B004183M70 EBOK Read Online Free Page A

that,
as the new head of the agency, he understood her value. Yes, that might be it,
I fibbed to myself. I reached up to twirl a piece of hair, only to realize my
long dark hair was pulled up out of twirling reach.
    "Hello, Bebe, are you still with
me?" Gloria took another glass of champagne from a waiter.
    "Sure. I'm admiring what a genius
Pierre is with a camera. Just look how vulnerable Marilyn appears."
    "Right. If you say so, but I think
you're still mooning over your boss." She leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "I'll arm-wrestle you for who gets to kill
Suzie first."
    We fell to giggling.
    "You don't like her either?" I
asked.
    "God, sweetie, the stories I could
tell you. I wouldn't know where to begin, and they'd burn your young ears. But
if it's any comfort, I can say that right now Suzie probably isn't enjoying
your boss's attention as much as she makes it look."
    "Really?" I asked, burning to
know more.
    "Really," Gloria confirmed.
"I'm sure she'd rather be stalking the room for prey."
    "What do you mean?"
    Gloria nodded knowingly. "Suzie loves
movie stars, if you get my drift. And that's a Pauline Trigere couture evening
gown she's wearing. She's looking boss, and she knows it. All the better to
reel the stars into her web of lies."
    I took a minute to admire the cut of Suzie's
black wool crepe gown. Simply elegant, it reminded me of the 1920s styles,
sleeveless with hundreds of rhinestones over the upper bodice, covering the
straps and forming a bow in the front. A pretty dress, but in it she looked as
skinny as an exclamation point. "Doesn't everyone love movie stars?"
    Gloria finished a swallow of champagne and
seemed to consider saying more, then let out a deep sigh. "I mean she
screws them, Bebe. If they appear on a movie screen, Suzie's in their bed for a
wild night or two and, most important, is always 'accidentally' photographed
with them. Constantly thinking about ways to raise her profile in the world,
that's our Suzie. She's a user, and she employs her body for power. She's
sleeping with Pierre, has slept with, gosh, I don't know how many of the people
at this party, and has an old flame who follows her around for the times when
she's into nostalgia. She has to be careful, though, because Pierre's got a
temper. She counts on him to make her photos perfection. Heck, after some of
her crazier nights, she'd be in big trouble without my special under-eye concealer. Anyhow, in the past Pierre
hasn't minded Suzie straying for a one-night stand, but lately he's pulled in
the reins big-time. Frankly, I'm glad. Pierre's the one who made Suzie a star,
but she's not worth his love."
    "Wait, back up a minute," I said,
trying to take it all in. "You mean Suzie is sleeping with Pierre and
movie stars to get ahead—" I broke off and swung around to look at
Bradley. His gaze rested on Suzie while his hand had shifted to her lower back.
No! Surely Suzie wasn't doing that with Bradley!
    I turned to Gloria, frantic, hoping she'd
reassure me.
    She shot me a look of pity. "Don't
think about it. I only told you so you wouldn't feel bad about your boss. You
new to town, Bebe? You don't mind if I call you by your first name, do you? I
hate it when people call me Miss Castellano. Which, of course, Suzie does. I'm
here tonight just in case Miss Suzie Wexford should muss her lipstick or a lash
from her false eyelashes should fall onto her perfect cheek," Gloria said
in a sarcastic voice.
    My head spun at the very thought that
Bradley would . . . But, stupid me, wasn't that what all men did? It was okay
for a man but not a woman, who was expected to come to her marriage bed a
virgin. I forced myself to focus on Gloria.
    Poor thing, I thought, getting the
impression that Gloria must lead a life of misery under Suzie's hands.
"Bebe is fine by me, Gloria. As for Manhattan, I've been here for almost
two months. I love being a single girl in the big city. Everything is so
exciting, and there's energy in the very air. There's so