“I am a slave. I cannot leave.”
“You aren’t listening. You can leave if I buy you.”
She seemed to consider; then she spoke quickly. “I accept your offer.”
“Good.”
Samir called the general from the limo and established a price of $200,000 and the sale of five missiles. It was the missile deal that sealed the bargain. Already rich, the general was not so interested in the money-but he certainly took it.
There was just enough time for Anna to pack a bag before sleep. At 4:00 A.M. she would be going to the airport to meet Sam. When the phone rang, she talked herself into picking it up, knowing it could be her agent.
“Guess what I’m going to get you for August Moon.”
“Whatever you negotiate. You know-”
“I know you like to pretend the money doesn’t matter. Maybe you’re not pretending. Anyway, guess why I’m going to get you twenty million.”
“Because I have two X chromosomes?”
“Because you’re going to get nominated. I’m pretty sure and so is everyone else.”
“I wish I had a clever line for that one.”
“You deserve it.” Despite her deadline at the airport she remained on the line for five minutes, listening to her agent’s assessment of who was impressed, who was not, who would be critical, and most of all, who would be jealous and whom she had impressed. These would be the factors that would help determine whether she would win her second Academy Award.
“They want to have a little formal announcement about your taking the part at the studio-and a party. Next week. Thursday or Friday. They’re working the details.”
“Okay.”
“Anna? Will Lane be coming?”
“I… I don’t think so.”
“Will anyone?”
“What have you heard?”
“Nothing. Nothing. Well, maybe not exactly nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“Well, there was the story about the yachtsman, which you denied, of course. And then I asked Peter if he knew anything… and of course he denied it, but his voice said otherwise, or so I thought.”
“There is someone. I haven’t broken up with Lane, though. This new guy has got the worst case of hide- and-seek I’ve ever seen. He’s seriously the smartest man I have ever met.”
“Have you fallen for him?”
“Officially I don’t know he exists.”
“How does he feel about you?”
“He doesn’t know yet. I haven’t told him.”
“Normally that would be something he would tell you.”
“I’m working on it. I’ll get him to take me to the studio party. I’ll just have to work fast.”
“I guess you will.”
Anna took a deep breath and dialed again. “Lane?”
“Yeah?”
“This is really unfortunate but I need you to be just dead-on honest with me.”
“Okay.”
“Sometime here we are planning to have dinner. And I think we will both be jockeying for one of those really sweet, we’re-great-pals breakups. That’s what I think. You tell me right now straight out if I’m wrong.”
“Who is he?”
“His name isn’t important and… well… it’s the fellow who is helping me with my brother… Mr. Secrets.”
“Her name is Julie.”
“Have you slept with her?”
“No. Of course not. I’ve barely talked to her. Well, maybe I’ve talked to her. And she went home before we actually slept.”
“You’re a gentleman. Go have your way with her. Under any other circumstances I would do this better. You deserve better. You are a good man and some woman will be very lucky. We are now officially good friends.”
“Okay. You tell your publicist first. Mine will confirm. It was mutual, we remain best friends, blah-blah-blah. And there were no third parties involved. I do want to know, though. Did you sleep with him?”
“No way. Never even considered it. Until now.”
Twenty-two
When she heard the whine of the hydraulics and the thump of the landing gear doors, Anna began the talk with Sam in earnest.
“What’s happening at Harvard?”
“Your code phrase opened the file folder, but there are many other folders that are also encoded and they have to be decoded with a random-numbers generator. We’re using Big Brain and sucking up the power of several computers. They did get a bunch of science, but of course everyone is most curious about what is hidden. Human nature. So we wait.”
“I am excited about August Moon, but it’s difficult to feel excited about anything without feeling guilty.”
“It’s like laughing at a funeral.”
“Anyway, they’re having a little party at the studio.”
“That’s great. Give you a chance to show the world it’s business as usual for you.”
“Right. Except for it to look normal, I need an escort.”
“What about Lane?”
“We’re officially just friends now.”
“So?”
“Well, if… you break up and then attend something like this, it fuels rumors and starts talking. You just don’t do it without some time passing, and even then…”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear about Lane.”
“Thanks. There is a solution, though…” She put her hand on his and gently squeezed.
“Oh, Anna, I’m… I’m flattered, and honored, but… rumors and publicity. I can’t…”
“Yeah. I thought you probably couldn’t, but it would, you know… mean so much.”
“I can’t.”
“Maybe?”
“I think we may be repeating ourselves.”
“I’m sure you are right. I’m sure you are. But just in case there is a way, maybe you could sleep on it. Not, you know, make the final decision.”
“All right. We’ll let it rest for now.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
A few moments of silence followed.
“Maybe you’d consider just arriving with me, maybe come in the same limo, then wander around.”
“I would love to. It’s just the occupational hazard thing.”
“Riding in the same limo. Just being at the same party, maybe now and then talking or walking together. Look, I’m sure you are right. I’m a schmuck for pushing the issue. Or at least I’m feeling like one.”
“I will ride in the car with you. Then we will go our own ways at the party. Okay?”
“That’s cool. And really thoughtful. And I think a step forward.”
