Sunset Boulevard #2
“Mr. Miller… I agreed to a deal with your son. I don’t back out of my contracts.”
Irwin held up his hands in a placating manner. “Let’s just hypothesize for a moment that you would. How much?”
“Mr. Miller…”
“I’ve given you a large sum of money, Simo. Can you not simply play along for a moment?”
Simo sighed. “Sure.”
“How much did my son contract you for?”
“One hundred thousand.”
Irwin nodded his head for a moment, then closed his eyes as if he were calculating. “What would you say if you received another twenty-five thousand on top of the sixty thousand I just gave you? Theoretically speaking, of course.”
Simo sighed, looked up at the dark, ornate ceiling, and did some calculations of his own. “Not enough. I would have to pay my partner, give my boss his fee, then set up Miss Jones somewhere… and who knows for how long. Not enough.”
“I’ll just cut to the end. What if I doubled what my son is going to pay you? On top of what is under your jacket…”
Simo shrugged. “If I were a man who went back on his deals, I’d say… maybe.”
“So then let us drop pretenses…”
Simo watched Irwin sigh, go silent, and the Hollywood shark persona slip away, leaving an old man in its stead. Irwin leaned forward, set his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together and looked up at Simo. “You know about my son, yes?”
Simo nodded once.
“I wanted all this to be his one day… Simo, I spent over fifty years sweating blood, pissing fire… hell, I used up other people’s lives, their blood and tears, too… all that to build the biggest and most powerful music and film production company in history…”
Simo remained silent as Irwin paused. He could feel the disappointment radiating off of the stately old man.
Without looking up, Irwin Miller’s grief was clear as he began.
“Joel is a very sick boy… I once had the opportunity to get him help. But I bit the hand that could help him and… and lost a good and real friend. I thought this man was trying to usurp my son and his inheritance. I was too proud and foolish to admit it all… which leads us to the death of a beautiful, aspiring actress, Halo Raines, along with the other people who had their lives ahead of them on that plane…”
“And now your son wants more blood on his hands.”
“Yes… before it slips my mind, do you know anything about my former maid?”
“Maybe…”
“Did… did you do it?”
“Maybe.”
“Simo, I understand… can I appeal to your goodness? It is not necessary to spill any more blood on my son’s account. I have heard you don’t like killing women…”
“Killing women is bad for business, but it does pay the bills… handsomely.”
“Then take my offer and the next one I am going to offer you…”
Simo arched his dark eyebrow. “Next?”
“I want you to get my son help, in the form of a mental institution… or, or as a last resort, send… send him to prison before he truly ruins our family’s name and destroys all my hard work.”
Simo hid his shock at what Irwin proposed, seeing the old man’s eyes redden and fill with tears as he continued.
“Why don’t you rein him in?”
“Bah! You think I haven’t tried? He’s intolerable…
he refuses to take my calls. He also knows that part of my business is in an irrevocable trust. How he found out…
I’d like to know. So here is my next offer…
One million in any denominations. But the catch is that you have to protect him, too.
If my son dies before he gets help or… or the alternative, or you or anyone in your employ kills him, then you get shit.
Fucking nothing. There it is. What say you? ”
Simo had heard through Ari how big a bastard old Irwin was… but something was wrong here. “Mr. Miller… I have heard of your reputation…” Looking into the old man’s face, Simo saw it. He saw what was wrong, like it was staring back right at him and laughing.
“Yes?”
“How long do you have left?”
The old man smiled ruefully. “Swear you will not say a word to anyone? The sharks are already circling...”
Simo shot the man a half-smile. “My word… unless someone offers me… let’s say a few million?”
Irwin chuckled. “Deal. I will be dead by next spring. Joel will break my life’s work apart for fucking cash…
except for my jet. That he has salivated over since I bought her.
She is not in the trust and will be going to someone I respect greatly.
So, Simo? Save some of my life’s work, save some lives, and make a shit-ton of cash.
If it helps, I can go with the ‘help a dying father’s wish’ trope, if it helps you say yes. ”
Simo watched the old man as the steel came back into those gray eyes staring back at him. “Fine… but I want something.”
“And what is this something?”
“Audrey…”
Irwin’s eyes widened. “What? You want her? Fuck… fine.”
“No. Let her go and set her up.”
Irwin’s rueful smile returned. “My, my, Simo, your heart is showing through…”
“And so has yours. That is my offer.”
“Let’s see…” Irwin reached into his pocket, pulled out his cell phone, and texted. In a few moments, Audrey peeked in.
“Audrey! Come here,” Irwin demanded, pointing at the deep camel-brown carpet at his feet.
