“That’s pushing it a little,” she said. “We’re going to need a new violinist. Natalie doesn’t want to go out this time.”
“Why not?” Fox asked.
“She and her pilot are going to get married,” Celia said. “She’s going to stay in Texas with him.”
“She’s throwing her career away ... for a man?” Fox asked, shaking his head sadly.
“She’s not throwing her career away,” Celia said. “She’s agreed to still play for us on subsequent workups and recordings. She just doesn’t want to tour. I’ll need you to dig up some touring caliber violinists so they can audition for me.”
“We can do that,” Fox said.
“Remember, looks don’t matter to me. We’re not making music videos; we’re putting on a show. Despite what you all think, nobody really cares what my musicians look like. I want quality violinists only. If they happen to be attractive like Natalie, that’s fine, but do not rule out anyone because of their looks if they can play.”
“As you wish,” Fox said sourly.
“Coop, Charlie, Little Stevie, Laura, and Liz are all on board for this next tour,” Celia said. “And they all worked on all of the music for Two as well, so they’re already familiar with it. If you can get me a violinist who can pick up and play new music quickly, we should be ready to go by the first of the year.”
“I’ll start working on that today,” Fox promised. “I may be able to get you some auditions set up by Thursday or Friday.”
“Make it Friday,” Celia said. “Greg’s premier is Thursday.”
“Your premier?” Fox asked the actor.
“The premier of my new film,” Greg said. “Us and Them.”
“I’ve heard about it,” Fox said. “With Mindy Snow, right?”
“Right,” Greg said. “The premier is Thursday night at Mann’s.”
“Well,” said Fox, a pout on his face, “it would seem my invitation to this premier must have gotten lost in the mail?”
Jake opened his mouth to say something. Greg did the same. Pauline silenced them both by putting her hands on their arms. “It would have been inappropriate to invite you to this event,” she said, “seeing as how there was an upcoming bid process and contract negotiation.”
“Oh ... well ... yes, of course,” Fox said. “I can certainly understand the concern.”
“Right,” Greg said. “Nothing personal, of course.”
“Of course,” Fox said. “But ... now that we’ve signed the contract that is no longer a concern, right?”
“Uh ... right,” Pauline said slowly. She had nothing to follow it up with.
Celia did, however. “I’m afraid all of the invites have already been issued,” she told Fox. “Maybe the next time?”
Fox frowned in disappointment, but he nodded his head. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” he said.
Jake and Laura stayed in their Granada Hills home that night. The next morning, they drove to Greg and Celia’s Los Angeles house. The two ladies climbed into Celia’s Mercedes so they could head to Rodeo Drive to do some shopping. Both needed formal dresses for the Us and Them premier. Jake and Greg, who both owned several custom fit tuxedos and therefore had their wardrobe for the premier covered, climbed into the Lexus and drove to the Ocean View Country club for a round of golf.
They all met back at Greg and Celia’s for dinner. They all drank a considerable amount of wine during the dinner and Jake did not feel comfortable driving back to Granada Hills. They accepted the offer to stay in the couple’s guest suite for the night.
“We’ve never fucked in this house before,” Laura pointed out.
“No,” Jake agreed. “We never have.”
“Have you?” she asked, giving him a wifely look.
“No,” Jake said honestly. He would not be able to say the same about Greg and Celia’s Palm Springs house—he had fucked Helen several times there, including once in the shower—but he felt no need to bring that into the discussion.
“I think we should probably do it then,” Laura said.
“Okay,” Jake agreed. “But keep your pillow handy—unless you want them to know what we’re doing.”
“I’ll keep it handy,” she said. And she did. And she used it appropriately when the time came.
They left after breakfast the next morning and flew back to Oceano. And then just after noon the next day—Thursday, the day of the premier—they flew back to Whiteman. They lounged around the Grenada Hills house until five o’clock in the afternoon and then they started to get ready for the formal event. Laura fussed over her makeup and her dress, asking Jake how she looked so many times he finally had to bark at her that she was beautiful and to stop asking. She pouted, but she stopped asking.
At six o’clock, the limousine showed up in front of their home. They walked out in their formalwear. Several of their neighbors were outside, gardening, getting their mail, gossiping, and they goggled at the sight. They still did not know who their neighbors were—none of them were young enough to be up on modern rock music personalities—but they all developed instant disapproval of them when they saw the long hair on Jake and the youthful beauty of Laura. Young people with money? No way that money could have been honestly earned. Before the limo even made it to the Nerdlys’ house, the rumor that international drug dealers had moved into the old Goldstein house were running rampant.
They picked up the Nerdlys and then headed to Silver Lake, where they picked up Pauline and Obie (Obie was rocking a black cowboy hat with his tuxedo and managed to pull it off). From there, it was another short drive to Hollywood through thickening evening traffic. Everyone enjoyed a few drinks on the trip.
At 7:30, the limo pulled to a stop in front of Mann’s Chinese Theatre—which had once been known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. A sea of entertainment media was already there, positioned on both sides of the roped off red carpet that led into the facility. The party of six stepped out of the limo and the cameras began to snap, the flashbulbs exploding from everywhere, creating afterimages in Jake’s vision.
“Jake! Jake!” someone shouted. “Is this the first time you’ve seen Mindy since she broke up with you?”
“Mrs. Kingsley!” someone else shouted at Laura. “How does it feel to be at a premier with Jake’s ex-girlfriend?”
There were some other questions shouted, most in that vein, some completely inarticulate. Jake answered none of the questions, not even with a ‘no comment’. Laura followed his example and did the same. The group walked slowly up the red carpet to the entrance of the theatre. Two tuxedoed security staff were guarding the entrance. Jake and Laura handed over their invitations. The guards dutifully checked their guest list and allowed them entry. They then did the same for the Nerdlys and Obie and Pauline.
The lobby was set up to be opulent and magnificent. Formally dressed men and women circulated among hors d’oeuvre tables and around two bars while champagne girls circulated about with their trays. At the end of the roped section, just where the room opened up, stood Greg Oldfellow in a tux and Celia Valdez in a beautiful flowing maroon gown. Standing opposite of Greg, dressed in a skimpy royal blue dress that showed an impressive amount of cleavage, was Mindy Snow. Her brunette hair flowed down to her shoulders. Her makeup was absolutely perfect. She was very beautiful, as she always had been. Her eyes looked at the latest guests coming in and lit up when she saw who they were. Her smile got wider as Jake and Laura approached.
Here we go, Jake thought, putting a phony smile on his face.
“Jake!” Mindy cried, rushing up to him. She held out her arms for a hug.
Jake hugged her, feeling the press of her breasts into his chest, smelling her perfume, feeling the softness of her body. She kissed him on the side of his jaw, just in front of his ear, leaving a little film of her saliva behind. Jesus fucking Christ, he thought, repressing a shudder. She did that right in front of Laura! In front of dozens of entertainment media cameras!