellphone, then decided not to bug him.

He’d be there soon enough, and she’d be waiting.

‘I’m coming right up,’ Tony announced.

‘I thought we were on our way out,’ Lola responded. ‘I’m all dressed and ready.’

‘No, I wanna come up,’ Tony said insistently.

She’d recently got off the phone to her mother, always a downer. Mama was so damn critical of her relationship with Tony. It almost made her want to marry him and
really
piss the family off. Not that he’d asked her since they’d got back together. But if she really wanted him to–he would.

Hmm…Mrs Tony Alvarez. Sounded good. Or how about Lola Sanchez Alvarez? Even better.

She checked herself out in the mirror. She had on a tight scarlet dress plunging in the front, Jimmy Choo stilettos, ruby chandelier earrings, and her hair was wild and sexy, the way Tony liked it.

Big Jay hovered in the lobby of her suite. ‘Mr Alvarez is on his way up,’ she informed him. ‘When he gets here, make yourself scarce.’

‘Sure, Miss Lola. I’ll be outside if you need me.’

‘Thanks. You always know what I want, don’t you?’

Big Jay let loose with a rare smile. He’d been Lola Sanchez’s personal security for two years and he’d savoured every minute. Who wouldn’t?

Tony entered, smiling, looking sharp in a white suit and black shirt. ‘Music, babe. I’m in the mood for Marc Anthony.’

‘I’m
always
in the mood for Marc Anthony,’ she said, smiling back at him.

‘You, my sexy little witch, look
hot
. Guess who was on my mind in New Orleans? An’, believe me, there’s some freako babes in that city.’

‘Not to mention the imported babe you had with you. You’re such a bastard!’

‘I kicked her to the kerb
real
fast.’

‘I should hope so.’

‘C’mere, Lola-Lola, lemme take a long look at you.’ She sashayed toward him. ‘Get me vodka,’ he ordered.

‘Do I
look
like the room-service waiter?’ she asked imperiously.

‘Get me one of those bottles from the mini-bar.’

‘Why?’

‘’Cause I’m gonna suck it off your fine nipples, baby. Go to it.’

‘Tony!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m all dressed and ready to go out. I thought we were planning to salsa the night away.’

‘We’re gonna salsa the night away all right,’ he said, with a wolf-like grin, ‘only first I gotta have those nipples in my mouth, so go fetch the vodka. Go, girl, go!’

‘No, Tony,’ she said stubbornly. ‘You’ll spill it on my dress.’

‘
Do
it!’ he said darkly. ‘That’s an order, woman.’

There was something exciting about a man who wouldn’t take no for an answer. She did as he asked, fetching a miniature bottle of vodka from the mini-bar.

As she walked back towards him, she realized that she was already sexually aroused. Tony had a way of turning her on like no other man.

He took the vodka from her and, with a practised flick of his wrist, undid the halter on her dress, peeling it down until her breasts were exposed.

‘You’re such a
bad
boy,’ she said, catching her breath.

‘You got the finest tits in the world,’ he said admiringly. ‘Take everythin’ off.’

She didn’t need asking twice. Wriggling out of the tight material, she placed her dress carefully on the back of the couch.

The shades were not drawn. She didn’t care who was watching, it was all good.

Naked, apart from a black lace thong, she pressed her body against his.

‘You’re somethin’, babe,’ he said, thrusting his fingers into the delicate sides of her thong and pulling it down.
‘Look at you with your shaved pussy and your big juicy tits. You do it for me, babe. Every time. I wanna see you in nothing but diamonds and high heels. My baby was made for bling-bling. That’s it.’ Grinning, he opened the bottle of vodka with his teeth. Then slowly he began pouring the cold liquid over her bare breasts, sucking and licking it off.

She came almost immediately.

Tony Alvarez was surely the sexiest man in the entire world.

L
inc did not trust himself to go back to the hotel. They’d finished filming for the day, but he had no urge to leave his trailer. Instead he snorted a few more lines of coke, before deciding that one drink was a necessity. Too bad if Shelby discovered he’d been drinking–she was hardly in a position to criticize.