Sheepishly, Audrey came in and stood where Irwin pointed. “I am going to ask you a question. I demand the absolute truth. Understand?”
“Yes, Mr. Miller.”
“Do you want to leave?”
“Leave here now?”
“Girl, don’t be stupid. I mean leave my employment!”
“Mr. Miller? I don’t understand?”
“Answer the fucking question. Do you want to leave?”
“I—I have no money… I can’t, Mr. Miller.”
“Sit down there. Yes, there, next to Simo. Good. What if Simo gave you money? Enough to live on for a long time? Then what?”
“Oh.” Audrey bit her lip as she looked from Simo to Irwin and back.
“Dammit, girl! Answer my question!”
“YES! I—I would leave… I’m sorry?”
“Go get your things and leave. Now!”
“But… but, Mr. Miller?”
“Simo has bought your contract… so to speak. You will get… how’s six thousand a month for the next, let’s see… forty fucking years? There you go. You are free to fuck up your life now. My attorneys will handle it at their offices. Go there now… now get the fuck out! And don’t forget to thank Simo.”
“Oh. Thank you, Simo!”
Simo watched the girl rush toward the door. Then she stopped in her tracks and mumbled something toward Irwin.
“Girl, what in the hell are you mumbling on about?”
“I have no money for a taxi.”
Irwin rolled his eyes at Simo and mumbled, “Fucking beautiful dimwit… FINE!” he yelled at her. “Get the Mercedes. You will wait outside, and drive Simo to his destination, and then the car is fucking yours, too. Now get the fuck out of my HOUSE!” Irwin bellowed.
Audrey paused for a moment, smiled at Irwin, then in a flash she was gone.
“Where is she really from?”
Irwin chuckled as he watched the door close behind Audrey in a flash.
“Belarus, Minsk.” Irwin finally turned to meet Simo’s eyes.
“My son… is in partnership with some fucking Ukrainians in the valley, shooting porn. My son…” Irwin sighed in disgust. “…nearly twisted off that poor girl’s nipples one night some time ago.
I found out and bought out her contract from that slimeball Demetri...
I believe you know him. Anyway, I sent the beautiful bitch to school, fixed her nipples, and made her into quite the fair lady.
And now she wants to fucking leave here…
” Irwin held out his hands and shook his head.
“So much like Joel’s mother… well, at least she isn’t batshit crazy… still, she’s a beautiful dimwit.”
Simo nodded once. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to punch Irwin in the face or thank him for helping the girl. “I want the hundred now.”
“Don’t be too greedy, my friend. Fifty will be waiting at Club Aurae for you in a package. You get the other fifty when you give me proof Jenny Jones is safe and out of my son’s reach. Call my number and keep me abreast.”
Irwin held out his card, then his hand. Simo took it and shook it firmly. “Keep my son alive until my deal is done, your word on your honor?”
“My word.”
“Good man. I may be in need of you for other work, too…” Irwin looked sad for a moment and sighed. “Audrey… or should I say Anastassia, is waiting.”
Simo’s head began swimming upon hearing Audrey’s real name…
it was his Jessie’s real name as well. Simo managed a nod and met the maid at the office door.
Soon he was outside and breathed in the fresh air.
He wondered how many Audreys there had been in Irwin’s life.
Certainly, Joel’s mother had been one. Audrey waved at him to catch his attention.
Indeed, she was waiting by the Mercedes, her smile beaming at him.
Simo sighed and figured the conversation in the Mercedes was going to be interesting, to say the least.
Theo pulled up to the steps of Ari’s mansion behind a white Lexus SUV. “Jillian Raines is here…”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe they found Halo…”
“Fucking Joel.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s head in and see what Andrew has to say.”
Theo and Simo found their way inside, where Andrew greeted them. Simo could hear Jillian speaking animatedly with Ari in the distance.
“Andrew, what is going on?”
“Jillian, the poor lady, is in denial. She refuses to attend her daughter’s televised memorial. Ari is trying to convince her to attend.”
“How do you mean?”
“She insists that her daughter is still alive somewhere. Ari is doing his best to be gentle, but Jillian is persistent. Want to wait in the library or will you be going downstairs?”
“I met with Irwin Miller twenty minutes ago…”
“Oh, bollocks! You best head in, I’m positive it will be fine… Jillian will be ecstatic to see you… but as to why Jillian is so fond of you? I have no bloody clue!” Andrew grinned.
Theo chuckled and pantomimed lovingly brushing long hair. “It’s Simo’s hair.”
Andrew held back his laugh and simply pointed toward Ari’s office.
As they began their walk down the long hallway, Simo turned to Theo smiling. “You are just jealous.”
Before Theo could retort, Simo knocked on the door frame. Ari looked relieved at the interruption.