Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
“
Yes.
”
Julian mumbled.
“
Then you have nothing to worry about. In
fact, let him spend all his money if he wants to
…”
“
Marcus, you don
’
t
…”
Julian tried to explain the situation was
direr than Marcus seemed to assess.
“
No, I do get it! He stepped up the
competition a notch, so what?
”
his friend sighed, and added,
“
Jay, I
’
m surprised, man! You have even more money
than he does, so you can match any stunts he pulls without breaking a sweat,
what has got you so bummed?!
”
he shook his head, smiling,
“
You had me worried for a second here
…”
“
It
’
s not the money Marcus. The property is
something personal, very much so
…
Something she needed and I didn
’
t know
…”
he explained.
“
Jay. The woman accepted to become your
wife just 48 hours ago. Do you think she is going to be swayed by a house
bought by her ex-husband? I mean
…”
he started, but changed the course of his
question, as a new thought emerged in his mind, as he asked,
“
What did she think of his gift? Has she
accepted it? Lily didn
’
t mention anything to me and we know these
two share everything
…”
“
I don
’
t know. I haven
’
t spoken to her about it. I
’
m actually waiting for her to raise the
subject
…
but we haven
’
t spoken since last night when she refused
to spend another with me
…”
he
admitted, his voice tainted with an anxiousness that was simply unheard of from
this particular man.
Marcus cleared his throat,
no wonder
his boy was depressed
…
He wasn
’
t get any and a serious competitor was in
hot pursuit of his woman
…
“
Listen Jay, talk to her, see where her
head is at, and then we
’
ll talk measures if need be, because the
truth is, right now, you may not need to worry so much, maybe his gifts will
mean nothing to her
…”
Marcus
said, hopeful.
“
Lily hasn
’
t said anything to you about this?
”
he asked, his tone matching the one of
his friend.
Maybe there was hope
…
“
No, man! But then again, we spent most of
the day in bed yesterday after dancing all night
…
I
’
m not sure she even spoke to Vi yesterday
…
but she did this morning. In fact, she is
with her right now. She called almost at the same time you did
…”
Julian felt his heat sink.
Marcus noticed, pulled his Blackberry from
his pocket, setting it on the table, and said,
“
Let
’
s see,
”
as he pressed 1, and waited for the ring.
Julian could hear a melodious laugh before
Marcus even said a word.
“
Hey baby, what
’
s got you laughing so hard?
”
Marcus asked, rolling his eyes.
“
Well, I
’
m at Vi
’
s new home, and Marcus I have to tell you,
this is what my dream house looks like
…
I might move in
…”
she replied, still laughing.
“
Vi
’
s new house?
”
he repeated in a serious tone, and he saw
his friend
’
s face pale.
“
Yes,
”
Lily said happily.
”
She just gave me the grand tour! This place
is simply AMAZING!
”
Lily emphasized.
“
Baby, back up a bit. Isn
’
t Vi living with Kevin?
”
Marcus asked, now feeling really sorry
for his friend.
“
No, not anymore Marcus! That
’
s yesterday
’
s news. Vi is now the proud owner of a
charming hotel
particulier
with all the luxurious
amenities anyone can wish for
…”
“
I guess, that answers your question,
”
said Julian to his friend, looking at the
phone sitting on the table between them.
“
What was that?
”
Lily asked, as she had heard Julian.
Marcus, picked the phone up, and put it to
his ear, muting the speakerphone, as he said,
“
Nothing, it was just Julian ordering
another drink
…”
“
Oh? You
’
re still with him?
”
and then, she asked suspiciously,
“
Is that why you called?
”
Marcus cleared his throat, and replied,
“
Yes, and yes, but I also wanted to know if
we were still on for
EuroDysney
…”
he said with a smile in his voice,
“
I know you really want to go, and I
wasn
’
t sure if Vi was going to take you up all
day
…”
“
Good save mister!
”
she laughed, and replied,
“
And yes, we
’
re on! Vi and Ethan have to settle a few
things in the afternoon, and they don
’
t need me for that, so I
’
ll see you back at the hotel around
noonish
?
