Sweet Revenge

better, and I’d swear no one cares more. You know, Addy, if you concentrated on this kind of work, gave it all the energy and talent you do the other, there wouldn’t be a need—”
    “Not tonight.” The easiest way to end the conversation was to signal for the doors to be opened. “Curtain up, darling.”
    “Addy. You’d tell me if you were in trouble.”
    “You’d be the first.” With a brilliant smile Adrianne swept forward to greet the early arrivals.
    It wasn’t difficult to keep the partygoers happy. It required only seeing that the food was first class, the music loud, and the wine free-flowing. As the evening progressed,Adrianne drifted from table to table and group to group. She wound her way through the silks and taffetas and velvets, the Saint Laurents, the Diors, and de la Rentas.
    Though she didn’t settle long enough to eat, she danced when pressed, and she flirted and flattered. She noticed Lauren St. John, the deplorable second wife of a hotel tycoon, wearing a new suite of diamonds and rubies. Adrianne waited her chance. When Lauren walked toward the ladies’ lounge, Adrianne followed her.
    Inside, two actresses were having a low-toned and bitter fight. Over a man, Adrianne realized as she chose a stall. Typical. They were lucky
People
had sent a male reporter who couldn’t be privy to women’s room gossip. Of course if the lounge attendant had a good memory, she could make herself an extra fifty by passing the story along. Adrianne heard Lauren swear in the next stall and guessed she was struggling to pull the snug skirt over her hips. On cue, Adrianne walked to the sinks to wait. When Lauren joined her, the actresses slammed out, one then the other.
    “Were they haggling over who I think they were haggling over?” Lauren asked as she washed her hands.
    “Sounded like it.”
    “He is a sexy son of a bitch. Do you think he’s going to divorce her?” She picked up a bottle of scent, sniffed it, then sprayed with abandon.
    “Odds are.” Adrianne crossed to the lighted vanity and took out her compact. “The question is, why does she want to hold on to him?”
    “Because he’s the best fuck around … I hear.” Lauren sat on one of the cushy white stools and fussed with her lipstick. “We got to see a great deal of his—talent—in his last movie. I wouldn’t mind a trial run myself.” She took out a monogrammed silver brush and smoothed her sleekly cut blond hair.
    “A woman can get sex without humiliation.” Adrianne spoke with casual conviction, though it was something she’d never been quite sure of.
    “Of course, but with some a little humiliation is worth it.” Lauren leaned forward to peer into her own eyes, satisfying herself that the need for a lift was still years off. “Whose heart are you breaking this week, darling?”
    “I’m taking a rest.” Adrianne used her fingers to fluff out the hair around her face before she took a vial of perfume out of her bag. “Lauren, that necklace is simply stunning. Is it new?” She already knew when it had been bought and for how much. She’d almost finished calculating just how long Lauren would own it.
    “Yes.” She turned, right then left, so the stones caught the light and shimmered. “Charlie gave it to me for our anniversary. One year last week.”
    “And they said it wouldn’t last,” Adrianne murmured, shifting to admire it. “Exquisite, really.”
    “Seventy carats in diamonds, fifty-eight in rubies. Burmese.”
    “Of course.” That was how Lauren’s mind worked. Adrianne both disdained and appreciated it.
    “Not counting the earrings.” Lauren turned her head to be certain they showed to the best advantage. “Luckily, I’m tall enough to carry them. Nothing tackier than seeing some of these little women so loaded down with jewelry they can hardly totter about. The older they get, the more they pile it on—so you don’t notice how many chins they have. Now, you …” Lauren glanced over at Adrianne’s filigree necklace studded with brilliant-cut sapphires and diamonds. “You always know exactly what to wear and how to wear it. That’s a very sweet necklace.”
    Adrianne only smiled. If the stones had been real, it would have been worth a cool hundred thousand. As it was, the pretty colored stones could be had for less than one percent of that. “Thanks.” Rising, Adrianne brushed at her skirt. The full silver skirt contrasted nicely with the snug bustier of royal blue velvet. “I