Chapter Nine.

'We should have the tender drop us in Juan-les-Pins where we can walk around,'

Cat suggested.

'Walk around and do what?' Jonas said, not very pleased at the prospect of spending the day with Cat when he'd sooner be checking over every detail for tonight's party.

'Like hang out and do nothing,' she replied vaguely, inspecting his pristine outfit of linen slacks and crisp white shirt. 'You'd better go put on something more comfortable before we take off.'

Reluctantly he acquiesced. He had changed into shorts and a T-shirt when he jumped into the tender.

'Nice legs!' Cat teased. 'Shame about the face!'

A few hours later they both realized what a welcome change it was to get away from the razzle-dazzle of the Festival. They'd perused the many small boutiques, strolled along the seashore, and finally they'd settled at an outside cafe in the middle of the main square.

'So, Jonas,' Cat said, sipping a Pernod on the rocks and lowering her shades, the better to give him one of her penetrating green-eyed looks, 'you've got to admit this is more fun than all those uptight events we've had to suffer through.'

'Suffer through?' he said, raising an eyebrow. 'People would pay fortunes to attend them.'

'You know what I mean.'

'You have no idea how lucky you are, do you?' he said, shaking his head.

'Lucky?' she said casually. 'How come?'

'You've got Merrill Zandack behind you. What more can you ask for? He'll make sure Caught gets made. Admit it - you're unbelievably lucky.'

'Or maybe I'm simply talented,' she said.

'That too,' he conceded. 'Only there are thousands of talented people who struggle for years and never get a break.'

'That's their karma. Mine is pretty good.'

'How old are you, Cat?'

'You know how old I am,' she said, not appreciating his superior tone. 'And what's that got to do with anything?'

'You're lucky, that's all,' he said, thinking how easy she'd had it.

She stared at him for a moment. She'd always felt Jonas did not like her, and now he'd proven it by making out she was a spoiled little rich girl who simply happened to get lucky. 'Hey,' she responded sharply, 'I had an idea and I pursued it. Most people talk a good game, then never do anything about it. I got off my ass and called in every favour I could to make my first movie. Nobody handed me anything. The fact that it worked doesn't make me lucky. That's insulting.'

'I didn't mean it to be,' he said, backing down.

'How about you? she said challengingly. 'Do you have a dream that hasn't happened 'cause you're too busy kissing Mr Zee's ass?'

'Some people have to work for a living,' he said, keeping his temper in check.

He was annoyed with himself because it was true, he did kiss Merrill's ass, but that was because it was his only option if he ever planned on making it as a producer. He always remembered the Joel Silver story - Joel Silver, producer of many mega-hit movies including the Die Hard series - had started out as another big producer's gofer and driver. If it could happen for Joel Silver, why couldn't it happen for him?

'I've worked bloody hard to get where I am,' Cat said earnestly. 'I'm entitled to everything I've achieved.'

'Even though you're only nineteen?'

'What's with you?' she said, amazed that he was carrying on about her age.

'Young is where it's at today. Don't you get it? Young, Jonas. How old are you?'

'Twenty-six.'

'You look older,' she said rudely.

'Why would you say that?'

'Cause you've got an old attitude.'

'Thanks.'

'You're always dressed up in your Prada, running after Mr Zandack and, y'know, I think you get on people's nerves.'

'I do not,' he said indignantly. 'Perhaps I get on your nerves. Other than you, I'm well liked.'

'Ha! Well liked? Nobody even notices you.'

'That's not very nice.'

'You're not very nice to me,' she responded, knowing she sounded like an argumentative kid, but unable to stop herself. 'Ever since I arrived here you've been on my case.'

'Do you think it's because I didn't have international parents like you who could afford to let me roam around the world?'

'Careful,' she said caustically. 'Your resentment is beginning to show.'

'I don't resent you.'

'Then stop being such an uptight asshole towards me.'

'Didn't know I was.'

'Apology accepted,' she said sarcastically. 'What is it you want to do, anyway?'

'One of these days I hope to be producing films that have something meaningful to say.'

'That's very Oprah Winfrey of you.'

'I'm using this opportunity as Mr Zandack's personal assistant to learn.'

'Hmm... Then be very careful exactly what you learn from dear old Merrill.'

'Mr Zandack is a major force in the film industry.'

'Tell me the truth, Jonas, are you pissed he's prepared to finance my movie?'

'I can assure you, this isn't personal.'

'Oh, really?

'Maybe we should drop the subject.'

'I'm cool with that,' she said, checking her watch. 'What time is it in Australia? I want to phone my husband.'

'You got married way too young,'

'Oh, here we go with the age thing again.' She sighed. 'What's your hang-up with age?'

'It's a well-known statistic that most women wait until they're in their mid-twenties to get married.'

'Why wait?'

'Sensible people do.'

'Who said I'm sensible? I'm a nutter - surely you'd guessed by now?'

'Was Jump your first boyfriend?'

'Ha!' she said, taking another sip of Pernod. 'That's hilarious. Where do you think I got all that info for Wild Child? It's my story, you know.' A beat, then, 'How about you?'

'Why is it that you always manage to turn every question around?'

'I've got an inquisitive mind.'

'You sure do.'

'So, da you have a... partner?'

'What do you mean by "partner"?'

'You know,' she said, pressing on. 'Someone you live with.'

'Are you intimating that I'm gay?'

'Didn't say that.'

'What do you think "partner" means?'

'Okay, so, yeah, you are gay, right?'

'Christ!' he said, thinking that this girl was too much. 'Sorry to disappoint you, but I am most definitely not.'

'Oops!' she said, realizing that she'd made a mistake. 'It's just that, y'know, we're here in this cool place and there's all these hot girls parading by in shorts and bikinis, and you're not even eyeballing any of them.'

'I don't look at other women when I'm with one.'

'It's not exactly like we're together, Jonas.'

He frowned. 'What made you think I was gay?'

She shrugged, feeling somewhat awkward. 'I dunno. You never... Well, I guess I've only seen you at work.'

'I can assure you,' he repeated. 'I am not gay.'

'Okay, okay, I believe you.'

'Good.'

'Can we order food now? I'm starving.'

'There's one thing I feel I should mention before I read your script,' Lola said, toying with the stem of her wineglass in a sexually suggestive fashion.

'What?' Merrill responded, lighting up a fresh cigar.

'You're not planning on letting that girl direct, are you?'

'It's her project, Lola.'

'So what? You're the boss.'

'She's talented. You saw Wild Child.'

'She's also inexperienced. There's no way I could work with someone so new. I'll read it, and if I like it, we'll talk. I'm sure you know that I now get co-star and director approval.'

'Not a problem,' Merrill said, sweating profusely. 'If you wanna make the movie, you'll get whatever you want.'

'Here comes my publicist,' Lola said, waving at Faye, who was fast approaching their table. 'Interviews and more interviews - you know how it goes.'

'You work hard for your movies,' Merrill said. 'Some of my actresses get paid a fortune an' refuse to do shit. You're a professional, Lola. I admire that.'

'It was a lovely lunch, Merrill,' she said graciously, reaching for her sunglasses. 'It's always a pleasure seeing you.'

'You'll be at my party tonight?'

'Wouldn't miss it.'

'You bringing that husband of yours?'

'Of course.'