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CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
SHORTLY AFTER THE BUSTYescort left John passed out in his chair. It was unusual for him, but the tumultuous events over the previous days had taken their toll. In a deep sleep when he heard a vague ringing, he groggily opened his eyes and realized it was his phone on the coffee table. Picking it up and trying to focus on the screen, it took him a minute to see it was Jerry Goldman. Desperately trying to gather his wits, he answered the call.
“Hi, Jerry, sorry, I was in the shower. Can you give me a quick minute?”
“Sure. I’ll wait.”
Stumbling into the bathroom, he splashed his face, but his mouth felt as if it was filled with hairy caterpillars and he was dying of thirst. Downing a glass of water, he took a deep breath, then hurried back to the living room.
“I’m back,” he declared, picking up his phone,then glancing at the clock he was shocked to see it was only eight-thirty.
“John, I know how busy you’ve been, and I also know how easy it is to let things fall through the cracks.”
John racked his brain. He was sure he’d caught up with everything.
“Please don’t forget about Matt’s party,” Jerry continued. “We must show him our full support. I want him for that film. He has what it takes to transition to the big screen, and I want Continental Pictures to take him there.”
“Absolutely, Jerry. I agree,” John replied, cringing as he spoke but grateful for the reminder. He’d been so overwhelmed by the drama with Sue Jackson and trying to get back on top of everything, the party had completely slipped his mind.
“And there’s the fashion show. You can’t miss that.”
“Fashion show?” John muttered.
“Stella didn’t tell you?”
John rolled his eyes. The week had flown by and he’d barely spoken to her. “I’m afraid not. We’ve been playing phone tag.”
“I understand how that goes. I know she’s friends with Tia. Apparently they share the same tennis coach. Do you play?”
“I’m afraid I’ve never picked up a racket,” he said, thinking back to his youth on the streets of Brooklyn. Tennis? What a joke!
“If we can’t get together for a game, then the four of us should have dinner. I’d like to get to know her better. Does she have a career?”
Why Jerry was suddenly wanting to socialize outside the office John didn’t know, but it was making him nervous, and he had no clue what to say about Stella.
“She’s never expressed any interest in working, though she’s welcome to if that’s what she wants,” he declared, thinking there was no fucking way he’d allow it.
“Doesn’t she get bored?”
John took a breath, desperately searching for the right answer, then it suddenly popped into his head.
“We’re planning on starting a family. She wants a baby.”
“Ah, yes, I see. That will certainly keep her busy. I was blessed with two sons when I was about your age. It’s very rewarding, but a great deal of work. I don’t know how my wife managed. We didn’t have much money back then. Anyway, Stephanie Baxter is starting a lingerie business, and Tia has become involved. They’ll be showcasing their first designs at the party, and from what I understand, Stella will be helping them in the dressing room.”
“Now that you mention it, I do seem to remember her saying something, but I don’t recall any details.”
“John, your work ethic is one of the reasons I believe in you, and I can see you stepping into my shoes,” Jerry said gravely. “It’s a job that requires tenacity and being prepared to put in the hours, but don’t neglect your marriage. When you’re juggling heavy responsibilities, it’s easy to put domestic issues on the back burner. That’s when things can go wrong.”
