That fuckin’ idiot. He hung up and tried Andrea’s cell. It led straight to voicemail. “Where the fuck are you, puttana del cazzo? I don’t know what I was thinking that day, trusting you again, hoping for a second there was a shred of humanity inside you. This isn’t over, Andrea. I swear to God I’ll ruin your life like you ruined mine. You think you had your revenge? I’ll show you what revenge is. I’m gonna tell the whole world who you really are and what the fuck you did. This is not over!”
He called the driver again. “Did you find her?”
“I’m so sorry, sir. They’re closed. She must have left on foot. Her car is still in the parking lot.”
“Fuck!”
Scene75
Maggie
I entered the club, my grip on the backpack strap on my shoulder, ducking so I wouldn’t be recognized. My eyes strained to focus in the dim light as my feet shuffled to the bar. I saw Tony. It was a slow night, and he was leaning on the counter doing nothing.
“Maggie? To whom do we owe the honor of this visit?” he taunted.
I collapsed on a stool, my eyes dropping to the counter.
“Are you all right?”
I fought back the tears and looked up, shielding myself with the backpack. “Just pour me a drink, Tony, please.”
“Cosmo?”
I shook my head. “Vodka on ice, and keep it coming.”
“That bad?”
I just fished my vape out and took a drag. Then I, methodically, watched him fix the drink.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” It sounded more of a request than of a question.
Everything needed to be said I’d put it in a letter and left it on Dad’s desk myself. He’d get to read it when he returned from Dubai. Security had let me in, everyone had been gone, and I’d finally got a chance to see the new floor.
I emptied my glass. “It’s a slow night. Why’s it a slow night on a Sunday?”
He stared at me for a few seconds, and I almost begged him to speak. To say anything to fill the deafening sound of silence.
“I don’t know. It was pretty busy a couple of hours ago.” He looked at the clock on the brick wall. “If they knew we were expecting a celebrity, they’d have stayed.” He chuckled, and I saw the disappointment in his eyes when I didn’t laugh back. “It’s 10:15 anyway. People have work tomorrow.”
I nodded at my glass for a refill.
He opened the bottle, staring at me as he poured my drink. “I’ve never seen you like this. Talk to me.”
A tear dropped from my eye. I downed my drink and pointed up at the TV. “Can you turn it on? I wanna watch the Oscars.”
He fiddled with the remote until he found the right channel. “Aren’t you supposed to be there?”
My eyelids drooped as the vodka and weed seeped through my senses, slowly dulling them. The hosts were presenting Original Song nominees, which meant Actor in a Supporting Role had been announced and Directing was coming two awards later. “Do you know if Cassidy won?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can you please check? My phone is dead.”
He rested his elbows on the counter, checking his cell. “Uh…no. It went to Patrick Hill.”
Sorry, Jim.“Patrick was good too.” I sighed. “I need another drink.”
Reluctance crossed his face, and I turned my eyes to the TV. “How about that Cosmo?”
