Officer Truchaud:Could you please answer the question?
Lou Ocean Utley:I’m so sorry. This festival has been a whirlwind, and I’m looking forward to going home and getting some rest. It’s really the only thing you can do for puffy eyes. That and a good diet. Though I’m sure I don’t need to tell a French person about the importance of eating healthy. But, um, to answer your question, I would say I know Odetta Olson well enough. In a professional capacity, of course. When you work on such an incredible movie asDon’t Be Sad!, it creates a certain kind of bond. She was, is, such a fantastic director. I’m excited to work with her again.
Officer Truchaud:You’re already planning to work with Odetta Olson again?
Lou Ocean Utley:I’m afraid I can’t reveal anything. Movie studios and their secrecy! They like to decide exactly when and how they announce new projects. And the cast, of course. It’s all about maximizing publicity! I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but if you’re referring to these rumors about Odetta Olson… I’d have to tell you that I don’t believea word of them. It’s just jealousy. And it’s terribly bad karma. As far as I’m concerned, Odetta Olson is a consummate professional. Anyone would beluckyto work with her.
Officer Truchaud:Did you talk to her at the party?
Lou Ocean Utley:We said hello, and then I guess we made small talk.
Officer Truchaud:What about Dorian Fisher?
Lou Ocean Utley:It’s so funny you bring that up.
Officer Truchaud:Funny?
Lou Ocean Utley:People saw that one picture of us on the red carpet and came to all sorts of silly conclusions. So let me set the record straight. I am not dating Dorian Fisher. I’m not well acquainted with him. Obviously, I wish I were. I’m only human.
Officer Truchaud:Was there anyone else you noticed during the night? Anyone who maybe stood out?
Lou Ocean Utley:I’m a very observant person so I’d say I noticed most people. And everyone I saw was…special, you know? Being in the presence of so many accomplished artists, successful businessmen and women, and also quite a few legends. It was a really fabulous evening. I’m so glad I got to be part of it.
Cannes Film FestivalDay Ten
Constance
At first, it really worked. Marnie had packed Lou’s schedule, which keptmeextra busy. Good busy, mind-off-Dorian-Fisher busy. For a minuteit felt like Lou was everywhere, looking insanely good, dressed by me.
My phone blew up with happy messages. The designers were loving it, declaring Lou the perfect model for their clothes. They could already feel the windfall from the free publicity. I had delivered on my promise. Pat on the back, Constance. You did good.
I hadn’t attracted any new clients yet, but there was hope. Actual hope I could touch.
Lou came out of the changing room at Marielle’s boutique in a sunshine-yellow strapless dress and my face lit up. Another winner. The girl was game for anything, and she couldn’t look bad if she tried.
But she didn’t seem so sure of it.
“You don’t like it?” I asked.
“It’s nice… I just…don’t want to go.”
Marnie was sitting in a corner underneath a shelf of embroidered pillows and immediately looked up from her phone.
“You have to. I told you it’s on the terrace of the Martinez, right? Imean, why don’t you want to go?”
Lou made a sheepish face. “I don’t want to go alone. Will you come with me?”
She was addressing both of us, but Marnie jumped in. “You’re the star. You’re the face people want to see.”
“And you’re not alone,” I added. “You’ve made friends all over town. You’re killing it.”
That was the story anyone would get from the pictures she posted.
“I don’t think I can…” Lou started.
“We’ll go with you,” Marnie said, definitively.
All this work had managed to keep me away from Dorian’s suite, but for how much longer? I felt my fingers tingle with the want of making contact, my brain quietly calculating the probability I might run into him. The party was at the Martinez. And if I was there with Lou, the chance would be that much greater.
