‘Sorry? What a ridiculous thing to say. Of course I’m not.’
‘Let’s have dinner up here. The car will be picking us up at six in the morning. We’d better get an early night.’
‘That’s a wonderful idea.’ She yawned. ‘I’m going to have a bath now.’
‘Leave it to me. I’ll order you something special.’
She went into the bathroom. Her two suitcases and makeup case were stacked neatly on luggage racks.
She hoped she wasn’t going to be a big disappointment to Jay. He was used to such beautiful women. She remembered elegant, cool Lori.
Quickly she bathed, then unpacked a long blue silk nightdress and matching robe. It flattered her, plunging between her heavy breasts and swirling down to the floor clingingly. She brushed her thick auburn hair; it was growing, and reached to her shoulders. Her body and face were by no means perfect, but she was an attractive, sensuous-looking woman.
Jay had ordered more champagne, a delicious fish course, and thin slivers of perfect white chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce on a bed of rice. Then strawberries Romanoff and large goblets of Courvoisier brandy.
After dinner Linda felt gloriously happy. Jay made everything perfect. In the bedroom he undressed her slowly, and made love to her beautifully. Nothing frantic, nothing rushed. He caressed her body as though there was nothing more important in the world. He took her to the edge of ecstasy and back again, keeping her hovering, sure of every move he made.
She floated on a suspended plane, a complete captive to his hands and body.
He had amazing control, stopping at just the right moment. When it did happen it was only because he wanted it to, and they came in complete unison. She had never experienced that before, and she clung to him, words tumbling out of her mouth about how much she loved him.
Afterward they lay and talked.
‘You’re wonderful,’ he said. ‘You’re a clever woman, making me wait until after we were married.’
‘What?’ She snuggled closer to him.
‘I wanted you so much. But I knew if I made a wrong move I’d become just another guy on the make. I laid Lori the first time I saw her. She came for an interview, we locked the office door, and made it then and there. Can you imagine marrying a broad you screwed as soon as you met? That’s what kind of schmuck I was until I met you, and realized what a real relationship could be.’
She kissed him. ‘But weren’t you worried if we’d – well – like each other in bed? I mean, why didn’t you try before?’
‘Because I wasn’t about to take no for an answer.’
‘But I might not have said no.’
He agreed. ‘No, you might not have, but you’re not the sort of woman to have an affair. You would have regretted it, and I would have become the bad one in your mind.’
‘Oh.’ She was amazed at how well he knew her. He was probably right. ‘What about Susan Standish?’ she asked accusingly.
‘I’m a man, Linda,’ he said simply. ‘Don’t expect me to make excuses. She was a nice girl, and I couldn’t have you.’
Her eyes were closing. ‘I love you, husband,’ she murmured, and soon she was asleep.
* * *
The health farm wasn’t too bad. It was a place to relax, to think and take stock. Claudia submitted her body to the care of experts, and within a few days her physical appearance was back to normal.
She spent her days between massage and therapy, sunning herself beside the luxurious swimming pool in the grounds. The early English sun was weak but restful. She daydreamed a lot of the time, imagining herself a star, a success. That was all she really wanted out of life.
Giles came to visit her. ‘You look great!’ he said enthusiastically. ‘Just like the girl I used to know.’
He had correspondence from the magazine, eagerly awaiting her arrival.
‘You’ve really made a big impression on someone there,’ he said cheerfully. ‘They can’t wait. Planning promotions for you all over the place. They want to feature you big, kid.’
She was delighted. Maybe this was the opportunity she had been waiting for.
Soon she was ready to leave the health farm. Giles took her back to his studio flat in Chelsea. ‘I’ve moved all your things out of the penthouse,’ he told her. ‘It’s not a good scene for you. You’ll stay with me until we go.’
She was pleased. Giles was taking her over, and she liked it.
They slept in a big sprawling bed like brother and sister, and during the day Giles took her shopping for new clothes. She bought a fabulous shiny ash-blond wig to cover her own cropped hair until it grew back.
