Protecting Lulu (Global Protection Agency) (21 page)

“Lulu,
what am I going to do with you?” She could be so frustrating. He almost felt
like he understood Noah.

She
patted his arm. “Sweetie, we’re together forever. Regardless of whether you
want to be or not. We’re like
Hermes
and purses. Chocolate and truffles.
Christian Louboutin and shoes. Now, you go along and get Chloe some nourishing
chocolate.”

“This
isn’t over, Lulu,” Aiden warned her.

She
smiled at him. “The new Louis Vuitton luggage is coming out and I know someone
who’s having a birthday next month.”

Aiden
sighed, he’d been undone by designer luggage. “I’m such a whore.”

“No,
sweetie you’re one of the joys of my life.” She returned to Chloe’s dressing
room giving him a little finger wave as she closed the door.

Ian
chuckled from behind Aiden. Aiden whirled around.

“You
are so easy,” Ian said.

“A
blessing and curse,” Aiden replied. He walked around Ian and headed out of the
studio, back to his office. He had work to do and arguing with Lulu would get
him nowhere.

Lulu
watched Aiden warily. He spoke on the phone and when the conversation ended, he
slammed the phone down. “Your reservation for lunch is confirmed. You and
Bethany at 1:30.” His face was set in a mulish expression that told her things
were not right in his world. “Why are you going to The Ark? You hate that
restaurant.
It’s vegan.
I can still get a reservation for Per Se.”

“I
left the choice up to Bethany,” Lulu stated before Aiden could interrupt her. “She
likes it.”

“Of
course,” Aiden rolled his eyes. “She wants to be seen. She wants the world to
know she’s a generous person by helping you with your charity. Why, I don’t
know.”

“My
charity is very important to me. I’ll take all the help I can get no matter the
source.” Bethany may have wanted to be seen, but those two together would give
the event a lot of buzz. The better the buzz, the better the donations.

“You
must feel really strongly about this charity,” E.J. said.

“The
Bennington Foundation supports a lot of charities and in this economy we need
to work even harder. This is an important legacy that the family feels very
strongly about. But this one is special.” Lulu loved this particular charity
which preserved old silent films especially those made by black filmmakers with
black actors.

“You
already do plenty of that,” Aiden said.

“If
Bethany is willing to lend her name and write me a check, I can certainly have
lunch with her.” She held two hangers up to her, one with a scarlet wrap dress
hanging on it and the other a crimson turtleneck sweater dress. What do you
think?” she asked. “Sexy Lulu Wear?” She held up the sweater dress in front of
her. “Or sophisticated Carolina Herrera?” She moved the wrap dress in front of
her.

He
studied the dresses. “The Lulu makes your butt look like a juicy peach.”

E.J.
perched on the corner of Lulu’s desk. “So we’re talking revenge,” E.J. replied.

 Lulu
stood in front of the mirror in her office studying each dress. “Of a sort.” She
loved them both and each had certain qualities that made her look her best.

“Then
the Lulu Wear,” E.J. said. “You want every man in the restaurant looking at
you, not her. The fact that it’s from your own line makes it even sweeter.”

“When
did you become expert?” Lulu asked.

E.J.
exchanged glances with Aiden. “Aiden’s a good teacher.” She rested her hands on
the black leather skinny jeans. The matching motorcycle jacket hung over the
back of a chair. The fuchsia blouse was a perfect compliment. The only thing
out of place was the harness secured around her shoulders and the very large
gun hanging against the side of her ribs. The jacket covered the gun, but Lulu
was always aware of its existence.

“May
I ask you a personal question?” E.J. asked.

Lulu
nodded.

“If
this Bethany is such a man-stealing tramp, why are you going to lunch with
her?”

Lulu
paused to think. “Rule number one, never let people see you sweat. If I hang
out with her, I show the world that I’m okay and I don’t have to deal with the
Angelina Jolie-Jennifer Anniston media hype over Brad Pitt. People will be
watching, waiting for a catfight. Rule number two, Bethany wrote a big fat
check. Money trumps ego every time and all she asked was for a little personal
time. Even Lulu Bennington has to suck it up once in a while. It will make me a
better person.”

“So
she’s committed to your charity,” E.J. said.

“No,”
Lulu replied, “she’s committed to being seen and viewed as generous. If she is
seen supporting my charity, she’ll be seen as a serious actress because she’s
supporting worthy causes.”

“You’re
world is really messed up,” E.J. said.

“I’m
inclined to agree with you.” Lulu stepped behind a screen in her office and
shimmied into the sleek crimson dress. When she came out, Aiden clapped his
hands.

“I
almost forgot I have gossip about that crazy bitch,” Aiden said. “And this is
straight from her queen’s mouth.”

“Gay
gossip,” Lulu said with a chuckle. “The best kind.”

“Little
Miss Bethany is stepping out on Jake,” Aiden said.

“Really,”
Lulu urged him on.

“Your
ex is going to be free and clear, if you’re interested.”

“You
didn’t just ask me if I wanted Bethany’s sloppy rejects? You should know
better. Been there, done that. I don’t want him back.”

“I
was just testing the waters,” Aiden said with a shrug.

“Why?”

“I
wanted to make sure Noah Callahan had an unobstructed path.”

“Mr.
Callahan and I are--”

Aiden
held up a hand. “Please Lulu, don’t tell me you’re just friends.”

“We’re
not friends. He’s my bodyguard. Our relationship is nothing but professional.”

A
look of disbelief filled Aiden’s eyes. “How many professional relationships do
you slip the tongue to?”

E.J.
snorted. “How vulgar is that?”

“I
just call it like I see it,” Aiden replied. “Lulu, you look fabulous.”

