Chapter 10
As Naughty In New York began to take shape, nearing completion of its shooting schedule, Sally Ann's enthusiasms began to wane. Yes, she very much wanted to be in the entertainment industry. Yes, her first love was dancing, and dancers were a dime a dozen in New York City. And yes, she'd been very, very lucky in the short time she'd been in Manhattan, making the essential connections she needed to see her dream through.
It's like that old saying, "You can have everything you want, just not at the same time," she thought as she was leaving the set one day, having worked thirteen hours with only an occasional "snack break." The truth was: She missed Ohio, her family, and-she had to admit-Freddy. Since his well-intentioned but poorly timed arrival in New York to surprise her, and their subsequent falling out, Sally Ann had not heard from her high school sweetheart and former fianc'. Occasionally, when she talked to her parents, they'd mention that he was doing fine, which only made her feel worse. How dare Freddy be "fine " when she was feeling miserable!
Yet, Sally Ann Gardner was getting everything she'd traveled to New York for. Despite the never-ending tantrums of Lilac Veracruz-often directed at Sally Ann-Lars, Emmett and the film crew in general had made it clear they were more than satisfied with her work. And though she had no dialogue, no songs, Sally Ann did have plenty of screen time dancing in the musical numbers.
"Just remember, honey," Emmett cautioned, "all you're seeing right now are the dailies. And while I don't think all the hard work you've put into the dances is going to wind up on the cutting room floor, editing is something you don't know anything about." He told her they'd shot over a thousand feet of film, and that, inevitably, there were would be many edits of the musical numbers. "But," he consoled her upon seeing her look of despondence, "since you're in every musical number, at least you'll be seen. We just don't know how long you'll be seen. There are so many factors that have to be taken into consideration."
Sally Ann knew one of the "considerations" was Lilac Veracruz. She'd made it clear during day-end screenings of the dailies that she was the star. Things between Lars and Lilac were tense at best-especially after he'd brought in a replacement to dub her singing. And Lars, so consumed with his film project, always managed to give Sally Ann a few words of encouragement each day after seeing her work. But, with Lilac, he was conspicuously quiet. When they fought on the set, the tension affected everyone and slowed down the shooting schedule.
"Sally Ann, I'd like to have a talk with you, just you and me, girl-to-girl," Lilac told her one day. The invitation came from out of the blue, and Sally Ann immediately suspected ulterior motives. Why would this woman, who'd made it clear from day one that she felt threatened by Sally Ann, want to talk to her-especially now that Naughty In New York was almost finished? "Come to my pied a terre at around nine," Lilac instructed. "Jean-Claude may be there-we're living together now, in case you don't already know-but he was your former boss and, I gather, part-time paramour. So, we'll just have a nice late-night dinner, okay?"
Of course, Sally Ann knew that Jean-Claude would not be home; it was a Friday evening, one of the busiest days of the week at Chez Pierre. Again, Sally Ann felt Lilac was baiting her, suspecting, most-likely, that she'd fucked Jean-Claude. Now, this bitchy opportunist was using him to entice Sally Ann to come over to their apartment.
Later that day, Sally Ann confided to Emmett about Lilac's invitation.
"Be careful, Sally Ann," he warned. "We both know that woman's not to be trusted. God knows what she has planned for you."
"She told me Jean-Claude might be there, too. I mean, how bad could it be? Jean-Claude's the one who helped me get my big break."
Emmett sighed. "Girl, in the immortal words of Judy Garland: 'I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.' Stop giving people the benefit of the doubt, Sally Ann-especially vipers like Lilac Veracruz. You wanna believe she needs a dinner companion, go ahead. I know you're from Ohio, but, don't you see, she perceives you as just another gullible Midwesterner to manipulate."
"What do you think she wants of me?" Sally Ann asked, worried.
"I have no idea, but you can bet Lars knows nothing about her plans."
"Maybe I should talk to him about it," she suggested. Emmett shook his head.
"That's the last thing I'd do. Can't you see? He's frantic trying to bring the film in under budget and on time, having to put up with Lilac's tyrannical outbursts every day. No, Sally Ann, there's no need to pull Lars into this mundane little matter. All I'm saying is use your head."