He paid for everything. ‘An investment,’ he told her airily.
Eventually he decided they were ready to go, and he cabled the magazine.
He received a lengthy reply which stated that they had already sent the tickets. And ‘Be Prepared. Big Welcome For Future Miss Playmonth. All Press Alerted. Party Planned for Tour Arrival.’
Claudia was delighted. New York awaited her.
* * *
It was just no good. David could not break the habit of Harriet Field. He found it absolutely impossible to get an erection with any other woman.
He tried religiously, even going so far as to take a girl to a pornographic movie in the hope that that would excite him enough. The result was the girl got so worked up that when he couldn’t satisfy her, she called him every filthy name she could think of.
He felt if he could only make it with someone other than Harriet Field, the spell would be broken. But it remained an impossible feat, and sex with Harriet got better and better.
He took to staying at her apartment all night, for now he found he had to have her in the morning too.
She became even more white and insipid-looking. Slowly she seemed to be draining the strength from him.
He would wake up in her cramped apartment, bad-tempered and uncomfortable. It was obvious that if he was going to continue this relationship he would have to make other arrangements about her living quarters. He didn’t want to set her up in an apartment, but it seemed the only answer.
She never said anything to him when they weren’t having sex, just kept well out of his way.
Usually he drove her to the office, dropping her a block away. She would huddle in her seat mouselike and silent.
He hated her, but he couldn’t leave her. Was it never going to end, this mad animal desire he had for this wretched creature?
He hadn’t seen his children for a long while. Too long. Somehow he felt ashamed to face them.
His life became one long round of work, into which he threw himself wholeheartedly. And sex with Harriet. He looked thin and haggard.
It’s got to end soon, he reasoned. I’ll just keep going until I’ve had so much of her it will be over.
He ignored everything else and concentrated on getting Harriet out of his system. This involved sleeping with her at every possible opportunity, and now, even at the office he would sometimes lock the door and take her quickly on the floor or across his desk. It didn’t help. It just seemed to make her more exciting.
He plodded on, determined to finish the affair.
* * *
At London airport Claudia was besieged by photographers.
‘Look this way.’ ‘Over here, Claudia.’ ‘Pull your skirt up, dear.’ ‘Let’s see some leg.’
Claudia obliged. She was wearing a very short skirt with matching coat and clingy silk sweater.
Giles stood by watching. He knew he had made a smart move getting her to sign the personal management contract. Now he had fifty percent of her, and he had a hunch that fifty percent was going to mean an awful lot of money.
The Americans were about to discover a new sex symbol. She would bowl them over. In England she was just another little starlet. In America she had the potential to become a big star. Giles was sure of this. With the right exposure and the right publicity, she had it made.
Of course he would have to w
atch her closely, see she didn’t drink too much, didn’t get laid by the wrong people.
She smiled sexily at the photographers, head thrown back, lips parted, slanty green eyes shining. She blossomed even more in the limelight. Her bosom strained to escape the thin confines of her sweater, her legs were long and shapely.
‘Come on, baby, we’ll miss the plane,’ Giles said at last.
She gave the photographers one last provocative pose, then took his hand, squeezing it firmly.
‘This is a ball!’ she exclaimed. ‘I love it, baby. Love it!’
* * *
In another part of the airport Linda and Jay sat in a VIP lounge sipping coffee. Jay’s was laced with a good stiff shot of whiskey. He hated flying and found the only way he could climb on a plane was to be mildly drunk.
Linda admired her wedding ring, a thin band of perfect diamonds. She could hardly believe how much she loved this man. After David, the thought of being able to pick up the pieces and start again had seemed impossible. Now, the ten years with David seemed almost nonexistent.
Jay took her hand. ‘You look beautiful today.’
She smiled. ‘Thank you.’
A stewardess arrived and told them it was time to board the plane. A lone photographer stopped them in the hall. ‘Is it possible to have a picture, Mr. Grossman?’
