by Sharon Kleve
“Where’s Denning?” Gwen brushed the hair out of her face to look at her agent and friend.
“He’s long gone. He was packed and ready to go by the time I’d got here. It’s nearly midday, but I let you sleep in. You look as though you needed it.”
“He didn’t say goodbye.” Gwen moaned. She couldn’t believe he wasn’t here. Was he that eager to leave before she woke? She leapt out of bed, not caring about her attire and ran gracefully out of the room. She flew down the stairs, and ignored the way her head pounded with each footstep on the thick carpet. She discounted the concerned inquiry of the maid as she passed, in the need to see Rob’s absence for herself. She could feel that he wasn’t there. It was something about the silence, the lack of him, which pulled at her, but despite this, she had to see for herself.
The room had been cleared, the bed stripped and every drawer was empty. Didn’t that just speak volumes? Everything of Rob’s was gone as though he’d never been there. But as she took a deep breath to center herself and warn the tears away, she caught a scent—his cologne; a deep musky smell. He’d removed every sign of him, but that, although she knew that too would be gone in a few hours.
“He said he had something to do and seemed quite impatient to do it,” Janis moved up behind her, but failed to notice the look of regret written on Gwen’s face because Denning couldn’t bear to spend another minute in her company. “Did he do anything to upset you?” Janis turned, and this time saw the wetness at Gwen’s eyes. What was that about?
“No, he was very good at his job,” Gwen muttered, turning quickly to exit the room. Why should she worry about him when obviously he didn’t care anything about her? “He was worth every penny I paid him.”
“He didn’t get paid, honey.” Janis followed Gwen back up the stairs after she’d shrugged her shoulders at the maid. She didn’t know what was going on either but, she decided to make an urgent call to Sam to see if he knew what happened between Gwen and Denning.
“What do you mean he didn’t get paid? Of course, he got paid. Nobody works for nothing.” Gwen turned into her bedroom doorway, and didn’t care that she wore only her underwear. It wasn’t as though Janis hadn’t seen it all before.
“Rob is an old friend and owed me a favor but when I offered him a bonus this morning, he refused to take it. What went on between you two?” Janis lifted a curious eyebrow although the familiar tightening around Gwen’s pursed lips told her she wasn’t going to find out from her.
“I need a long bath and a headache tablet. My head is pounding.” Gwen closed the bathroom door shut softly and turned the lock. She didn’t want Janis walking in since she didn’t think she could hold the tears back for long.
She leaned over the pink porcelain bath, her tears dropping like saddened rain drops onto the shiny surface as she opened the taps to fill the bath.
“Stop it,” she snapped at herself. “You knew he was going and you didn’t ask him to stay, so why would you be surprised when he did leave? Everybody leaves.”
“Gwen, did you say something?” Janis tapped on the door, the door handle turning impatiently as though she couldn’t believe the door was actually locked. Gwen had never locked it before.
“Go away! Can’t I have a bath in peace?” Gwen screamed at the door, her face wet with tears and her head pounding erratically. She’d drank too much yesterday. She remembered the taste of the sweet white wine Rob kept filling her glass with, but she couldn’t remember the drive home. She vaguely recalled the car stopping and doors being opened before the movement of the car lulled her back to sleep.
Nothing since waking to Janis’s voice this morning remained in her memory. Did Rob carry her up from the car? Did he undress her, and put her to bed? She’d woken in just her undies, and she knew she would never have left her makeup on if she’d been awake.
She climbed into the bath without waiting for it to fill, drawing her knees up to her chest as she sobbed softly. It was ironic that she, a successful, highly-paid romance writer hadn’t recognized love until it was gone. She stared coldly into the mirror on the wall opposite. It was too late to realize that she loved Denning, too late to tell him. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to know if his lips would be just as soft as she imagined. But all that left when he walked out the front door without saying goodbye. She’d told him her most precious secret and he’d fled without a word.
