Cynthia thought it was curious that none of the men asked if there was any truth behind Lila’s nickname for the starlet. But then she realized that they probably all knew the answer to that first hand. As she was leaving Hayden’s office, Cynthia was reminded again that she was to have no contact with Lila what-so-ever. Robert Felton added that her friend had already sought legal advice and the situation was now in the hands of the lawyers.
Loudly, Cynthia reiterated, “But I’m the one who started the rumor, not Lila!”
Josh explained, “It doesn’t matter who started it. Melinda hates Lila, not you.”
Robert contributed, “Honestly Cynthia, the fewer people Melinda is out to get at Amalgamated, the better. Let’s not give her and Oscar any more ammunition by clouding the situation with the truth.”
Cynthia stared at the three men like they were from Pluto. She replayed their words in her head; “Let’s not cloud the situation with the truth.” And “We can afford to lose Lila, she’s just an assistant.” “Just an assistant?” Cynthia thought. If they had any idea of everything that Lila did to keep Josh’s ass out of the fire, they would never think of her as just anything.
Cynthia had to talk to her friend and she knew she couldn’t do it from her agency phone. She wasn’t quite sure where to go for privacy. Then it hit her. Saks was right across the street and while the whole store was teaming with people from The Industry, there was one floor they never got off on, the fifth floor.
The elevator doors opened on five and Cynthia headed for the changing rooms. As predicted, the department was completely empty with the exception of an emaciated sales lady who wore a confused look on her pinched face. She approached Cynthia and asked, “Excuse me, can I help you find something?”
Cynthia answered, “No thanks, I’m just looking for a gift for my mom. She’s quite hefty, you know.”
Bernadette seemed greatly relieved by the response and replied, “Oh well, then, that makes sense. Let me know if you need any help finding her size.”
Thanking her for the offer, Cyn snuck behind a rack of 3X’s and dialed Lila’s cell phone.
It only rang once before her friend answered, “Hello?”
“Lila, it’s me,”
Without preamble, Lila inquired, “Cyn, what the heck is going on?”
Cynthia spent the next five minutes filling her friend in on the details of her morning meeting and informed her that she had just been ordered not to have any contact with her.
Lila asked, “Then why are you calling?”
“Li, are you nuts? You’re the best friend that I have in this crazy town and there’s no way that I’m going to hang you out to dry like the rest of them.”
Lila wondered, “If no one is supposed to talk to me, how am I supposed to find out what’s going on?”
“Through your dad. These guys are running scared that you already have a lawyer.”
Lila couldn’t believe how quickly that bit of information found its way to the west coast. But that was Hollywood for you. Bad news got around quicker than Melinda. She asked Cynthia, “What’s Josh want?”
“I think he’s hoping the partners will agree on a settlement package. That way you’ll leave the agency and Melinda will stay.”
Lila asked, “And if I don’t accept the package?”
Cyn sighed, “Then all hell is going to break loose, my friend. You know how this business is, if you don’t go quietly and do what you’re told, the powers that be will move heaven and earth to make your life miserable.”
Lila fumed, “But if I leave without clearing my name, then no one else is ever going to hire me.”
Cynthia thought for a moment before responding, “You’re right. But if you stay, they’ll just make your life so miserable that you have to quit. And of course there won’t be any settlement then.”
Lila responded, “I could always sue them for wrongful termination.”
Thoughtfully, Cyn wondered, “Who would hire you then? No one’s going to give you a chance when they find out you sued your last employer.”
Lila wanted to scream. She knew Cyn was right, but how could she just roll over and let Melinda win like that? They chatted for a few more minutes and agreed it would be best if they cut off contact for the time being. Lila didn’t want Cyn to lose her job as well. Her friend promised she would call if any vital new information surfaced, but otherwise, they would just wait and see how things played themselves out.
