Never Too Rich by Judith Gould Page A

underbelly—not
ever. “Needless to say,” she added, “Antonio is extremely
embarrassed.”
    “ I shouldn’t wonder.” Liz sniffed
virtuously. “But he couldn’t be more embarrassed than I
am.”
    “ Liz, if you will let me
explain—”
    “ What’s to explain? I saw what he
was doing, Mrs. de Riscal. To tell you the truth, I’m not all that
certain I can ever face him again.”
    “ I cannot blame you for feeling
offended, Liz, really I cannot.” Anouk’s eyes flicked regularly to
the doorway behind her, in case anyone strayed within earshot. “I
know what you saw must surely have come as a shock ... all the more
so since you have been so devoted to Antonio for so many years.
However, I know you are a fair woman. Please, I urge you: try to
understand him. He is so talented, so . . . so special. I know he
has this . . . weakness . . .” She sighed. “What I am trying to
say, Liz, is this: it takes a special mind to be as creative as
Antonio is. But sometimes creativity has a darker side to it.
Antonio’s does, I know. But he fights that side of himself; truly
he does. I am afraid, though, that he . . . sometimes
slips.”
    “ He slips?” Liz stared at
Anouk in disbelief. “Is that what you call it? Well, I’ll tell you!
From the impression I got, I wouldn’t doubt it if he slips
regularly.” She took a fortifying wheezy breath. “And I don’t think
I can work for him any longer.”
    “ Liz!” Anouk feigned shock. “Surely
you cannot be serious. You know how fond Antonio is of you! Why, he
counts on you to make everything run smoothly. Without you, the
business would be a shambles.”
    “ Well, he should have thought about
that before.”
    “ Look at it this way,” Anouk said
calmly. “If Antonio were . . . oh . . . addicted to cocaine,
wouldn’t you try to help him recover?”
    A playwright’s instinct for drama told Anouk she’d
said just enough. In the cocooning silence of the gallery, she
could almost hear Liz’s tortured mental gears protesting: Scandal . . . sodomy . . . sin . . . scandal .
. .
    Anouk reached out and held both of Liz’s hands in
her own. “I know you would be there to help Antonio in that
case, Liz,” she said softly. “And I believe you will find it in
your heart to help him in this one also. You are more than his
secretary, you know. You are part of the organization. Almost part
of the family.” Tilting her head, she looked beseechingly
into Liz’s eyes. “Please, give Antonio another chance before you
judge him too harshly, Liz. That is all I ask.”
    There was a long silence. “Well, I suppose the past
twelve years count for something” Liz said finally. She
heaved a sigh and added quickly, with a wag of a forefinger, “But
mind you, if I ever walk into that situation again ...” Her chin
was thrust resolutely forward and her eyes were hard.
    “ Oh, but you won’t!” Anouk
positively purred, the relief in her voice genuine. She embraced
Liz and gave her a hug. “I knew I could count on you, Liz! And I
know you’ll be discreet, as always. Now, we’d better get back. The
others are probably arriving.”
    They went back upstairs together, Anouk smiling and
chatting like they were the best of friends. God, she was thinking
with a shiver of revulsion, I hate having to suck up to this
miserable peasant of a woman!
    And as far as Liz was concerned, Anouk de Riscal was
one two-faced, lying bitch.
     
    “ Didn’t that lady behind the
jewelry counter who asked me where I got my earrings just freak you
out?” Hallelujah asked as she and Edwina breezed out of Bergdorf
Goodman, lavender shopping bags in tow. A just-purchased pair of
upswept 1930’s-style movie-star sunglasses perched atop
Hallelujah’s nose, completely hiding her eyes. “I am too
cool.”
    “ You are too slow, and we’re going
to be late for the memorial service,” Edwina pointed out, her
anxious eyes sweeping Fifth Avenue in search of a taxi. She made a
mouth of frustrated