He hoped she hadn’t seen the New York papers. Tomorrow they’d be old news, somebody’s cat litter.

He was still furious about the photo in
People, and
about her movie, which everyone seemed to be talking about. And he hadn’t forgotten the
USA Today
story where she’d trashed him.

The angrier he became, the more he felt like another drink. After a couple of Scotches and a swish of mouthwash, he finally got into his car and had his driver take him to the hotel.

When he entered the suite, he discovered Shelby asleep on the couch.

He stared at her for a moment, unable to take his eyes off her. She was so beautiful all curled up and innocent.

Shame she was such a devious bitch.

He didn’t know whether to wake her, or let her sleep. Jesus! She had his stomach tied up in knots. Was this what love was all about? If it was–you could shove it.

‘What’re you doing tonight?’ Nick asked.

‘Why?’ Cat responded.

They were sitting around on the beach while her cinematographer was busy setting up the next shot. Nick picked up a handful of pebbles and began hurling them at the sea. ‘Thought you might fancy goin’ back to Ago.’

‘Maybe,’ she said tentatively.

‘Should I take that as a yes?’

‘Hmm…I’m not sure that watching you put the moves on a couple of babes is my idea of a thrilling time.’

‘No big deal,’ he said offhandedly. ‘The offer’s there if you want it. We get together every night, usual table.’

‘Every night?’

‘Yeah, it’s like my hang-out,’ he said, scooping up more pebbles. ‘By the way, my friend Max was kinda into you.’

‘Which one was Max?’

‘The dude with the glasses. He writes for
Rolling Stone
. He’s envious of you, thinks you pulled a lucky break.’

‘Of course he’d think that,’ she said scornfully. ‘Hard work and talent had absolutely nothing to do with it.’

‘He was quite into your movie too–the one you did before. What was it called?’

‘
Wild Child
.’

‘Never got around to seeing it myself, but the word on it was seriously good.’

‘I’m surprised you accepted me as your director if you hadn’t seen my movie.’

‘I trust Merrill’s judgement. He gave me my first break.’

‘Did he also force you to give him a blow-job?’

Nick threw her a quizzical look. ‘
What
did you just say?’

‘Nothing,’ she said, grinning. ‘It’s an inside joke.’

‘Oh, yeah, I heard the rumour. He makes all the females
in his movies give him blow-jobs before they get the role, right?’

‘That’s what they say.’

‘How about you then?’

‘Get serious. Do I
look
like the kind of girl he’d come on to? My movie was called
Wild Child
. That should give you a hint.’

‘All about you, was it?’

‘There were pieces of me in it, yeah.’

‘So, uh, Cat–tell me,’ he said, rubbing his stubbled chin, ‘what kind of a wild child
were
you?’

‘You name it, I did it.’

‘You were a raver, then?’

She smiled mysteriously. ‘Wouldn’t
you
like to know?’

The script supervisor interrupted them to confer with Cat about a problem with a line of dialogue. Cat jumped up, solved the problem, and began walking back towards the action.

Nick got up and followed her. ‘You gotta come tonight,’ he urged. ‘We’ll make it a party. Bring Jonah if you want.’

‘It’s
Jonas
,’ she corrected.

‘Is he a fag?’

‘Why would you ask that?’

‘He’s always so kind of, y’know, neat and groomed.’

‘Jonas is not gay.’

‘You screwed him, then?’

‘None of your bloody business.’

‘God,’ he said amiably, ‘you’re a cranky one today.’

‘You shouldn’t ask so many personal questions.’

‘Sorry. I’ll get myself in front of the camera an’ see if I can nail this scene for you.’

She watched him walk ahead of her with his cocky strut. He was immediately joined by the makeup girl and one of the female PRs.

Popular stud, Nick Logan. And didn’t he know it.

She was worried about her possessions in New York. The problem was that Jump was spiteful enough to follow through on his threat. He hated not getting his own way.

Since she still had a few minutes before they would finish setting up the camera tracks, she called her girlfriend, Luanne.

‘Where are you?’ Luanne asked, happy to hear from her.

‘In L.A., directing a movie.’

‘That’s cool.’