On her way back to the elevator, an exotic silk print scarf caught Cyn’s eye. It was one she hadn’t seen on the first floor with the rest of the accessories. When she asked the sales lady why that was, she discovered some designers designed exclusively for plus-sizes. Cyn immediately bought the scarf and knew that she’d be the envy of all. Surely she would be the only woman in The Industry to have actually ventured above the fourth floor of Saks Fifth Avenue to find it.
In the elevator, she wrapped her new purchase around her head and donned a pair of extra large sunglasses. She felt a bit like Sophia Loren trying not to be recognized in an Italian airport. But Cyn knew she had to remain incognito for her next errand. The future of her career depended on it.
Once she set foot back onto Wilshire Blvd., she made her next call, this time to Jennifer Martin’s office at Quest.
The phone was answered, “Jennifer Martin’s office.”
“This is Cynthia Flynn calling for Jennifer.”
Jennifer was on the line within three seconds, “Cynthia! How nice to hear from you. Dare I hope that you’ve been considering our offer?”
Cyn replied, “Dare away Jen, I’m ready to talk turkey.”
Jennifer asked, “How soon can you be ready to leave Amalgamated?”
“I can be gone in two days. I’ll need that much time to get in touch with my top clients. While I can’t come right out and tell them I’m leaving, I can hint around enough so that they won’t be surprised by the news.”
Jennifer asked, “How many do you think you can get to come with you?”
Cyn assured her new boss, “I’m sure that anyone I ask will come with me.”
Sounding pleased, Jennifer inquired, “Where can we meet to sign the paperwork?”
That’s when it occurred to Cynthia that she didn’t need to sneak around Beverly Hills. She could have Jen meet her right at Saks, on the fifth floor. After all, it was probably the safest spot in town. Cyn told her soon-to-be boss where to meet her and Jennifer responded, “I didn’t know Saks had a fifth floor.”
Before hanging up, Cynthia added, “Jen, the whole deal is contingent on me being able to bring my own assistant.”
Confused, the head of Quest stated, “Of course you can bring your own assistant. Why wouldn’t you?”
“Because it just so happens that the person I want to bring is in the middle of a legal dispute with one of the celebrities Amalgamated represents. But I can assure you, she is the most qualified and professional person I know.”
Jennifer guessed, “I suppose that you’re referring to Lila Montgomery, Josh ‘open fly’ Furber’s assistant?”
Cyn laughed at the apt description of Josh and agreed, “Yes, I’m talking about Lila.”
“I’ll write it into the contract myself and I’ll meet you in fifteen minutes.”
Cynthia went back upstairs to her new secret rendezvous spot and purchased another scarf and several pairs of earrings before Jennifer arrived. She wanted to call Lila right back and tell her she had another job if she wanted it, but she knew her own career wasn’t secure until she safely walked out of Amalgamated Artists for the last time.
Chapter 16
As soon as Lila hung up with Cynthia, she dialed Josh’s direct line at Amalgamated. Charlotte picked up after seven rings, which Lila thought was a little strange as voice mail normally came on after four.
Charlotte sounded irritated when she answered, “Josh Furber’s office. Will you please hold?”
Before Lila could say yes or no, she heard a dial
tone. She called back and after twelve rings, Charlotte answered again. Before she could be put on hold, she said, “Charlotte, it’s Lila. Are you doing okay?”
Charlotte whispered, “Oh my god, Lila. I’m not supposed to talk to you.”
Lila answered, “But I called you and you had to pick up the phone, right?”
Her replacement exclaimed, “I hate working for Josh. He’s a pig!”
Of course Lila knew that Josh was a pig, but she was still curious about the particulars, “What happened? Has he put the moves on you?”
Charlotte declared, “The moves? Yeah, I think you could call it the moves. I went into his office yesterday while he was on the phone with one of his clients. He dropped his pen on the floor and motioned for me to pick it up. I just thought he was a lazy ass so I picked it up for him and that’s when I saw it.”
Lila asked, “What?”
“The one -eyed monster. He had it out of his pants and was staring at me like I should do something with it!”
