The Stars Trilogy (32 page)

When she heard the hotel’s name, her spirit lifted again. Oh, wow! Chateau Marmont was a famous place in Hollywood she had not visited yet.

Chapter Fourteen 

“Guess what? I finally did it!!! I founded the official Daredevils Philippines! Gosh, I’m so happy!:))) You know,

I have been wanting to do this for a long time now but my folks won’t let me. You know, they wanted me to concentrate in my studies but I made a deal with them. If I make good grades in my freshman and sophomore years in college, they’d let me  do it. Hah! I gave them a 1.25 GPA in all semesters! So here I am, the president of your fan club here in my country. Yaz! I have so  many projects in mind already. Like fund-raising. I know you’re doing lots of charities and that’s one thing I really admire  about you. You have a heart of gold. You share your blessings to the needy and the hurting. I so love you for that and I wanna do the same. I will uphold your causes with Daredevils Philippines, I promise.:))...”

THE LIMO STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL.

“Boss is inside the hotel now. I will escort you in,” Carlos said.

Celine understood now why Dare had to transfer to another vehicle. The paparazzi were waiting like a pack of beasts at the main entrance. They went on full alert when they spotted the limo, their cameras ready to fire like automatic weapons. Some were already running in their direction.

She was a media darling all her life in her own country but she’d never been exposed to this ravenous breed. Now she understood those tussles between celebs and paparazzi she’d read about. They surely tested a person’s limit. These were hyenas on two legs, forever hungry for blood. Blood that readily converted to cash. Just one good picture of a celeb in a very compromising situation spelled millions of dollars.

She was afraid to get out of the limo.

“Don’t worry, once inside, you’re safe from these dogs,” Carlos assured her.

“They can’t go in?”

“No. Strictly prohibited. Come on, Dare’s waiting.”

He went out of the car first and then he helped her out.

“Who’s that? That’s Dare’s limo, right?” she heard one paparazzo say. She wanted to cover her face but she stopped herself. Silly thought. She was not famous in this country. The paparazzi won’t pay her any attention.

True enough, the paparazzi didn’t mind them when they didn’t see Dare. But she still heard some shutters click. Gosh, she hoped they weren’t taking her picture.

They walked briskly to the entrance of the hotel and were immediately assisted by the staff. She briefly admired the classic old world charm of the lobby. She had only read about this legendary hotel but seeing it for real was like a walk through Hollywood history in the last fifty years.

Chateau Marmont was built in 1929, inspired by the architecture of the Loire Valley’s Chateau d’Amboise. This hotel had housed many Hollywood legends like Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart and even famous rock stars like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and The Doors. Today, almost every celebrity wanted to hang out at the hotel for the sheer pleasure of experiencing Hollywood’s golden era.

A hotel staff accompanied them to the garden.

Dare was already there, sitting on a table for two. “Thank you, Carlos. You can join Cruz over there.” He pointed to a table near the swimming pool some ten meters from them. Cruz was already there. “We don’t want to be disturbed.”

“Okay, boss.” Carlos left them.

“Sit down,” Dare gestured to the chair facing him.

Celine was brimming with excitement. She wanted to run around the place like a child, investigate every corner, every photograph and furniture, every nook and cranny.

“Oh Dare, I have always wanted to see this place! It’s Hollywood history at a glance!” She looked around, surveying their surroundings. The place had a very homey, simple charm, nothing flashy like the many grand hotels in LA. “It’s beautiful, just like in the photos I’ve seen!”

“I hope you didn’t pick up gossip about me here.”

She turned to him. “Oh, wait, the one where you were caught making out with...” she whispered the female celebrity’s name for fear of being overheard.

“Jesus! Do you read everything?”

She grinned. “Was that true?”

He smirked. “What would you want it to be?”

“Hmmm, Dare?” she said teasingly.

“Cute. Sit down. We’ll walk around later.”

She sat down on the vacant chair. This part of the garden was secluded. Tall hedges separated clusters of tables, allowing privacy. There weren’t many guests hanging out in that area today.

“I’ve already ordered. They know my favorite here. I’d like you to try it.”

She smiled broadly, feeling giddy. “Thanks.” Her eyes were again busy scanning the place. “I can’t believe I’m here! Do you come here often?”

“Yeah. Best place to have breakfast or dinner. Nobody would disturb you here.”

She leaned back in her chair. “I can see what you mean. Oh, my God!” she straightened again. “I think that’s Jennifer Aniston coming our way!”

He briefly glanced at where she was looking. “Yeah, that’s her. She’s a regular here. We’re neighbors actually.”

“Really?! Oh my God, she’s sooo pretty!”

“Close your mouth, honey,” he said just as the ravishing ex-wife of Brad Pitt walked by their table and stopped when she spotted Dare.

“Hey, you!” Jennifer playfully ruffled Dare’s hair. There was genuine affection in her voice.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Dare stood up and kissed Jen’s cheek. “Who are you with?” he asked.

Jennifer smiled mysteriously. “Justin.”

“Ahh.” Dare grinned as if he knew something.

“What’s that smile for?” Jen asked him.

“Nothing,” Dare deadpanned. “Hey, is Justin busy lately?”

“He’s working on the script of Ironman.”

Celine swallowed nervously. The actress was looking at her speculatively now. Jennifer was quite radiantly beautiful up close, like sunshine, especially when she smiled like that. Her cerulean blue eyes simply sparkled.

“Hello,” Jennifer greeted her pleasantly.

