The Last Don - Mario Puzo [93]
Claudia said, “Thena, you’d never think we were related, right?”
Skippy Deere said, “Never.”
But Athena looked at them and said, “You both look very much alike,” and Cross could see she was serious.
Claudia said, “Now you know why I love her.”
Athena stopped her motions for a moment and said to Cross, “They tell me you can help. I don’t see how.”
Cross tried not to stare at her, tried not to look at the flaming-sun gold of her hair set against the green behind her. He said, “I’m good at persuading people. If it’s true that the only thing keeping you from going back to work is your husband, maybe I can talk him into a deal.”
“I don’t believe in Boz keeping his deals,” Athena said. “The Studio has already talked a deal.”
Deere said in what was for him a subdued voice, “Athena you really have nothing to worry about. I promise you.” But for some reason he was unconvincing even to himself. He watched them all carefully. He knew how Athena overwhelmed men, actresses were the most charming people in the world when they wanted to be. But Deere detected no change in Cross.
“Skippy just won’t accept that I can leave movies,” Athena said. “It’s so important to him.”
“And not to you?” Deere said angrily.
Athena gave a long, cool look. “It was once. But I know Boz. I have to disappear, I have to start a new life.” She gave them a mischievous smile. “I can get along anywhere.”
“I can make an agreement with your husband,” Cross said. “And I can guarantee that he’ll abide by it.”
Deere said confidently, “Athena, in the movie business, there are hundreds of cases like this, harassment of stars by crazies. We have foolproof procedures. There really is no danger.”
Athena continued her exercises. One leg flew improbably above her head. “You don’t know Boz,” she said. “I do.”
“Is Boz the only reason you won’t go back to work?” Cross asked.
“Yes,” Athena said. “He’ll track me forever. You can protect me until I finish the picture but then what?”
Cross said. “I’ve never failed to make a deal. I’ll give him whatever he wants.”
Athena stopped her exercises. For the first time, she looked Cross directly in the eye. “I’ll never believe in any deal Boz makes,” she said. She turned away in dismissal.
Cross said, “I’m sorry I wasted your time.”
“I didn’t waste my time,” Athena said cheerfully. “I did my exercises.” Then she looked directly into his eyes. “I do appreciate your trying. It’s just that I’m trying to look fearless like in one of my movies. Really, I’m scared to death.” Then she quickly regained her composure and said, “Claudia and Skippy are always talking about your famous Villas. If I come to Vegas, would you give me one to hide out in?”
Her face was grave, but her eyes were dancing. She was showing off her power to Claudia and Skippy. She obviously expected Cross to say yes, if merely out of gallantry.
Cross smiled at her. “The Villas are usually taken,” he said. He paused for a moment then said, with an utmost seriousness that startled the others, “But if you come to Vegas, I can guarantee no one will harm you.”
Athena spoke to him directly. “Nobody can stop Boz. He doesn’t care if he gets caught. Whatever he does he’ll do in public so everybody can see.”
Claudia spoke out impatiently, “But why?”
Athena said laughingly, “Because he loved me once. And because my life turned out better than his.” She looked at them all a moment. “Isn’t it a shame,” she said, “that two people in love can grow to hate each other?”
At this moment the meeting was interrupted by the South American maid, who was leading a man onto the terrace.
The man was tall, handsome, and formally dressed with a touch-all-bases style: an Armani suit, Turnbull & Asser shirt, Gucci tie, and Bally shoes. He immediately murmured his apologies. “She didn’t tell me you were busy, Miss Aquitane,” he said. “I guess she got scared by my shield.” He showed her the badge. “I just came to get some information on that incident the other night. I can wait. Or come back.”
His words were polite but his look was bold. He glanced at