Thinking back on the times she'd "used" her body, Sally Ann knew that this time, Emmett's advice was on the mark. She also realized, however, that if she refused to see Lilac on her own turf, the sultry star could make things very difficult for her. I'm just going out of curiosity, Sally Ann told herself. I'll tell Lilac I'm bushed and can't stay for dinner. That way, she'll have to get to the point right away.
When Sally Ann stepped out of the taxi at Lilac and Jean-Claude's "pied a terre" on West Fifty-Seventh Street-just down the block from Chez Pierre-the doorman greeted her effusively.
"Oh, Miss Gardner, I hear you're going to be a star after this movie comes out," the fifty-ish uniformed man told her. Having never met him before or been in this building, Sally Ann was quite taken aback. "Miss Veracruz tells me you are going to be a big, big star, just like she is."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I'm only a dancer in the movie. Certainly, I'm not going to be a star. Everyone knows, Lilac is the star."
As she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the penthouse, the doorman looked at her appraisingly.
"No, no, madame, I think Miss Veracruz is right. You look like a star."
The door closed before Sally Ann had a chance to thank him for the compliment. Actually, she had made a special effort to look elegant for her dinner date with the rapacious Lilac. Her blonde hair was swept up into a stylish pompadour-like bun, with tendrils of curls framing her face. She'd seen Ivana Trump's coif, and tried to imitate it. Sally Ann had borrowed one of Josette's best dresses, an expensive and very short black Calvin Klein number that revealed an extensive amount of leg and a provocative amount of cleavage.
Why am I so concerned about how I look? she asked herself as she slipped into the Calvin Klein. And, more importantly, why am I wearing something so revealing?
Jean-Claude and Lilac's pied a terre consumed the entire top floor of the building. She was not surprised. Chez Pierre was the hottest place to mingle with the stars in Manhattan. And Lilac, while not yet a superstar, earned a handsome six-figures per picture. Between the two of them, Jean-Claude and Lilac's joint income, she estimated, must be seven figures.
"Darling," Lilac gushed, opening the door, "don't you look ravishing tonight?"
The star herself was dressed in a champagne-colored silk pajama ensemble that Sally Ann thought was a bit too informal for dinner. Lilac pecked her on the cheek and, taking Sally Ann by the hand, led her into the expansive living room.
Sally Ann, of course, by now was used to seeing such conspicuous consumption-James's lavishly decorated penthouse and Lars's fashionably understated Tribecca loft came to mind. But this place had all the others beaten hands down. A chandelier glistened as the room's centerpiece. Overstuffed sofas and chairs of expensive fabrics and varying patterns gave the room an understated but undeniably posh appearance. Lilac laughed as she observed her guest taking in the wraparound view of Manhattan.
"Guess you don't have views like this back in Indiana," Lilac queried.
"Ohio. I'm from Ohio," Sally Ann corrected.
"Of course you are. Forgive the faux paus, dear. I've had such an exhausting day, what with Lars trying to bring the film in ahead of schedule. We'd like to at least get it edited and sent out to some film festivals as soon as possible. Early good word-of-mouth, and especially an award or two, will help us get a good distributor for it." She waved her hands dismissively. "But I'm sure you know all about how the film business works."
"Actually, I'm kind of learning as I go along," Sally Ann admitted. "Where's Jean-Claude?"
"Darling, he said to give you his regards, but he couldn't get away from the restaurant tonight. Some kind of private party for foreign diplomats from the United Nations."
"How exciting!"
"Exciting? God, I'd be bored out of my skull," Lilac said. "Obviously you've never met the men who rule the world. We think they're so smart, so sophisticated. Truth is, all they want is a good piece of pussy, just like every other Joe Blow."
Sally Ann was stunned at Lilac's abrupt crudeness, and it showed on her face.
"Have I offended you, dear?" Lilac queried, pouring them both a glass of imported hazelnut liqueur. As she passed the small fluted glass to Sally Ann, Lilac informed her that, "The Dutch, who make this lovely elixir, claim it's an aphrodisiac. From my own past experience with it, I think they're right." She clinked glasses with Sally Ann. "Well, here's to Naughty In New York. Here's to your budding career."
"And yours as well," Sally Ann added quickly. Both women downed their drinks. Sally thought its hazelnut fragrance hid a slight bitterness. She also thought, in terms of etiquette, that drinking a liqueur like this was something done after dinner.
"Sit down, dear. Let me attend to dinner. Jean-Claude graciously has catered quite a spread for us. Do you like foie gras?"
