Ashes of the Forgotten Pack

"The top news is the bad girls' benefit event results," said Sidewalk Stars' anchorman Ken.

"And honours are about even between the rivals, Barbara."

The cameras shifted to Barbara standing by a screen similar to that used by the weather

people but filled with stars in dresses instead of atmospheric charts.

"Yes, Ken. Clarise Chalmers scored an average of eight point five from critics with a

backless red number courtesy of top designer Claude Petit, while Connie Leighton scored 7.2 with

her low cut green dress from up and coming design studio Alessio Ricci.

"But Connie won the popular vote, Ken. Listen to the crowd when Clarise Chalmers

arrives."

The display screen showed Meghan stepping out of her limousine to cheers from the crowd.

"Now hear them when Connie Leighton arrives."

The screen showed Connie stepping out of her limousine to an obviously louder roar of

approval.

"Just as when the two girls were in high school the popular vote is still with Connie, Ken."

The next day, over a lunch of salad rolls made by Mrs Kowalski, the Kowalskis kicked

around the events of the charity bash and the information Meghan had managed to extract from

Will.

"Will seems a very nice young man," said Mrs Kowalski. The writer was, in fact, the type of

young man she hoped her Meghan would bring home before fame resulted in a string of men of

whom she mostly did not approve. Although she had never said anything to Meghan she had not

liked or trusted Robin Hawke, for all his on-screen presence, and her instincts had proven right.

Those same instincts found a lot to like in Will and nothing to dislike. "Madison says he's seeing an

older woman."

"He was," said Meghan, "until he found out she was married."

That required an explanation which led to other details of Will's career such as fights with

his sister Lilith, and his description of Meghan as a "lamb" compared to Lilith – a comparison

which made the other Kowalskis chortle.

"A fluffy, woolly bah-lamb, is how he put it," said Meghan. "But he means I can push him

around," she made a pushing motion with her hands, "and he doesn't care much. He's used to it."

Madison and Mrs Kowalski thought that Meghan sounded as if she was talking about Will

as a boyfriend but decided not to make that comment.

"Maybe don't push him around too much, dear," said Mrs Kowalski. "He's very nice."

Later in the week the question of who might go with Meghan on a well-paid appearance at a

plush new LA night club, The Boulevard Studio, arose.

"I'd love to go," said Mia. "But wouldn't you really want to ask Will? If you want to ask

Will that's fine, I'll check out this club another time."

"Do you think he would?" said Meghan looking coy. "This is different in that he's not going

anyway."

"The way to find out is to ask him," said the assistant. "I don't think he'll mind. Do you

want me to check things out?"

"Well…" said Meghan.

"I'll ask," said Mia.

Later an amused Will came into Meghan's study/office.

"I understand that Clarise Chalmers is sufficiently desperate for a date to ask a lowly writer

to keep her company as a friend," he said.

"You're right it is desperate," said Meghan. "But sometimes us girls just have to make do.

Will you come with me?"

"Sure. It'll be interesting to turn up to a place like that and be allowed in, instead of being

beaten up by security."

"Have you been beaten up by club security?" Meghan asked.

"Well, no," said Will, "but they might unless I'm with you. I'm no A lister."

"You brush up well enough in a suit. This time more of a lounge suit – a smart one - and

lose the tie and the pocket square. No one cares if the guys are dressed the same but I've got to wear

something different."

"If I come in with you, nobody is going to look at me."

"Will, another compliment!" said Meghan, laughing. "I won't know what to do."

"This thing is late too, I see," said Will. "Do we have dinner beforehand?"

"Are you asking me to dinner, Will?" said Meghan, leaning back, amused.

"Well, um, friends going to dinner is different from friends going to a night club."

"Friends can have dinner together," said Meghan.

"Not in media gossip columns," said Will. "Those guys have a rich imagination and you

draw a lot of attention."

"That can be a problem."

"I know, let me make dinner for the Kowalskis here."

Mrs Kowalski and Maddie were still staying at Casa-Meghan as the fumigation had proved

far more complicated than expected.

"Do you know how to cook for four people?"

"I don't need to. You buy pre-prepared meat, which comes with packets of sauce and

whatever else is needed. The instructions about the temperature of the oven and cooking times are

on the packaging. You can even buy trays of vegetables and potato cubes for roasting. With the

product I'm thinking of the meat has to be basted a couple of times while in the oven, which is

getting complicated but I'll manage."

"Sounds good," said Meghan. She thought later she would have at least considered a dinner

invitation. The family dinner at home was a nice compromise, however, except that piqued Mrs

Kowalski's curiosity about her daughter's attitude to Will.

"Will is making dinner for us all as a friend?" she said, eyeing her daughter.

"Uh-huh."

"Should be interesting," said Mrs Kowalski adding that "Will is a very nice man".

