Sugar Valley (Hollywood's Darkest Secret) (49 page)

“Do you have an agent? How were you
discovered?” the same journalist asked, watching the other movie
stars passing them down the red carpet, and entering into the
building.

“Well...”

She cut him off once more, responding with,
“I discovered him. As soon as I saw him, I thought to myself,
‘Julienne, you’ve got to help him out, he’s the one who can make it
in film.’ I said that at the Starbox, that’s where we met. As you
know, only celebrities can enter that establishment.” Julienne knew
her plan was working, the plan that she had from the beginning, the
plan that only she knew of.

“So, then that means you had to have been in
a few movies, or at least a few TV shows?” another journalist asked
as Julienne looked Jose straight in the eyes.

Jose looked at the microphone, and then
looked at the video camera that was facing him, it was like the
camera was a gun and Jose’s mouth was the target. He knew hundreds
of thousands of people were watching his face and mouth. So, he
said the first thing that came to his lost mind. “Yes, I was in a
number of little shows, that is, throughout my childhood. I have
acted in a number of plays and movies.” While Jose said that, he
thought of Sugar Valley and how he really did act out a number of
things. So, to him, he really wasn’t lying, but to the actuality of
Hollywood, he was.

Julienne pulled Jose to the entrance of the
building, saying, “I’m sorry, we really must be getting inside. The
dinner is going to start very soon.”

They fought their way to the entrance,
feeling microphones pressing against their backs, flashes of light,
from the cameras, creating heat on their necks, and people on top
of people, screaming out Julienne’s name, smacking autograph books
across their faces. But then they entered it, seeing the building
full of stars, Jose said, “I can’t believe you did that.”

“You see, I told you I would help you out
here. Plan one is over with, now we go to plan two,” she spoke
while showing her invitation to the manager of the building.

“What’s plan two?” Jose asked as he looked up
at the dining room and saw paintings on the ceiling and on the
walls.

They passed by the man, and entered into a
room full of lights, paintings that hung in different directions on
the walls, and chandeliers that covered all ends of the ceiling. It
was a masterpiece, the way the carpet design formed in a circle,
getting smaller and smaller as it reached the center of the room;
it was enough to make a person dizzy. And on top of that, tables,
dressed in white lace, filled with silverware and dishes that
formed perfectly around each one, like a specific design that was
the same on every table. The chairs were like roses, red velvet
that made up the seats and red backings, they swirled up in a
design of a flower made out of red oak. Jose could smell the aroma
of perfume, a very elite and overpowering perfume, which was about
to make you hate it, but you didn’t. The labyrinth of riches, fame,
and success gathered around this gigantic hall, draped in fancy
apparel, and holding wine glasses that were filled with best, red
glowing wine he had ever seen. “What’s plan two?” he asked
again.

Julienne glanced down at her invitation,
seeing “Table 45” imprinted on it, answering, “You’ll see very
soon. Just wait till they start serving the first meal.”

“I didn’t see Darell yet, I wonder if he
showed up for this, do you think he did?” Jose’s question sounded
phony but caring at the same time; he was hoping, in actuality,
that Darell didn’t show up at all.

“Are you kidding me? Of course he showed up.
After all, he is the star of the film, and this dinner is for that
film,” she replied, spotting Table 45. They walked slowly toward
it.

Jose followed Julienne’s footsteps, knowing
that he didn’t fit in this room just yet; he wanted her to lead,
just as he wanted her to guide his career along. As they walked
through the dancing and talking silhouettes of fame, Jose
questioned, “Who are we sitting next to?”

“You’ll see, I want you to be surprised.”

Julienne, with her own personal plan, made
Jose believe that she was here for him. But really, she was here
for herself. Nevertheless, Jose was too gullible, too intrigued by
this amazement that a movie star found interest in him and would
guide him to her heights. So, he trusted her, like a chicken on a
farm trusting the farmer with an axe.

“Alright, just make sure I’m not too
surprised, Julienne.”

She sat down at her seat while he moseyed his
eyes throughout the table, looking at each person, figuring out if
he saw them on film, and where he saw them.

