“This isn’t over, Lulu,” Aiden warned her.
She smiled at him. “The new Louis Vuitton luggage is coming out and I know someone who’s having a birthday next month.”
Aiden sighed, he’d been undone by designer luggage. “I’m such a whore.”
“No, sweetie you’re one of the joys of my life.” She returned to Chloe’s dressing room giving him a little finger wave as she closed the door.
Ian chuckled from behind Aiden. Aiden whirled around.
“You are so easy,” Ian said.
“A blessing and curse,” Aiden replied. He walked around Ian and headed out of the studio, back to his office. He had work to do and arguing with Lulu would get him nowhere.
Chapter Twelve
Lulu watched Aiden warily. He spoke on the phone and when the conversation ended, he slammed the phone down. “Your reservation for lunch is confirmed. You and Bethany at 1:30.” His face was set in a mulish expression that told her things were not right in his world. “Why are you going to The Ark? You hate that restaurant. It’s vegan. I can still get a reservation for Per Se.”
“I left the choice up to Bethany,” Lulu stated before Aiden could interrupt her. “She likes it.”
“Of course,” Aiden rolled his eyes. “She wants to be seen. She wants the world to know she’s a generous person by helping you with your charity. Why, I don’t know.”
“My charity is very important to me. I’ll take all the help I can get no matter the source.” Bethany may have wanted to be seen, but those two together would give the event a lot of buzz. The better the buzz, the better the donations.
“You must feel really strongly about this charity,” E.J. said.
“The Bennington Foundation supports a lot of charities and in this economy we need to work even harder. This is an important legacy that the family feels very strongly about. But this one is special.” Lulu loved this particular charity which preserved old silent films especially those made by black filmmakers with black actors.
“You already do plenty of that,” Aiden said.
“If Bethany is willing to lend her name and write me a check, I can certainly have lunch with her.” She held two hangers up to her, one with a scarlet wrap dress hanging on it and the other a crimson turtleneck sweater dress. What do you think?” she asked. “Sexy Lulu Wear?” She held up the sweater dress in front of her. “Or sophisticated Carolina Herrera?” She moved the wrap dress in front of her.
He studied the dresses. “The Lulu makes your butt look like a juicy peach.”
E.J. perched on the corner of Lulu’s desk. “So we’re talking revenge,” E.J. replied.
Lulu stood in front of the mirror in her office studying each dress. “Of a sort.” She loved them both and each had certain qualities that made her look her best.
“Then the Lulu Wear,” E.J. said. “You want every man in the restaurant looking at you, not her. The fact that it’s from your own line makes it even sweeter.”
“When did you become expert?” Lulu asked.
E.J. exchanged glances with Aiden. “Aiden’s a good teacher.” She rested her hands on the black leather skinny jeans. The matching motorcycle jacket hung over the back of a chair. The fuchsia blouse was a perfect compliment. The only thing out of place was the harness secured around her shoulders and the very large gun hanging against the side of her ribs. The jacket covered the gun, but Lulu was always aware of its existence.
“May I ask you a personal question?” E.J. asked.
Lulu nodded.
“If this Bethany is such a man-stealing tramp, why are you going to lunch with her?”
Lulu paused to think. “Rule number one, never let people see you sweat. If I hang out with her, I show the world that I’m okay and I don’t have to deal with the Angelina Jolie-Jennifer Anniston media hype over Brad Pitt. People will be watching, waiting for a catfight. Rule number two, Bethany wrote a big fat check. Money trumps ego every time and all she asked was for a little personal time. Even Lulu Bennington has to suck it up once in a while. It will make me a better person.”
“So she’s committed to your charity,” E.J. said.
“No,” Lulu replied, “she’s committed to being seen and viewed as generous. If she is seen supporting my charity, she’ll be seen as a serious actress because she’s supporting worthy causes.”
“You’re world is really messed up,” E.J. said.
