“Nothing is more important than my being here with you. That funny little man who married us in Paris said, ‘For better or for worse.’” She frowned. “At least I think that’s what he said. I don’t speak French.”
Philip smiled. “I want you to know how much I appreciate you. I feel like I’m putting you through hell.”
Lara moved closer to him. “Wrong word,” she said. “Heaven.”
Philip was getting dressed. Lara was helping him with the buttons on his shirt. Philip looked in the mirror. “I look like a damned hippie,” he said. “I need a haircut.”
“Do you want me to have Marian make an appointment with your barber?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, Lara. I’m just not ready to go out.”
The following morning Philip’s barber and a manicurist appeared at the apartment. Philip was taken aback. “What’s all this?”
“If Mohammed won’t go to the mountain, the mountain comes to Mohammed. They’ll be here every week for you.”
“You’re a wonder,” Philip said.
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Lara grinned.
The following day, a tailor arrived with some sample swatches for suits and shirts.
“What’s going on?” Philip asked.
Lara said, “You’re the only man I know who has six pairs of tails, four dinner jackets, and two suits. I think it’s time we got you a proper wardrobe.”
“Why?” Philip protested. “I’m not going anywhere.”
But he allowed himself to be fitted for the suits and shirts.
A few days later a custom shoemaker arrived.
“Now what?” Philip asked.
“It’s time you had some new shoes.”
“I told you, I’m not going out.”
“I know, baby. But when you do, your shoes will be ready.”
Philip held her close. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That’s what I keep telling you.”
They were in a meeting at the office. Howard Keller was saying, “We’re losing the shopping mall in Los Angeles. The banks have decided to call in the loans.”
“They can’t do that.”
“They’re doing it,” Keller said. “We’re overleveraged.”
“We can pay the loans off by borrowing on one of the other buildings.”
Keller said, patiently, “Lara, you’re already leveraged to the hilt. You have a sixty-million-dollar payment coming up on the skyscraper.”
“I know that, but completion is only four months away now. We can roll the loan over. The building’s on schedule, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Keller was studying her thoughtfully. It was a question she never would have asked one year ago. Then she would have known exactly where everything stood. “I think it might be better if you spent more time here in the office,” Keller told her. “Too many things are becoming unraveled. There are some decisions that only you can make.”
Lara nodded. “All right,” she said reluctantly. “I’ll be in tomorrow morning.
“William Ellerbee is on the telephone for you,” Marian announced.
“Tell him I can’t talk to him.” Philip watched her as she returned to the phone.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ellerbee. Mr. Adler is not available just now. Can I take a message?” She listened a moment. “I’ll tell him. Thank you.” She replaced the receiver and looked up at Philip. “He’s really anxious to have lunch with you.”
“He probably wants to talk about the commissions he’s not getting anymore.”
“You’re probably right,” Marian said mildly. “I’m sure he must hate you because you were attacked.”
Philip said quietly, “Sorry. Is that the way I sounded?”
“Yes.”
“How do you put up with me?”
Marian smiled. “It’s not that difficult.”
The following day William Ellerbee called again. Philip was out of the room. Marian spoke to Ellerbee for a few minutes, then went to find Philip.
“That was Mr. Ellerbee,” Marian said.
“Next time tell him to stop calling.”
“Maybe you should tell him yourself,” Marian said. “You’re having lunch with him Thursday at one o’clock.”
“I’m what?”
“He suggested Le Cirque, but I thought a smaller restaurant might be better.” She looked at the pad in her hand. “He’s going to meet you at Fu’s at one. I’ll arrange for Max to drive you there.”
Philip was staring at her, furious. “You made a lunch date for me without asking me?”
She said calmly, “If I had asked you, you wouldn’t have gone. You can fire me if you want to.”