As Jose sat down, Julienne noticed a person
she had much interest in as well, sitting right beside her, talking
to another. So, she said with a very sexy voice, “Hello,
Dennis.”

“Why hello, Miss Wells. How are you this
evening?” Dennis asked in a surprised, but happy manner, kissing
her hand, and staring at her devilish eyes.

“I’m fine. I’d like you to meet a close
friend of mine, he’s an actor,” Julienne explained, turning toward
Jose, who sat on the other side of her, and watched as he looked at
them both. “This is Jose Rodrigo, he’s friends with Darell
O’Conner,” she added before Jose stuck his hand out toward Dennis.
“Jose, this is Dennis Schultz, he’s a director. His brother is a
director also; his name is Henry Schultz.”

Dennis questioned in an intrigued way,
“Really, you know Darell?”

“Yeah, he’s my best friend.” Jose’s voice was
medium, remembering how envious he was toward Darell.

Dennis sipped his coffee, and spoke, “That’s
right, he mentioned you a few times. But he always mentioned the
other one, his name is Damen.”

“Yeah, Damen’s are other good friend, but I’m
much closer to Darell. I taught him all his acting moves.” Jose
realized he was lying to him and himself, trying to make his own
character look good and denying the truth that would make Damen
look great; jealousy, envy, and deceit was on his mind, but for the
wrong reason.

“Yeah, I was thinking about having Damen in
my next movie with Darell. It begins in February. I think the both
of them would do well together. Me and my brother Henry are
directing it, and he already has Darell for the main role, well,
almost has him,” Dennis mentioned. Julienne stared at Jose with a
nervous look; she knew step two was about to begin.

She moved her chair closer to Dennis, asking,
“Um, how do you know Damen?”

“I had to fire him from the movie I’m
directing now. You know Mike Montgomery?” Dennis questioned,
noticing that the first serving came to their table; it was
soup.

Julienne responded in a disgusted way,
“Yeah,” remembering how hard it was to act with Mike, working with
him in the past.

“Yeah, well you know how much of an ass he
could be?”

“Yeah, he could be a real jerk.”

“Well, he forced me to fire Damen, that’s how
I met him. I think he would be perfect for the part, and I’m most
definitely going to get him for this part,” Dennis said while
Julienne tried desperately to think of a lie, or a story up in her
head; she wanted Jose to get in that movie instead of Damen. “I
really want to get him for the co-star role.”

“So, that means you’ve already contacted
Damen and told him the good news?” She awaited Dennis’ answer,
knowing plan two would begin right when Dennis spoke his next
words.

“No, not yet, I was planning on contacting
him tomorrow,” Dennis replied. Jose stared at him and Julienne in a
nervous manner, wanting that part, craving for that part, and not
giving a damn how he would and could get it, as long as he gets
it.

“So, how are you going to contact him?”

Dennis answered with a grin, “Julienne, you
know me, I have my ways.” Her plan was about to take full effects,
with just a few simple words.

“Um, how do you know he’s a good actor?” she
asked, staring at Jose, and then staring back at Dennis.

“Well, I saw him act, and I like it. I think
his face would be perfect for the part. You see, Damen is going to
play Darell’s brother in the movie. When I found out that they
were, or still are, best friends in real life, I definitely wanted
him, and I still do. I mean think about it, since they already know
each other, this movie will be simple for them, and for us,”
explained Dennis. Jose looked at Julienne in a desperate way, he
wanted her to say something to change Dennis’ mind. “I told my
brother about him, but I didn’t tell him that he was friends with
Darell in real life. When I tell him that, he’s going to be so
proud of me,” he added with a smile.

“Would you excuse us for a minute? I think I
forgot my purse in the limo, we’ll be right back,” Julienne spoke,
taking Jose by the shirt unnoticeably and pulling him up from his
seat.

“Sure, I’ll be right here.”

They both passed through the tables, crowds,
and exited the building, seeing that all of the media was either on
breaks or had gone home. Standing out there, with silence, Jose
questioned, “What’s wrong, Julienne?”

