CHAPTER 15
It definitely was not the reaction she wanted. Eyes popping out of his head would have been nice, a "wow" would be even better, and begging was definitely an acceptable response, but not this frankly-my-dear-I-don't-give-a-damn attitude.
"Ready?" he asked.
He barely even waited for an answer before stepping back to allow her past. Annie scratched Snoopy behind the ears, locked her door and placed the keys in her Fendi bag.
He'd brought the Ferrari, and before she knew it they were zipping along familiar streets. They were heading back to his place.
"I thought we were going to Louisa's."
"We are. She lives a few streets from me."
"You came all the way to pick me up when she lives near you! Why didn't you tell me? I would've driven myself."
He shrugged. "Forget about it."
She sighed and decided not to press the issue. He didn't seem in the mood for logic.
They stopped outside a well-lit mansion and a parking attendant greeted them. Zack handed him the keys to the Ferrari and without a second glance back at the expensive machine, he took Annie by the arm and led her inside.
They were greeted at the door by a waiter and a glass of champagne. Zack whisked her inside so quickly she didn't even have a chance to feel nervous or take in her surroundings. The one thing she did notice was that everything was made of white marble. They were led along the hall and through to a sparsely furnished lounge where a throng of impossibly sexy people chatted. An attractive woman approached. Annie recognized her as a well known TV actress.
"You didn't tell me this was Louisa Mondeo's party," Annie whispered to Zack before the woman reached them.
"You didn't ask." He held out both hands and Louisa caught them in pink talons. He smiled but not widely. For the first time, Annie wondered if he really enjoyed this sort of thing or whether it was all a carefully acted play.
"Zack, Daaahling." Louisa pecked him on both cheeks. "We haven't seen you out and about for sooo long. What brings you to my little soiree?"
Louisa Mondeo was exactly like the character she played in the TV soap Steamy Nights-slick. Her black hair was tied back in a tight knot, pulling the skin on her face tight in a vain attempt to make her look wrinkle-free. All it really did was stretch her lips into a permanent smile. The pink lipstick matched the pink claws, pink earrings, pink dress and shoes. Annie felt a headache coming on just looking at her.
Louisa had started to chat to Zack about her show when he interrupted her and introduced Annie as "a friend".
"How nice." She extended her claw and Annie shook it, being careful not to touch the pink talons in case they snapped off. "What did you say your name was?"
"Annie McCallum."
"She's an agent," Zack said.
"Really?" Louisa perked up and thrust her cle**age forward. Perhaps her contract was up with the network.
"Music agent," Annie clarified.
Louisa's top lip curled. "Oh. But you look so familiar." She tapped a talon on Zack's shoulder. "Have I met her before?"
"She was in today's papers. She got arrested at a protest outside City Hall."
Louisa's eyes bulged so wide Annie grew concerned the blue contacts would pop out. "Really! How interesting! Trust you to go out with a girl like that, Zack." She grinned cheekily at him and sauntered off, but not before giving Annie the once over beneath lowered lashes.
Once Louisa was swallowed up by the crowd, Annie surveyed the room. Not a good idea. There were more celebrities at the party than a PBS telethon and she suddenly realized how much of a nobody she was-and how much of a somebody Zack was.
She swallowed her anxiety, but the damn thing kept rising back to her throat trying to choke her. She took another sip of champagne and felt Zack's hand tighten around her shoulders.
"Just relax," he said quietly. "Remember, you're better than everyone here."
Yeah right. Good try, but he needed to do better than lie to get her to relax.
She glanced up at him. He was watching her. His eyes were dark and mysterious and she fought the urge to reach up and brush his cheek with her fingers. Problem was, she hadn't put any nail polish on so she kept them discreetly at her side. On second thought, she tucked her right hand in Zack's arm where it couldn't be seen.
He squeezed it and gently tugged her forward. They joined a small group of people who greeted Zack like a long lost friend and eyed Annie suspiciously.
"Ah-ha," cried the young guy beside her. "You were in the paper today."
"She hit a cop," Zack said. "Got arrested."
"No way," said a young girl, dressed in a skimpy white dress, standing too close to Zack. "Did they hurt you bad?"