“Bastard!” she hissed, wiping away her tears with a furious hand. “I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.” She stared at her reddened eyes and blotchy cheeks. But her mouth remained determined. She’d gotten this far without anyone’s help and she would continue on her own again.
But… it would have been nice to know that he’d found her attractive and she’d thought several times that he might have wanted to kiss her. If only they had kissed. Maybe if she’d been a little nicer to him, he would have….
“Stop now.” Her life was no fairy tale. She wasn’t a princess waiting for the brave knight to save her. She’d always saved herself. She’d realized many years ago there was no one out there to love her, no soulmate to keep her warm at nights. Her story was one of hard work and determination. She would get through this. She had to. “You knew him for three days, you can’t love him.” But as her mouth creased in pain and her strength crumbled, she knew she would never love anyone as much as Roberto Denning.
****
Later that night, Janis and Gwen stood in the corner of a large warehouse art studio with pseudo art deco paintings for sale on the bare brick walls.
“Darling, did I tell how lovely you look?” Janis held on to Gwen’s hand as though she was in need of support although Gwen didn’t pull away. Gwen’s dress was long and black, flowing to the floor, and showing only a flash of tall, shiny satin heels beneath. The sleeves were slashed from the elbow, long soft ribbons flowing over her wrists.
“Do we have to be here?” Gwen asked, her eyes dancing around the room. She knew lots of people, but none of them were friends; none that she knew more beyond sharing idle chitchat or to pass the time of day. Why she was needed at this pointless art exhibition she didn’t know. It wasn’t as though she and the young artist were friends. They’d met today, exchanged a few pleasantries at the door and hated each other at sight, although no one watching them would see anything other than two celebrities swapping mutual congratulations.
“It’s important exposure.” Janis steered the younger woman toward the bar. “You’ve been a little grouchy today. Have some pink champagne. It always cheers you up.”
“I hate champagne,” Gwen hissed, her voice low as she kept her face emotionless. She had no desire to give the gossipmongers anything to feast upon. “I want brandy.”
“Are you sure?” Janis frowned. Gwen had been moody all day and she’d not been able to get anything of interest out of Sam. He hadn’t known anything because neither Gwen nor Rob had confided in him, but he’d been thrilled with their visit to see his newborn. Janis had been surprised at that snippet of news because she knew Gwen wasn’t fond of babies, but Sam told her she’d cooed over little Honey and held her until the baby fell asleep.
“Of course, I’m sure,” Gwen snapped. Why did Janis question her decisions? She didn’t pay her to doubt her reasoning. “I like brandy and I’ve never liked champagne.”
“You can have anything you want, my love.” Janis nodded. This was the demanding, difficult Gwen she knew and tolerated. She waved her hand at the good-looking waiter as he lifted an opened bottle of champagne to fill two tall glasses. She raised a single finger before she pointed at the expensive French cognac to his left. “Here you go, darling.” She handed Gwen the cognac and waited for her to take a sip but Gwen didn’t look at her.
“There he is.” Gwen grabbed Janis’s arm, nearly knocking the glass from her hand. Janis spun, not knowing what to expect but she couldn’t see an
ything or anyone or interest. A couple of minor T.V. celebrities stepped into their line of sight but even they didn’t warrant Gwen’s excited reaction.
“Who am I looking for?” Janis turned her attention back to the woman at her side, but Gwen hadn’t noticed as her eyes scanned the mass of expensively dressed people talking by the large French windows.
“Denning, of course!” Gwen snapped and failed to see the puzzled look crossing her friend’s face as her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed. She’d seen him, she knew it was him but as she scanned the room, he was nowhere to be seen. She was certain she had spotted dark hair and the white silk shirt he seemed to favor. She’d seen a bunch of them hanging in his room although now she couldn’t see anyone who matched his description. Was she that desperate to see him that she invented someone who looked like him? How tragic was that?
“It was probably just a waiter. Rob Denning isn’t here, darling. He’s off sunning himself on a golden beach by now. I know I would be if I could.” Janis took a sip of her drink, and dismissed Gwen’s declaration. “What exactly happened between you two?”