Sally Ann nodded, having no idea what it was. Her head was beginning to swim. She felt a bit queasy. "I think I have to use your bathroom," she said, attempting to rise and feeling her knees buckle. Oh my God, Lilac's poisoned me! was all Sally Ann recalled thinking before passing out stone cold on one of the sofas.
When she awoke, Sally Ann was startled to see her reflection on the mirrored bedroom ceiling. Silk Hermes scarves had been tied to the bed's four posters, so that she was spread naked, completely vulnerable. Still groggy, she closed her eyes and heard a faint humming noise from the corner of the room. She looked up into the mirror again and saw a tripod with a camcorder attached to it. "Lilac," she called out drowsily. "Lilac, what's going on?"
Lilac strode into the room with a person-a man, Sally Ann assumed-dressed in leather from top to bottom. Even his head was covered with a hood with a zipper over the mouth. Lilac called him "Garth."
"Scared, dear?" Lilac asked. She dropped a hand into her silk lounging pajamas and began playing with herself, enjoying Sally Ann's predicament.
"Please," Sally Ann pleaded. "Don't hurt me."
"Hurt you?" Lilac seemed genuinely surprised at the remark. "Why on earth would I want to hurt you? No, no, my lovely Sally Ann, tonight we're here to give you pleasure like nothing you've had before. And, just for posterity's sake, I'm capturing it all on video. That's one of the perks about being in the film business-access to the equipment."
Lilac removed her clothing. Despite her fears, Sally Ann could not help noticing Lilac's pulchritude, the silicone-succulent, balloon-like tits, the nest of finely trimmed pubic hair, the taut tummy and the full-rounded buttocks immortalized in Plug That Hole. The woman was, to be blunt, a prime piece of ass. Trussed up with silk scarves, afraid for her very life, Sally Ann Gardner had to admit that the nemesis standing behind the camcorder was very easy on the eyes. Sally Ann wondered if Lilac was going to make an appearance in the video.
As if reading her mind, Lilac briefly explained her purpose. "Sally Ann, dear, this is just a little home movie or, if you prefer, a video clip, like the 'legit' one Lars would have asked you to do for your audition if he hadn't fucked you first. Let's face it, Sally Ann, you two share a certain chemistry, and as much as you've tried to hide it, hiding it only makes it more obvious." She motioned for Garth to move to the bed. He did as he was told. "Play with her tits," Lilac commanded.
"Anyway, to get on with it-and this has nothing to do with you personally, honey-I don't care who Lars fucks. But I do care about the quality of my work and with whom I work. Anyone can see that Lars has his eyes on you, not just as a pretty little starlet, but as someone he can groom, transform into an actress. He sees himself as a Svengali of sorts, and you're his next project."
Lilac practically spat out the word, as if it was the name of an incurable disease. Garth, his hands gloved in leather, was expertly rubbing Sally Ann's areolae, then lightly pinching her nipples. Despite herself, Sally Ann moaned, fighting against the restrictive silk scarves.
"Okay, enough tit play," Lilac said, the camera still aimed squarely at Sally Ann and Garth on the bed. "Put some fingers in her pussy." Again, the obedient "slave," Garth diddled Sally Ann's nether region, inserting an index, then, a middle finger into her cuntal depths.
"Oooh," Sally Ann gasped, responding to the sudden invasion. She stole a glance at Lilac who, herself, was engaged in masturbation as she kept one hand firmly on the camera.
"Now, darling, I suppose you're wondering why I've put you in this unflattering position. Let's just say I've been driven to an extreme measure. Lars has a bootleg copy of a certain video I was featured in a long time ago, a video where I'm in compromising positions. Do I make myself clear?"
Sally Ann nodded wearily. "So this is your way of getting back at him-through me?" Garth's fingers continually stroked her clit. Lilac could see that his gloved fingers were wet with her cunny dew.
"Hold up your fingers, the ones in her pussy," Lilac commanded Garth. "Let's make sure the viewer sees she's enjoying this. So, getting back to the subject, Sally Ann, if Lars refuses to make the cuts I want, if he threatens to 'expose' me with that old video, I've got my own weapon."
"You make it sound like a war," Sally Ann replied. "And what about me? Doesn't it matter to you that whatever career I might have in the future could be ruined by what you're filming?"
"Oh, you really are naive, Sally Ann. Of course, I realize that."