”
“
Sure, babe, see you in an hour.
“
he concluded the call, and stared at
Julian when he said,
“
Ok. She
’
s moved out of Kevin
’
s, so what do we do now?
”
“
I think, I need the wedding to happen
sooner rather than later. And if not, then plan B.
”
Julian replied, determined.
“
Let
’
s call Todd.
”
Marcus replied, equally resolved.
In dire times, dire measures were need,
and for people like Julian, they always involved a lawyer
…
or two.
Ari, Marcus, and Todd
Harry
’
s bar, rue
Danou
,
7002, Paris. France.
“
Twice in one day! You should open a tab!
”
Marcus exclaimed sitting down at the
table, and signalling for one of Harry
’
s bar waiters to come take his order.
“
I might.
”
replied Julian deadpan.
“
So, where are we at?
”
Marcus asked in reference to their
conversation and plans the very same morning.
“
Time to go all out!
”
Julian replied, with his first smile of
the day.
((~~!~~))
“
Is this a joke?
”
his screaming voice asked, making the
Blackberry tremble on the table.
Both men smiled, looking at the device as they
pictured the man on the other side of the ocean.
Some things can always be counted on in
this life. Ari
’
s temper is one of them.
“
No, it isn
’
t Ari.
”
Julian said, calmly, trying to control
the laugh he felt rising in him.
“
It
’
s very serious Ari,
”
confirmed Marcus.
“
Just like that? Have you lost your fucking
mind?
”
came the furious retort, but before any
of them could answer, Ari said,
“
Of course you lost your mind! You lost it
a couple of months ago! I should have seen this coming!
”
“
Ari, it
’
s not the end of the world.
”
Julian said, actually feeling a certain
sadness, as he truly understood where his agent was coming from.
“
Sure, it isn
’
t! Just the end of your career!
”
Ari spat, in disbelief.
“
I just don
’
t get it Julian! Sure, you pulled out of a
few gigs lately, and some people are pissed, but I
’
m sure you could pull off a Johnny Depp!
Only be here a couple of months a year! Everyone would understand!
”
Ari cried out.
“
Ari, I
’
m just not that interested. I have other
priorities now
…”
“
And what might those be? What could be so
important that you decided to permanently retire from show business?
”
asked, a stunned Ari.
“
Well, I
’
m getting married to a French woman
…”
Julian started.
“
You said that!
”
Ari, cut in, still incensed.
“
My life is here now,
”
Julian added.
“
LA is only 13 hours away from Paris
Julian!
”
Ari countered.
“
We
’
re having a child.
”
Julian said softy.
That sentence elicited complete silence
from his agent.
Julian looked at Marcus, and they both
looked back at the phone, waiting.
After a minute, nothing came, and Julian
asked,
“
Ari?
”
“
Yes,
”
came back, in a calm and collected voice.
“
Are you all right?
”
Marcus asked.
“
Yes, Marcus. I am fine. I
’
m sad to lose one of my top clients, but I
am fine.
”
He sighed, and added,
“
I am happy for you Julian. Truly.
”
As one in the know, Ari remembered it all
about the Belinda episode, and how it had affected Julian. He also knew if
there was one thing in this world Julian would give up anything for, it was his
own child, so hearing about his impending fatherhood signalled the end of the
battle for Ari. He knew he
’
d waste his energy on this one, accepting reality was
just simpler.
“
So when is this wedding anyway?
”
he said cheerfully,
“
Can I expect an invitation or it is part
of the vanishing act of Julian McCarty and you
’
ll never be seen in public again?
”
The men laughed, until Julian said,
“
Of course you
’
ll be there Ari! I
’
ll call you with the exact date and
location when I have it
…”
“
But Ari?
”
interrupted Marcus,
“
This whole thing needs to remain between
us. We
’
ll give you the exact date for a statement
release about Julian
’
s career, but no one needs to know the
whys and
…”
“
Got it!
”
Ari replied, as consummate professional
who
’
d seen and heard it all.
