Dangerous Kiss (25 page)

'That is not a good idea,' he said, thinking that it was an extremely bad idea.

What if, by some fluke, things didn't work out with Brigette? He had to have Fiona to fall back on. And her father. And her father's money. 'When do you leave?' he asked.

'Tomorrow.'

'Then tonight I shall come to your hotel, and we will make it a night to remember.'

Ob, yes, Brigette thought. We certainly will.

Breakfast at the Bel Air Hotel in the dining room.

'You got the part,' Max Steele said, as Lina sashayed in and sat down, causing most people to stare. In a town filled with stars, Lina still stood out.

'I know,' she answered, with a wicked grin. 'All eight inches!' Max spluttered out a mouthful of coffee. 'So it's true about Charlie?'

'For an old man, 'e rocks,' she said, winking roguishly.

Max took another gulp of coffee. 'Don't ever let Charlie hear you call him old.'

'Why?'

'Ego. It's big.'

'Just like his—'

'Okay, okay,' Max interrupted. 'I don't need details. The good thing is he thinks you're perfect for his movie. Doesn't even want to see you on video.'

'I can finally say it, Max,' she said, with a Cheshire-cat grin. 'I slept with a star an'

got a role in 'is film.'

'It doesn't make any difference whether you slept with him or not,' Max assured her. 'It's a done deal. He likes you.'

'What about money?' Lina asked, making eye-contact with a hovering waiter who was undeniably cute.

'Leave that to me. It won't be a lot but, at this stage in your career, exposure is more important than money.'

'I'll 'ave to trust you on that,' Lina said, abandoning her mild flirtation with the waiter and concentrating once more on Max.

'Tomorrow you'll meet with the wardrobe people,' he said. 'My assistant will set a time.'

'It'll 'ave t' be early,' she said, gulping back a yawn, ' 'cause I'm flying to Milan in the evening.'

'What a life!' Max said admiringly.

'It beats packin' plastic raincoats, which was my first job. We called 'em the wankers' special!'

'I started in the mail room at William Morris,' Max said.

'Didn't we do well!' she said, with another Cheshire-cat grin.

Max signalled for a refill of coffee. 'Charlie's leaving this afternoon,' he said. 'You got to him just in time.'

Lina picked up a muffin and took a healthy bite. 'I always 'ad great timing,' she said, favouring the waiter with another quick glance. He was quite delicious in an early-Brad-Pitt sort of way. If only she had a few moments to spare…

'I believe it,' Max said.

'So tell me, Max,' Lina said, a predatory look in her saffron eyes, 'what are you an' I doin' tonight?'

'You don't believe in sitting around, do you?' he said. He'd been around Hollywood for years, but this girl was something else.

'Why waste a great opportunity?' she said, with another wicked grin. 'Unless, of course, you're busy… or scared of comparisons…'

'Me?

'You:'

'Got a hunch I can handle any comparison you have to offer,' he boasted.

'Oooh, good. I'm gonna get lucky twice, huh?'

'If you feel like it,' he said, 'there's a party tonight you might enjoy.'

'I love parties. Who's giving it?'

'Venus Maria and Cooper Turner. They're celebrating their anniversary.'

'I met Cooper when 'e was single,' Lina said. 'Chased me all over Paris 'e did.'

'Did he catch you?'

She rolled her eyes mysteriously, remembering a long drunken night of great sex. 'Wouldn't you like t' know.'

'You'd better not remind him of it.'

'I'm a big fan of Venus Maria,' she said. 'Used to dress up like 'er when I was a kid.'

'How old are you?' Max asked, waving at a fellow agent who was breakfasting with Demi Moore.

'Twenty-six.' She pulled a miserable face. 'That's old, ain't it?'

'Twenty-six is not particularly old,' he said. 'Only don't go telling people in Hollywood you admired them when you were a kid - it's the worst thing you can do. This is Ego City, everyone wants to be perceived as young.'

'I wrote Venus a fan letter once,' she admitted.

'I repeat,' Max said sternly,'don't tell her.'

' 'Ow old is she, anyway?'

'Only a few years older than you and, trust me, she would not appreciate you informing her that you used to admire her when you were a kid.'

'Girls say that to me all the time,' Lina said, fidgeting restlessly.

'How do you like it?'

