'You look great!' Luanne exclaimed, flinging open the door. She was a flaming redhead with an abundance of freckles and a gummy smile. 'I was expecting, y'know, like, a haggard my-husband-is-screwing-around-on-me total wreck?

'Yes, well, that's exactly how I feel,' Cat said. 'Pathetic, isn't it?'

'You didn't have to come,' Luanne said, ushering her inside. 'I would've dealt with everything for you.'

'I had the weekend off. It seemed like a plan.'

'You came so that you could see the tape, right?' Luanne said knowingly.

'Right on.'

After Cat had fussed over Luanne's baby boy, she and Luanne went into the bedroom, closed the door and viewed the incriminating videotape of Jump's indiscretion.

Cat stared at the TV screen. The images were incredibly graphic, and incredibly upsetting - especially as all the action took place on their bed.

She tried to keep it together - crying was for sissies and she was too tough to break down in front of anyone. Although actually watching her husband screwing someone else was pretty devastating.

'Guess that gives me all the ammunition I need for a fast divorce,' she sighed, when it was over. 'Can I keep the tape?'

'It's all yours,' Luanne said, slipping it out of the VCR.

'What a bastard!' she said fiercely.

'Aren't they all?' Luanne agreed.

Later they took a cab over to the loft to deal with her move. Luckily, when they arrived, Jump was not around.

'The movers are on their way,' Luanne said, checking her cellphone. 'They should be here any minute.'

'I have no clue what to take,' Cat said, looking around with a helpless shrug.

'Everything that's yours,' Luanne urged. 'Ship it all to L.A. And since he's not here, take your wedding presents too.'

'You think?'

'Don't be an idiot,' Luanne said. 'Did he consider your feelings when he screwed that 'ho in your bed? Anyway, you're entitled to the presents from your side of the family.'

'I'm not shipping TVs and stereos to L.A.,' Cat said. 'I've already bought new ones.'

'Then what are you taking?' Luanne asked.

'Personal stuff,' she said, wishing she didn't have to deal with this. 'I'll start with all my manuscripts, then my paintings and, of course, my books.'

'Okay, girl,' Luanne said encouragingly. 'Get packing.'

Before Shelby was ready for her first interview, Kara was able to locate copies of the newspapers from the previous day. Shelby took a look at the photos and failed to understand why Linc was so angry with her. The photo of her and Pete in People was nothing compared to the ones of Linc and his sexy co-star sharing a passionate kiss.

How could Linc be so vicious, screaming at her about something that was perfectly innocent, while all the time he was obviously enjoying a wild fling with Lola Sanchez?

She wished she could cancel the press day, go back to the suite and confront him. But that would be totally unprofessional. The show must go on, she thought ruefully.

Fortunately, Russell Savage was on hand to calm her down. 'Ignore all that garbage you read in the papers,' he said. 'They're a bunch of bottom-feeders, searching for a headline. Linc's making a movie with the broad. It's all about publicity.'

'You don't understand, Russell,' she said, feeling lost because nobody really understood her dilemma. 'He's accusing me of something, when it's obvious that he's the one doing it.'

'Honey,' Russell said soothingly, 'I'm sure you're correct. Only right now you've got to forget about it and concentrate on selling our movie.'

'I'm trying to,' she said, realizing that, as nice as Russell was, his main interest was his movie.

'You should be so proud of yourself,' Russell said. 'Mustn't let this spoil things for you.'

Merrill's warning came drifting back to haunt her. One way or the other he'll try to sabotage you.

Was Linc purposely trying to ruin her moment of triumph?

Determinedly she sailed through the day, charming and composed. Only once did someone dare to ask the wrong question, whereupon Kara, who could be quite feisty for such a girly-looking girl, swept the journalist out of the room so quickly that the man barely had time to catch his breath.

At the end of the day Shelby found herself dreading returning to the suite. She had no intention of walking off her movie, or insisting that Pete got fired.

It was time for a long overdue confrontation. Linc had pushed her about as far as she was prepared to go.

Livid, because she couldn't reach Tony all day, Lola embarked on a ferocious shopping spree accompanied by Selma. They covered Saks, Bergdorf's and Barney's.

In a generous mood, Lola bought her sister anything she desired.

'I didn't come here to go shopping,' Selma protested, loving every minute. 'I came because Mama begged me to.'

'Mama should stop trying to run my life,' Lola insisted, signing an autograph for the salesgirl. 'I'm a big girl, I've been out of the house for a long long time.'

'It's the family reputation she's worried about,' Selma said. 'Mama's upset with the things people are saying about you.'

'I don't notice her getting upset when they say good things.'

'She keeps a scrapbook of all your clippings,' Selma revealed.

'She does?' Lola said, surprised.

'Yes, she clips everything, the good and the bad.'

'Both come with the territory,' Lola explained, picking up a white silk scarf and admiring it. 'Look at other stars like Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears - they're on the cover of some gossip rag every day. One moment they're being called divas, the next they're supposedly into drugs and having sex with multiple men, or they're breaking up marriages. The papers make terrible things up. Mama has to realize that it's all a game to them.'

