Sunset & Vine: Loose Lips (7 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Detective Goldman

Detective Goldman would learn that one of the first to discover Dotty’s dark side was Victoria Steele and Cino Salvaggio.

Two months into their love affair, Cino and Victoria showed up for breakfast at Schwab’s. Both laughing and holding on tightly to each other as they entered the diner.

There was no mistaking that they had become an item, or the heated passion that existed between them. They couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. The stroking of the cheek, the brushing of hair out of the eyes, slight innuendos that sent clear signals of a very intimate relationship.

They were quite striking to see together. The two garnered lingering stares wherever they went because of their combined handsomeness.

Cino and Victoria seemed oblivious to the world around them.

“Bonjour, Mademoiselle Steele e Monsieur!” Jacques greeted the two upon arrival at Schwab’s

“E Madame, can’t you see!” Cino interjected with a big smile and a wink towards Jacques in jest.

“Mai oui! Of course!” he replied smiling while thinking, “You lucky SOB!”

The two made their way to their usual spot at the counter, trying their best to be as inconspicuous as possible.

“Morning, you two love birds of paradise!” mumbled Dotty in a low, “it’s just between us” kind of whisper. Pretending to participate in a confidential moment between the three of them.

“Hi, doll, how are you this gorgeous morning?” beamed Victoria. Oblivious to anything negative in the world around her.

“Buongiorno!” Cino greeted her.

Dotty poured coffee for them after serving them. Managing to keep herself within earshot just in case there was something important to pick up on.

“Are you ready for a sexy treat this morning, amore?” Cino asked her with his mouth breathing near her ear.

Normally, she did not go for PDA (public displays of affection), but with Cino it was different. She almost encouraged him while savoring every moment of it as the center of his universe.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Remember our little sexy photo session?”

She blushed and giggled like a college girl. “Of course, you naughty man.”

“Well...Viola!” He declared, handing over an envelope to her delicate, manicured hands.

It contained photos inside. They snuggled, laughed, and kissed while going through the set of private pictures. Victoria could barely contain herself from screaming with delight as she glanced through them.

“Hmmm, I look quite good, don’t you think?” she asked

“Good enough to have for breakfast...right here, right now! How about I lay you on the counter and we give everyone a show!” he answered.

The pictures left behind of Victoria were a bit risqué, but certainly not X-rated. It had all been done in the heat of fun and passion. She glanced at the last one showing her in a beautiful black spider, breast tipped negligee. One she’d bought especially for him as it matched the one Sophia Loren had worn in Love Italian Style.

“That’s my favorite one! Sophia now has competition!” he proudly proclaimed as he leaned over to kiss the back of her neck.

Victoria quickly gathered up the photos and placed them in the envelope and slipped it under her plate as if to hide it while engrossed in Cino’s embrace, to prevent the hovering Dotty from catching a glimpse.

“I am truly having the time of my life with the wonderful man,” she thought.

“I can’t ever remember being this totally happy and in love. So far, he’s proven to be sincere, devoted, independent, and intelligent. Not to mention being the sexiest male creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.” She secretly hoped Hollywood wouldn’t ruin him like it has so many others.

“Oh no! I’m late...very late! Finance meeting this morning. No money equals no pictures, and no studio!” she said while hurrying to leave.

“You go, amore, I’ll take care of this and call you later,” Cino said to Victoria as he delivered a quick kiss to her.

“I’ll fix dinner tonight in front of the fire.” As she gathers her things.

“Va bene,” he replied.

Victoria rushed out the door and on to the studio.

Cino finished, paid Dotty, and raced out the door ten minutes later. Running late himself.

Dotty did a fast sweep of the counter and looked down at an envelope that hit the floor. As it hit the floor, she saw photos fall out. They sent her heart racing.

“Oh God!” she managed in a quiet tone to herself while trying to contain her rush of excitement and panic.

Dotty instantly recognized Victoria and Cino in them, swiftly gathered them up and into her apron pocket for safekeeping before Sam or the others could see them. Her heart pounding and her devious mind already at work on how to exploit them for a payoff.

Cino and Victoria were unaware of the forgotten pictures. Each assuming the other had them in their possession. They were focused on their new love for each other, and both were in a hurry that morning.

