Mid step, the trance wore off and Izzy was overcome with the urge to run away. What was she doing? He couldn't see her. If he recognized her—and that was a big if—he'd wonder why she was there and the lies would start all over again.

Besides, he was engaged. She spun around, coming face to face with Rita.

"Let's go somewhere—anywhere else."

Rita looked her over. "Oh—alright." She hurried after Izzy as she made her way towards a large fountain on the other side of the yard. "Did something else happen between the two of you on the island?"

"Nothing like what you're thinking." Izzy let out a nervous laugh. She ran a hand through the clear stream of water cascading from an oversized merman's hands. "I just think it would be better if he didn't see me. Considering—."

Rita leaned against the edge of the fountain, finishing the rest of her champagne, her eyes on the stage. She tilted her head, shooting Izzy a sideways glance. "He is awfully handsome."

"And engaged." Izzy dried her hand on her dress, pouring the last of the champagne into the grass. Her head was beginning to throb.

Rita studied her. "How did I miss all this? There we were, stuck in that awful stone prison, and you managed to have a rendezvous with a handsome boy and keep it all a secret?"

"Gloria had a big mouth," said Izzy. "I was afraid she'd tell."

"True—but you could have told me."

"I was going to. But it happened right before the night you—."

They both knew her next words. Rita's face paled a bit, and Izzy wished she hadn't brought it up.

"What do you think Gloria's doing now?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Who knows. Stirring up trouble somewhere, I suppose. I miss her though. Before you came, we went through a lot together."

"There you ladies are." Lucy sashayed towards them, two other women at her side.

Izzy immediately recognized them both; Doris Michaels, a striking redhead, and Georgina Martin, her classic raven hair in a pixie cut. She'd seen them both on television. Doris had her own show and Georgina played lead roles in the both movies and television shows. It was surreal to see them standing in the flesh in front of her.

"Here we go," Rita said under her breath. She straightened, pulling herself off the edge of the fountain.

"Rita!" Doris raced over in her heels and grabbed her hands, her long lashed eyes wide with excitement. Izzy could smell the alcohol on her breath as she spoke."We meet again! How have you been, my dear?"

"Fabulous!" said Rita. "This is my friend, Izzy. She's come to visit for the wedding."

Doris's eyes flitted to Izzy, then back to Rita. "Oh yes, your wedding. It's only a week away, isn't it? But—where is your fiancé right now?"

Izzy caught Doris give the other two women a telling look.

"He's somewhere nearby." Rita scanned the yard. "He had some business to take care of."

"I'm sure he did," Doris said, patting Rita on the shoulder. "Anyhow, Georgina here was dying to meet you. None of us could believe it when we heard the great Warren Stone was actually getting hitched."

"I first met Warren when I was living at Hollywood Studio Club," Georgina said, finishing the last of her drink. "I was barely eighteen, desperately trying to get my feet wet. He'd visit ever so often and pick out girls to audition for him."

The women laughed, making Izzy feel uncomfortable. She glanced at Rita, who seemed indifferent.

A waiter dressed in a tailored black and white suit appeared and took the glass from her as well as Izzy and Rita. "Can I get you ladies anything else?" he asked, his black mustache neatly divided into two.

"You can get us all a martini," Lucy said, waving him off.

"We all prayed he'd choose us," Georgina continued. "He was our ticket to stardom, you see. That's why we all left home, to be big Hollywood stars. Every girl there had the same dream—but it only came true for a few. The rest of them ended up waitressing or dancing for a living. One day he chose me, and here I am—with two academy awards under my belt."

"And, don't forget—your hand prints are in the sidewalk of Chinese Theatre as of yesterday," said Lucy, clapping her hands together.

"Ah, the Studio Club." Doris ran her hand along the fountain edge, then turned to rest against it. She looked different in person than on the screen. Her flaming red curls were pinned high on her head, showing off her enormous blue eyes, but Izzy could see the strain in them, from what she supposed was a hectic life.

"Those were the good old days," Doris continued. "We all owe a lot to that old boy, and to your Ralph," she said to Lucy.

"And what about you, dear?" Lucy turned to Izzy, her eyes sweeping over her. "You have a unique look. Are you hoping to get in the business?"

Izzy's mouth dropped. "Oh—no. No. I'm only here to see Rita." She wanted to shrink back into the bushes, feeling totally inadequate as the three women appraised her.

"I don't think I've ever met a girl in Hollywood that didn't want to be in the business," Doris said. "Of course, there are days I wish I could go to the grocery store without the paparazzi on my back, or spend a leisurely day at the beach just for myself, not to pose for the next cover of Modern Screen magazine."

The waiter returned with a round of martinis for the five women. On stage, Wes' velvety voice caused all of their heads to turn.

"If I wasn't on my fifth marriage, I'd be trailing that lovely boy like a bloodhound," Georgina said, throwing her head back as she swallowed the drink.

Doris waved her hand dismissively. "I've had it with Hollywood men."

"Girls, girls! His fiancé is Harry Carmody's daughter," said Lucy, twirling around the olive in her drink with a long nail. "Harry is also a movie producer and one of Warren's good friends," she explained to Rita and Izzy.