“H-hi,” Celine stammered and stood up.

“Oh, this is Celine, my secretary,” Dare said.

“Secretary...” Jennifer smiled impishly and extended her hand to her. “Hello, Celine. I’m, Jen.”

“I know! Uhm, hello, hello...Jen...” Goodness, was she pumping the actress’ hand too hard? “Sorry...I’m...I’m a fan!” she gushed. She hoped Jennifer won’t find her weird and intrusive but she was feeling star struck. It was not everyday that she was shaking hands with a major Hollywood star. Dare was an exemption. He was her future hubby and she should not be star struck with him anymore. It was mandatory for her Operation: Get Dare mission. Never let your target intimidate you, said one of her strategy manuals.

Thankfully, Jennifer’s personality was as sunny as her appearance. “Thank you, Celine. Where’s Kelsey?”

“Uhm, she went to Europe to check on a client.”

“I see. Well, I’d better look for Justin. He was talking to Robert awhile back. I’ll see you, Dare. Pleasure meeting you, Celine.”

“Give my regards to Justin,” Dare said fondly.

“I will. Okay, bye, guys! Have a great dinner!”

And off she went in a flurry of blond and perfect golden tan.

They both sat down again.

“She is so beautiful,” she sighed, gazing after the actress.

“Yeah. A very nice person, too.”

“Are you really friends?”

“Sort of. Yeah.”

“Didn’t you...” her words trailed off.

“What?”

“I mean she’s really attractive. Didn’t you guys ever date in the past?”

“She was married for the most part. And she’s the romantic dinner type.”

“Oh. And I suppose you’re the bar-hopping type.”

“I’m sure that’s been tabloid fodder for ages. You’ve been reading too much about me in the rags. I’m curious, what’s the worst you’ve read so far?”

“Uhm…” She leaned closer to him and whispered. “That you’re gay?”

He turned serious.

She winced. “Ops, sorry. That’s been circulating for years.”

“Ah.” He gazed contemplatively at the swimming pool nearby and then met her eyes again. “Why do you think they think I’m gay?” he asked after a while.

“You’re not mad, are you?”

“No. I never really cared about the rumors. I don’t read the rags. Kelsey does. She gets off on tons of it. But now that you’ve brought that up, I’m curious of your point of view.”

Oh dear.
“I don’t have a point of view. Really, I don’t think that you’re...that you’re...”

“What do they say then?”

She cleared her throat. “Uhm, let’s see. They say that you need a cover. A legal one would be a wife. If that isn’t enough, scores of girlfriends on the side will corroborate your errr masculinity.”

His eyes smoldered with heat.
Oh no. He’s mad now.

“And what can you say about that theory?”

Scenes of their hot encounters flashed in her mind. His exes weren’t kissing and telling for nothing. “Well, after I’ve heard Gabby scream her grudges like a Salem witch awhile back...She’s really pissed off by the way...”

“Yes?”

“Maybe you swing both ways. But more to the right,” she quipped, trying to hold a straight face. She hoped he’d just be amused and drop the subject.

He leaned back in his armchair and spread his legs in a blatantly masculine display of invitation. “You know, you can put that theory to the test. All you need to do is hop in the saddle and find out which way I swing the best. I’d be happy to let you ride me to your heart’s content.”

Okay, this serves you right, you and your big mouth.

Her cheeks were now twin flat burners of mortification. How quickly the topic went off tangent. And by that challenged look in his eyes, he deliberately put her there. Well, it was her fault bringing up that gay thing. Now she had to face the consequence of having an affronted masculinity in her hands.

“Do you like your thoughts right now?” he murmured huskily, his voice, soft and lazy. “I surely like mine right now. They’re quite vivid.”

“Lower you voice, someone might hear you.” Even if her heartbeat started to accelerate in excitement, she was still not used to his blatant regard and casual disregard for sex.

He chuckled softly. “After calling me gay, she turns modest. You are a contradiction, Celine.”

She leaned on the table. “I did not say you were gay! I just said that the tabloids wrote about it. Many times, too! But it doesn’t mean I believed any of it!” she hissed.

“Well, thank you for your faith in my...virility. I was really hoping I’d need to prove something to you, at least?”

She rolled her eyes. “Eww! I can’t believe you said that! And hush, some waiter might hear you hitting on me.”

“I seldom use a line and I get a major neg. Don’t worry, they shoot paparazzi in this place.”

“That’s a relief. What’s a neg?”

“A technical term used by pick-up artists. Means to blow off someone.”

“Wait, you actually need to use lines? You?” She couldn’t help the dig.

“Sure, but not for picking up women.”

She gave him a blank look.

“Women love to hear crap from men. It repulses them but it also switches on their sexual motors. The more crap they hear, the more interested they get.”

She nearly choked on her words. “Excuse me?!”

“They know it’s BS of course but it’s a guilty pleasure. Women love to be guilty. It gets them off better.”

Her jaw dropped in total shock. She was speechless for a few seconds.

“They always like to play the seduced, the unwilling participant, the victim, but in truth, they love it. Playing the weak and the victim is their source of power. It makes men feel invincible, and when a man feels invincible, he is as vulnerable a target for the kill as a newborn. Women are the true masters of the game of seduction since time immemorial.”

“I have never heard of a more sexist view! Where are you from? Haven’t you ever heard of sexual revolution? Women were victims of men’s puritanical narcissism for centuries! Be glad I’m not Gloria Steinem or you’re plant fertilizer by now!” She glared at him.