She
squared her shoulders. “I’m ready for battle.” She glanced at Aiden as she
checked herself in the mirror one last time. “Do me a favor, sweetie...

Aiden
smiled. “Pastrami on rye or a cheeseburger?”

 “Pastrami.”
She picked up the Birkin from the desk. “I’ll call when we leave. You know the
food at The Ark is miniscule.”

The
Ark offered trendy food, a chrome and glass décor with tin ceilings, dark red
tile on the floors and a menu that Lulu knew was classified as organic and
healthy. All offered to unwary customers at extremely high prices. The Ark
wasn’t her favorite restaurant, but Bethany loved it.

Lulu
saw Bethany already waiting. She was dressed in a black and white Stella
McCartney sheath dress that emphasized her tiny figure.

Bethany
looked up and saw Lulu. She smiled and gave a tiny wave. Lulu and E.J. headed
for the table.

Bethany
had one of the most visible tables in the restaurant. While Lulu was used to
being on display, she would have preferred something more private.

Lulu
introduced E.J. to Bethany. Bethany simply smiled and dismissed the other
woman. Lulu felt a moment of annoyance. That was Bethany. If a person couldn’t
move her up the food chain, that person was ignored.

Bethany
stood and gave Lulu an air kiss. Lulu did an air kiss back, aware of the dozens
of people watching them curiously. She could just imagine the next big headline
in the tabloids.
All is forgiven between media mogul and actress after
sordid breakup.
Lulu squelched a chuckle. Only the tabloids would have
thought her breakup with Jake would be sordid.

“Are
you all right?” Bethany asked. “I heard about the accident at the studio. You
must have been terrified.”

“Accidents
happen all the time,” Lulu responded. She placed her napkin on her lap and
accepted a menu from the waiter. He asked if she wanted a cocktail or some
wine. She simply ordered iced tea, E.J. asked for coffee.

As
she glanced through the menu, Bethany waved at a couple sitting at a table a
few feet away. Lulu didn’t even bother to look, though she saw E.J. looking a
little dazed.

“Congratulations,”
Lulu said, “I hear you’re starring in the next Ridley Scott film.”

“I’m
so thrilled about it.” Bethany tossed her blonde hair.

“Your
career is on fire.” The waiter returned and placed Lulu’s tea on the table
along with a basket of bread. Bethany refused the bread while Lulu and E.J. dug
in.

“It’s
exhausting and exciting all at the same time.”

The
waiter took their order. Lulu ordered a salad and was surprised when Bethany
ordered one as well. E.J. looked like she wanted a hamburger, but ordered a
spinach salad.

Lulu
watched Bethany chat even though Lulu didn’t have much chit-chat in her. She
listened politely while she studied Bethany.

Lulu
did have to admire her. Bethany was a good actress despite growing up in foster
care and receiving little support from her foster families. At first, she’d
depended on her good looks, but in the last two years she’s started to develop
her skills. Jake had been as good for Bethany’s career as she had been for his.
Lulu was happy for the two of them even though Aiden’s gossip about her hovered
at the edge of her thoughts.

“I
wanted to thank you for your support for my charity. You’ve been very
generous.”

“Jake
told me how much it means to you,” Bethany said just as the waiter put her salad
in front of her. Another waiter served Lulu and E.J.

“Your
check and the fact that you’re willing to lend your time will make the ball a
huge success.” Lulu picked up her fork and after a moment realized that Bethany
had waited to pick up her own fork after Lulu.

Lulu
watched as Bethany ate delicately and realized she mimicked Lulu’s action.

“I’m
glad to help,” Bethany said. “I’m so glad you were willing to meet me for
lunch. I know you and Jake had something going and I didn’t mean to interfere. When
I accepted the date from him for the Oscars, I had no idea he had already asked
you.”

“Looking
at you two together, I can see how much you’ve done for each other,” Lulu said.
“I would never stand in the way of that.”

Bethany
simply smiled. Lulu knew she had little self-confidence despite her success. Lulu
could be supportive even though she wanted to head back home.

“I
also wanted to thank you for the idea of using big band music. Where did you
find that person who is so good at impersonating Duke Ellington?”

“My
first decent job was as a cocktail waitress at a bar in the Bronx.”

“I
thought I knew everybody in this city,” Lulu responded.

Bethany
laughed. “I have a few secrets.”

E.J.’s
gaze went back and forth between the two. She caught Lulu’s gaze and lifted one
eyebrow. This was turning into one of the most torturous lunches Lulu had ever
attended.

After
lunch they drove back to the office. Lulu was emotionally exhausted. E.J.
stared out the tinted window as Roman drove, his gaze roving alertly at all the
traffic nearby.

“She’s
odd,” E.J. said.

“We’re
all a little odd in this business,” Lulu replied.

“You’re
not odd,” E.J. said.

“Yes
I am. I’m vain, manipulative, and a tad arrogant. I hide it well.”

E.J.
chuckled. “It all works for you. You’ve ruffled Noah’s feathers and I’m
enjoying it. I’ve never seen him so flustered before.”

“He’s
flustered? He’s autocratic, pushy, demanding, and totally unreasonable.” She
held up her foot to show off her yucky shoes.

Roman
laughed. “We’re all enjoying the show.”

E.J.
grinned. “We all know you like Noah.”

Lulu
wanted to strangle him. She stared sadly at her shoes. “I like all of you.”

“No,
no, no. You like like Noah.”

“Are
we in high school?” Lulu asked.

“I
have no idea. I never went to high school.”

“You
didn’t go to high school! You missed out on proms, homecoming, and football
games!” Lulu replied, astonished that E.J. had missed all those experiences.

E.J.
shook her head. “Pretty much.”