Concerned, Lila asked, “Oh dear. What did you do?”
“Well,” Charlotte answered, “I’m twenty-two years old, so you know I’ve seen one or two before, but there was no way I was going to do anything with Josh’s. I mean, gross! Plus, I have a boyfriend…so anyway, I turned around and pretended that I didn’t see anything and went to the water cooler to pour a glass of water. Then I walked right over to Josh and poured it right on his little friend.”
Lila started to laugh so hard that the woman painting her nails missed her toe entirely and wound up painting a stripe of Azalea right across the top of her foot. Lila gave her an apologetic look before returning to the temp. “Charlotte, are you working at Amalgamated to become an agent or do you have other aspirations?”
The assistant answered, “I want to be a game show hostess. You know, like Vanna?”
Lila didn’t quite know what to say. She didn’t think that anyone really aspired to be a game show hostess. She thought it was just something they fell into on their path to loftier pursuits. So all she could manage in reply was, “Really?”
Charlotte hurried to explain, “Oh I know it sounds stupid but I have five really great ideas for shows. I figure I’ll write them, star in them and then eventually produce them.”
Lila felt better about Charlotte’s game plan once she had elaborated and said, “Go talk to Cynthia Flynn. Tell her what happened with Josh and explain your ideas. She’ll know who to hook you up with.”
“Really, Lila? Do you think she’d do something? You are so sweet to want to help me.”
Lila explained, “Listen Charlotte, no one should have to put up with Josh’s perverted advances. By any chance have you done anything else to get even with him? Because I’d be happy to give you a few pointers.”
Charlotte laughed, “Don’t you worry. I’ve got revenge under control. Jerry Bruckheimer’s office called to schedule lunch with Josh at Shutters and I told Josh the meeting was at Marie Calendar’s.”
Lila was gaining great respect for Charlotte. Who knew she had such a devious brain? Everyone was too busy looking at her legs to realize that she had a lot going on upstairs too.
Charlotte continued, “Then his wife called and I told her that Josh was in a meeting with Sherry Langtree and he didn’t want to be disturbed. She told me that I could interrupt him for her call, but I told her that Josh had already pulled the blinds in his office and once the blinds were pulled he wasn’t to be disturbed for any reason. She asked me who else he pulled the blinds for. So I told her, Sherry, of course Melinda, and then recently for that new model he signed, Fiat Sinclare. Oh Lila, she was steaming mad.”
Lila began laughing so hard that she was in danger of having her whole foot painted. She was delighted to hear that Charlotte was giving Josh the treatment that he so richly deserved.
When she hung up, she reflected on her years at Amalgamated and realized she could never see herself working there again. She had only been away for two days and already things had spiraled so far out of control she knew she would never be welcomed back. Not that she wanted to be.
Lila started to fantasize about the severance package she would be offered. While she knew she’d be lucky to get three months pay, she also knew if she played her cards right, she might be able to make it stretch until she had a new job. Having made so many connections in Hollywood over the years, there had to be somebody who would be willing to hire her. After spending time with Creigh that morning, Lila realized she did want to go back to California. If that’s where he lived, then that’s where she wanted to be, at least until she discovered whether or not they had a future together.
After her toes were dry, Lila decided to kill some time by driving around town until it was time to meet the girls for lunch. She walked over to the garage to pick up her rental and then let it take her wherever it wanted. Apparently, it wanted to go to Creigh’s house.
The Ashwood property was really more of an estate than a house. It was on six acres surrounded by a high brick fence and it was grand even by Bentley’s standards. As Lila drove through the front gates, she felt like she was entering the grounds of Hedgeworth manor, the home of one Julius Hunkster. Lila parked in the circular drive in front of the fountain. As she stepped out of the car, she looked up at the three story brick edifice in front of her and was blown away by its grandeur. After all, real people couldn’t possibly live like this.