‘Sure.’ Jay smiled amicably and put his arm around Linda.
She was surprised. ‘Why do they want your picture?’ she whispered.
‘The studio usually arranges it. Another plug for the movie.’
‘Oh.’ She nodded wisely.
They sat in comfort on the plane, Jay taking furtive swigs out of a silver hip flask. Then the great engines began to roar, and the plane taxied gently off down the runway.
* * *
One morning David woke up in a particularly foul temper. His head ached, and the room smelled of stale sex – Harriet never seemed to open any windows. He reached for her at once, his physical feelings overcame anything else.
After satisfying himself, he felt even worse.
She made him coffee and gave him the morning paper. He smoked a cigarette and glanced at the paper. On the front page was Claudia. She faced the camera three-quarters on, bosom thrust out, hair long and wild, amused, knowing smile. She looked gorgeous, shapely legs disappearing into a short skirt.
Beautiful model and actress Claudia Parker (21) leaves for New York today. Miss Parker plans to discuss film offers. She is travelling with Giles Taylor, well-known fashion and society photographer. Both deny a romance.
David felt anger that she should look so good and appear so happy. After he had left her he had imagined she would go to pieces, vanish from his life. But here she was on the front page, off to America, without, apparently, a care in the world.
Bitch! She had ruined his marriage.
He turned the page in a fury. Why couldn’t she just have faded into oblivion?
There, on the next page, was a small picture of Linda with a man. She looked calm and smiling. The man held her arm protectively.
Mr. Jay Grossman, well-known Hollywood director, and the new Mrs. Grossman leave for a honeymoon in Jamaica. Mr. Grossman has just finished making Besheba here and on location in Israel.
Mrs. Jay Grossman – it was impossible. How dare she! He studied the picture intently, searching her face for signs of unhappiness, but there were none – she was serene and confident and very attractive.
How could she do it without telling him?
Then he remembered. Last week she had left three messages at the office for him to phone her, and he hadn’t bothered to return her calls.
‘Goddamn!’ he swore angrily. He had always imagined that Linda would be available when he did decide to settle down. She would take him back. Harriet Field had delayed his thoughts about getting back with her. He had drifted into a sordid affair and everything else had been neglected. He hadn’t even thought about seeing his children.
He felt trapped. What could he do? There was no Linda to save him now. The time had come to run.
Desperately he thought of the words of a children’s song – Run Rabbit – run rabbit – run run run – and they repeated in his mind with an insistent monotony.
There were retching sounds coming from the bathroom. Soon Harriet came into the room. Unusual for her, she hadn’t dressed yet, but was clutching her faded woollen robe around her.
She stood in front of him, white and wretched-looking. ‘We are with child,’ she stated blankly.
He stared at her in a panic. And slowly he realized it was too late to run – the trap had closed.
JACKIE COLLINS
There have been many imitators, but only Jackie Collins can tell you what really goes on in the fastest lane of all. From Beverly Hills bedrooms to a raunchy prowl along the streets of Hollywood; from glittering rock parties and concerts to stretch limos and the mansions of the power brokers – Jackie Collins chronicles the real truth from the inside looking out.
Jackie Collins has been called a “raunchy moralist” by the late director Louis Malle and “Hollywood’s own Marcel Proust” by Vanity Fair magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than 40 countries, and with some twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world’s top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivaled insider’s knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous! “I write about real people in disguise,” she says. “If anything, my characters are toned down – the truth is much more bizarre.”
Jackie Collins started writing as a teenager, making up steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book, “The World is Full of Married Men,” became a sensational bestseller because of its open sexuality and the way it dealt honestly with the double standard. After that came “The Stud,” “Sinners,” “The Love Killers,” “The World is Full of Divorced Women,” “The Bitch,” “Lovers And Gamblers,” “Chances,” and then the international sensation, “Hollywood Wives” – a #1 New York Times bestseller, which was made into one of ABC’s highest-rated miniseries starring Anthony Hopkins and Candice Bergen.