“Nothing happened!” Gwen hissed, but the vehemence of her words told a different story. “He was a moron anyway.”
“A good-looking moron.” Janis caught Gwen’s eyes and read the truth in her baby blues. “Darling, he isn’t your type. I’m sure you’ll meet someone nice very soon.”
“I don’t have a type and I know I won’t meet anyone anytime.” Gwen dumped the cognac into her mouth, and blanched a little at the taste. Rob had made it look so easy.
“Look, there’s Jeremy. He’ll cheer you up.” Janis’s mouth lit up in a bright smile for the handsome man rumored to be Gwen’s fiancé, and although Gwen hadn’t said much about their relationship, Janis knew she couldn’t go far wrong with a man who was so devoted to her. “Hello, darling, maybe you can cheer Gwen up. She’s been a right misery all day.”
But Jeremy’s focus remained on Gwen. Janis wasn’t of importance.
“We need to talk.” Jeremy grabbed hold of Gwen’s arm just above the elbow and manhandled her past the stunned Janis before he led her into a deserted corridor, lit only by a few dim security lights.
“What are you doing?” Gwen found her voice, but Jeremy didn’t hear as he brought his enraged face close to hers.
“You don’t listen!” Jeremy growled, his top lip pulled back like a rabid cur. “I warned you.”
“Warned me about what? I don’t understand…” Gwen couldn’t fathom this radical change in the man she’d always been able to talk to. What had she done wrong?
“Are you so stupid you couldn’t take a gentle hint? Weren’t those photos enough?” The hold on her arm grew tighter and she gasped at the rage on his face.
“You sent them?”
“Who else? I had the luck to know your ex-lover and his mother gave me his cameras and his photos. I couldn’t believe my luck when I came across your dirty little secret. And there you were sticking your nose up in the air at me. What will your devoted fans thinks of your seedy photos?” Jeremy’s lips curled back over his teeth like a snarling dog as his eyes narrowed and Gwen shivered under his fury. She wasn’t a brave woman and words fled her mind as she tried to remove her arm from his cruel fingers.
“Why would you do that to me? I thought we were friends?”
“We were never friends. You used me as much I used you, but maybe that’s what the problem was all along.” Droplets of spit hit Gwen’s face as Jeremy spat at her. “Were you that pissed because I didn’t fancy you? Was that enough to ruin my life?”
“I’ve never tried to ruin your life, you know I wouldn’t do that,” Gwen protested but as his fingers squeezed enough to bruise her skin, she realized that it wouldn’t matter what she said, he wouldn’t believe her.
“You’re such a bloody liar, Ms. Gwen Lancaster, high-flying writer and evil back-biter!”
“I’ve never lied to you. I thought you were my friend .” Gwen started to cry. She’d never felt more frightened than at that moment. “I can’t believe you sent those photos. Why would you do that?”
“I know you told those producers not to offer me any roles because you wanted me as your little lapdog. You know how much I wanted to launch my career in the States, but, no, it didn’t fit in with your plans, so you killed my career before it even started.” Jeremy leaned in closer as though he was about to kiss her, and although Gwen tried to pull away, the callous hand on her arm kept her close.
“I didn’t…” Gwen tried to protest her innocence, but she knew there was a measure of truth in his words. She’d been irritated that he’d disappeared to attend auditions, but she hadn’t tried to ruin his attempts to further his career. She wasn’t that mean. Perhaps he didn’t realize how difficult it was to make it in the States, or maybe he wasn’t as good an actor as he believed he was. Still, he’d fooled her.
“Don’t bother to lie to me. I don’t care what you say, you insipid tart. You deserve everything that will come to you in the next few days.”
“Jeremy, I haven’t done anything to you. I wouldn’t…” Gwen didn’t bother to wipe the tears from her face. They didn’t seem to matter as her world crumbled around her.
“I have the negatives here in my pocket, safe from you and your gorilla boyfriend. I didn’t have to make any copies until I started sending them to you.”