On her way to the front door, she passed a Vintage Mustang and a newer Ford Taurus, with a rental company sticker on it. Lila wasn’t sure why she was there as Creigh told her they shouldn’t have anymore contact without her dad present. It’s just that she couldn’t stop thinking about the way he kissed her. It made every square inch of her body tingle uncontrollably. She reasoned if she could have just one more kiss, it would be enough to hold her until they could be together again.
Lila rang Creigh’s doorbell, but after three tries, there still wasn’t an answer. She peeked inside the window but wasn’t able to see much of anything beyond the imposing entry hall. That’s when she heard a shout coming from behind the house. She made her way around the cobble path that led to the backyard just in time to see a very tan and very naked Melinda jump off of Creigh. Lila stood there like a deer in the headlights, absolutely mesmerized by the sight in front of her. The man of her dreams was having a tryst with the vile and disgusting Melinda Forrester. The aforementioned noticed her and called out, “Hello, Lila. Whoops, looks like you caught us.”
Creigh swung around at that moment and jumped to his feet calling out, “Lila, it’s not how it looks!”
Finally finding her voice, Lila screamed, “How Lifetime Movie of you. I thought you had better taste than to play with trash. But then again, how would I know? I barely know you.”
As she turned to storm off, Creigh ran across the lawn and made a grab for her arm. She might have actually stayed put long enough to listen to his explanation if not for the fact that Melinda followed too. She galloped across the grass in all her glory, looking like a strange exotic animal. Nothing on her body actually moved as she ran. Her enormous breasts jutted forth like they were held in suspended animation and of course there wasn’t a spare ounce of fat anywhere on her so there was no other natural kind of jiggling going on.
Creigh made another grab for Lila’s arm. Melinda threw herself on Creigh’s back like this was some kind of game and Lila kicked Creigh’s shin in order to emphasize her anger. Creigh bent forward to grab his leg in pain and Melinda shot over his back leap frog fashion and landed in a naked heap right at Lila’s feet. That’s when she heard the supersonic whizzing of a camera snapping pictures at lightening speed. Lila turned in time to see a middle-aged man hidden in the bushes pointing a Nikon with a telephoto lens, right at them.
If the whole scene wasn’t ridiculous enough, Melinda noticed him too and instead of doing the decent thing and covering up, she tore across the lawn after him, still attired in only her birthday suit.
Before Cr
eigh could stand up, Lila ran back to her car and tore down the drive like the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels. She was so mad she could barely see straight. Part of her wanted to turn around and set Creigh’s house on fire, part of her wanted to rip out every strand of Melinda’s bleach blonde hair and then there was the part of her that wanted to drag Josh Furber to the top of the Willis Tower and kick him off. Not quite sure any of those ideas were viable options, she decided to drive over to Luigi’s and tell the girls. For some reason she included Jessica in “the girls.” She didn’t stop to consider why, she just drove.
Chapter 17
Jilly and Jessica got their hair done right next to each other giving them a better chance to catch up on each other’s lives. Jessica told Jilly all about her marriage to Charles Wentworth. She explained that they met five years ago in Chapel Hill at a cocktail party that was being thrown by a mutual friend. Jessica had just broken up with her boyfriend and didn’t want to go, but her friend pushed until she gave in. That’s when she laid eyes on Charles. She knew at first sight he was the one for her. He was tall and slim and very distinguished in that preppy, Harvard boy kind of way.
One thing led to another and the two of them became an item. Three months later Jessica missed her period and Charles proposed. Jessica was in heaven and planned a gorgeous intimate wedding on very short notice. She did not want to walk down the aisle looking pregnant. It was bad enough that everyone would gossip about it when they found out, but she needed her wedding to be perfect.
Jessica and Charles said their vows in the backyard of his home in the presence of seventy-five close friends and family members. She recounted that during the reception she lost track of her new husband and went in search of him. No one knew where he was until she asked the caterer if she had seen him. Mrs. Holmes said that she saw Charles go up the back stairs twenty minutes earlier.
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