“I’m inclined to agree with you.” Lulu stepped behind a screen in her office and shimmied into the sleek crimson dress. When she came out, Aiden clapped his hands.
“I almost forgot I have gossip about that crazy bitch,” Aiden said. “And this is straight from her queen’s mouth.”
“Gay gossip,” Lulu said with a chuckle. “The best kind.”
“Little Miss Bethany is stepping out on Jake,” Aiden said.
“Really,” Lulu urged him on.
“Your ex is going to be free and clear, if you’re interested.”
“You didn’t just ask me if I wanted Bethany’s sloppy rejects? You should know better. Been there, done that. I don’t want him back.”
“I was just testing the waters,” Aiden said with a shrug.
“Why?”
“I wanted to make sure Noah Callahan had an unobstructed path.”
“Mr. Callahan and I are--”
Aiden held up a hand. “Please Lulu, don’t tell me you’re just friends.”
“We’re not friends. He’s my bodyguard. Our relationship is nothing but professional.”
A look of disbelief filled Aiden’s eyes. “How many professional relationships do you slip the tongue to?”
E.J. snorted. “How vulgar is that?”
“I just call it like I see it,” Aiden replied. “Lulu, you look fabulous.”
She squared her shoulders. “I’m ready for battle.” She glanced at Aiden as she checked herself in the mirror one last time. “Do me a favor, sweetie...
Aiden smiled. “Pastrami on rye or a cheeseburger?”
“Pastrami.” She picked up the Birkin from the desk. “I’ll call when we leave. You know the food at The Ark is miniscule.”
The Ark offered trendy food, a chrome and glass décor with tin ceilings, dark red tile on the floors and a menu that Lulu knew was classified as organic and healthy. All offered to unwary customers at extremely high prices. The Ark wasn’t her favorite restaurant, but Bethany loved it.
Lulu saw Bethany already waiting. She was dressed in a black and white Stella McCartney sheath dress that emphasized her tiny figure.
Bethany looked up and saw Lulu. She smiled and gave a tiny wave. Lulu and E.J. headed for the table.
Bethany had one of the most visible tables in the restaurant. While Lulu was used to being on display, she would have preferred something more private.
Lulu introduced E.J. to Bethany. Bethany simply smiled and dismissed the other woman. Lulu felt a moment of annoyance. That was Bethany. If a person couldn’t move her up the food chain, that person was ignored.
Bethany stood and gave Lulu an air kiss. Lulu did an air kiss back, aware of the dozens of people watching them curiously. She could just imagine the next big headline in the tabloids. All is forgiven between media mogul and actress after sordid breakup. Lulu squelched a chuckle. Only the tabloids would have thought her breakup with Jake would be sordid.
“Are you all right?” Bethany asked. “I heard about the accident at the studio. You must have been terrified.”
“Accidents happen all the time,” Lulu responded. She placed her napkin on her lap and accepted a menu from the waiter. He asked if she wanted a cocktail or some wine. She simply ordered iced tea, E.J. asked for coffee.
As she glanced through the menu, Bethany waved at a couple sitting at a table a few feet away. Lulu didn’t even bother to look, though she saw E.J. looking a little dazed.
“Congratulations,” Lulu said, “I hear you’re starring in the next Ridley Scott film.”
“I’m so thr
illed about it.” Bethany tossed her blonde hair.
“Your career is on fire.” The waiter returned and placed Lulu’s tea on the table along with a basket of bread. Bethany refused the bread while Lulu and E.J. dug in.
“It’s exhausting and exciting all at the same time.”
The waiter took their order. Lulu ordered a salad and was surprised when Bethany ordered one as well. E.J. looked like she wanted a hamburger, but ordered a spinach salad.
Lulu watched Bethany chat even though Lulu didn’t have much chit-chat in her. She listened politely while she studied Bethany.