“The Stud,” “The World is Full of Married Men,” and “The Bitch” were also filmed – this time for the big screen. And Jackie wrote an original movie, Yesterday’s Hero, starring Ian McShane and Suzanne Somers.
Readers couldn’t wait to race through “Lucky,” her next book – a sequel to “Chances” – and the story of Lucky Santangelo, an incredibly beautiful, strong woman, another New York Times number one. Oprah had one word for the book “Lucky,” and that was – “Hot!”
Next came the bad boys of Hollywood in the steamy “Hollywood Husbands” – a novel which kept everyone guessing the identities of the true-to-life Hollywood characters.
Jackie then wrote “Rock Star” – the story of three rock superstars and their rise to the top, followed by the long-awaited sequel to “Chances” and “Lucky” – “Lady Boss” – tracking the further adventures of the wild and powerful Lucky Santangelo as she takes control of a Hollywood studio.
Both “Lucky” and “Chances” were written and adapted for NBC television by Jackie, who also executive produced the highly successful six-hour miniseries Lucky/Chances, starring Nicollette Sheridan and Sandra Bullock.
In the nineties, she produced and wrote the four-hour miniseries, Lady Boss, which became another huge ratings success for NBC. Lady Boss starred Kim Delaney.
Next came “American Star,” a love story, which the Los Angeles Times described as “classic Collins.”
Then the dangerously close to the truth “Hollywood Kids” – a story of power, sex, danger and ambition among the grown offspring of major celebrities.
In 1996 “Vendetta – Lucky’s Revenge” was published – and became an immediate New York Times bestseller.
And in 1998, Jackie hosted her own daily television show for CBS, Jackie Collins’ Hollywo
od. A combination of fun, style and interviews, Jackie talked to everyone from George Clooney to Jennifer Lopez.
After that she wrote “L.A. Connections” – a four-part serial novel published one per month – “Power,” “Obsession,” “Murder” and “Revenge.”
In 1999 came “Dangerous Kiss” – the return of Lucky Santangelo in a bestselling novel about relationships, addiction, fear and lust.
In the year 2000, “Lethal Seduction” became the first bestseller for Jackie Collins in the new millennium. This tale of erotic suspense and glamorous intrigue featured Madison Castelli, a character first introduced in the “L.A. Connections” series.
“Hollywood Wives – The New Generation” became a blockbuster bestseller in 2001, following in the footsteps of the original “Hollywood Wives.” “Hollywood Wives – The New Generation” featured a brand new cast of characters and a totally fresh perspective on how women pursue power, love, sex, and success in Tinseltown today.
In 2003 Jackie produced the TV movie of “Hollywood Wives – The New Generation” for CBS. Wives starred Farrah Fawcett, Robin Givens, Jack Scalia and Melissa Gilbert.
In June 2002, New York flash, L.A. trash and a Mafia don meet head-on in “Deadly Embrace.” This sexy tale of dangerous passion and suspense features heroine Madison Castelli and is both a prequel and a sequel to her adventures in the bestselling “Lethal Seduction.”
In 2003 came another New York Times bestseller, “Hollywood Divorces,” the story of three very different women. Followed in 2005 by “Lovers and Players” – a story of family conflicts, three brothers and their billionaire father, a beautiful heiress, a hip-hop mogul, Russian call girls, illegitimate children and two murders. This all takes place over seven days in New York, and yet again hit the New York Times bestseller list.
“Drop Dead Beautiful – The Continuing Adventures of Lucky Santangelo” was published in 2007. Lucky came back with a vengeance – bolder and more beautiful than ever! In “Drop Dead Beautiful” Lucky meets old friends and enemies, and deals with her wild teenage daughter, Max, who is as stubborn and strong as her mom. Lucky plans to return to Las Vegas and build an amazing billion-dollar hotel complex. But when she does… the trouble really begins…
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