“
What Julian does with his life or who with
is none of anyone
’
s business. Don
’
t worry. I
’
ll work with Marie on the statement, will
have it faxed to Todd and will wait for the call for the actual release.
”
A silent pause followed until Ari said,
“
Well, I guess this is it for now. Congrats
Julian. I mean it, and I hope to see you soon for the wedding!
”
He disconnected the call without a
goodbye.
((~~!~~))
Frances
“
Well, I
’
ll be damned!
“
she exclaimed as she saw his name flash
on her
Iphone
.
“
What
’
s up Ari? You don
’
t call me anymore
…”
she coyly said.
“
Your movie is totally dead unless you find
a new lead. Julian isn
’
t coming back to LA. Ever. Good luck!
”
He stated, and hung up on her.
What the fuck? How dare he?
But taking care Ari
’
s impertinence is for later
…
So, Julian isn
’
t coming back. She had figured as much
when Ari stopped returning her calls after three weeks, and Todd got in touch
with the studio, sending a hefty check for the penalties due to his abrupt
departure.
Swell, no one lost out on this one
…
. well, except me
…
But Ari said ever.
Ever
.
That is a new development, and I really
don
’
t like it.
Because it
’
s one thing to hope for retribution when
the object of your torment is near, quite another if he
’
s overseas, and permanently at that!
What the fuck is going on now?
((~~!~~))
Melissa, Julian, Marcus
“
Hey handsome!
”
greeted her melodious voice.
“
Don
’
t let Charlie, or Lily hear you!
“
Julian said, as he was facing Marcus who
was blushing.
“
Julian?
”
Melissa asked,
“
Why are you calling me from Marcus
’
s phone?
”
“
We
’
re having a brainstorming session Mel!
Actually
, a conseil de guerre
…”
Marcus said, speaking to the Blackberry
that was still on the table between the two men.
“
War huh?? What happened now?
”
she asked, curious.
“
She didn
’
t give you the ring back, did she?
”
she suddenly asked, worried.
“
No, she still has the ring.
”
Julian reassured her.
“
But somehow you
’
ve been provoked
…”
her voice trailed.
“
Well, let
’
s just say nothing has come out as Julian
planned since he
’
s been in Paris, and it
’
s time to show some people how Julian
McCarty does it when he really want something
…”
Marcus chuckled.
“
Oh, so we are actually plotting! Great!
What can I do?
”
she asked mischievously.
“
How soon can you get here?
”
her brother asked.
“
This is going to require your personal
hands-on touch!
”
Marcus added,
She laughed.
“
How is tomorrow?
”
she blurted.
“
Perfect.
”
they both said.
“
Do I need re-enforcement?
”
she asked as an afterthought,
“
Is Charlie needed too?
”
Both men looked at each other, obviously
thinking the same thing.
“
Yes, bring Charlie, and the girls, they
’
ll be the perfect decoy!
”
Marcus said
“
Hmm, I don
’
t know what you
’
re planning Mr B, but I like it already!
”
she laughed.
“
Great minds think alike baby girl, great
minds think alike
…”
Marcus
replied grinning.
“
Indeed!
”
she chimed,
“
See you tomorrow boys!
”
she concluded.
“
And, this ladies and gents is how it
’
s done.
”
Marcus sighed.
“
She
’
ll never see this coming
…”
Julian said with a smile.
“
Neither will
he
.
”
Marcus retorted, as they clinked their
glasses.
((~~!~~))
Todd, Marcus, Julian
“
It
’
s doable.
”
Todd said in a serious voice, watching
the two men.
“
We know it is, but how fast can you get it
done?
”
Marcus asked.
“
This is going to take a couple of weeks at
the minimum, months to be honest. We are talking a major transfer of ownership
here, overseas holdings,
…”
he said
hesitantly.
“
What?
”
Julian asked, he could see his attorney
was perturbed by the request.
“
Jay
…”
Todd mumbled.
“
C
’
mon
Todd, just say it!
”
he smiled,
”
I won
’
t get pissed I promise. You
’
re my lawyer, but you
’
re also my friend, and I can see you are
not comfortable with this
…”