Hollywood Princess (33 page)

Upon entering the disproportionately long auditorium, an intern led us to the seats Steve had chosen on the left center aisle, two-thirds of the way back, the optimal location.

The large theater was nearly filled. There were executives in business suits and dresses.  There were actors, including the film’s leads and co-stars dressed to the nines. And there were assorted members of the New York film community.  Just your typical industry crowd, but New York style. I’d never seen so much black clothing at an event that wasn’t a funeral. It made my cream-colored dress an instant sensation.

As the lights dimmed and the curtain on the wide screen opened, Danny took my hand and kissed it. It was his first time seeing the film he had worked so diligently on.

What an amazing film! I was so proud of Steve. His month of filming in Africa had been challenging, but it was well worth it. The beauty and grandeur of Botswana became the third co-star of the story that was essentially an international intrigue adventure with secondary love plot.

Other segments of the movie had been filmed in Prague, London and New York, but they were inconsequential. Now I fully appreciated the importance of Danny’s gap year. He had travelled to such marvelous locations. If only I could have joined them. I felt a tinge of jealousy.

Once the end credits began to roll, I quickly hugged Steve and kissed his cheek.

“Amazing, Steve! I loved it!” I told him with complete sincerity.

Danny leaned across and reached Steve’s arm. Steve wore a huge grin.

“Dad, home run,” Danny whispered.

“Thanks, Danny,” he replied and then added, “Don’t miss your credit.”

Normally, Steve would have already left, but he wanted to share his son’s big moment. The credits continued rolling. A big budget film such as this with its multiple international and visual effects crews had a seemingly endless list of credits.

“There it is! Danny, it’s you!” I exclaimed.

Steve joined me in tradition by applauding Danny’s credit.

“Stop it,” Danny laughed as he put his hands over mine to stop my clapping.

“I’m proud of you.” I pulled my hand away and touched his cheek. “I really am.”

Danny pressed my hand against his cheek and kissed my palm. “I’m glad you’re with me tonight, Elizabeth.” Then he smiled.

As the credits concluded, Danny stood and brushed by me to reach Steve who was also standing. I enjoyed watching my men embrace.

“I love you, Dad. It was great,” Danny said softly.

“Hey, Danny. I love you too, son. I couldn’t have done it without all your hard work. I mean that.”

They smiled at each other and embraced again. I filled with their love.

Soon we were back in our limo en route to the party. I leaned against Danny. His arms wrapped around me for the short trip to the venue, my rock supporting me. 

On the outside, the Metropolitan Club appears to be a diplomatic outpost such as a consulate or United Nations mission, but in fact it had always been a private club. The building dated to the late nineteenth century. The Club was founded by New York City’s elite businessmen of the time. It has the appearance of a Italianate mansion with its marble facade.  Surrounded by modern towers, the proportions and grandeur of the property were unlike any I had seen that was not a museum.

The massive brass-topped, ironwork gates to The Metropolitan Club were open to ticket holders. Had I not entered on the arms of the Newmans, the premises alone would have intimidated me. My eyes were wide taking it all in. The cavernous two-story high main floor, its ceiling inlaid with marble, the walls and floors also marble and the sweeping staircases with carved banisters and trim, all magnificent.

At the same time, the Club was a pulsating swirl of humanity. I had no idea how many people were in attendance. This very large space was teeming with guests jockeying for social position and trying to find tables that were in short supply. Gloved wait staff were passing hors d’oevres among the well-dressed revelers.

We were ushered through several smaller rooms where endless lines formed by buffet stations, until reaching the less crowded VIP room. An elegant table set for eight with a card announcing “Newman” tucked amongst the floral centerpiece was ours. 

The others at our table were New York area friends of Steve’s. I was thrilled to spend the evening with them. As soon as Steve introduced me to Marc, his wife Paula, and their friend Ray, I knew I was going to have a good time. They had gone to NYU with Steve and Dad.

CHAPTER 71 - DANIEL

I didn’t know which I was enjoying more, being at the heart of this throbbing social event, or studying my beautiful Elizabeth.

After r
eturning from the bar with fresh drinks, I stopped inside the doorway and stared at her. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Eli. Elizabeth always looked great, but tonight… Incredible. Brimming with confidence, she moved among the guests as though she had been born to work a room. In a sense, I suppose, she had been. We both had.

