“I mocked you for being romantic, not dramatic. And how very unchivalrous of you, to point out my inconsistencies.”
“Forgive my temerity. Perhaps I can make it up to you?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Well, it just so happens I am having a party, a celebration. If you would care to join me, I’m sure I can make up for ever thinking of you as less than you are.”
Anna hesitates. She had not thought this far ahead. She’d fixated only on repairing her character in his eyes. Attending the party as his guest would be a definite step towards a level of intimacy best avoided.
But Tolly mistakes the reason for her hesitation. “You may bring a friend if you like?”
A friend. That might be the answer. Serena is out of town, but she could ask Bella. Bella loves parties. And Bella would be an anchor, stop her getting swept away by Tolly Hyde. “Thank you.” She hopes Tolly can hear the pleasure in her words. “I’d love to come.”
“I’ll send a car. Will half an hour be sufficient?”
Anna’s hand goes to the mess of wet hair piled in a loose bun. She’ll need to style it, then make-up, and work out what to wear. “Give me an hour.”
“See you then.”
As Tolly disconnects, she falls back on the bed, her phone falling out of her hand. After the first few words, it had been so easy to talk to him. She wonders if this is part of the secret sauce that makes him so successful. Does everyone around him feel this way? She cannot believe it is only her.
But the clock is ticking and she cannot footle around navel-gazing. She needs to move. She has just regained Tolly’s good opinion; being late now would be to risk it all again. Picking up her phone once more, she messages Bella:Are you doing anything?
No. James has gone to bed early. He’s flying tomorrow first thing. Why?
Do you want to come to a Hollywood party with me?She’s pretty sure that adjective will be sufficient.
What, now?
There’s a car picking me up in an hour. Well, 50 minutes now.
YES!– followed by a host of emojis.
Anna suddenly thinks of something. She packed for a conference and some sightseeing, not a glamorous party.Do you have a dress I could borrow?
I’ll be at your room in 5.
Bella must have speedwalked through the hotel because Anna has barely begun drying her hair when she hears a knock. Bella walks in, her hips a-shimmy. “So, where are we going?”
Anna frowns. “I don’t know. I guess the driver will know.” When she says it, she realises just how suspect it sounds, but Bella isn’t in the least concerned.
“Whose party is it?”
“It’s a friend. He’s an old friend of my family.” Strictly true. She’s not sure why she evades Bella’s question. Probably because she doesn’t want to answer a host of questions for which she hasn’t prepared.
Bella’s face loses some of its shine. “Will there be famous people there? Actors, maybe a producer or two?”
Anna figures it’s a fairly safe bet to give an affirmative. Then she adds, “It is Hollywood, after all.”
Bella claps her hands in delight. Then she reaches into the bag she’s brought and pulls out a scrap of silver fabric. “I thought this would do you.” Another scrap, this time in black. “And this is for me.”
Bella talks almost non-stop as they get ready, a sure sign of her excitement. By the appointed time, both of them are ready. Bella looks fantastic in her tiny black dress with fringing that sways each time she moves. Her blonde hair is like a cascade of gold around her head. Anna, tall, slender and dark, clad in shimmering silver, looks like a moon goddess to Bella’s sun. As she neglected to pack party shoes and her feet are slightly bigger than Bella’s, she has opted to wear her gladiator sandals. Itreinforces the resemblance to Artemis. In contrast, Bella’s four-inch heels bring them almost to the same height.
With one last pouting selfie for Bella’s collection, they head out of the door. Anna’s worries that she won’t know which car is for them evaporate when she sees Frank standing beside his gleaming SUV. He lifts a make-believe cap. “Ladies,” he greets them.
“Frank.” Anna acknowledges him with a tilt of her head and a smile. Names are important. “Do you have the address?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Frank opens the rear door for her. She and Bella scramble inside. Bella pulls out her phone and sets off a playlist of party songs. She dances in her seat and sings the chorus lines. If Anna had not been with her for the last hour, she might have suspected some pre-loading. But neither of them has been drinking. Anna, by contrast, stares out of the window. She is quietly wondering how many other women Frank has picked up and taken to Tolly’s house. It would be naïve to believe she is the first.