“Plan two isn’t working out. You see, I knew
there was an opening for that movie he’s directing. This movie is
going to be big. I mean, Henry and Dennis Schultz directing it
together, that has a four-star rating written all over it,”
Julienne responded while Jose fought desperately against the wind;
he was trying to find the right angle so his lighter would light
his cigarette.

He finally lit his cigarette, saying,
“Listen, we could always go to another director, and I could always
try for another role in a film. Can’t I?”

“Yeah, we can, but I know you want this
movie, I saw it in your eyes when he mentioned Darell and Damen
together.” She walked into the building again and held opened the
glass door for Jose.

Jose put out his cigarette and walked in the
door, saying, “Yeah, I do want this movie, but if the spot’s
already taken...”

Julienne interrupted his final words by
putting her finger over his mouth. “Don’t even say it, don’t ever
turn down a movie after it’s taken. This is Hollywood, spots are
always open until the contracts have been signed. You got it?” she
asked, releasing her finger from his mouth.

The envious and jealous feelings returned to
his mind, out of nowhere, they showed themselves once again, with
him replying, “Yeah, I definitely understand. This is war.”

It’s like he was put into a trance again, a
trance that grew stronger each time he returned. In the trance, he
forgot about Darell and Damen, he only remembered himself and fame.
The arrogance grew rapidly into a body that represented power to
Jose, the power of Hollywood and the different forms of power fame
brought. In Jose’s mind, he thought nothing else but that single
word, the word “fame.” He was overpowered by something that was a
vision, a vision that hadn’t become reality yet. In Jose’s mind, he
thought he was famous already, but in Jose’s heart, he realized he
was not. His mind has become lost in that single word. As they sat
down at the dinner table again, Jose didn’t realize his heart would
slowly drift off into a labyrinth; a labyrinth filled with hatred,
a labyrinth that had already taken his mind. When the end of this
dinner came into effect, Jose’s mind and heart would be lost in
this trance, the trance of fame. The only thing he would have left
is his soul, a soul that holds the memories of Sugar Valley, and
the memories of Damen and Darell. He listened as Julienne began her
fight for him, a fight that consisted of lies.

Julienne turned to Dennis’ young, handsome
face, and saw him eating chicken. That’s when she questioned, “So,
you say this film begins this February?”

“That’s right, I’m hoping it will be a good
film. You see, the one major detail that makes a film good is the
cast of characters the film has,” Dennis replied, eating his
chicken still and seeing that a waiter brought the table a bottle
of wine.

“That’s very true, I’m sure it’s going to be
a great cast. Especially Damen, he’s going to be great in it,”
Julienne said, watching Dennis agreeing with her by nodding his
head. “The one good quality that Damen possesses is his nerves,
he’s not nervous at all,” she added while Jose looked at her like
she was crazy. He wondered why she was making Damen look so good.
But that all changed when she spoke, “His sniff-sniff makes him
calm as a butterfly.”

Dennis dropped his chicken from his mouth and
looked at her in confusion. “Sniff-sniff? What’s that?”

“Oh, you know, Dennis, sniff-sniff.” Jose’s
face also showed confusion toward her words, he and Dennis were in
the same state of mind; not knowing what the hell she was talking
about.

Dennis thought about those words for five
seconds, then he realized what she meant, asking, “No, not drugs.
You mean to tell me he does coke?”

“Oops, I thought you knew. That’s why me and
Jose went outside, we were surprised that Damen is going to star in
your movie after you knowing he’s a crackhead,” she explained; Jose
began to get a small grin on his face.

Dennis took a large swig of his liquor, he
couldn’t believe what he was hearing; he didn’t want to believe it.
“You mean he does crack too?”

“Oh no, I spilled the beans again. Yeah, he
does crack also.” After her words, a movie star at their table
listened in on their conversation, finding hearsay to be devilishly
interesting.

Dennis was aggravated and nervous, saying in
an upset tone, “You’re damn right you spilled the beans. Great, I
can’t let him act in my movie. Now I’m gonna have to get another
actor to take his place. This is just great, the auditions begin
next week for this movie; I have to get someone for this part. As
you know, Julienne, the person we choose at the audition, next
week, is only for insurance.”