Dad’s hand on my s
houlder announced his arrival. He grinned watching me.

“Elizabeth’s an amazing girl, Danny.”

“Eli sure is. It’s great how confident Eli’s become.”

“Thank yourself.
It’s your influence, son.”

I took a sip of my martini.
Dad’s compliment made me uncomfortable.

“I was wrong,” he continued.
Dad admitting to being wrong made me stop mid-sip, and stare. This was a rarity, perhaps even a first.

“About what, Dad?
I thought you were never wrong,” I teased. 

As
we spoke, Elizabeth glanced my way and smiled shyly, having caught us starring. Dad and I smiled back. I flirted from afar by throwing her a kiss. Eli blushed and returned her attentions to the actors she was talking to.

“Steve!” a burley, older man in a black suit clapped Dad on the back.

“Ed! Good to see you, my son, Daniel. Danny, Ed Tegarten.”

Ed Tegarten
attempted to shake my hand but laughed when he couldn’t because I was holding a drink in each one.

“Who’s that pretty young thing you’re both starring at?” he asked.

“Elizabeth Jordan-Jacobs; Mike and Miranda’s girl,” Dad chuckled, “and if my son doesn’t blow it, she’ll be my daughter-in-law some day.”

“But Dad, you said…”

“I was wrong, Danny. You’re not too young if it’s the right girl. Elizabeth is the right girl. I can’t imagine her not being in our family.”

“Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to me
.”

CHAPTER 72 - ELIZABETH

Paula shared stories with me about Dad that I’d never heard before. Apparently Michael Jacobs had been quite the party boy in college before law school and Mom had changed him. Now I better understood his closeness to Steve.

“I need to borrow my date.” Steve interrupted us with his sudden appearance.

“What’s up, Steve?” I asked.

“A photographer from the Style Section of The Times is here. Please find Danny. I need you both in five minutes.”

Danny had excused himself to go to the men’s room, and now that I thought about it, he should have returned by now.

I began my search by heading toward the men’s room, tucked under the sweeping staircase behind the bar, another possible destination. I hadn’t left the VIP room since arriving and was relieved to find the crowds in the other rooms had thinned. I could move around.

Danny’s height certainly helped as I readily spotted him across the room. He was engaged in conversation with an attractive, deeply tanned, tall blonde. In her very high heels, she even appeared taller than Danny.

I didn’t move as I assessed them, my intuition on guard. My knees began shaking, and not from my Jimmy Choo stilettos. 

What was she doing? Her fingers brushed against Danny. They touched his shoulder, his lapel, and then his face. And Danny didn’t object! He smiled at her. What the hell? 

Who was this woman? Her legs stretched on forever. Only the very top of her thighs was covered by her skin-tight mini dress. The clingy dress cheapened her appearance. Danny would never let me out in a dress like that. The strapless bodice covered by a shrug-like metallic jacket barely contained her A-cup assets. Why was I jealous? 

My reaction ashamed me, and I composed myself by taking a deep breath. Danny was with me. We were here with Steve. He wouldn’t dare flirt with another woman tonight. It would humiliate me and embarrass Steve. Danny would never do that.

This woman had approached him, I concluded. Who could blame her? She didn’t know about us, and Danny was the handsomest man at the party. Alas, boyfriends, unlike husbands, do not wear rings. 

This woman wasn’t even his type. Danny liked brunettes with naturally occurring skin tones, not tanning booth blondes. He wanted his girl to have curves, not be built like a boy. This woman was too tall. Danny enjoyed teasing me about being only five foot three. Danny loved that I wasn’t tall because he could tower over me and feel protective. That’s what he always said. Even tonight while I wore stilettos, Danny towered over me.

CHAPTER 73 - DANIEL

Trying to extricate myself from Reggie while not setting her off took the skills of a neurosurgeon. At any moment, Elizabeth was going to seek me out. My trip to the men’s room had gone on too long. The situation was tenuous at best. 

I
couldn’t believe Reggie was here. How the hell had this happened? I knew the answer of course, in vague terms. Models always attended premieres. They dressed up the room. Ambitious managers had no difficulty securing invitations to high-profile events for their clients. 

