Starchela in LA

Chapter Twenty-Three: LAST REQUEST

Chapter Twenty-Three - LAST REQUEST

"I have one last request," I say to Evangeline Lilly before I split.

So far, improbably, things have been going my way. I improvised the removal of Torquevald Nordon from tomorrow night's party and, bizarrely, it worked. My aunt never suspected a thing.

"No, you don't make demands now, you're giving explanations," she says. There's ice in her voice again. She waited for the Chanel lady to step out, and now she's back swinging. What is it this time? "You've been missing classes."

Where did that come from? From the only place it could have, my UCLA professor Miss Miranda Elizondo. How much has she divulged about my secret one-woman show?

"Did Miranda tell you why I've been out of class?" I ask.

"Let's hear you tell it."

"What is this questioning?"

"My connections got you into UCLA, my good relations got you a full scholarship. I won't have you slacking off."

"Did she tell you what we've been doing? Together."

"Fill me in, please."

"It's a surprise. For tomorrow night. I've kept it hidden from you because it's a surprise for you. I've been preparing a one-woman show. Miranda has been very helpful, going as far as excusing me from her classes while I've been rehearsing. Is that what she told you?"

"She wanted me to be aware of the situation."

"There is no situation. I'm back at school Monday."

"Your education is important."

"I know that."

Man, am I smooth! Wish I could Tweet that but my aunt hates my Tweeting. She considers it unladylike.

"I need something for tomorrow night," I say as innocently as a Frenchman taking a leisurely stroll to the frog pond. "It's that request thing..."

"That request thing? Starchela, please. Be assertive. Don't pussyfoot about with parasitic words."

"I need a screen."

"You need a screen?"

"For my show. It's a one-woman show. I'm interacting with a video."

"That's a big screen. For everyone to see?"

"Yes."

"You should have told me earlier. All arrangements have been made."

"It won't work without it."

"It'll have to. A screen like that needs to be ordered from the company, delivered, tests need to be done. There's no way it can be arranged for tomorrow."

"My show won't work without it. My surprise to you. It will be the highlight of the evening. You want to introduce me to Hollywood, that's the way. Besides, you're the queen of Hollywood. If you want to do it, it will be done."

"This is important to you."

"It's important to you too."

"You're cocky."

She picks up a silver bell, and rings it. I know who it fetches, so I steel my nerves.

Torquevald Nordon steps into the boudoir.

"You're going on an errand tomorrow," his mistress informs him. "You need to go to the country, pick up this lady, and bring her here."

"Is that Starchela's suggestion?" he asks the question I've been fearing.

"It's what I need you to do," she gives him the answer I've been hoping for.

"I am needed at the event here," he says.

"It's all covered. Catering, entertainment, security, all taken care of."

"If my removal is her idea, I would be highly suspect. She would be able to do things... unattended."

"It's her party, my friend."

"She may overstep her boundaries."

"She may act out her fantasies," my aunt says. "And that's precisely what I want her to do. I want her to be confident and not shy back. I want her to assert herself and take control. She can't do half-assed stuff if she is to take over from me."

She seems to be saying all the right words, but I feel very awkward hearing this. It's making me uneasy, actually it's creepy. There is something wrong with this speech.

"You're not here to keep her in a cage, Torquevald."

"I'm here to protect you."

"From her? She's my niece and heir. Why would I need protection from her?"

"Should I leave you guys alone?" I say. "This discussion of me, while I'm standing right here, it's freaking me out."

"I understand," Evangeline Lilly says. "Why don't you go try your new dress while we continue here?"

Crude. He will tell her about the video we shot of her as the bag lady.

"Go on," she says.

"Does he know who he's going to pick up?" I shoot in the dark.

They stare at me.

"Does he know about your twin sister?"

"I don't owe him any explanation!" she snaps. Turns to him, "You're going, and that's the end of that."

"She's manipulating you –"

"That is the end of that."

Nicely done, Starchela. Torquevald Nordon leaves with his tail between his legs. I leave with a Chanel dress under on my arm.