“These pictures are too hot to sell to the tabloids. I have to figure out how to leverage them without stepping over that line of blackmail. This could be my golden opportunity to move on. One I’ve been dreaming of for years!” Her compass of rationality had long ago careened out of control. Dotty never once demonstrated a thread of ethical character beneath her facade of trustworthiness. Unless, of course, it was to defend her own deceitful actions. Perhaps it was the universe’s justification for her plain, homely looks and unrelenting greed. It was all the more odd seeing how the parents that raised her were two of the kindest, most ethical people on the face of the earth. Even Dotty’s sweet, fake facade was beginning to lose its shine and effectiveness. The dark side does that to people. She often found herself driven by an innate feeling of detachment when using material that had the potential to ruin a person’s life. It was as if she was born with pictures in her DNA.

“Should I do this on my own? Can I? I need to think on this for a few days.”

“My daughter will be grateful one day. She will understand that I did all of this for her.” Toying with an excuse to make herself feel better.

Make no mistake, it was for Dotty when Dotty did despicable things to others.

Chapter Seventeen

Dotty’s Proposition

Working out her newest plan in her head, Dotty was deep in thought.

“I can do this myself. If I do this right, I could make enough dough to walk away from the tabloids. I’ve had enough of the creeping around like a good little waitress, always snooping and graveling for little morsels of secret info to sell. At least I’ve been discreet and have never been found out about my little side job. I don’t think I could live with myself if my daughter found out. Hopefully, she would understand it was all for her.

Once again trying to justify her dirty dealing.

Dotty approached screen writer Michael Deeves with the intention of striking a deal that would benefit both of them.

“Good morning! How’s my number one screenwriter?”

“Great! How’s my number one waitress?”

Silently reminding herself, “God … how I loathe that big loser sign that hangs around my neck all day, “Dotty, the sweet, homely, loser WAITRESS!”

“I’m feeling particularly fabulous today! Because I have some great news for you!”

“Me?” What could Dotty possible have to offer me? he wondered. Swiftly searching his brain for any kind of possible professional or personal connection to Dotty outside of Schwab’s.

“Yes, you! What if I told you to bring your best script to me and I could guarantee it would go directly into the hands of the head of a major studio? How’s that for good news!” She smiled at Deeves.

“Whoa! You’re kidding right? Oh man! That would pretty much scorch my britches!” he said, not knowing if this was for real or not.

“Well, I’ve got a fire extinguisher right over there. Let me know if I need to get it after I tell you that I am serious and can deliver. Let’s talk business!” Dotty’s replies, ready to deal. She knew Michael had talent.

“You got it! I am all ears, Dotty!” Deeves said.

Dotty shook hands with Deeves and struck a deal that would allow her to share in the profits from his percentage of worldwide gross profit.

Michael would bring his best screenplay to the table, the one great writers always saved for the big break.

Dotty was right about Michael Deeves. After reading the script that night, it did not disappoint.

She now had the merchandise in hand and was ready to move on to phase two. The delicate, yet persuasive, sell to Ms. Victoria Steele. She was confident that her little cache of personal photographs would sway Ms. Steele to make up her mind in favor of Dotty’s deal.

Chapter Eighteen

Blackmail

“Hello, Victoria! May I have a word with you alone before you leave this morning?”

The risk Dotty was about to embark upon was the greatest in her life. Something in her DNA pushed her to take the leap.

“Of course, Dotty, are you alright? You seem nervous or distracted.” Victoria shared her feelings of sincere concern. She had known Dotty for over six years.

“Well, I don’t know quite how to approach this as it is an unusual situation. So, I’ll just present it to you. I know you are hugely successful at what you do, Ms. Steele, therefore I would like to present to you an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.”

“Just what do you mean? I am a bit confused here.” She searched her mind in an attempt to figure out it out. “What opportunity could Dotty possibly have to offer me professionally?” Victoria’s professional force field was instantly activated. Her previous concern for Dotty’s well-being had now morphed into guarded caution.

“You see, our resident Schwab’s writer, the very talented Michael Deeves, has given me his best script in the hopes that you would review it. I know you have the ability to green light projects with the snap of your fingers and I was hoping to return some photographs of yours after the launch of the project.” She exhaled as if she was almost ready to faint. Praying to herself that she had gotten her veiled message across.

“What on earth are you talking about? What photos are you referring to that makes you think I would get involved in what sounds like some kind of blackmail scheme,” Victoria stated with Arctic coldness.

“The ones that are clearly of a personal nature between you and your new lover, the Italian. I believe they were accidentally left here one morning,” Dotty states with a wicked look in her eyes.

“I see, so you and this writer want to strong arm me into a picture deal for this writer. Is that it?” she asks.

“They are so personal; I just want to see that they are back in your hands. And perhaps you could do a favor for me in return.” Attempting to steer clear of outright blackmail.

“Like a multi-million-dollar movie deal?”

“Gosh, that sounds like an awful lot of money.”