'I understand,' Selma said, nodding. 'But surely you can see that Tony is not a good influence on you?'

'You have no idea who Tony is,' Lola snapped. 'You've never even met him.'

'No,' Selma replied, refusing to back down. 'I've read about him, though.'

'We'll all have dinner tonight,' Lola decided. 'Then you can see for yourself what a wonderful guy he is.'

'Dinner?' Selma said unsurely.

'Yes, dinner? Lola answered firmly. 'You'll fall in love with him, everyone does.'

When they got back to the hotel, Selma sat on the floor in the living room, surrounded by shopping bags. Lola picked up the phone to check out her messages, and automatically switched on the TV.

A pretty brunette newscaster was reading the five o'clock news. 'Ex-world heavyweight boxer Tyrell White was badly beaten outside his apartment last night and robbed of several thousand dollars' worth of cash and jewellery. Earlier in the evening Mr White was involved in an altercation at a club with film director Tony Alvarez, boyfriend of Lola Sanchez. It is believed Ms Sanchez was with Mr Alvarez at the time. Regarding the subsequent beating and robbery, the police have no suspects at the present time.'

Lola stared at the TV in total shock. Her hand flew to her mouth. 'Oh, my God,'

she exclaimed. Oh... my .. . God?

Chapter Thirty.

The original handwritten script of Wild Child was the first thing Cat started searching for. It meant a lot to her, and she was not leaving without it.

'How can I help?' Luanne asked, wandering around the spacious loft.

'If you can deal with my clothes and shoes that would be great,' Cat said.

'Although maybe I should throw some stuff away.'

'This is no time to start sorting through things,' Luanne said firmly. 'We must concentrate on getting everything out of here.'

'Okay, okay. I'll keep looking for my manuscripts and stuff like that while you organize my clothes.'

'What about photographs, CDs and-'

'All I want are my personal photographs. He can keep everything else.'

'You're sure?'

'Absolutely,' Cat said, unable to forget the graphic tape of Jump having sex in their bed. 'I can't believe he did this to me,' she said, shaking her head. 'The whole time we were together I was totally faithful to him.'

'And since you split?'

'Still totally faithful. I'm too busy directing my movie for anything else.'

'You need to have a revenge fuck,' Luanne said. 'It'll work like a charm.'

'For who?'

'You. Try it, you'll see.'

When the professional packers arrived, Luanne steered them into the bedroom and put them to work packing up the clothes from Cat's closet.

Half an hour later there was the sound of a key in the door. Oh, shit! Cat thought. The last thing I need is to see the cheating asshole.

Instead of Jump walking in, a girl appeared. A tall, skinny redhead, wearing tight jeans, a white peasant blouse and Cat's Fendi leather jacket - one of her most prized possessions.

'Oh,' the girl said, nonplussed. 'What's going on? Where's Jump?'

'Who are you?' Cat asked.

'Miranda,' the girl said. 'More to the point, who are you?

'This happens to be my home,' Cat said. 'And you happen to be wearing my jacket.'

'Excuse me,' Miranda said. 'This is Jump's place, and he gave me this jacket as a present.'

'Newsflash,' Cat said. 'Jump is my husband, soon to be ex. This is our place, soon to be his. And that's my jacket, so kindly take it off.'

'I don't get it,' Miranda said.

'Obviously,' Cat retorted.

Luanne emerged from the bedroom. 'What's the deal?' she asked, staring at the girl.

And then they both recognized her - even though she'd changed the colour of her hair.

She was the girl from the tape. The Jump-having-sex-on-their-bed tape.

After the press junket, Shelby went downstairs to the bar with Russell, Beck and Kara. They sat around talking about the movie, the reviews and the upcoming premieres.

Shelby was glad that nobody was getting into anything personal, because once she went upstairs, she knew she'd have to deal with Linc, and she was dreading it.

When she finally got up to leave, Russell took her to one side. 'Look, honey,'

he said, in a low voice, 'I know things have been tough for you. But remember, you shouldn't let anyone push you around - it doesn't matter who it is.'

'I know,' she said, nodding. 'I have to be strong.'

'And you will be,' Russell said. 'There's no doubt in my mind that you've got it in you. So get rid of that goddamn English reserve and go for it - exactly like you did in our movie.'

Kara came over and gave her a hug. 'It's been amazing working with you,' she said, funky glasses slipping off her nose. 'You're a real pro.'

'Thanks, Kara, it was nice working with you too. I liked the way you handled the journalist who got out of line.'

'I wasn't about to take any crap from him,' Kara said. 'Who do they think they're dealing with? I might look young, but I've been in this business for five years.'

'You're still a baby,' Beck said, affectionately taking her hand. 'Sit down and have another drink.'

Kara did so. There was a twenty-year age gap between her and the actor, but it looked as if things were going well.