Illusions of Love

chapter 25



Jimmy was all too aware that Vince Maine was just one step away from making sure no more of Charley’s movies could be distributed via the website. He wasn’t stupid. Of course her husband was going to be there to sort everything out, to make sure his Beverly Hills housewife tried to keep as much of her now-tarnished reputation as intact as possible. Damage limitation, isn’t that what they called it?

Jimmy had been expecting it. But he had lawyers too, good lawyers, but lawyers that maybe worked just that little bit outside of the box, bucked the system, listened to others besides those that made the rules. So he had back-up plans. Didn’t he always? He was prepared for anything.

No, Jimmy knew that the website was only ever going to be a stop gap, a temporary measure, a fleeting glimpse into Charley Maine’s past – a chance for those who’d previously had no idea who or what Charley had been to learn about their neighbour, to find out what that mom at the school gates, who’d seemed just like any other ordinary rich Beverly Hills housewife, had once been a part of.

He had other irons in the fire. He had an underground distribution service already in action, ready to make sure that anyone who wanted a slice of Charley Maine’s past could have one, for just a handful of dollars, and already the orders were flooding in because, at her peak, Charley Maine had been Queen of the hard-core porn scene. And now a whole lot of people wanted to see why.

When she’d married Vince Maine, Jimmy also knew that her new husband had made sure that as much of Charley’s past life as possible was put to rest. Vince knew people, he was a powerful man, especially here in Las Vegas, so he’d made sure Charley’s new life could take off without her feeling any kind of threat of the past returning. And he’d succeeded. For a while. But Jimmy was back now, he was back and things were changing, because he knew people too. He was also a powerful man, just in very different ways.

He’d managed to resurrect Charley’s past and bring everything back to the surface, and this time Vince Maine’s job of protecting his wife was going to be a whole lot harder. Jimmy Cash was back. And he had no intention of going anywhere anytime soon.



***



Michael watched from the side of the set, half his attention on everything he had to sort out before they could start shooting anything, and half of it on the fact India was due on set any second.

The last time they’d spoken hadn’t exactly left them on good terms, but he was sure he could turn that around. He knew that she hadn’t been in contact with Dominic at all over the past few days because he hadn’t followed her to L.A., as Michael had thought he would. So maybe he’d finally got the message. When it came to India you couldn’t win against Michael. It would never happen, Michael wouldn’t let it. Maybe Dominic was finally starting to realise that.

Dominic MacDonald – his son. Michael still couldn’t get his head around it. He had a thirty-six-year-old son and he’d had no idea. His whole relationship with Dominic’s mother was a blur if Michael was honest. It had happened during a time when he’d been struggling, when alcohol and recreational drugs had been his best friend; a time when he’d let very few people in. He’d have made a crap father if the relationship had lasted, but that was no excuse. Maybe knowing Dominic would have changed all of that, who knew? Who knew what might have happened if things had been different.

But things weren’t different, and that’s what he had to deal with. The present, not the past. And if India hadn’t responded to any attempt Dominic had made to contact her then surely that was a good sign? She knew Dominic had used her, because that’s exactly what he’d done. Used her as some kind of pawn in some kind of game, a game of one-upmanship against a man who never lost. His son wasn’t quite as clever as he was, nor would he ever be. And it seemed India had learnt that.

Michael smiled to himself, suddenly feeling as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Whatever India had said to him back in L.A., she’d been angry. With good reason. It was to be expected. But she’d calm down, and that’s when Michael had to be ready to make his move – again.

‘What’re you finding to smile about?’

Michael swung round at the sound of her voice, coming face-to-face with India who was now out of make-up and ready for the scene they were about to film that morning. Her naturally tousled blond hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her long slim legs revealed in all their incredible glory in a short white dress and strappy heels. She looked stunning.

‘I’m just happy to be alive on another beautiful Las Vegas morning,’ he replied, giving her the famous Michael Walsh grin.