Lulu did have to admire her. Bethany was a good actress despite growing up in foster care and receiving little support from her foster families. At first, she’d depended on her good looks, but in the last two years she’s started to develop her skills. Jake had been as good for Bethany’s career as she had been for his. Lulu was happy for the two of them even though Aiden’s gossip about her hovered at the edge of her thoughts.
“I wanted to thank you for your support for my charity. You’ve been very generous.”
“Jake told me how much it means to you,” Bethany said just as the waiter put her salad in front of her. Another waiter served Lulu and E.J.
“Your check and the fact that you’re willing to lend your time will make the ball a huge success.” Lulu picked up her fork and after a moment realized that Bethany had waited to pick up her own fork after Lulu.
Lulu watched as Bethany ate delicately and realized she mimicked Lulu’s action.
“I’m glad to help,” Bethany said. “I’m so glad you were willing to meet me for lunch. I know you and Jake had something going and I didn’t mean to interfere. When I accepted the date from him for the Oscars, I had no idea he had already asked you.”
“Looking at you two together, I can see how much you’ve done for each other,” Lulu said. “I would never stand in the way of that.”
Bethany simply smiled. Lulu knew she had little self-confidence despite her success. Lulu could be supportive even though she wanted to head back home.
“I also wanted to thank you for the idea of using big band music. Where did you find that person who is so good at impersonating Duke Ellington?”
“My first decent job was as a cocktail waitress at a bar in the Bronx.”
“I thought I knew everybody in this city,” Lulu responded.
Bethany laughed. “I have a few secrets.”
E.J.’s gaze went back and forth between the two. She caught Lulu’s gaze and lifted one eyebrow. This was turning into one of the most torturous lunches Lulu had ever attended.
After lunch they drove back to the office. Lulu was emotionally exhausted. E.J. stared out the tinted window as Roman drove, his gaze roving alertly at all the traffic nearby.
“She’s odd,” E.J. said.
“We’re all a little odd in this business,” Lulu replied.
“You’re not odd,” E.J. said.
“Yes I am. I’m vain, manipulative, and a tad arrogant. I hide it well.”
E.J. chuckled. “It all works for you. You’ve ruffled Noah’s feathers and I’m enjoying it. I’ve never seen him so flustered before.”
“He’s flustered? He’s autocratic, pushy, demanding, and totally unreasonable.” She held up her foot to show off her yucky shoes.
Roman laughed. “We’re all enjoying the show.”
E.J. grinned. “We all know you like Noah.”
Lulu wanted to strangle him. She stared sadly at her shoes. “I like all of you.”
“No, no, no. You like like Noah.”
“Are we in high school?” Lulu asked.
“I have no idea. I never went to high school.”
“You didn’t go to high school! You missed out on proms, homecoming, and football games!” Lulu replied, astonished that E.J. had missed all those experiences.
E.J. shook her head. “Pretty much.”
“We need to have girl night. I want to know why you didn’t go to high school.”
E.J.’s eyebrows lifted. “I’m surprised you went to a public high school.”
“Aunt Julia didn’t want us growing up as snotty, spoiled little bastards. And the best way she could do that was to send us to public schools. We didn’t even get into Ivy League colleges. Wilder went to UC Berkley and I went to NYU.”
“Let me play devil’s advocate here. You still had a little golden cushion. Your family is worth what twenty billion dollars?”
“I thought it was more,” Lulu said.
“After the first two or three billion, does it really matter?” E.J. said with a laugh.
Lulu’s eyebrows rose. “What does one say after a statement like that?”
“All of that learning to be a better person was for what?”
“It means we treat the people who work for us with kindness and respect and value what they do.”
“You spend a lot of money. You live lavishly. You don’t apologize for it and you buy the best of everything.”
“When I spend money, a lot of people get a paycheck. I buy American when I can. I make sure my companies uses American products whenever possible. My clothing line, cosmetics and perfume will be made affordable and in the U.S. I may purchase a $2000 dress, but I sell luxury on a budget. My clothing line is made in New York’s garment district. I can walk there and make sure no one is chained to a sewing machine, working sixteen hours a day. The fabric I buy isn’t being loomed by a five year old sold into slave labor. I do not make as much money as I could but I’m proud of being a capitalist. If you work for me, you make a living wage and have health benefits. So no, I’m not ashamed of how I live.”
