Unforgettable: Book Two (A Hollywood Love Story #2)(39)
Zoey changes back into her jeans. While she’s in the dressing room, I remember one more thing she’ll need for Cannes.
“Chaz-man, do you by chance have a woman’s leather jacket lying around?”
Chaz grins. “You’re in luck. Hang on.”
My eyes follow him as he scuttles over to one of the racks filled with heavy woolen clothes made for colder weather. In no time, he’s back, holding up a hanger with a snazzy brown leather jacket draped on it.
“This is my Jazzy-Chazzy motorcycle jacket. It’s a sample from my Fall line.”
I smile. “It’s perfect. We’ll take it. How much do I owe you?”
“Forget it,” he says. “The publicity I’ll get with Zoey wearing my designs is priceless.”
“Are you sure?”
“Totally.”
“What about a charity I can contribute to?”
Chaz’s eyes light up. “That would be awesome. How ’bout my friend, Gloria Zander’s organization—Girls Like Us? It’s a non-profit that helps neglected and abused girls find a positive course in life.”
While Zoey’s never been neglected, the senseless murder of her mother to me was abusive. So, this charity makes sense.
I write out a $25,000 check while Chaz organizes the garments I’ve selected. The best money I ever spent. And an added surprise. Gloria Zander, the founder and CEO of Gloria’s Secret, will undoubtedly send over a boxful of sexy lingerie and shoes to match all the sexy dresses as her own special thank you. The skimpier the better I tell Chaz. I also tell him to keep the delivery anonymous. He shoots me a conspiratorial wink.
Cannes awaits us. I have a week to spend away from Katrina. To figure out who and what I want in life. My heart gallops. I think I already know. Despite my amnesia, my mind’s never been clearer. Should I tell her before we leave?
Zoey
Pinch me. I’ve been living a dream from the minute the Conquest stretch limo picked Brandon and me up at his house and transported us to LAX to meet our private jet. Wait! I take that back. Don’t pinch me. I don’t want this dream to end.
I’ve only been on a plane a few times before. A crammed Southwest flight to Vegas and another to San Fran. The economy cabin stunk of sweat and beer, and I was sandwiched between my tray table and chair like a slab of raw meat. Efficient. Yes. Luxurious. No.
The Conquest corporate jet is the most luxurious vessel I’ve ever traveled on. Yes, I’ve seen private planes in countless TV shows and movies, but nothing has prepared me for the experience of flying on one. The interior is all soft beiges and rich woods, with spread out plush leather chairs that can fold back into sumptuous beds. There’s even a dining cabin and a complete bar with the finest crystal and silverware. Champagne flows and we’re served gourmet meals on monogrammed Conquest china.
I recognize everyone on board from having met them on the set of Kurt Kussler. Brandon, nonetheless, re-introduces me. Go-to-Zo, his personal assistant. While the reality of my subservient position drives a screw into my gut—that’s all I am—everyone treats me with respect. They couldn’t be nicer.
Soon after takeoff, Brandon leaves his seat and mingles with the guys. I, in turn, enjoy chatting with Blake Burns’s wife Jennifer, who I met at Jeffrey and Chaz’s engagement party, as well as with Brandon’s co-stars, Jewel Starr and Kellie Fox. Kellie tells me the season finale is to die for. I can’t wait to screen it with Brandon. While Jewel and Kellie move on to chat with Jewel’s husband Niall about tomorrow night’s festivities, I spend more time with Jen.
The more I talk with her, the more I like her. She’s super sweet and asks me a lot of questions about myself including where I grew up and how I came to work for Brandon. I’m somewhat in awe of her. Besides being so pretty and married to one of Hollywood’s top television executives, she’s super successful in her own right. About the same age as I am, she started a women’s erotica channel—MY SIN-TV—and has single-handedly made it a huge success. I try to hide my inferiority complex. Here I am, almost twenty-five, and I’m just a lowly assistant. And she’s running a network.
“Do you have career aspirations?” she asks over champagne.
Taking a sip, I tell her I thought about getting into acting but had to abandon that dream because it was too risky and financially challenging for someone like me.
“You’re adorable!” she counters. “You should reconsider. I’m going to keep my eyes and ears open for any parts that might work for you.”
Wow! I thank her from the bottom of my heart, and the conversation switches to Jeffrey and Chaz.
“I’m so excited about their wedding,” she gushes.
“Me too.”
She goes on to tell me that she and Blake have offered to let them exchange their vows in the expansive yard of their new Santa Monica house.
“I’m sure it’s going to be an extravaganza. A total showcase for my brother’s event planning talents.”
“All the better.” She smiles. “He made my wedding unforgettable.”
She goes on to explain how Jeffrey worked with her creative husband Blake to transform her parents’ backyard into a winter wonderland in the middle of July. As she spews the details, a tinge of melancholy nips me. Growing up, Jeffrey was forever planning my dream wedding, acting it out with Barbie and Ken, but as I grew older, I knew that was a long shot. In fact, now I seriously believe it’ll never happen. The man of my dreams is engaged to another. And truthfully is way out of my league. I shoot him a glance; he’s in a serious conversation with Blake. I wonder what they’re talking about.