She didn’t respond, in fact, her face was stoic as she continued to look at him with an expression bordering on suspicion. ‘Whatever. Have you seen my dad? You called him to set this morning too, didn’t you?’

They were filming out on the famous Las Vegas Strip that morning so security was tight and a whole section of The Strip outside the hotel had been cordoned off in order to accommodate filming, but already hoards of tourists, paparazzi and any showbiz reporter worth their salt had gathered by the barriers, waiting to catch a glimpse of the dysfunctional family this movie now seemed to be showcasing.

‘Reece is in make-up. No sign of Dominic?’

‘I know what you’re playing at Michael, and it won’t work. I have no idea of Dominic’s whereabouts because this will be the first time I’ve seen him since I left for L.A. three days ago. And you already know that.’

‘Do you think you’ll be able to cope?’ Michael asked, balancing his reading glasses on the end of his nose as he looked at her, sticking a pencil behind his ear.

She stared at him through narrowed eyes. ‘Cope with what, for Christ’s sake?’

‘Working alongside Dominic. I mean, you two were… close, shall we say. Until everything happened…’

‘He lied, Michael. That’s all. He lied to me, he didn’t kill anyone, so I think I’ll be able to cope just fine, thanks. And let’s not forget, you lied too. So don’t try and make out he’s the only bad guy round here. Like I said when you turned up in Malibu, you’re both as bad as each other. Like father like son.’

Michael wanted to retaliate, he wanted to tell her that whatever had happened with Dominic, that would never happen with him. Dominic had used him too, after all. He’d kept things secret from Michael, decided to keep the truth from him even though he’d known for a while that he was his father. He’d wronged them both. But he knew it was best to back off for a bit, leave things alone. Wait and see if Dominic could do any more damage, because Michael was sure that he would. If he let him. So he just smiled, pushed his glasses back up his nose and started making notes on the clipboard he was holding, almost dismissing India’s comment as though she hadn’t said it at all.

‘We’re going to be outside for a lot of the time this morning. Are you okay with that? It’s pretty hot, I know, but there’s plenty of drinking water, and if you need a cool mist spray we can get make-up to sort that out, it’s not a problem.’

‘I hate it when you do this, Michael.’

He looked at her, raising his eyebrows. ‘Do what?’

She stared at him for a few seconds then shook her head. ‘Forget it. I’m going to find Reece.’

Michael watched her walk away, still so beautiful but a much stronger woman than the one he’d fallen in love with almost twenty years ago. She was harder to crack; she’d learnt too much over the years, seen too many things. But one day she’d realise that the only place she could be really happy was with him. He’d make her the happiest woman alive; it was all he wanted to do. Make her the happiest woman alive. Again. And what Michael Walsh wanted, Michael Walsh usually got. No matter what it took to get it.



***



India turned away and left Michael standing, unwilling to get into any kind of confrontation with him; she didn’t have the energy. He was too much to handle at the best of times, but today he was something she really didn’t want to have to cope with in any capacity other than her director. On a professional level she could handle him, on any other level she didn’t even want to try.

‘Whoa, there! You look like a woman on a mission. You in a hurry or something?’

She stopped dead as she almost walked into him – the man she’d been dreading seeing yet, at the same time, couldn’t wait to be close to again. As she looked down at his hand on her arm, which he quickly removed, she could feel his eyes staring right at her but she tried her hardest not to look at him. She wasn’t ready yet. She needed more time. And she really hadn’t wanted this to happen in full view of everyone, although, how could they really have avoided it? They’d started this whole ridiculous merry-go-round of crap and now there was no way to get off, but, as far as everyone else was concerned – and that included the studio bosses – the publicity surrounding her and Dominic right now was something money couldn’t buy. It would guarantee this movie an audience they couldn’t even begin to imagine. It was a movie they hadn’t even finished shooting, yet the pre-release publicity band-wagon was already on a roll.

She looked briefly over towards the crowds of people at the edge of the set, the paparazzi cameras already clicking away at this first public meeting between her and Dominic since the revelation that Michael was his father. More fodder for the gossip magazines. They were practically giving it to them on a plate, no wonder they were constantly hanging around.

