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She hugged him tightly and said； 〃Oh； yes； Toby。〃
She loved him and she was going to marry him。 And it was not until hours later that Jill remembered why all this had started in the first place。 She had wanted Toby's power。 She had wanted to pay back all the people who had used her； hurt her； degraded her。 She had wanted vengeance。 Now she was going to have it。
Clifton Lawrence was in trouble。 In a way； he supposed； it was his own fault for letting things get this far。 He was seated at Toby's bar； and Toby was saying；
〃I proposed to her this morning； Cliff； and she said yes。 I feel like a sixteenyear…old kid。〃
Clifton tried not to let the shock show on his face。 He had to be extremely careful about the way he handled this。 He knew one thing： he could not let that little tramp marry Toby Temple。 The moment the wedding announcement was made； every cocks man in Hollywood would crawl out of the woodwork； announcing that he had gotten in there first。 It was a miracle that Toby had not found out about Jill before now； but it could not be kept from him forever。 When he learned the truth； Toby would kill。 He would lash out at everyone around him； everyone who had let this happen to him； and Clifton Lawrence would be the first to feel the brunt of Toby's rage。 No； Clifton could not let this marriage take place。 He was tempted to point out that Toby was twenty years older than Jill； but he checked himself。 He looked over at Toby and said cautiously；
〃It might be a mistake to rush things。 It takes a long time to really get to know a person。 You might change your 〃
Toby brushed it aside。 〃You're gonna be my best man。 You think we should have the wedding here or up in Vegas？〃
Clifton knew that he was wasting his breath。 There was only one way to prevent this disaster from happening。 He had to find a way to stop Jill。
That afternoon； the little agent telephoned Jill and asked her to e to his office。 She arrived an hour late； gave him a cheek to kiss； sat down on the edge of the couch and said；
〃I haven't much time。 I'm meeting Toby。〃
〃This won't take long。〃
Clifton studied her。 It was a different Jill。 She bore almost no resemblance to the girl he had first met a few months ago。 There was a confidence about her now； an assurance that she had not had earlier。 Well； he had dealt with girls like her before。
〃Jill； I'm going to lay it on the line；〃 Clifton said。 〃You're bad for Toby。 I want you to get out of Hollywood。〃 He took a white envelope out of a drawer。 〃Here's five thousand dollars cash。 That's enough to take you anywhere you want to go。〃
She stared at him a moment； a surprised expression on her face； then leaned back on the couch and began to laugh。
〃I'm not joking；〃 Clifton Lawrence said。 〃Do you think Toby would marry you if he found out you've laid everybody in town？〃
She regarded Clifton for a long moment。 She wanted to tell him that he was responsible for everything that had happened to her。 He and all the other people in power who had refused to give her a chance。 They had made her pay with her body； her pride； her soul。 But she knew there was no way she could ever make him understand。 He was trying to bluff her。 He would not dare tell Toby about her； it would be Lawrence's word against hers。 Jill rose to her feet and walked out of the office。 One hour later； Clifton received a call from Toby。 Clifton had never heard Toby sound so excited。
〃I don't know what you said to Jill； pal； but I have to hand it to you she can't wait。 We're on our way to Las Vegas to get married！〃
The Lear jet was thirty…five miles from the Los Angeles International Airport； flying at 250 knots。 David Kenyon made contact with the LAX approach control and gave them his position。 David was exhilarated。 He was on his way to Jill。 Cissy had recovered from most of her injuries suffered in the automobile accident； but her face had been badly lacerated。 David had sent her to the best plastic surgeon in the world； a doctor in Brazil。 She had been gone for six weeks； during which time she had been sending him glowing reports about the doctor。 Twenty…four hours ago； David had received a telephone call from Cissy； saying she was not returning。 She had fallen in love。 David could not believe his good fortune。
〃That's that's wonderful；〃 he managed to slammer。 〃I hope you and the doctor will be happy。〃
〃Oh； it's not the doctor；〃 Cissy replied。 〃It's someone who owns a little plantation here。 He looks exactly like you； David。 The only difference is that he loves me。〃
The crackling of the radio interrupted his thoughts。
