“So Audrey...Robert tells me there hasn’t been much progress with Lennon.” Frank said as he paced back and forth in the hotel room.

“I didn’t realize spying on me was now part of the business, Frank.”  Audrey said coldly.

“I need to make sure you’re keeping your end of the deal, now don’t I?”

“I’ve always delivered…why would it be any different this time?”

Frank chuckled and walked over to Audrey who was sitting on the bed and took her face in his hand. “I just want you to remember what’s at stake here…or more like who is at stake.”

Audrey pushed his hand away. “I know how to do the job, Frank.  And you can call off your goons! You don’t think having this bloody bastard push me into a cab is going to attract more attention?”

“I admit, he could have had a little more discretion in getting you here.” Frank said as he looked over at Robert. “…but he reports to me….he does what I tell him…I asked him to bring you here and he did. He gets the job done and that is what I am interested in.” he finished looking back at Audrey.

“Well he’s a liar, Frank.  You better be careful with this one…giving you misinformation will inevitably lead to your failure. ”

 “You know fuckin’ well John has absolutely no interest in you!” Robert yelled across the room.

“How would you know that?  Just because you think you’re playing detective doesn’t mean you know what the fuck is going on!”

“Oh come off it!  It’s Ringo who’s doting over you…and don’t pretend you’re not enjoying his attention.”

Without letting her explain, Frank grabbed Audrey by the wrist and dragged her off the bed. Audrey struggled to get out of his grasp.

“Stop…you’re hurting me!” Audrey said.

Frank finally let her go, which caught her off balance and she went tumbling against the desk and finally hit the floor.  Frank knelt next to her and glared at her with piercing eyes.

“This isn’t a game, you hear me? You’re working for me.  I gave you an assignment.  It was to have John Lennon eating out of the palm of your hand…I need you to have complete control over him.  Now if you can’t get the job done, I’ll make other arrangements.”

Audrey felt nauseated.  She knew Frank well enough to know that when it came to business, he expected results.  She knew Robert was right.  She hadn’t gotten anywhere with John, but there was no way in Hell she was going to admit to that.  So she used what she had learned from years in the business to her benefit…and hoped Frank would not see through her.

“I know what I’m doing, Frank!” Audrey responded trying to sound offended by what Frank had implied.  “You men don’t know a damn thing about seduction!  This isn’t just any one we’re talking about here.  This is John fucking Lennon!  Do you know how many women are simply throwing themselves at him?  You want me to explain my strategy to you with apples and oranges? Fine!  It’s called jealousy!  I’m just using Ringo to make John jealous!” Audrey said looking directly at Frank.

Frank didn’t say a word for a few seconds. Audrey held her breath hoping her explanation had been enough to convince Frank that she was following through with their deal. 

“You have this under control, then?” Frank finally said, his voice having taken a softer tone.

“Of course I do.  You know me, Frank…I could do this with my eyes closed…I just need a different approach because of who he is.” Audrey said apprehensively, yet still managed to give a smile.

“Alright then, but Robert is going to be keeping an eye on you…”

“But I-“

“Shh!  If you have this covered, then there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“As long as he doesn’t give you false information.” Audrey complained. “C’mon Frank.  You know I got this…I don’t need a babysitter watching my every move, assuming things and blabbing to you about things he has no clue about.” Audrey said trying to appeal to Frank.

Frank stood up and looked at Robert who was still standing at the other end of the room.

“You two need to work together. I don’t want this happening again.  You-“ he said looking at Audrey who was standing back up. “ …you need to report to Robert your progress so he can correctly inform me.”

“But-” Audrey again began.

“Isn’t that what you wanted…for him to have the correct information?  Well he needs to get it from somewhere, so what better person than you to give it to him?”

“Well why can’t I go straight to you with it?” Audrey asked.

“He knows how to get a hold of me…”

“Just tell-”

“Audrey!” Frank’s voice boomed in the silent room. “Enough…you will go through Robert and that’s all there is to it.  And you, you’re not going to be calling me down any time you think there’s a problem….you got that?  I don’t have time to be coming here every time you don’t understand how she works. Is that understood?”

Roberto nodded but didn’t say a word. 

“Understood?” Frank addressed Audrey.

She sighed but nodded in agreement.

“Now…you two get better acquainted.” Frank said as he let himself out of the room without saying another word.

Audrey sat down on the desk chair that was next to her and looked down at her wrists.  Her left wrist had already bruised from when Robert was dragging her into the cab and she could see her right wrist was already starting to bruise from when Frank had gotten upset minutes ago.  She glared at Robert who was still standing at the opposite side of the room.

“You’re such a fuckin’ idiot.” Audrey finally said.

“Fuck you.” Robert responded. “You and I both know what you told Frank is bullshit.  John has absolutely no bloody interest in you.  You think men don’t talk?  Both John and Paul are giving Ringo advice on how he can get you in bed. I doubt if John was jealous, he’d be telling Ringo he should get to it and shag you already.  If only they knew it doesn’t take much for that to happen.” Robert said having walked up to Audrey.

“You don’t know a bloody thing about me!  So don’t act like you do!” Audrey snapped.

“I know what kind of women work for Frank…” He said looking down at Audrey who was still in the chair. “How’s about you and I get to know each other a little better…you know, like Frank said, get better acquainted?” Robert said as he began unbuckling his belt.

Audrey looked at him in disgust and stood up.

“You can go fuck yourself, because this, it’s never going to happen.”

Audrey grabbed her purse and headed towards the door.

“We’ll see about that, Audrey…” Robert said just as she closed the door.

