Marina - After The Glitter Fades

After the Glitter Fades

Diane Marina

New Market, Maryland, 2018

After the Glitter Fades

Copyright 2018, by Diane Marina

This original work is published by Aspen Palms Press,

New Market, Maryland, USA.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author.

ISBN: 9781980608387

Imprint: Independently published

CREDITS

Editing: Tara Young

Acknowledgments

My thanks and much love to my wife, Angela. If I asked you to read this book a thousand times, I know you would do it without complaint, and thats symbolic of our life together you support and love me every step of the way. Thank you for being my partner in everything I do.

Thank you to Tara Young for your superior editing skills. Your attention to detail and your perspective on the story was greatly appreciated. Thank you catching all of my darts.

Special thanks to Daniela Acitelli for providing me with insight into Elises character, and for sharing your incredible talent with me. You helped me realize that this character should go in a direction I hadnt expected. I look forward to hearing you breathe life into these characters.

Finally, thanks to my friend Stacey Darlington. Your support and encouragement helps me do what I do, and youre your insight helps me become a better writer with each book.

This book is dedicated to Jason and Angelicatwo great kids who have made me proud to be their mom.

Chapter One

Siena

Siena sat in the makeup chair, motionless save for her ridiculously long eyelashes, which fluttered closed and then open again as she listened to Elise through the speakerphone. She watched as Gloria, the studio hairstylist, used a hot iron to put the finishing touches on her espresso-colored curls. Siena blinked, her annoyance growing as Elise spoke.

I understand the reason you dont want to come to the party tonight, love, Elise droned, but its my birthday. Her rich vibrato, dripping with Southern honey beneath a hint of Old Hollywood, hummed in the makeup room. Elise had spent a lot of money working with coaches to hide the Southern twang, but every once in a while, Siena could hear it creep back in.

Siena closed her eyes and envisioned her best friend ticking off the reasons on her fingers as she tried to coax her through her expensive smartphone.

Youre my best friend, so what would people say if youre not there? I promise you, Julia will not be there to report on what she sees, she will be there as my friend. Your secret will be safe. Besides, Victoria and Derek will be attending, and you love Victoria, though if you ask me, thats a fucked-up circle all on its own.

Sienas gaze left the reflection of her own in the mirror and met Glorias, whose brows had raised just a touchenough to let Siena know her curiosity was piqued. Hollywood was a nosy little town with enough hungry spies on the lookout for a juicy story, but Siena would be damned if shed give anyone a nibble at her personal life. This was why she normally used her own hairstylist, but it was just her bad luck that Becka was home sick with a stomach bug, forcing Siena to use the services of the studios stylist this week.

Siena released a nervous sigh before speaking, raising her voice in an obvious shut the hell up manner. El, Im in hair and makeup right now, but I promise Ill call you in a bit with my answer.

A slight pause before Elise hummed and replied, Oh, hello, Becka dear. I didnt mean to ignore you.

No, no. Beckas home sick. Im in with Gloria today. Sienas rich voice underscored the womans name, hoping Elise would pick up on the innuendo and zip her mouth.

Oh. OH!

Thank God. Sometimes you had to hit El with a figurative brick to the head.

Okay, but, Siena, Im warning you.

I promise. Just give me some time to get in touch with Derek. Siena glanced up at Gloria. Again with the eyebrow. She was sure by the end of the day the rumor going around Hollywood would be that she was either pregnant or marrying Derek for the second time.

Elise let out a displeased grunt.

El

Okay!

Call you later, I promise. Love you! Siena hit the end button and chewed her bottom lip.

Stefan will have to redo your lips if you keep that up, Gloria reprimanded her.

Siena jumped slightly. She chewed things when she was worriedlips, fingernails, tips of pens, gumher teeth didnt discriminate, happy to grind away at whatever was available. She consciously sat back in her seat and tried to focus on watching Glorias progress with the goal of keeping her mind off a party where a famously out lesbian entertainment reporter would be a prominent guest, along with Sienas ex-husband and his secret girlfriend. Siena tried her best not to count how many ways the guest list at that nights soiree could destroy her career as one of Hollywoods most famous and well-loved actresses.

Make that Hollywoods most famous closeted lesbian actress. The sour taste in Sienas mouth was evident on her face as her teeth again sought her bottom lip. Gloria nudged her shoulder and not very gently. It was going to be a long day leading into an even longer night.

Ten Years Earlier

Chapter Two

Derek

Derek Mallory paced alongside the Spanish-tiled swimming pool as his agents voice buzzed through the phone into his ear. He scrubbed his hand through his already-ruffled hair, a prime component of his big-screen good looks, and glanced toward his wife, who was wading near the shallow end of the pool. Siena was expressionless and seemingly lost in thoughts miles away. Dereks agent was sharing good news, offering up a part that nearly every actor in town was clamoring for, but Derek barely heard him. He had bigger things to worry about these daysnamely his marriage, which was falling down around him as quickly as Sienas walls were going up. He had no clue how to go about fixing this.

Derek ended the call and placed the phone on the wrought iron patio table before plodding toward the pool and removing his top-siders. He bent and rolled the pants leg of his chinos before dipping his toe into the water and splashing Siena.

Siena jumped and emitted a sharp squeal, turning an annoyed glance toward Derek.

Hey, gorgeous. Guess who just got the biggest role in town offered to him on a silver platter?

No response. If Derek didnt know any better, hed think Siena was drugging herself. She was so lethargic, she just might be swept away by the Santa Ana winds. Depressed. Shes depressed because shes married to me, damn it.

He shook the thought and the accompanying sadness and responded. Jerry just called to tell me that I got the lead in the Westfeldt film. I leave for New York in two weeks.

There was a time, Derek knew, when he could predict what Sienas reaction to such an announcement would have beenpure joy followed by sadness that he would be leaving her behind during filming. But now he could see that her face was painted with relief. Maybe time away was what they needed, but he knew what the problem was, and he didnt think time away would help. Nothing would. Well, maybe one thing would, and it twisted Dereks gut to even entertain the thought.

Come on out of there. Lets go out and celebrate, he suggested, hoping one last time to elicit some excitement.

Siena shrugged. The weight of the world truly seemed to be resting on her frail shoulders. I dont feel much like celebrating. I think Im coming down with something, but you go ahead. She seemed to notice that his face had fallen and caught herself then. Im thrilled for you, Derek. This is huge, but I would be terrible company.