‘The not so cool part is that Jump and I have split.’

‘Crap!’ Luanne exclaimed. ‘What happened?’

‘I’ll tell you when I see you. Here’s the thing–Jump’s on his way back to New York, and he’s threatening to dump my stuff on the street, so I need a favour.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘Can you organize professional packers to box up my clothes, manuscripts and other stuff, then have them ship everything to me in L.A.? I’ll e-mail you a list.’

‘Of course,’ Luanne said. A long beat. ‘Did you catch Jump with another woman?’

‘What makes you think that?’

‘Well…when I stayed at the loft, I put in a nanny-cam–one of those small hidden cameras that keeps an eye on Nanny while she’s watching the baby.’

‘So?’

‘When I moved out I forgot to take the camera. You were in London and Jump had gone off to Atlanta for a gig. There were a few days in between me leaving the apartment and coming back for the camera.’

‘Go on.’

‘I played the nanny tape, and on it Jump was banging some blonde.’ An awkward pause. ‘Sorry.’

‘Why are you telling me this now?’

‘I didn’t think it was fair to mention it before.’

‘What if I caught
your
husband banging some blonde?’ Cat said vehemently. ‘Would
you
think it was fair for me
not
to tell
you
?’

‘I was waiting until I saw you.’

She sighed. It wasn’t Luanne’s fault, no good blaming her. ‘Thanks for telling me anyway,’ she said. ‘It simply confirms that I’m doing the right thing.’

‘I’m
really
sorry, Cat.’

‘Yeah,’ she said ruefully. ‘So am I.’

Sex with Tony seemed to get more amazing every time. No games, just mind-blowing sex with one hugely sexy Latino man. God! He turned her on big-time!

By the time Lola redid her hair and makeup it was almost midnight.

They left the hotel, settled into Tony’s limo and set off for a tour of the salsa clubs, neither of them feeling any pain.

Tony broke open a bottle of Cristal in the car and poured two glasses. ‘Got a question,’ he said, handing her one.

‘What?’ she asked, taking a sip of champagne.

‘Didja sleep with that Linc Blackwood dude?’

‘Did
you
sleep with that
putta
you flew into New Orleans?’ she countered.

‘You first,’ he said, dark eyes ever watchful.

‘No.’ A long pause. ‘I could’ve, but I didn’t.’

‘Me neither,’ he said, clinking glasses with her. ‘Here’s the deal, baby girl, you’ve damned near ruined me for other women.’

‘I have?’ she said, delighted.

‘Yeah, babe. You’re the shit, an’ that’s the way it is.’

She leaned forward, cupping his face in her hands, her
tongue flicking lightly over his lips before she grabbed his crotch with her right hand. ‘Mine,’ she said fervently. ‘
All
mine. You stick it in anyone else, Tony Alvarez, and I swear to God I’ll cut it off.’

‘Oooh, scary woman,’ Tony said, throwing his head back and roaring with laughter.

‘Yes, I am. And don’t you
ever
forget it.’

‘Wake up,’ Linc said, not so gently pushing Shelby’s shoulder.

Slowly she uncurled her body. ‘Oh,’ she said, yawning. ‘I must’ve fallen asleep. I wasn’t sure what time you’d be back, so I put on the TV and that was it. Instant sleeping pill.’

He noticed that she had on one of his favourite dresses and her hair was loose around her shoulders. She looked so damn beautiful.

She reached her arms up to bring him closer so she could kiss him. He responded. ‘I missed you,’ she murmured. ‘I’m so happy to be here.’

It was apparent that she had
not
seen the New York papers.

He pulled her up, holding her close to him for a minute.

‘I’ve decided that separations are no good,’ she said. ‘In future I’m turning down any movies that take me away from you.’

He didn’t believe her. She was merely saying that to appease him. She’d probably seen the photo of her with Pete in
People
and was wondering what kind of lies to feed him.

Her lips were soft against his. Arousal was automatic.

Details of last night began to come back. Lola Sanchez was a prize prick-tease. She’d got him hot and drunk in the
restaurant, then left him high and dry. Typical female behaviour. He hated all of them.

‘Love you,’ Shelby whispered. ‘Missed you.’

