Not Wanted in Hollywood by Leonie Gant Read Free Book Online Page A

standing behind Hugh as they ran through
some footage , I marveled at his complete
lack of awareness that the way he treated people was
wrong.
    “Did you know that Hammy was married?” I
asked Alistair as I sat down.
    “To a woman?” asked Alistair.
    “ I believe
so,” I said. “Seems she’s taking over the club now that Hammy is no
longer with us.”
    Alistair’s
brow furrowed. “I need more time with
this shoot. I’m going to have to speak to her to see if she’ll
extend the contract that we had with Hammy.”
    Even before I came back to the office I knew
what he would want. A part of me hated the fact that I was right
and even worse that I was prepared.
    “I have her details here if you want to get
in touch with her.”
    Alistair clapped his hands together. “This is
why you are the best assistant I’ve ever had. At first glance you
didn’t look like much but you have a brain and you use it. I must
say, originally I didn’t have high hopes but you’ve really
surprised me. Contact the woman and see about our permissions to
continue filming.”
    After he walked back into his office I turned
to Hugh. “He just insulted me along with that compliment didn’t
he?”
    Hugh nodded.
    “There are seminars where they teach that
skill to guys who are desperate to pick up women don’t they?”
    Hugh nodded
again, keeping his eyes firmly on the screen in front of
him.
    “When did the world get so messed up?” I
asked. Hugh didn’t bother to answer what was obviously a rhetorical
question.
    I was still
thinking that as I stood at the door of Denise Pollard. Why was I
having to approach this woman, less than twenty four hours after
the death of her husband, to get permission to continue filming in
the strip club that she was taking over? When the door opened I
could feel my eyes widen in surprise. Whatever I had expected from
Hammy Pollard’s wife, this was not it. Denise Pollard looked like
my grandmother. She looked much older than I was expecting. Her
hair was an iron gray and was scraped back severely from her face.
Her eyes were a brilliant blue and I could see the spark of
intelligence in them. She was a large woman and the shapeless dress
she wore did not hide this.
    “What can I do for you?” she asked a little
tentatively, obviously concerned by the stranger knocking at her
door.
    I rushed to reassure her. “Mrs Pollard, my
name is Trudie Eyre. I was working at your husband’s club.”
    Denise raked me from head to toe and she frowned. “I’m
sorry, I didn’t see your name on the employee list. You don’t look
like someone who would work at Hammy’s.”
    I was undecided whether that statement was a
compliment or not.
    “ No,” I said
quickly. “I didn’t work for Hammy. I’m not sure if one of the other
girls told you but Hammy was working on a project with the
filmmaker Alistair Hopkins.”
    Denise nodded. “One of the girls did mention it but I
have to tell you, I’ve had a lot to deal with today. I really
hadn’t even thought about that kind of thing.”
    I smiled hoping to appear non-threatening. “I
was wondering if I would be able to come in and have a talk with
you. Alistair is very keen to continue his project at the club and
we were hoping we would be able to come to some accommodation.”
    Denise Pollard studied me for a moment. She opened the
door wider to let me in and I stepped through.
    “ I’m sorry if
I seem inhospitable,” she said as she led me down the hallway.
“I’ve learned to be suspicious of people. It’s not an easy habit to
break.”
    “ It’s smart
to be wary,” I said.
    “ I was just
putting on some tea,” Denise said. “Would you like
some?”
    “ I’d love it,
thank you.” I smiled at the way Denise reminded me of my Grandma
Rita.
    “ Just take a
seat in here,” she said, indicating the main room. “I’ll be right
out.”
    I stepped
into the living room and was surprised at the large piano that
dominated the space. On top of the piano I