‘We need to talk, India.’

The sound of his voice made her look up at him, like an almost involuntary action, her eyes finally meeting his and she tried hard not to let her heart rule her head as those ice-blue eyes of his looked back at her. ‘Not here, okay?’ she said quietly. ‘I think we’ve revealed enough in public to be going on with, don’t you?’

And with that she turned and walked away, knowing that to get embroiled in any kind of conversation with him here would be a mistake. The paparazzi had their photos, and doubtless they’d be getting an airing before filming had even broken for lunch. But that was all she was willing to give them. For now.

Dominic was right, though. They did need to talk, and they needed to talk soon. She just needed a little bit more time to get her head around what she was feeling, and how she planned to deal with those feelings. Because letting Dominic MacDonald back into her life could be the only way to go, given how she really felt, deep down inside. Or it could be the biggest mistake she’d ever make.



***



Dominic pushed a hand through his hair and threw his head back, sighing heavily, closing his eyes for a second as the sound of cameras clicking away filled the air, catching every second of the frustration he was feeling as the woman he’d fallen head-over-heels crazy-in-love with walked away from him once more. She’d been unable to even look at him for more than a few seconds. And yet all he really wanted to do was tell her how sorry he was, how stupid he’d been – how much he loved her, because these past few days without her had proved that to him. For the first time in his life Dominic MacDonald knew what it was like to miss someone so bad it physically hurt, to have one person invade every waking thought and every sleeping dream; to make you realise that, without them, you don’t really feel like carrying on. It was strange, and they were feelings totally alien to him but they were there, and he knew it was because he loved her. India Walsh – model, movie star, mother. He loved her. Simple as that.



***



‘Everything alright?’ Reece asked as India threw herself down in the chair beside him in the make-up trailer whilst Scott – her hair stylist – fussed unnecessarily around her.

‘Everything’s fine. I’m in a movie being directed by my ex-husband, starring alongside the man who’s just been exposed as his long-lost son and, oh, let’s just add another complication to that already off-the-page scenario – I’ve also slept with him.’

Reece looked at his daughter out of the corner of his eye as the make-up girl finished off her work, dusting powder over his tanned skin.

‘And if that wasn’t enough…’ India continued, taking the glass of water Bobby held out to her, smiling briefly at him, ‘… my best friend’s porn-star past has just been resurrected by her psycho ex-boyfriend who’s out of jail and back in town. The Hollywood gossip machine must be partying non-stop at the amount of shit we’re giving them to work with. I’ve seen movies with less convoluted storylines than this.’

‘You’re working yourself up into an unnecessary state, Princess,’ Bobby said, leaning back against the counter in front of her, fanning her with a copy of the day’s call sheets. ‘And it’s no good for the skin, y’know. All this stress. Especially at your age.’

She stuck her tongue out at him, but she couldn’t help smiling. ‘I’m not stressed, Bobby.’

‘No. Not much you aren’t.’ He leant over and kissed her cheek, giving her hand a quick squeeze. ‘Right, I’m off to make some phone calls. I’ll see you on set, okay, Angel?’

She nodded, throwing her head back and closing her eyes. Despite a good eight hours sleep she still felt as though she could go another eight and still need more. She was exhausted.

‘Have you seen Dominic this morning?’ Reece asked, swinging round in his chair to face his daughter.

India opened her eyes and looked at him. ‘Yeah. Just now. Why?’

‘And?’

‘And, nothing. We bumped into each other – quite literally, actually – but I was hardly going to conduct a conversation with him in full view of a crowd of tourists and waiting paparazzi. They got the pictures they wanted and that was bad enough, but unavoidable. Giving them anything else wasn’t an option. I think Dominic and I have aired enough of our lives in public, don’t you?’

Reece just looked at her. She seemed tired. This movie wasn’t turning out to be the fun father/daughter experience he’d hoped it would be, but then, they were working on a Michael Walsh film, weren’t they? They both should have known better.