' 'S okay if they're twelve!' she said, blowing a kiss at Frank Bowling, who was hovering at the door with a group of Arab dignitaries. 'Gotta go shopping,' she said, pushing her chair away from the table. 'Must buy something knock-out for tonight. Will the party be jammed with movie stars?'

'Who do you want to meet?' he asked, amused.

'Let me see now… Hmm… I've always fancied Robert De Niro. 'Course, I love Denzel too. An' I wouldn't kick Jack Nicholson out of bed.'

'Into older men, huh?'

'Experience an' stamina. Turns me on every time.'

'Didn't you say tonight was my night? You're not dumping me for a movie star, are you?

'Well…'

He clicked his fingers for the check. 'You're quite an operator, Lina.'

A final grin as she headed towards the door. 'So I've been told.'

The scene was set. Soft music, candlelight, and Brigette in a silver slip dress that left nothing to the imagination.

Carlo was exactly on time, which was good, because she'd counted on him being prompt. He called from the lobby, and she asked him to come straight up to her suite.

He arrived at the door a few minutes later.

Pity he's such a bastard, she thought, as she let him in, because he is extraordinarily handsome, in an arrogant kind of way. And under other circumstances…

He brought her red roses, naturally. No imagination.

She took the sweet-smelling blooms from him and placed them on the hall table.

'How lovely!' she exclaimed. 'I'll call the maid to put them in a vase.'

'You look exquisite,' he said, touching her arm.

'I ordered champagne,' she said. 'Will you open it?'

He followed her into the living room where the bottle was sitting in an ice-bucket on the table. 'Ah… Cristal,' he said, picking it up. 'Excellent choice.'

'And there's caviar over there.'

'Brigette,' he said admiringly, 'for an American girl, you are very sophisticated.'

Yes, she thought. So sophisticated that I fell for your little trick of slipping a knock-out pill in my drink. How clever is that?

She couldn't help wondering why he had to drug women, anyway, since he could probably take his pick. He was tall, blond and handsome with a title - what more could any man possibly need? Lina would've jumped into bed with him in a flash.

So would a hundred other girls.

'How long have you lived in London?' she asked, moving over to the fireplace.

'Eighteen months,' he answered, popping the champagne cork. 'I do not like it here, the English are too cold. I'm Italian. We Italians are more warm-blooded.'

He gave her one of his long, lingering looks, obviously a Carlo speciality. 'You know what I mean?'

'I hope I'll find out tonight,' she murmured seductively.

He continued to look at her with lust in his eyes. Not only was this delicious blonde due to become one of the richest women in the world, she was also one of the most desirable.

He revelled in the thought that soon she would be all his. He would be in control of the Stanislopoulos fortune. He, Carlo, who'd never been in control of anything in his entire life, would be in charge of a billion-dollar fortune. Watch people kiss his ass when that happened.

'Come over here, my little angel,' he said, beckoning her towards him.

She walked over and allowed him to kiss her. He had a most insistent tongue that darted in and out of her mouth in a practised way as his hands began moving over her body, coming to rest on her breasts.

After a few moments she gently pushed him away. 'I'd like to make a toast,' she said, slightly out of breath.

'Please, allow me! he said, moving over to the champagne bottle, filling two glasses, and handing one to her. 'To the most beautiful girl in the world,' he said, raising his glass to her.

Another corny line. Didn't he have anything original to say?

They clinked glasses, and he twisted his arm through hers as they drank.

Better make sure he doesn't slip another pill in my drink. Got to watch him every moment.

'You must miss Italy,' she said, taking a small sip of champagne. 'I do,' he said.

'Only it seems that when I am with you, I do not miss anything.'

Oh, God, his lines were getting cornier all the time.

He moved in to kiss her again. Over his shoulder she glanced at her watch, this had to be timed perfectly. 'Shall we go in the other room?' she suggested.

'It will be my pleasure,' he said, delighted that the evening was progressing so well.

'Come,' she said, taking his hand and leading him into the bedroom, where - very slowly - she stepped out of her silver dress, revealing that all she had on underneath was a flesh-coloured thong.

'Bellissima!' he murmured, thinking this was moving faster than he'd anticipated.

'So beautiful!'

'Take off your clothes, Carlo,' she said invitingly.

He didn't need asking twice. Without further ado he quickly threw everything off until he stood before her in his black briefs, erection bulging.

