She was holding it in her hand when suddenly a figure jumped from behind the curtains. A flash went off, then another, and another. Victoria stood in silent mesmerised horror, like a rabbit caught in headlights, unable to react. It took several minutes for her to take stock of the situation, for the full reality of it to grip her. She had seen the woman quite clearly—a photographer who had dressed up as one of the hotel maids and invaded her privacy.
She’d been caught in the act.
What was she to do? In panic she rushed to the phone and got Reception to page Anne. Minutes later she was pouring out the truth to her agent in person.
‘How could you, Vic? Why didn’t you tell me? It’s all gonna hit the fan.’
‘Can’t you do anything? Try and stop it? Not that there is any harm in me taking these pills—I mean they must be all right since the doctor gave them to me.’
‘Oh, Victoria. Are you really that innocent? Goodness only knows what your Dr Browne has put in this cocktail.’
‘But how did anyone know that I was taking anything at all?’
‘I don’t know. These paparazzi nose out everything. Maybe you were seen visiting the doctor’s office and that tipped one of them off. We’ll never know.’
‘Can’t you stop them publishing the pictures?’
‘I don’t know. This is France, not the US. They have different laws. I’ll have to tell Ed. He’ll be furious, and it’ll be my ass on the line. Oh, Vic. Why did you do it, for heaven’s sake? And if you were going to, why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you out.’ Anne paced the room agitatedly.
‘I’m sorry,’ Victoria whispered, slouched on the sofa, her head thrown back against the velvet cushions. Right now she couldn’t think, couldn’t register. Had she mucked up her career? Was this the end? What had she done?
Next morning the answer came loud and clear, as Anne slapped the French newspapers down on the table.
‘Just look at what you’ve achieved,’ she threw. ‘Front-page headlines! Bravo! “Best Actress High On Drugs.” All the details of how you frequented the offices of that sleazy doctor in L.A. They’ve dug up the whole damn story. Wonderful. Ed is so mad, I can’t begin to tell you. He’s talking about dropping you from his next movie. And if you thought the press were on top of you before, babe, you ain’t seen nothing yet. They’re swarming all over the goddamn lobby. I don’t know how we’re going to get you out of here.’
‘Look, I’ve said I’m sorry, okay? What else do you expect me to do? I can’t make it un-happen.’ Victoria placed her cup back in the saucer with a snap, all desire for coffee disappearing.
‘I don’t know. I really don’t know,’ Anne said, dragging her fingers through her short spiky hair. ‘But we’ll have to come up with something mighty quick if we’re gonna scotch this thing. Nip it in the bud. That’s the only way. Maybe putting you into rehab is the answer…’ She shook her head and kept on muttering.
‘I am not a drug addict,’ Victoria protested, ‘I just took a few pills to help me through all this hype. I never would have touched them otherwise. I didn’t even know they were drugs in the real sense of the word.’
‘Well, guess what? It’s too late for that now. We’ll just have to see how to repair the damage and hope it isn’t too late.’
Victoria got up and left the room, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
She could bear it no longer.
RODOLFO SAW THE HEADLINES at breakfast and, putting down his glass of orange juice, read them, horrified. Was it possible? He read the details, then stared, eyes narrowed, at the picture of Victoria, one hand in mid-air, a bottle of pills in the other, her face a mask of terrified horror.
He experienced a rush of anger. At Victoria for indulging in this deplorable habit. At those around her who hadn’t given her a break and had probably driven her to it. And at the photographers who had hounded her night and day, giving her no privacy. It was scandalous.
Rodolfo rose and paced the salon of his suite, agitated. He knew he must do something for the girl—must help her if he could. Who knew what kind of a time Ed Banes and the others were giving her? Not that that was an excuse for her behaviour, he realised. But still…
Picking up his mobile, he dialled his assistant and told him to find out the number of Victoria’s suite. Minutes later the man called back to tell him she wasn’t taking any calls. He wasn’t surprised. Minutes later, as he entered the lobby, he got a good idea why. The place was abuzz with reporters, vultures agog with curiosity, avid to get a glimpse of their prey. Rodolfo watched them, disgusted. He was certain Victoria was hiding up in her suite.
Suddenly he took a decision. Heading up the stairs, he went to Ed Banes’s suite and knocked. A bodyguard answered.
‘Tell Mr Banes, His Majesty Prince Rodolfo of Malvarina wants to speak to him,’ he announced haughtily.
‘He can’t see you right now,’ the burly shaven-headed man answered in a Southern drawl.
‘He will. Tell him I’m here to help out Victoria.’
The man shrugged and continued chewing gum. ‘Okay. Wait here, sir.’
Rodolfo stepped inside. He could hear raised voices beyond the closed door. His determination to remove her from this place and these people’s company increased tenfold.
When the door opened and Ed Banes appeared he seemed choleric. His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck and he looked like a man who hadn’t slept in a while.
‘Hi,’ he said curtly. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘Actually, it’s what I can do for you,’ Rodolfo replied coldly. ‘I came here to see how I can help you in this tricky situation Victoria’s got herself entangled in,’ he said calmly.
‘Nothing you can do, I’m afraid. The kid’s blown it. Come on in. Might as well, since you’re here.’ He showed Rodolfo into the salon, where Anne was pacing the floor and two other women stood by the window busily talking on cellphones. ‘Trying to do some damage control,’ he said, jerking his head at the two. ‘What a stupid little fool. I can’t believe she didn’t even tell Anne what she was taking. We could’ve kept it all under wraps, gotten her the stuff ourselves, dealt with business.’
Rodolfo sent the man a withering glance.
‘Personally, I think Victoria’s health should be of primary concern,’ he replied coldly. ‘What I propose is that you create a diversion in the lobby—give a press conference or something. In the meantime I’ll spirit her out the back way. Nobody is going to imagine that she would be with me. Perhaps you could provide a disguise?’ he added, turning to Anne. ‘I shall take her on my private jet to Malvarina, where I can assure you she will be looked after. And not badgered by any members of the press, or given any more drugs,’ he added curtly.
Ed hesitated, rubbed his bald head and turned to Anne. ‘What d’ya think?’ he growled.
‘I think it’s a great idea. We were thinking of rehab, but this is a better option. What time do you want to do this, uh, Prince?’
‘Right away,’ Rodolfo snapped, taking the decision. ‘The sooner we get her out of here, the better.’
‘Hey, wait,’ Ed said, eyeing him curiously. ‘What happens if the press get hold of your ass?’
‘I am very well able to cope, Mr Banes. Right now I would advise you to concern yourself with Victoria and containing this awkward set of circumstances. I’m well able to take care of myself—and Victoria, too, for that matter.’
‘Fine by me.’ Ed shrugged and flopped into an oversized armchair. ‘Let’s get through this and move on. I have a movie starting