“Get off it, Dotty, your little smarmy, innocent waitress days have just been flushed down the toilet. Give me the fucking script. Just when are you planning on returning the pictures?”

“As soon as the contracts are signed, and I secure seal my share of the movie’s profit as producer. I’m sure you will thank me later. It is a fantastic script!”

“What the hell would a low-life, greasy waitress like you know about producing a movie? Here’s how this is going to go down, so listen carefully. I will read your scammy cohort’s script, and IF I like it I will proceed. IF I do not like it, you are going to return my goddamn pictures or I will go to the police regardless of the public damage. You … dear sweet Dotty had better hope and pray that I like this script or you might be serving up 15 to 20 years instead of eggs and bacon. I will do all that I can to make sure your life is toast. How’s that for your new menu? You’ll have my answer in two days.” Furious, Victoria stormed out of the diner.

Victoria rushed home to check the purse she had carried that morning as she was sure Cino had given her the photos. Hoping that perhaps only one had slipped out of the envelope and Dotty was bluffing.

“Did I give them back to Cino? I can’t remember.” Frantically calling Cino to verify.

“Hi, love, did I give you our photos we looked at together while at Schwab’s the other day? Please tell me I did?” Trying not to sound too panicked.

“No, my love. I thought you took them with you. I don’t have them. What is wrong?” he asked in a protective manner.

“I can’t seem to find them. Don’t worry though, I will look around some more, I am sure they are at the house somewhere.” She didn’t dare tell him that she had just been blackmailed by Dotty, the waitress at Schwab’s, who was now angling for a movie deal!

“Let me know. I don’t want those photos of you in any stranger’s hands.” Showing no concern for himself.

“OK, I will see you later tonight.” Victoria tried not to sound upset.

“Ciao amore,” Cino signed off.

* * *

Dotty was beaming with her self-perceived cleverness as she contemplated her not as yet completed successful business deal.

“Haha! They can call me Dotty the waitress if they want to, but they’ll soon find out who the smart business woman is!” Bragging to herself.

“I’ve learned a lot from slinging the grease in this joint all these years.” Speaking aloud to herself as she stared straight ahead, with glazed over eyes, while wiping the same spot on the counter in a circular pattern over and over again.

She wasted no time in sharing the good news with Michael Deeves.

“Michael, the deal is done! We’ll know if we have a confirmed green light in two days!”

“What! Are you joking, Dotty? I can’t believe it! WOW! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And thank you for believing in my work.” He was stunned by the immense kindness of this woman and sat for a minute in a semi state of shock.

“Who would’ve figured little ol’ Dotty as a big movie deal mover and shaker! If this movie is a hit, she deserves every nickel she gets and then some,” he thought as he smiled to himself in disbelief.

Michael was completely oblivious to the shady scheme that Dotty had, unbeknownst to him, used in swinging a potential movie deal for getting his work presented to the head of American International Films. He would later find out that he was duped along with almost everyone else who thought they knew “kind, sweet Dotty.”

One week later, Michael was sitting in the huge plush office of Victoria Steele, CEO of American International Films.

“Michael, your project is quite good. Tell me, why go through Dotty?” Victoria inquired.

“She suggested that you might like it, and in this town and business, a guy has to use every angle or opportunity,” he volunteered.

“So, you two worked on this together?”

“Sorta. Dotty worked on the “networking angle.” If you know what I mean. I know it was bold to approach you and I hope you don’t think it was too intrusive. I was just glad she offered this chance to me. I feel a bit intimidated talking to you about it. I normally submit through my agent. However, Dotty assured me that this was a win-win deal for all of us. Kinda funny don’t ya think? Schwab’s waitress brokers major movie deal!” Michael says with half a smirk on his face.

Deeves was innocent and unaware of the dirty, secret, backhand dealing Dotty had used to broker the deal, as was Victoria to Michael’s innocence.

“Just for the record … I most likely would have optioned it had it come through normal channels. For what it’s worth, Michael, always remember this town has a long memory,” Victoria delivered with her own cool smirk as she got up to leave the table without shaking his hand.

He was completely baffled by her last comments.

Victoria intended to use the situation with Dotty to her advantage. The script was good … . Damn good, she thought. She was certain she could work it into a successful film for millions in profit.

“But, I’ll be damn if I let those two profit from it! I’ll slice Dotty and her accomplice’s legs off at the knee caps in due time.” Victoria Steele was not a woman to be trifled with, especially by a conniving waitress who had taken advantage of a light, informal acquaintance. She intended for Dotty to learn a lesson. A lesson taught with hard jail time for blackmail and extortion.