Sally Ann's mind raced desperately, hoping to reach a compromise with Lilac. "Look, Lilac, I could talk to Lars myself about this. Tell him I'm not interested in acting and dancing anymore. Say that I've decided to go back to Dayton. I'll do anything you ask, but this. What if my family sees it? I'd die of shame."
"Sorry, darling. I appreciate your willingness to help, but, don't you see, you're partly to blame for this entire set-up. After all, if you wouldn't have fucked Lars at the 'audition,' he'd never have cast you."
"So you say."
"Yes, that's what I say." Lilac motioned for Garth to move out of the picture frame. "Get the dildo," she told him.
Sally Ann gasped. "Dildo? Please, Lilac, stop this vendetta before it goes too far. If you have a shred of decency-"
But it was too late. Garth reappeared holding an enormously long, fat fake cock. A crank at its bottom permitted the rubber device to bend as the person holding it rotated it.
Garth bent down to insert the dildo. In a near-whisper, he told her, "Everything's going to be okay, Sally Ann. I've got things under control." The voice was strangely familiar. Where had she heard it before? Garth's words were of little consolation to her, however; the camcorder humming away and Lilac playing with her pussy caught Sally Ann's every move and gesture on the bed.
"First, just stick the head in," Lilac requested. "Go on, do it, slave!" Garth's agility was made evident as he ever-so-gently massaged Sally Ann's honey hole, making sure she was cumming enough to allow an easy penetration. The dildo's corona slipped into her depths with a popping sound. Sally Ann moaned.
"See, dear, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Lilac was relishing the moment, her fingers pumping her pussy as her voyeurism increased. "Now, Garth, push it in deeper, but slowly. I want to see every lustful look on her face so all of America can see how much Miss Sally Ann Gardner-likes boy toys and girl toys."
Sally Ann had never felt her pussy this full before. The giant fake cock stretched her labia to its limit, but, just as Garth had hoped, she was cumming enough to provide lubrication, making insertion easier.
"Ahhhh. Ohhhh. Ummm," Sally Ann gurgled as she struggled against her restraints. Obviously, she was getting off with the sex toy up her blonde twat. As it went deeper, deeper, she experienced sensations she'd never had with a real or fake cock before. In spite of herself, Sally Ann was not a good enough actress to fake distress. The fact was, she was hornier than she'd ever been.
"Okay, let's go all the way with it now, Garth. Really pump her pussy with the dildo." Lilac, caught in the grip her own ardor, backed into the wall to steady herself. Sally Ann was really arousing her. But Lilac had a feeling the young woman would object to her next order.
"Garth, pull it out. Now!"
Garth did as Lilac bid him to do. The dildo was abruptly removed with a loud, wet sucking sound as he pulled it out of Sally Ann's hole.
"Now, slave, stick it up her ass!"
Oh, no! Sally Ann thought. There's no way I'll be able to take that up my ass. Please, God, not this!
Garth extracted a tube of KY and generously lubed up the dildo, already slick from Sally Ann's joy juice.
"Please," Sally Ann pleaded, "don't do this. I can't take it. You already have enough videotape to ruin me. Enough is enough. I surrender!"
But Garth was already on his way. He played with Sally Ann's budding clit with one finger as the sticky dildo searched for her little pucker hole. And when Garth found it, he began rubbing the dildo's head over her ass-hole. Again, almost inaudibly, he whispered to her so that Lilac would not hear. "Sally Ann, just pretend to get off on this. I'm not going to butt fuck you with it, but we have to make it look like I'm fucking you up the ass."
Bewildered, Sally Ann did as Garth instructed. Obviously, and perplexidly, he was on her side. Where had she heard that voice? Because of Sally Ann's spread-eagled position, Garth could slide the dildo between her butt cheeks, making it appear that it was inside the foxy blonde's ass when, in fact, it was only gently rubbing her ass-hole.
"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Lilac laughed coarsely. "You really are a little slut, aren't you, Miss Gardner? And now, I've plugged your hole like Lars saw mine plugged in that awful porno film I did so long ago.
"Well, I think it's a wrap, Garth. We've got more than enough footage. Pull the dildo out, hold it up to the camera, that's it. Now, I'll move in for a close-up of her face. Sally Ann's all-fucked-out look says it all."