‘He was so… nice, y’know? When I first arrived in Vegas.’

‘Who was?’ Reece asked, sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs, watching her as she fiddled with the bracelet on her left wrist.

‘Michael. It felt as though we’d finally turned that corner, actually got to the point where we could be friends, good friends, despite…’

‘Despite, what?’

India looked down at her hands which were now clasped in her lap, suddenly remembering what she’d told Martha and hoping to God that Martha had kept her promise and not told Reece what she now knew. That really wouldn’t help an already volatile situation.

‘Nothing. Just, after everything we’d been through, being able to be friends would have been nice. It would have been good for Ethan, and made things a lot easier for me.’ She sighed, throwing her head back again, pushing a hand through her hair, which only alerted Scott to the fact that she’d messed with his creation, causing him to appear by her side with comb and hairspray to put it right. ‘But I’m not sure we can ever be just friends.’

‘Is that just how you feel, or do you think that’s how he feels too?’ Reece asked, sitting forward as he continued to watch her closely, taking in every reaction, even when she turned to face him.

‘He’s the one that’s made it very clear, Dad. Me? I’m moving on.’ She got up, shaking her hair out and kissing Scott quickly on the cheek, smiling her thanks before she leant over and kissed Reece. ‘I’ll see you out there.’

He nodded, watching her walk towards the door of the trailer. ‘India?’

She turned round as he stood up, walking over to her. ‘Yeah?’

‘You’re moving on?’

She folded her arms across her chest, looking at her famous father as he stood in front of her. ‘I’m moving on. I thought you’d be pleased I’m finally doing that.’

He shook his head, sticking his hands in his pockets. ‘I am. Of course I am. I’m sorry, go on, get out of here.’

‘I’m moving on, Dad. Really.’ She threw him a smile as she finally turned to leave, looking back over her shoulder, still smiling. ‘And this time, I really mean it.’

He watched as she ran out onto the set, all blond hair and incredible beauty. His little girl. His movie-star baby. And all Reece could do now was hope she actually meant what she’d just said. This time.



***



Charley sat at the desk in her office on the first floor of her Las Vegas salon, which was situated within The Amber Palace’s sprawling ‘Blue Sapphire’ shopping mall. With it’s calming copper tones on the walls, soft cream carpet, and numerous pictures of her amazing little family scattered around the place it was usually a haven of peace and escapism for Charley, somewhere she could do her work and feel surrounded by everything she loved in a place she’d designed all by herself. But right now it just felt like a place she’d come to for no other reason than to escape from everything else that was going on. She couldn’t concentrate on any work, she couldn’t get her head around anything except the fact her life was in the process of being turned upside down, and she had very little control over any of it.

This branch of Charley’s was slightly bigger, although not by much, than the Beverly Hills salon. Spread over three floors, all connected by elevators and escalators, the whole place screamed Las Vegas glitz.

When you walked into the salon you entered through huge glass-fronted double doors that led into a large oasis of a reception area. With an abundance of green plants and tropical flowers, which gave bursts of colour against the dark walls, it had the effect of making you feel as though you’d suddenly wandered into paradise.

This area was manned mainly by Jenna and Maisy, two pretty ex-showgirls who did their utmost to make any client – be they celebrity or otherwise – feel like the most important person in the world. With their huge Las Vegas smiles – perfected from years of working the Show Lounges of Vince and Charley’s hotels – and their polite and friendly manner they instantly made everyone who walked into the salon feel welcome. And special. Something Charley insisted on, and those girls had it down to a fine art.

Huge oversized cream and black leather sofas were dotted around the reception area with large flat-screened TV’s lining the walls showing everything from calming images of beaches and oceans to the various treatments on offer at Charley’s. And if any guest at the salon required refreshment of any kind – be it alcoholic or otherwise – then it could be supplied within seconds. It was a peaceful, tranquil area and the ideal gateway into the Spa and Therapy centre, which took up the entire ground floor of Charley’s.