***

“Where have you been, Audrey?” Pattie asked as she got up from her bed. “I thought you were coming back to the hotel after you left.”

“I just went out for a walk…had to clear my head.” Audrey said as she collapsed on her own bed.

“Are you okay?” Pattie asked. “I was worried when I came back and you weren’t in the room.”

Audrey gave her a half smile and nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Something happen with Ringo?” Pattie said hesitantly.

Audrey stopped what she was doing and looked at her. “No. Why do you ask?”

“You left so abruptly…you left him on the dance floor and-“

“Did he say anything?” Audrey asked genuinely concerned.

“Not to me.  He spoke with John for a while and then left shortly after.”

“Oh.”

“What happened?”

Audrey didn’t say anything.

“You can talk to me, Audrey…maybe I can help.” Pattie said as she made her way over to Audrey and sat down next to her.

“Remember when Prudence said she thought Ringo liked me?”

Pattie nodded.

“Well he confirmed it himself tonight on the dance floor.”

“Really?  So what did you tell him?”

“That I didn’t want to lead him on…that I just see him as a friend…”

“Really?” Pattie asked genuinely surprised.

“Yes…you seemed shocked with the news.”

“Oh…no…sorry, it’s just that, well…I kind of thought the feelings were mutual.  I just thought that you liked him too, that’s all.”

“Well I don’t.” Audrey said rather abruptly. “I mean…not in that way.” She quickly corrected. “Besides…” she said as she stood up and grabbed her nightgown, “I’d probably be just one of the many girls he’d take to bed and then be tossed to the side, just like the rest of them. Who needs that?” she asked as she opened the door to the bathroom.

***

The next day, Pattie and Audrey went to Twickenham Film Studios.  Ringo was filming some solo scenes in Twickenham so he would not be in the studio until later that afternoon. When Audrey and Pattie arrived, they met Prudence and Susan to have a small breakfast.  Audrey poured herself a cup of tea and took one of the pastries that were on a nearby table.  The girls sat and chatted, but Audrey’s mind was elsewhere.  The meeting last night with Frank and Robert had made her very apprehensive- especially since Robert knew the situation with John.  It was one thing to be able to pass one over Frank, but she would not be able to get away with it again.  The truth was, however, that she didn’t know what to do.  The fact that Ringo was interested in her made trying to seduce John problematic.  If John did respond to her advances, he would get into hot water with his friend…and if he didn’t…then it would mean that she and Grace would be in danger. 

In addition to these thoughts, Audrey couldn’t help but feel torn in all of this.  She had denied it to Pattie…to Ringo himself, but she couldn’t deny it to herself.  She did have feelings for Ringo.  For the first time in a long time, her feelings were real.  She had gotten nervous on the dance floor with him, her heart had fluttered when he tried to kiss her….her heart hurt when she told him she only wanted to be friends.  For the first time in years, she hadn’t faked any of those things to try to manipulate a man…and yet, she was being forced to do just that with none other than his friend.  This could not end well…it was better for Ringo to think she had no interest in him…it was safer for him.

Once the girls had finished their breakfast, they filed down the corridor to report to the casting director.  On their way there, they crossed paths with John, Paul and George who were on their way to get some breakfast.  Everyone exchanged greetings and smiles and continued on their way.  A few seconds later, Audrey heard her name being called.  She turned to see John walking towards her.

“You girls go on ahead…she’ll catch up in a bit.” John said to the others.

Susan, Pattie and Prudence nodded.

“Hey.” He smiled at Audrey.

“Hi.” Audrey replied.

“So…umm…about last night…with Ringo…I know I shouldn’t pry, but…”

“Then don’t.” Audrey suddenly heard herself say.  She was surprised she had actually said it aloud.  For a split second she wasn’t sure if she had only thought the words and not actually spoken them, but by John’s reaction, it was evident they had been said.

John cleared his throat. “…but I have to, love.  You should have seen the poor lad last night.  He was crushed.”

“I don’t know what to say to you John.  I’m sorry Ringo took it so hard, but I was honest with him…you can’t really blame me for being honest.” Audrey responded.

“Were you?”

“What are you getting at?” Audrey said defensively.

“I just don’t think you were being honest with him, that’s all.   I don’t think you’re being honest with me right now.”

Audrey was speechless for a few seconds, not knowing how to respond to that.  “Well…you…you just don’t know what you’re talking about, John.” Audrey finally said trying to sound confident, but failing miserably. 

“I think I do.” John said with the confidence Audrey lacked.

Audrey felt cornered so she did the only thing she knew how to do in these situations.  She got mad.

“You don’t know me! And frankly, I don’t care if you believe me or not.  I know you guys are Beatles and all, but that fact doesn’t mean that all the girls you run across are going to be all over you.  And the fact that you guys believe they are makes you all arrogant cads.”  Audrey said as she turned around to walk away.

“That’s not what I meant at all!” John said as he grabbed a hold of Audrey’s wrist to keep her from walking off.

Audrey yelped as she felt John grasp her bruised wrist.  Immediately John let go and a look of surprise fell on his face.  He knew his grip had not been at all forceful…not even close to cause the cry of pain Audrey had let out.  He immediately looked down at her wrist and a look of concern replaced his surprise.  He gently took her hand and moved the shirt sleeve she had strategically worn to cover the bruise.

“What’s this then?” John asked with concern.

Audrey stared at John without saying a word.  She slowly slipped her hand out of his.

“I…gotta go.” She said before turning around and quickly walking away.

“Audrey!...Audrey!” John called out to her, but she just kept on walking...and John let her.