Venus viewed Hugo Santos as her intellectual savior, while Lucky considered him to be a grasping opportunist who saw Venus as his ticket to conquer Hollywood.
The second reason they’d drifted apart was because of Max, and her fleeting thing with Billy Melina—Venus’s ex-husband. Max making out with her best friend’s ex was more than awkward.
Lucky had never discussed it with Venus, and fortunately the burgeoning romance between Billy and Max had fizzled—with a little help from Lennie—who’d visited Billy and told him in no uncertain terms to stay away from his teenage daughter or there’d be big repercussions. Coupled with pressure from his team of advisors, Billy had complied, and Max had taken off to London where she now resided. Lucky missed her, although not as much as Lennie did. Lennie was way too protective, while Lucky knew it was good for Max to be out on her own experiencing independence.
Lucky waited for Venus on a secluded terrace overlooking the golf course. Usually Venus liked to make an entrance, but today she’d requested that they meet somewhere quiet. Lucky had agreed, and now she was sitting on the terrace sipping a Campari and orange juice. Closing her eyes for a moment, she imagined the new hotel complex she was planning. A hotel attached to a movie studio. How fantastic! How innovative! And even though it would take at least two or three years to build, she was excited. It occurred to her that maybe she’d even start producing movies again, she’d always enjoyed the process. It could be fun, another challenge. Perhaps she and Lennie could work on something together, although if they did that they’d probably kill each other.
She smiled at the thought of two incredibly stubborn people working side by side. No. It was never going to happen.
A woman was walking toward her. A dark haired woman wearing frumpy clothes and horn-rimmed old fashioned glasses. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but Lucky wasn’t sure what it was until the woman pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her.
Oh my God, Lucky thought, her mind spinning. It’s Venus!
Hollywood Husbands Page 56