She lay back on the bed, and he got on top of her. Even though she felt incredibly vulnerable, she knew that any moment now she was going to feel triumphant, because any moment now revenge would be hers.

As he started to kiss her again, the doorbell rang.

Saved by the bell. Timing was everything.

'Ignore it,' he commanded.

'It'll be the maid to arrange the flowers,' she said, struggling to sit up.

'She'll come back later.'

'No, get it - please, darling. Those roses are so beautiful, let's have them in here while we make love.'

Hey, if he can be corny, so can I.

'Very well,' he said, reluctantly getting up. Clad only in his underwear, he went to the door and opened it.

It wasn't the maid, it was Fiona.

'Carlo?' she said, her eyes widening with shock and surprise as she took in his lack of clothes and saw past him to the bed. 'Carlo. I don't understand…'

Next to her stood her father. 'Carlo!' Leopold bellowed, immediately understanding. 'What the bloody hell is going on here?'

Brigette knelt on the bed, holding up the sheet to cover herself. 'I… I'm so sorry, Fiona,' she said, meaning it, because she had nothing against the poor girl. 'I… I thought Carlo had told you about us.'

Fiona was in shock. 'You cow!' she exclaimed, her eyes filling with tears. 'You unbearable little cow!' And with that she turned and ran off down the corridor.

Leopold glared at Carlo. 'I will ruin you in this town,' he roared, before turning and chasing after his distressed daughter.

Carlo shook his head, obviously stunned. 'This is impossible,' he said, a dull red flush covering his face. 'How could they possibly know I was here?'

'Maybe they had you followed,' Brigette said, surprised that her feeling of triumph was so hollow. 'You were breaking it off anyway, you shouldn't feel too bad.'

'I never expected her to find out like this,' he said. 'Never.'

'You have to go,' Brigette said, getting off the bed and slipping on her dress.

'Why would I go?' he said, puzzled.

'Because I'm too upset for you to stay.'

'Don't be ridiculous.'

'I have feelings, Carlo. What happened is very disturbing.'

'We will sit quietly and talk about this,' he said, taking her arm.

'No,' she said, shaking free and going into the living room.

'Brigette,' he said, right behind her, 'you are leaving tomorrow, we must talk.'

'I don't think so,' she said, finally turning to face him.

'What do you mean?'

'Here's the deal, Carlo,' she said, savouring every word because this was the moment she'd been waiting for and standing up to him felt good. 'You just got yourself set up.'

His ice blue eyes clouded over. 'Excuse me?'

'I invited Fiona and her father here,' she announced triumphantly. 'I know what you did to me in New York. You drugged me so you could sleep with me. And, if you thought I was going to sit back and take that kind of behaviour, then you picked the wrong girl.'

His face darkened with fury as her words sank in. 'You set me up?'

'Yes.'

'You set me, Carlo Vittorio Vitti, up?' he repeated.

'Yes, Carlo, I did,' she said. 'Now kindly put your clothes on and get out. And never try to contact me again. This game is over.'

'You fucking American bitch!' he snarled, and without warning, swung his arm back and hit her so hard across the face that she stumbled and almost fell.

She could not believe that he'd struck her. It was totally unexpected.

He went to hit her again.

'Stop it!' she yelled. She hadn't reckoned on his violent temper. 'You'd better get out of here before I call Security.'

'Shut the fuck up, American bitch!' he screamed, his handsome face a twisted mask of fury.

She backed away, suddenly scared.

He went after her, grabbed her in a lock from behind, placed his hand over her mouth and slapped her again. Then he dragged her into the bedroom and threw her on down on the bed.

'One word out of your mouth and I'll kill you,' he threatened, a wild look in his eyes. 'Nobody treats Carlo this way and gets away with it. Do you hear me, bitch? Nobody, do you hear me?'

Chapter Forty-four

Price did not go for conventional, he preferred his look to be more cutting edge: for Venus and Cooper's party he chose a black tuxedo with a black shirt, and instead of a satin stripe down the sides of his pants, the stripe was black leather.

With his bald head and smooth, dark-chocolate skin, he knew that he looked pretty damn hot. And he felt good too, for that afternoon his agent had sent over the final contracts for his first starring role in a movie. Price Washington: soon to add movie star to his long list of achievements.