“But you were in America, how could you post them?” Gwen’s mind seemed to snatch at the most unimportant details as though all rational thought had fled.
“So stupid. I can’t believe how stupid you are.” Jeremy leaned his weight against her, pushing her up against the white wall until she could barely breathe. “Do you think I don’t have friends who want to hurt you just as much as I do—especially since you took up with the Italian stallion?”
“Denning was my driver,” Gwen told him, knowing he wouldn’t believe her.
“Of course he was. That’s why you stayed over at his house. Oh sweet Gwen, a paragon of virtue who sleeps with men she barely knows and has seedy pictures taken.” Jeremy moved his hand until it rested across her throat, his fingers spread out, increasing the pressure until he saw panic build in her eyes. He swallowed the joy of her fear, feeling it warm his chest. He wasn’t going to kill her. He just wanted her to think it. She would soon learn that it was prudent to do as she was told and he would mold her into his special toy. She was very wealthy and bound to make much more. It wouldn’t hurt her to spread her money about a bit. She wasn’t the only whore he’d dealt with that day. Melissa had learned better than to cross him when she threatened to tell Denning about his plan, but Gwen couldn’t know that so he decided to twist the knife a little more. “You should have seen Melissa’s face when I told her about you and the ‘bodyguard.’ She hates your guts, sweetheart and she was more than willing to help me out.”
“I didn’t sleep with him.” Gwen gasped as his hand inflicted more pressure.
“Yeah, I believe you. You’re a nun, aren’t you?” Jeremy hissed. “Where is the boyfriend anyway?”
“Here.” Rob appeared as though from nowhere and his strong fingers grabbed hold of Jeremy’s hand and jerked it away from Gwen’s delicate throat. He glanced quickly to Gwen’s distressed face, tears stained by mascara running by her cheeks. As he pulled the struggling Jeremy away from her, he reached into his pocket to retrieve a white handkerchief and placed it in her hand.
“Get off me!” Jeremy shrieked in a high-pierced tone, sounding more a victim than a nasty blackmailer.
“What’s the matter? Don’t you like the same treatment you gave Gwen?” Rob hissed as he thrust the smaller man up against the wall only a few feet away from Gwen. His hand on the side of Winters’s head pushed the man’s skull into the plaster. “Don’t you know you shouldn’t treat ladies like that?”
“She’s
nothing but a whore!” Jeremy spat as his head was released. He slid down the wall, then got up to his feet, then turned furiously to confront his attacker.
“Nobody says that about Gwen,” Rob muttered softly as his fist made contact with the other man’s chin. Jeremy hit the hard floor with a shriek and a loud thud. He twisted as though expecting another blow, and covered his head with his hands.
“Leave me alone! Don’t hit me again!” Jeremy screamed like a banshee.
“Let me look at you.” Rob slowly approached the stunned woman who held his handkerchief to her eyes. “You’ll do,” he announced after he’d gently inspected her throat and took the handkerchief out of her hand to wipe her face.
“Gwen, whatever’s going on?” Janis rushed in, followed closely by four officers in blue who rushed toward the man on the ground.
“He fell,” Rob announced over his shoulder, although from the grins on the policemen’s faces it was evident they didn’t believe him. Not that it mattered, Rob was well known to them and there wasn’t one of them who didn’t owe him a favor or two. If he said the man fell, then as far as they were concerned, the man tripped over his own feet.
“Gwen, darling, talk to me. Are you okay?” Janis gathered the shaking woman into her arms, one hand on her cheek, pressing her head gently onto her shoulder as though Gwen was a child.
“Get your hands off me!” Jeremy bellowed. The police officers hauled him to his feet, and he became braver once he realized Rob wasn’t close enough to strike him again. He tried to escape the handcuffs heading his way but the police officers had done this many times before and soon had Jeremy’s hands secured behind his back.
“Rob, did you punch Jeremy?” Janis stared at the darkening bruise on Jeremy’s chin, his torn shirt, the buttons lying on the floor as evidence to the violence before she turned her gaze to Rob’s unrepentant face.