〃Lear Three Alpha Papa； this is Los Angeles Approach Control。 You're clear for approach to Runway Twenty…five Left。 There will be a United seven…oh…seven behind you。 When you land； please taxi to the ramp on your right。〃
〃Roger。〃 David began to make his descent； and his heart started to pound。 He was on his way to find Jill； to tell her he still loved her； to ask her to marry him。 He was walking through the terminal when he passed the newsstand and saw the headline： 〃Toby Temple weds actress〃。 He read the story twice and then turned and went into the airport bar。 He stayed drunk for three days and then flew back to Texas。
It was a storybook honeymoon。 Toby and Jill flew in a private jet to Las Hadas； where they were the guests of the Patinos at their fairyland resort carved out of the Mexican jungle and beach。 The newlyweds were given a private villa surrounded by cacti； hibiscus and brilliantly colored bouganvillea； where exotic birds serenaded them all night。 They spent ten days exploring and yachting and being partied。 They ate delicious dinners at the Legazpi prepared by gourmet chefs and swam in the fresh…water pools。 Jill shopped at the exquisite boutiques at the Plaza。 From Mexico they flew to Biarritz where they stayed at L'Hotel du Palais； the spectacular palace that Napoleon III built for his Empress Eugenie。 The honeymooners gambled at the casinos and went to the bullfights and fished and made love all night。 From the Cote Basque they drove east to Gistaad； thirty…five hundred feet above sea level in the Bernese Oberiand。 They took sightseeing flights among the peaks； skimming Mont Blanc and the Matterhom。 They skied the dazzling white slopes and rode dog sleds and attended fondue parties and danced。 Toby had never been so happy。 He had found the woman to make his life plete。 He was no longer lonely。
Toby could have continued the honeymoon forever； but Jill was eager to get home。 She was not interested in any of these places； nor in any of these people。 She felt like a newly crowned queen who was being kept from her country。 Jill Castle was burning to return to Hollywood。 Mrs。 Toby Temple had scores to settle。
BOOK THREE
There is a smell to failure。 It is a stench that clings like a miasma。 Just as dogs can detect the odor of fear in a human being； so people can sense when a man is on his way down。 Particularly in Hollywood。 Everyone in the Business knew that Clifton Lawrence was finished； even before he knew it。 They could smell it in the air around him。 Clifton had not heard from Toby or Jill in the week since they had returned from their honeymoon。 He had sent an expensive gift and had left three telephone messages； which had been ignored。 Jill。 Somehow she had managed to turn Toby's mind against him。 Clifton knew that he had to effect a truce。 He and Toby meant too much to each other to let anyone e between them。
Clifton drove out to the house on a morning when he knew Toby would be at the studio。 Jill saw him ing up the driveway and opened the door for him。 She looked stunningly beautiful； and he said so。 She was friendly。 They sat in the garden and had coffee； and she told him about the honeymoon and the places they had been。 She said；
〃I'm sorry Toby hasn't returned your calls； Cliff。 You can't believe how frantic it's been around here。〃 She smiled apologetically； and Clifton knew then that he had been wrong about her。 She was not his enemy。
〃I'd like us to start fresh and be friends；〃 he said。
〃Thank you； Cliff。 So would I。〃
Clifton felt an immeasurable sense of relief。 〃I want to give a dinner party for you and Toby。 I'll take over the private room at the Bistro。 A week from Saturday。 Black tie； a hundred of your most intimate friends。 How does that sound？〃
〃Lovely。 Toby will be pleased。〃
Jill waited until the afternoon of the party to telephone and say；
〃I'm so sorry。 Cliff。 I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to make it tonight。 I'm a little tired。 Toby thinks I should stay home and rest。〃
Clifton managed to hide his feelings。 〃I'm sorry about that； Jill； but I understand。 Toby will be able to e； won't he？〃
He heard her sigh over the telephone。 〃I'm afraid not； dear boy。 He won't go anywhere without me。 But you have a nice party。〃
And she hung up。 It was too late to call off the party。 The bill was three thousand dollars。 But it cost Clifton much more than that。 He had been stood up by the guest of honor； his one and only client； and everyone there； the studios heads； the stars； the directors all the people who mattered in Hollywood were aware of it。 Clifton tried to cover