In stark contrast, the first floor – which housed the huge and ultra-modern hair salon – was more open and vast with its constant hum of conversation, drone of hairdryers and loud music blasting out from concealed speakers. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors faced the various work stations with their huge brown leather ergonomically designed chairs and glass topped counters. The walls were painted in various shades of brown and cream and the ceiling was black, littered with thousands of twinkling lights that looked like tiny stars, giving clients a feeling of calm amongst the music and the noise as their hair was washed and their scalps massaged by some of the best hair stylists in the state of Nevada.

Meanwhile, up on the second floor was the final piece of Charley’s Las Vegas empire – the Beauty Bar. Here, clients could have everything from a new set of nails to any part of their body waxed in an atmosphere of relaxed fun. It was a colourful, vibrant, pink-dominated palace, staffed with experienced and enthusiastic therapists that Charley had handpicked herself. And she was very proud of them. She was very proud of everything she’d achieved, of everything Charley’s stood for. Those salons were her babies, her creation, and the fact she’d pulled herself up from the depths of despair and gained a second chance, a new life that she absolutely adored, it gave her an amazing sense of achievement. She’d been so happy. So incredibly, unbelievably happy. Until her past had come crashing back to revisit her like a nightmare she never thought she’d ever have to experience again.

But Jimmy Cash was doing all he could to make sure that the things she wanted to forget would never disappear. Not without a fight. And they were fighting hard. Vince was in constant talks with their lawyers, legal action was in the process of being taken against Jimmy but, as far as claiming that anything he was doing was libellous, how could they? When half-naked pictures of her had been spread over every newspaper and magazine in the country. They could hardly say it wasn’t true, that it wasn’t her, could they? All of it had happened; she just didn’t think she’d ever have to face it again. She hadn’t needed her past brought up to haunt her. It was something she just wanted to forget, but Jimmy was doing everything he could to make sure that never happened. That she’d never forget. And she just didn’t know if Vince would ever be able to stop him.

She got up from behind her desk, sighing heavily as she left her office and walked down the brown and cream corridor that was lined with photographs of the many celebrities that had passed through the doors of Charley’s in the short time she’d been running both her businesses, out onto the floor of her hair salon.

She’d really wanted to be out there on the salon floor herself while she’d been here, but with things the way they were she’d thought it best she try to keep a low profile, after all, why put herself in the firing line? There were enough stories floating around to keep the gossip magazines busy for weeks as they dug up every aspect of her past, without her giving them anything else. And she really didn’t want to speak to any press; in fact, Vince had told her to avoid that at all costs. It was what their lawyers were advising. They’d make a statement soon enough, so, until then Vince had employed more security around the mall in general, and certainly for the salon. It wasn’t how she’d planned this visit at all, but sometimes life had a habit of kicking shit in your face when you least expected it. And you just had to roll with the punches.

She hung back by the doorway of the corridor that led to the administration offices, looking out onto a buzzing salon floor. At least the news of her shady past didn’t seem to have dented her business in any way. If anything, they were busier. Maybe that was because people just wanted to come in and see if they could get a glimpse of the ex-porn queen, but what did it matter? Business was business, and as long as they were genuine clients – because they were having problems with journalists trying to book appointments under the guise of ‘ordinary’ people, hence the upping of security – then none of that really mattered. The one thing Charley didn’t want her past to do was affect her businesses, although how things were going down in Beverly Hills was another matter. She hadn’t yet contacted Saskia to ask what the fallout there had been like, but she knew Vince had. He’d told her not to worry, and she trusted him. So she was trying not to think about that, putting all her energy into Charley’s @ The AmberPalace.

She ventured further out onto the salon floor, taking a look around at the busy work stations, every stylist smiling and working and chatting away to clients and colleagues, the air filled with the excitement and glamour of a high-end, cutting-edge establishment. It was business as usual at Charley’s. Just another day. Except, Charley knew it was anything but. Things had changed, but she was going to make it her mission to get them back to normal as soon as she possibly could.