"I was only joking," Georgina said. "Anyway, I heard those boys left old Judd Jones high and dry after he discovered them. They took another deal after he'd invested all his time and money in them. Went with RCA. Pretty cold, if you ask me."

Izzy took in Lucy's words, remembering Judd and Betsy. Her eyes shifted to Wes on the stage strumming his guitar and she wondered what kind of person he truly was. Or maybe he'd become someone different since he'd left the island.

"You can't blame them," said Lucy, sipping the martini. "SunRay Records isn't what it used to be. Judd's lost his touch, it's probably time he retires."

"Yes, but their new producer, Jack Corbin is as slippery as they come," said Georgina. "I've heard he's worse than any movie producer when it comes to controlling his singer's lives."

"He's getting the job done, isn't he? They're the biggest group in the industry right now—couldn't ask for any better than that," Lucy said. Her eyes flitted back to Rita over the rim of her glass."So Rita, we still haven't heard your story. How did you manage to get Warren to settle down?"

Halfway through the drink, Izzy's head started to pound. When the world began to spin, she feared she may either vomit or faint in front of the two most famous women in America, an action that would likely ruin Rita's reputation forever.

"Excuse me for a moment." She hurried off towards the house, leaving poor Rita to deal with the pressing women alone.

She'd intended to go to the house to find a bathroom, but the pool house proved to be closer.

It might have been a house itself with how big it was. Set right next to the massive rectangular pool, it was surrounded by white concrete and manicured palm trees. A few people were gathered around, drinks in their hands, talking and staring into the crystal clear water that was lit up from lights at the bottom.

She sucked in some fresh air, trying to appear nonchalant as she made her way to the doors. The whole front of the pool house was made of glass.

Inside stood tables and brightly colored stools around a small kitchen area. Izzy wondered how a person could possibly use two kitchens as she searched for a glass in the cabinet to fill with water at the sink.

A giggle sprang from the other room, causing her to jump. Ever so slowly, she shut the cabinet door, careful not to make a noise. She shouldn't have intruded. Someone seemed to be having an intimate encounter in the other room.

Just as she turned to leave, she heard a woman's voice squeal. "Oh Warren, you're such a tease."

She caught her breath, freezing midstep. Despite that fact that her mind was screaming at her to leave, her legs compelled her to sneak around the corner and peer into the other room.

"So, does this mean I got the part?" The woman's voice again.

"Oh yeah, sweetheart. You've got the part." Warren. Izzy had to cover the gasp that was threatening to escape from her mouth.

Her heart pounding in her throat, she stretched a little further—far enough to see the busty blonde sitting on his lap.

She stepped backwards, her heart dropping. Something fell to the ground behind her. It hit and rolled, clattering as it settled onto the tile floor.

"Who's there?" shot Warren's voice.

Through her growing terror, she heard a rustling as he came to his feet.

Without thinking, she raced across the room, tearing out of the glass door. She stole one quick look behind her to see if he was there. In that same moment her dress caught on her shoe and she was stumbling forward—she hit something—someone.

A scream. It was all a blur. Splash!

To her horror, she was on her hands and knees at the foot of the pool, staring down at a woman flailing in the water. Her red sequined gown billowed around her. Patsy. Oh god!

In front of her, Patsy stopped flailing and stood, her golden hair now a straw brown, matted to her head. Her mascara ran down her cheeks as she stared Izzy down with malicious intent. "You clumsy bitch! How dare you! Do you know how much this dress cost?"

"I—." Tears gathered in Izzy's eyes, her knees throbbing from where she'd hit the concrete. "I'm so sorry. Let me help you." She reached out her hand.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyer," Patsy snapped, making her way towards the pool steps.

"I'll pay for the dress and whatever else you need," came Warren's voice from behind her. "She's with me, she's Rita's friend."

He reached out a hand to help Izzy off the ground. She wavered, but accepted only because a crowd had formed to gawk. When she came to her feet, Warren raised an eyebrow at her. She immediately avoided his eyes, not wanting to cause another scene. Despite her overwhelming embarrassment, she had the urge to slap him across the face for his betrayal of Rita. The busty blonde was nowhere to be seen.

"What happened?" Wes rushed past her to the steps of the pool. He grabbed Patsy's hands to help her out of the water.

Someone handed him a towel and he wrapped it around her. Patsy collapsed into tears in his arms.

Desperate to escape, Izzy turned to feel burning eyes on her, waiting for an explanation.

"She tripped," said Warren, his tone holding a hint of finality. "She tripped and knocked her in. I saw it with my own eyes. It was an accident."

"Maybe you should lay off the drinks for the rest of the night, lady," came a slightly familiar voice behind her.

She turned, coming face to face with Hank. His expression changed immediately when he saw her. "Wait—I've met you before, haven't I?" He studied her, his head tilting. "How do I know you?"

Gene came up behind him and their eyes met, surprise flushing his face. He smile came slowly. "She's the girl from the island. Izzy—right?" His eyes flew to Wes, who was busy comforting Patsy. "Oh, boy."

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