Dinner was successful with Will entertaining the Kowalskis with his adventures in slasher

movies and this time the writer did not choke when Meghan appeared in the low-cut, silver-white

dress, but that was only because he was not drinking anything at the time.

"Reckon they'll get together?" Madison asked of her mother after Will and Meg had gone.

"Hope so," said Mrs Kowalski. "Remember that boyfriend she had who never took off his

sunglasses?"

"He never even spoke to us," said Maddie. "Just nodded. Will makes us laugh."

In the limousine, with George and Noah in the front seat, Will pointed out that, as they

weren't going by any freeways he might get away with talking about Darth Vader.

"Say anything about Star Wars and we'll find a freeway," retorted Meghan, "a high one so

George can throw you from it."

"No problem, Ms Chalmers," said George.

Will sighed.

"What I want to talk about is whether Violet is going to be in this slasher pic of yours," said

Meghan. "You said the director was going to contact her. How do you feel about that?"

"As it happens Vi is still in her off-Broadway role and can't make it back, although Evan

says she is keen to do it. But that still leaves the problem of finding anyone at least competent for

the money Hap is prepared to offer."

"Hap sounds miserly," said Meghan.

"He's putting up his own money so it's understandable but it still presents a problem."

They arrived at the club with Clarise Chalmers doing the full Hollywood entrance while

Will, walking a metre or so behind the star, was challenged by one of the security doormen and had

to call to Henry to vouch for him.

"See I did almost get beaten up by security," he said to Meghan. "Security guys who want to

beat me up and threats of being thrown from freeways – it's proving to be a dangerous evening."

The club was full of soft, blue light with white lounges scattered through the floor and a

circular bar decorated with ribbons of white light. Will thought the effect, particularly that of the

illuminated bar, was garish but as Meghan was being paid six figures to attend his opinion of the

décor was not relevant. The clientele, well-dressed, professional types who had paid good money to

be there, all turned to look as Clarise Chalmers walked in. Meghan waved. The dancing had not

started so it was still possible to talk, the atmosphere being more like that of an exhibition or a wine

tasting. Waiters circulated with drinks, one offering Will a glass of wine the moment he walked in.

Henry refused his.

"Men and women are going to swarm around you," said Will. "If there's a problem, maybe

we can agree on a distress signal so George or I can find an excuse to pull you out."

"Hmmm. What about I put my hand up to my face like this," she said, demonstrating.

"Seems almost natural, but you will know the people I'm talking to are getting creepy and I want to

move on."

Then the club manager arrived. He was a seemingly smart, tough operator in an expensive

suit complete with a gold chain around his neck – Will got the impression of a gangster who had

graduated to management – who took Meghan away, ignoring Will and Henry. A short distance

further towards the bar he introduced the star to a man Will recognised as a mall-owning billionaire.

"You came in with Clarise Chalmers," said a female voice. Will turned to see a woman or

perhaps a girl in her early twenties with flaming red hair, one of those narrow, symmetrical faces

that make men pay close attention and a figure to match, all displayed in a red club dress that would

have run a close rival to Meghan's at the charity event, had the wearer been invited.

"That's right," said Will, "I'm part of the entourage, I guess." He noted that his interrogator

had what he assumed to be a boyfriend towering over her left shoulder. This gentleman had a full

head of long, dark hair and strong features that looked as if they should be on the cover of a cheap

romance novel.

"Guess?" said the vision, amused. "You mean you're not sure?"

"I work for Ms Chalmers. PR, social media, some business stuff, I even front for her in

fashion brand meetings, which shows just what faking it can do in the film industry."

Will rarely said so much about himself, especially to a stranger, but his new acquaintance

had the ability to loosen men's tongues. The vision laughed over Will's 'faking it' remark.

"You're not into fashion?"

"In that area I'm challenged," he said. "I'm a nerd who wandered into this film star business

and hasn't been found out yet."

She laughed again. "I'm Danni Devlin. You may have seen my Patreon channel Red Devil."

"I've heard of it," said Will, carefully. "It's considered salacious."

"You mean it's porno," said the girl, smiling.

"If you say so," said Will. "I haven't looked at it, which is my loss. But salacious sounds

better."

"It does," agreed the girl.

"Anyway, I'm Will. That's Henry watching Ms Chalmers and you are…" he stuck out his

hand in the direction of the boyfriend.

"Brett," said that gentleman shaking Will's hand. Will got the impression that was the extent

of the boyfriend's conversion.

"Well, Will," said Danni, "I know it's a cliché but what I'd really like to do is to break into

films."

So that's why she's speaking to me, thought Will.

"I can reply with another cliché," said Will. "And say I'm with a few guys putting together a

low budget, independent film. No, it's not porno, but it's a slasher hopeful. The producer's a Silicon

Valley type who scored big in the valley and now wants to get into movies. The next question is do

you think you can act?"

Danni lifted one eyebrow and smiled. "Men who've seen my channel don't ask that

question."