Lilac, her one hand dripping with her pussy juice, the other on the tripod, ordered Garth to untie her willing "victim." The restraints, being silk, hadn't left any telltale marks on Sally Ann's wrists and ankles, for which she was grateful. And the grogginess she'd experienced at the beginning of Lilac's little "session" had worn off. Now, Sally Ann was acutely aware of her surroundings. And, at that moment, she remembered to whom "Garth's" voice belonged.
As if reading her mind, the leather-bound stud unzipped his black hood and pulled it off.
"Emmett!" Sally Ann cried out.
"What are you doing?" Lilac exploded. "We agreed not to reveal you to her," Lilac, her face apoplectic with anger, screamed at Emmett.
"Emmett, why?" Sally Ann asked. "I thought you liked me. I thought you really cared about me."
"Sweetheart, I do. That's why when Lilac offered to pay me a handsome figure to help her out with this elaborate extortion scheme, I agreed."
He turned to Lilac. "Sorry, babe, blackmail's not my forte. And if you would have bothered to check the camcorder before you arranged this charade, you would have discovered that I removed the tape. I'm afraid all you'll ever have to remember this evening are memories." He laughed heartily, enjoying the look of defeat on her face.
Lilac desperately opened the camcorder. It was true! Empty!
"You son of a bitch! I'll make sure you pay for this, Emmett! I have friends who could make you history."
"Yeah, yeah." Emmett waved his hands dismissively. He was used to Lilac's threats. "Baby, what goes around, comes around. It's up to you. Shall I tell Lars what you've done here tonight? Or maybe Jean-Claude, since, after all, it's his bed?" From the back pocket of Emmett's tight leather pants, he pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. "I've drawn up some, let's call them 'terms of agreement', " he said. "Look it over, Lilac, and sign it at the X at the bottom. Basically, you're merely agreeing to see Naughty In New York to its full completion, without intervening any more-that includes demanding certain edits. And you are definitely not to pull anything like this again with any of the other cast members you feel threatened by. Understand?"
Lilac Veracruz skimmed over the document. "This is ridiculous. My God, you're only the choreographer. You have no power."
"Perhaps. But I do have a witness. Right, Sally Ann?"
Sally Ann nodded. "Look at it this way, Lilac. I'm not out to 'get you.' But the lengths you went to tonight to get me are inexcusable-and illegal. like Emmett says, we could make things very difficult for you if, for example, I told Jean-Claude or, especially, Lars about it."
"No one ever has to see this paper-this signed consent," added Lars, "unless you start playing these cruel games again. Somewhere down deep, Lilac, I'm convinced you still have a shred of human decency." A confused expression crossed his face; Emmett knit his brow. "Then again, I could be wrong. You're not the kind of woman any man-or woman-should give the benefit of a doubt to."
"The press would believe me before they'd ever believe you two," Lilac steamed. She pulled her imagine silk ensemble back onto her sweaty body. Her makeup running, her hair bedraggled, Sally Ann thought she looked ten years older than she was.
"It's your call, Lilac," Emmett said, gently stroking Sally Ann's head. "You've put this girl through enough tonight."
"Admit it," spat Lilac, hurriedly signing the paper and tossing it back at Emmett, "you liked every minute of it, Sally Ann."
"Guess you'll never know. Emmett, where are my clothes?"
Leaving Lilac's swanky pied a terre, Sally Ann and Emmett shared a cab ride downtown.
"I really was scared," Sally Ann admitted.
"I knew you would be," Emmett replied. "That's why, when Lilac baited me to do this, I realized I might actually be of some help."
Just out of curiosity, Sally Ann asked Emmett a question that was lurking in the back of your mind. "Did you take the money Lilac offered you?"
"She was going to pay me after this shindig," he hold her. "But, for me, the money was never an issue. Sally Ann, I do believe that you have a future in show business. I wasn't going to let a no-talent bitch like Lilac ruin your chance to grab the brass ring."
"One last question," she pressed as the taxi neared her apartment. "Did you enjoy playing with me?" Emmett blushed, in spite of himself. "I mean, I know you're gay and all.. . . "
"Sally Ann, I may sleep with more men than women, but when I find a woman like you, well.. . . "
"Thanks, Emmett. That tells me all I need to know." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "See you on the set tomorrow?"
"You bet. And Sally Ann, get some rest."
"No rest for the weary," she smiled, waving to him as the cab sped towards its next destination.