Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [51]
‘Then it’s a deal,’ he said, being a big fan of fast cars, ever since Venus had bought him his first Ferrari, which he’d recently sold. ‘Only how’re you gonna pick it up if you’re flying to Vegas today?’
Darn it! She’d forgotten all about Vegas and her upcoming party.
‘Uh . . . actually I’m not leaving until tomorrow.’
Another lie. But if it meant seeing Billy again, totally worth it.
* * *
Prosecuting a famous actress was an easy road. The woman’s defence team (and there were three of them) were highly paid and totally inept. Denver listened to their weak excuses for the woman’s behaviour, then she swooped in with her witnesses – a series of fed-up sales people and store managers who had been putting up with the actress’s stealing addiction for years.
The jury were unimpressed with the woman’s fame. Too many high-profile people were getting away with – yes – sometimes even murder.
Denver’s immediate boss had told her to go for it with all she had. So she did. And her closing argument sealed the deal. The jury took twenty minutes to come back with a guilty verdict.
Her boss informed her that she’d done a stellar job, then asked if she would care to grab a drink with him to celebrate her victory.
Inappropriate, she thought. Why, if a woman is single and attractive, do all men feel the need to make a move?
He was fat and fifty and married, plus he was her boss, so why would she even think of putting herself in that position?
She mumbled something about next time. But of course there would be no next time as she was moving on. ‘Sorry, family commitments,’ she added, and made it to her car.
Yes. Family commitments. Introducing her boyfriend to Mom, Dad, and the rest of the Jones clan.
Anticipation was the name of the game.
* * *
Danny gave Lucky the word that Max would not be arriving Thursday night as planned; instead she would be getting there the next day.
Lucky was disappointed. She’d arranged dinner with Gino and Paige, and she knew that Gino was looking forward to spending some time with his feisty granddaughter. Gino got a kick out of joking around with Max.
Family. They were always the ones who felt free to change plans at the last minute, never taking into account that everything had to be shifted. Well, Bobby better be on his way.
Lucky called him to make sure.
‘Just getting on a plane,’ he informed her.
‘To Vegas?’ she asked, hoping he might make it for dinner.
‘No. I’m in New York, on my way to L.A. Heading to Vegas tomorrow.’
‘So is Max. Maybe you can fly in together.’
‘Uh . . . I’m getting the Stanislopoulos plane,’ Bobby said, sounding slightly sheepish.
‘Really?’ Lucky said, aware that Bobby only used the plane when it was for something important. ‘What’s the occasion?’
‘No occasion,’ Bobby answered vaguely. ‘Kinda feel I should use it sometimes, let the relatives know I’m still around.’
The relatives Bobby referred to were his late father’s two sisters and their respective families who were all on the board of Stanislopoulos Shipping and resided in Greece. Bobby wasn’t exactly close to his Greek relatives, America had always been his home. But he was, after all, along with his niece, Brigette, the main heir to the enormous Stanislopoulos Shipping fortune.
‘Okay,’ Lucky said. ‘Then you can give Max and her friends a ride.’
‘Sure,’ Bobby agreed, albeit reluctantly, because he was so not wanting Max and her cohorts on the plane. He’d planned a romantic trip with Denver, just the two of them. However, saying no to Lucky was never an option.
‘I’ll tell Max to call you,’ Lucky said. ‘And if you get here in time, maybe we’ll all have lunch.’
‘Uh . . . not so sure about that,’ Bobby said, trying to come up with a fast excuse. He wanted time alone with Denver before the whole family thing took over.
‘Okay,’ Lucky said. ‘I’ll plan on it and hope you can make it. Fly safely.’
That settled, Lucky went over her Friday schedule with Danny. An early breakfast with Venus, who was flying in late Thursday, then a meeting with Jeffrey Lonsdale and the people who’d wanted