“Originally LA, but I live here now. Maybe we’ve seen each other around town. What do you do?”
“I’m a lawyer.”
“Ah. And how do you know the author?”
“I’m her lawyer.”
He scoffed. “No way.”
“Why no way?”
“Like, her lawyer for the book deal? Or ... the other stuff?”
I laughed. “The other stuff. My firm represented her in the indictment.”
He smiled. “Wow, that’s impressive. You guys must love that the book’s going to be a movie.”
I smiled. “As long as she’s happy, I’m happy. Are you in publishing?”
“Film and television. I’m a director.”
“Would I have seen any of your work?”
“I’ve done a few small films. But I just finished a big HBO limited series that’s coming out next month. Good reviews so far.”
I suddenly realized Ihadseen him before.
“Did you go to the opening for that new gallery on Melrose a few months ago?” I asked.
He grinned. “That’swhere I know you from. You were there with Leo Hirschman. That guy is fire. I have friends who’ve used him for things here and there. A real shark.”
“He’s definitely got that reputation going for him.”
I wondered if my world and Leo’s world would ever coexist again.
Just then, Andie’s literary agent, a striking blond woman with a warmth that contrasted her reputation for being the bloodiest negotiator in publishing, tapped her champagne glass behind a podium to quiet the room. After saying a few words about Andie’s commitment to telling her story honestly and how proud she was to represent a book filled with grit and high stakes (“pun intended”) and all the things good stories are made of, she motioned for Andie to come up.
“The first signed copy will be on your desk,” Andie assured her as the room laughed.
Andie cleared her throat, and I could tell she was nervous. “I’m not used to being the center of attention for a positive reason,” she started. “But the truth is that much of this story is a sad story. I talk a lot about addiction, not just to substance, but to power and money. I wanted to be the best, but more than anything, I wanted to be more powerful than every man sitting at those tables. That was the addiction that led to my downfall. I climbed my way back in many ways, and much of it is because of four people, three of whom are in this room today.”
She looked at George and then over to me.
“One of my defense attorneys, Eddie Kaufman, couldn’t be here tonight. He’s busy saving another lost soul. But my other attorney, Samantha, is here. When I met Sam, I quickly realized how smart she was, but what I didn’t know at the time was that she would become a true friend. Someone I trust implicitly, and not just as a lawyer. The kind of person who proves that you can be successful and still have integrity.”
Frank leaned over and touched the back of my arm. “I’d love to hear more about what it was like working with her sometime.”
The touch of his hand made me miss Charlie.
“I’ll give you my card,” I whispered back.
He looked amused. “Just in case I ever need your services?”
“You never know.”
“All right then, I’ll take a card.”
When Andie finished her speech, Frank held out his hand. “Really nice chatting, Samantha.”