“You do live better than most people.”
Lulu didn’t have to justify anything she did, but she did feel she owed E.J. some sort of explanation. “I know we make a lot of money, but we also give a lot of money away to a number of charities. Trust me I’m on everybody’s list for a donation.” Lulu settled back against the Corinthian leather to watch the city blocks fly past. Even though it was January, people flocked along the sidewalks.
Lulu glanced at E.J. “Did I pass your test?”
E.J. gave her a small smile. “You’re good people, Lulu Bennington. Your heart and your wallet are in the right place.”
Lulu simply smiled and made a vow to find out this woman’s story. E.J. was an enigma wrapped around a conundrum and Lulu was curious enough that she was ready to start her own investigation.
Night was just being to fall as Noah turned on the street. Jake O’Malley lived in a historic apartment building in Tribeca. Noah parked in a garage across the street and then he and E.J. walked across the busy street and into the foyer. A doorman held the door open as they left the city noise outside. Noah signed in and the doorman told him they were expected and directed them to the elevator.
“What did you do to get him to agree to see us?” Noah asked as they ascended in the elevator.
“I just called and told him I was Lulu’s new personal assistant and I needed to talk with him. He didn’t even ask what I wanted, but told me he was available anytime.” E.J. leaned back against the elevator wall.
The elevator came to a smooth stop, the doors opened to an elegantly carpeted hallway with three doors—two on either side of the hall and one at the end. Noah stepped out onto the plush carpeting. He walked to the end and pushed the buzzer twice. E.J. tapped her foot as they waited.
A man opened the door, looked them up and down. “May I help you?”
“E.J. Wexler and Noah Callahan to see Mr. O’Malley.”
He gestured them inside. “Mr. O’Malley will be here in a moment.” The man disappeared down a hallway without saying anything else.
Noah walked inside and glanced around. The hallway opened to a large living room with a bank of windows overlooking Central Park. The room was mostly white. White walls, white carpeting, white leather furniture. The only accent color was a few vases in black with a large painting completely black wit
h a white dot in the center. E.J. walked over to the painting, and Noah could feel her appraising. She walked closer and peered at it, her nose almost against the canvas.
“Stop casing the joint, E.J.” Noah ordered.
She turned and grinned. “This is a fake.”
“How the hell do you know?”
“I stole the real one four years ago and I know where it is.” She strolled along the wall.
“At your house?”
“Not my style,” she answered. “But under the terms of our agreement, I told you I would reveal none of my crimes.”
Noah liked E.J. except when she was being mysterious. Though he knew enough about her background, he’d never really questioned her about a lot of the details she’d left out. She was good at her job and he liked her as though she were his younger sister. People underestimated her all the time because she was small and looked delicate, but he knew she was trained in several different forms of martial arts and had a core of hardened steel.
“What’s your impression of these people?” Noah asked when she stopped to look at another painting.
“They try too hard.” She turned away from the painting to stand in front of a window.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Noah said.
Jake O’Malley opened the door. He looked rumpled with his hair a mess and his eyes only half-opened. “You must be E.J. What can I do for you?” He stuck out his hand.
E. J. extended her hand. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.” She hitched a thumb over her shoulder at Noah. “This is Noah Callahan.”
Pretty boy flashed a million dollar smile as he took her hand. E.J. looked a little dazed. Noah got the sense he was eager to please. Good, he could work with that.
He shook Noah’s hand. “So what can I help you with? Is this about the charity ball coming up?”
“No.” Noah shook his head. “We’re investigating some incidents.”
“Incidents?” Jake looked surprised, but quickly got control of himself.
“A week ago, Ms. Bennington was almost hit by a car,” Noah said.
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