"I'm sure they don't," said Will, "but I am."

"Is Clarise involved in this project in any way?"

"Nope, in fact she fired me for daring to take time off to work on it."

"That's a shame, but you've been rehired?" said Danni.

"When she broke up with her boyfriend and needed a response to being dumped by media

story she forgave me, reluctantly."

"Oh right! When she said the breakup was really about her not investing in Robin Hawke's

mad schemes, you organised that response."

"Yes, that was me. Hawke had been trying to get me involved in those schemes, and Ms

Chalmers had been asking my advice about them. I said don't touch them."

Will thought that he had managed to impress Danni, which he also thought might be a

difficult thing to do.

"To answer your other question, Will, I've been taking acting lessons and the guys who run

the classes say I can act. Whether they're saying that because it's true, or because they don't want to

lose a paying customer I don't know, but that's what they say."

Will took a card out of his wallet.

"I won't ask for your number and there's no point in contacting me as I don't decide casting.

Email me, and I'll send the number for the director. He'll set up times for auditions and such. I

don't know who else they're speaking to at this stage."

Danni looked at the card and then quizzically at Will.

"Is this on the up?" she said. "I could do without another casting couch incident."

"Take Brett here if it worries you," he said.

George tapped Will on the shoulder.

"Getting the signal," the bodyguard said.

Will turned and, sure enough, Meghan had put her hand up on her cheek. The billionaire

was talking to her intensely. Two men who might well have been the billionaire's bodyguards were

right behind him.

"Excuse me for a moment, can you hold this?" Will said giving his glass to Danni.

"Sure," said Danni, surprised by this sudden turn of events.

Will and George strode towards Meg. One of the bodyguards saw the movement and moved

around to cut them off.

"Run interference and block that guy," said Will. George nodded.

"Mr Scranton and Ms Chalmers are not to be disturbed gentlemen," said the newcomer. Will

ignored him, took two more paces as the bodyguard struggled to get past George's bulk and called

out.

"Meg!"

The actress turned.

"Sorry to tear you away but we're behind schedule." He took Meghan's hand. "You'll have

to excuse us Mr Scranton is it? Good to meet you." Will reached over and shook the billionaire's

hand.

Despite being short, red-haired and with what might be described as a pimply face, the

billionaire exuded a certain air as a man who got what he wanted, and he was not happy at having

his prize taken away from him. Will was also aware of the club owner in the background, looking

thunderous

"We were getting to know one another," said Scranton frowning.

"That's nice," said Will. "But people to meet, schedules to keep, you know how it is." He

tugged slightly on Meg's hand and she followed willingly, calling "bye" as she left.

"Glad you came so quickly," she said to Will quietly, as they walked away. "He was

propositioning me really hard to come and see his yacht. Thought he might even try to kidnap me or

something."

"Is it a good yacht?" asked Will.

"Suppose it must be, but I wasn't about to find out," said Meghan.

"This is Danni Devlin," said Will taking his wine glass back and releasing Meghan's hand.

"That's her friend Brett. Danni has her own Patreon channel."

"It's a great honor to meet you, Ms Chalmers," trilled Danni. Brett smiled, nodded and said

"Hi!"

"Nice to meet you," said Meghan, although she glanced sideways at Will as if to ask why

she was meeting this person.

"Heard your bodyguard saying you were giving the distress signal," said Danni. "That guy

wanted to hook up?"

"Big time. He wanted me to go to his yacht so he could take me to the Bahamas."

"Isn't the yacht on the wrong side of the country?" said Will. "The Bahamas are off

Florida."

"His private jet first to Florida and then on the yacht," said Meghan. "Quite a ride for a first

meeting."

"He's that rich?" said Danni.

"James Scranton, mall billionaire," said Will, noting Danni's sudden interest in the man.

"He was what, looking for a trophy wife?"

"More like a trophy mistress," said Meghan.

"Huh!" said the porn star. She and Meghan exchanged a few approving words about the club

décor then Will said, "now we should circulate as we're supposed to. Remember to send that email

Danni."

"Of course," said Danni.

"Email?" asked Meghan, as they moved on, she waved to a couple of people. Two said,

'love your work'. The star said, 'thank you' and meant it. "How come she knows your email

address and why should she be using it?"

"For the film project. They're looking for cheap talent. We're trying to put together

something above the general run of independent slasher/zombie pics but without much budget."

"Humph!" said Meghan. "Can she act? What sort of channel does she have?"

"She says she can act, but that's up to director Evan and producer Hap. I'd certainly rather

have her than be on the same set as Vi. As for her channel it's porno, so she says."

"You introduced me to a porn star?"

"Since when are you so fussy, Ms Chalmers? I was rescuing you from being a sex slave

aboard a yacht, remember? We had to look busy is all. She only spoke to me because she saw me

come in with you and was hoping for an introduction to the famous Clarise Chalmers."