Yeah. Sure you did. Especially when you were out with Pete.

Without saying a word he went for her breasts, caressing them roughly.

She was startled. ‘Can’t we wait until we’re in the bedroom?’

‘No,’ he said abruptly. ‘I’ve waited long enough.’ Then he did the unthinkable. He ripped her dress–the dress he liked so much–off her body.

Now she was shocked. ‘What’s the matter with you?’ she protested.

‘Can’t I miss my own wife?’ he said, pushing her down on the couch, unzipping his pants and mounting her. No foreplay, no kissing, just straight to it. Something like her big sex scene in
Rapture
.

She had a strong urge to fight him off, tell him he had to wait. But he was giving her no choice as he plunged inside her.

Furiously he went at her, desperately trying to rid himself of the anger that surged through him.

When he was finished, he zipped up and walked into the bedroom.

Shelby lay there, feeling used and abused, trying to figure out what had just happened. Then it occurred to her that, of course, he’d been drinking.

A feeling of dread enveloped her. Slowly she got up, went into the bathroom and put on a terrycloth robe she found hanging behind the door.

‘What’s going on, Linc?’ she asked, wrapping the robe tightly around her as she confronted him in the bedroom. ‘What was
that
all about?’

He was sitting on the edge of the bed smoking a
cigarette. She glanced around to see if she could spy any booze. Nothing visible. Oh, God! Why had she thought he could be trusted?

‘
You
tell
me
,’ he said, his voice hard.

‘About what?’

‘Isn’t there something I should know?’

Instantly she realized that somehow or other he’d found out about Pete. Damn! She should have told him herself.

‘Nothing I can think of,’ she said, adding casually, ‘I’ve been busy filming, doing press, that kind of thing.’ A short pause. ‘Oh, yes, and guess what? There’s an old friend of yours working on my movie. Actually, he’s an old friend of
ours
.’

‘Yeah? Who?’ Linc said, his eyes cold and distant.

‘Pete,’ she answered. ‘He sends you his best regards, can’t wait for us all to get together.’

‘Can’t wait, huh?’

‘That’s right,’ she said evenly.

‘What’s he
doing
on your movie, Shelby?’

‘Actually he’s the stunt co-ordinator.’

‘Big coincidence,’ Linc said, with a bitter twist to his words. ‘Wonder how he got
that
job.’

‘You always used to say that Pete was one of the best stuntmen in the business.’

‘Then I suppose you didn’t have to put in a good word for him?’

‘What
are
you talking about?’

‘I’m
talking
about the photo of the two of you in
People
.’

‘There’s a photo?’ she said, truly surprised.

‘Seems you didn’t realize you were being watched coming out of Jerry’s Deli all tight and cosy together with
his
arm all over you.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yeah. Oh.’ An ominous beat. ‘What the
fuck
were you
thinking? You’ve made me look like the biggest jerk walking.’ Another long beat. ‘Did you screw him?’

‘How dare you?’ she said, blushing a deep red.

‘How
dare
I?’ he yelled. ‘What the
fuck
am I
supposed
to think?’

‘He’s coaching me to do a car stunt; we were discussing it. Lunch was perfectly innocent.’

‘I don’t get you,’ Linc said harshly.

‘What don’t you get?’

‘You know me well enough, right?’

‘Yes.’

‘Exactly how
did
you
think
I’d react?’

She did not wish this conversation to go any further, but it seemed like she had no choice. ‘I had no idea there’d be a photo in a magazine,’ she said, hoping to put an end to it.

‘No idea, huh?’ he sneered. ‘You’re starring in a high-profile
porno
movie, and you have no idea that the paparazzi might be following you?’

‘
Rapture
is not a porno movie, Linc.’

His voice got louder. ‘You’re stupid, Shelby, you know that? You’re really fuckin’
dumb
. First the
USA Today piece
, now this. Goddamn it, you’re an
idiot
. And you’re making
me
look like one too.’

Now she knew for sure that he’d been drinking. He
never
insulted her and called her names unless he was drunk. It was only then that his venom bubbled to the surface and he turned mean and verbally abusive.