As
Reggie had no idea who Dad was, I had to chalk this up to one unfortunate coincidence and deal with it as best as I could.

“Sweetheart, there you are!” Elizabeth purred, her
megawatt smile flashing at me. Elizabeth leaned into me, placing her hand on my arm and sliding it into my hand. I had no choice but to pull her close. 

“Steve needs us.
A photographer from The Times is here,” she added.

Though not unexpected
, Eli’s appearance caught me off-guard. Even with the lateness of the hour she was breathtaking. Eli’s hair and make-up remained perfect, so elegant.

But wh
at was going through Elizabeth’s head? Had she seen Reggie’s hands on me? Did she suspect anything? Was Eli’s sunny greeting genuine, or an act? Eli might be an excellent actress. I wouldn’t know until we returned to the hotel. 

If my neck weren’t on the line, it would be int
eresting to watch this unfold. When Elizabeth felt threatened, she became mama lion, subtly pulling rank. In this case, her message was loud and clear. Elizabeth was royalty and I was her willing subject.

Reggie understood.
Eli was the girlfriend on the telephone, and her smile diminished ever so slightly. I ignored it and hoped that I seemed at ease. Elizabeth needed to remain ignorant.

“Eli, this is Reggie Ames.”

“Nice to meet you Reggie. I’m Elizabeth Jordan-Jacobs,” she responded and offered her hand to Reggie. Reggie complied and shook it.

I smirked.
Eli’s introduction was a power play. She rarely introduced herself by her entire name, but tonight Eli wanted to be recognized, so she was liberally using it. Most everyone in this room recognized the name, though I doubted Reggie did.

“Eli, how ni
ce,” Reggie answered frostily. Her eyes looked Eli up and down, sizing up the formidable adversary she never had a chance against.

Elizabeth cringed.
Nobody called her Eli, except for me.

“It’s Elizabeth, dear,” she answered in a haughty voice
I didn’t recognize. 

Reggie didn’t flinch.
Was she used to being the other woman, forced to speak to wives and girlfriends? Eli continued smiling.

“I’m sor
ry,” Reggie began, “I thought Dan said…”

“Only Daniel calls me Eli,” Elizabeth cut her off and smiled at me.

“Reggie lives in Cam’s parents’ building in Miami. We met at the pool.”

Eli gasped, a staged response.
“I hope you didn’t hear our phone calls.” The giggle in her voice dared Reggie to recall an awkward memory while she fished. Power play.

“I gues
s. Maybe,” Reggie answered tentatively.

“Daniel, why didn’t you excuse yourself from your frie
nds and go someplace private?” Eli scolded with a lilt that kept her voice light and friendly.

“I was at the pool, Eli.
There was no place to go.”

“My apologies, Reggie,” she said sweetly, “Havi
ng to listen to our conversations.” Eli smiled at me and touched my cheek. “Those were R-rated, dear,” she purred.

I had
Reggie’s feelings to consider. I took Eli’s hand from my face and squeezed it. I warmly smiled at her. “Yes, they certainly were,” I answered sheepishly.

“I wasn’t listening,” Reg
gie quickly added. “There were others there.”

“You’re from Miami.
What brings you here?” Elizabeth changed the subject.

“I model.
I’m in New York for work,” Reggie answered more comfortably now that Eli had asked a familiar question.

“Daniel got you on
the guest list?” Eli turned to me. “You didn’t tell me friends from Miami would be here. We could have met up earlier.”

How cozy that would have been.
Not.

“I
didn’t invite Reggie. I didn’t even know she was in New York.”

“My agent arranged
it,” Reggie cooed. “Dan, you can get me on the guest list? Aren’t you a college student?” 

Elizabeth’s
expression told me she realized that Reggie did not know who I was.

“I am a college student, but I know some people,” I answered evasively.

“Let me guess, Daddy’s connected,” Reggie said with a tinge of sarcasm.

“Sweetheart,” Elizabeth’s syrupy voice saved me, “We don’t want to keep
Dad waiting. It is The Times, after all.”

“I have to
go, Reggie. Good to see you.” I hoped I sounded casual.

“
Good to see you too.” Reggie’s disappointment was obvious to me but hopefully not to Elizabeth.