Simon eyed the girls in the pool, waved a waiter over, gave a few instructions, accepted a glass of wine, and went back to enjoying the alluring scene in front of him.
Most guests quickly caught on to what was happening; many drifted over in curiosity. Seeing the star of tonight's party lounging by the pool, most slipped away again so as not to spoil Simon's mood. Plenty of pretty girls gazed at him, clearly eager to jump in, but unsure of the situation they stayed on dry land.
After the four mermaids had splashed around for a while, Stephanie Seymour swam back to Simon's feet, tilted her exquisite face up at the man on the edge and said, "Simon, I'm hungry".
Simon called the waiter again, murmured a few words, then told the girl in the pool, "Just a moment".
Stephanie pouted slightly. "I thought you'd prepare the food for me yourself".
Simon smiled, studying the baby-fat cheeks still brimming with collagen. "How old are you?"
Stephanie looked offended. "It's terribly rude to ask a lady her age so bluntly".
The corner of Simon's mouth stayed curved, but he insisted: "I want to know".
Before Stephanie could scold him further, another mermaid glided over seductively, Cindy Crawford. She'd been within earshot; flicking her hair back she said, "Simon, Steph's still five months short of eighteen, so you'd better be careful, getting involved with her will be big trouble".
The moment Cindy finished, Stephanie shot back, "Hey, Cindy, I'm twenty already".
Cindy behaved as if she hadn't heard, even gave Simon a suggestive lift of her brow, an unmistakable 'you get it' look.
Simon nodded solemnly at once.
Stephanie grew even glummer, her pretty eyes fixed on Cindy. "If I'm not eighteen, then you're not even sixteen".
Still ignoring her, Cindy arched her voluptuous body slightly upward and sent Simon a tempting glance. "Mr. Westeros, I'm only fifteen, would you dare date a fifteen-year-old?"
Paulina Porizkova and Helena Christensen swam over as well, the four of them lining up at the edge, and they all laughed at the remark.
The waiter returned with a tray heaped with food. Simon set it down beside Stephanie and asked the other three, "Something to eat?"
"Of course, there's no way Steph can finish all this; it's meant for four." Cindy pulled the tray closer, lifting the plate of black caviar nestled in crushed ice. "Soviet black caviar," she told Simon. "I tried it once in New York, just a tiny portion cost three hundred dollars, but it's divine. And it really ought to be paired with top-shelf vodka".
Stephanie had been eyeing the pricey caviar too. Seeing Cindy monopolize it, she said sourly, "You're only fifteen, Cindy, how can you drink vodka?"
Cindy took a delicate mother-of-pearl spoon from the tray, glanced sideways at Stephanie and drawled, "I'm a bad girl, bad girls are allowed to drink".
Simon casually ordered the waiter to bring several shots of vodka, then watched the kittens scrap with an amused smile.
Unable to win the verbal duel, Stephanie picked at a slice of bread, casting Simon a wounded glance, clearly hoping he'd take her side. The other two girls, enjoying her defeat, cheerfully grabbed food from the tray.
Paulina, whose face evoked Audrey Hepburn, also took a slice of bread, but without Stephanie's restraint. She cheerfully begged a spoonful of caviar from Cindy and savoured it. When Simon handed her a glass of vodka she thanked him softly.
Helena chose a salad and, accepting a glass from Simon, took a sip and quickly asked, "Simon, where's your girlfriend?"
The instant the question left her lips she felt three pairs of eyes roll. She could almost hear the other girls thinking, "If you can't say anything clever, shut up." Realizing how tactless she'd been, she shrank her neck and lowered her head, pretending she'd said nothing.
Simon didn't seem bothered. "She probably saw me chatting up other girls, got jealous, and is now plotting how to punish me later".
All four girls laughed. Cindy's eyes held a suggestive glint. "She dares bully you, Simon?"
Simon nodded. "Yep. She's older, I'm always the one getting pushed around by older girls".
Cindy gave a sexy roll of her shoulders. "So little girls suit you better, Simon. How about fifteen?"
Still nibbling her bread, Stephanie chimed in, "You're older than Simon too, actually".
Cindy kept ignoring her.
Stephanie grew even more sullen, bit her bread, then suddenly remembered: "Simon, I was the first in the pool, you promised a reward. What is it?"
Simon asked back, "What would you like?"
Stephanie opened her mouth but couldn't think of anything right away.
Paulina, who'd stayed quiet, spoke up: "Simon, I heard you're going to make batman?"
"Yes, though probably not until the end of the year".
Recently Simon had tried to buy back from Disney the directing slot tied to 'When Harry Met Sally', but Michael Eisner refused. They did reach a deal, however: Simon could shoot 'Batman' first, then honour his Disney contract.
Paulina went on, "I just signed with ICM and I'm thinking of trying acting. Do you think there might be a part for me in 'Batman'?"
"The script hasn't been started, but if there's a role that suits you I'll let you test for it later".
Paulina put on a plaintive little pout. "That sounds terribly perfunctory".
"All right," Simon raised his hand in a small gesture of surrender. "If you don't mind, I can promise you a bit part, say, Bruce Wayne's escort".
Paulina Porizkova's eyes lit up, but she quickly realized something. "Escort? Not girlfriend?"
Simon shook his head. "No. Privately, Bruce Wayne is batman, but in public he plays the playboy, so he definitely needs an escort".
Paulina Porizkova understood at once. "Just a cameo, then?"
Simon smiled and nodded. "Exactly. But if you can prove you've got Audrey Hepburn's talent, I could introduce you to some roles".
Paulina Porizkova stuck her tongue out, guilty; she knew exactly how good her acting was.
As they chatted, several waiters soon pushed a clothing rack over.
Simon handed swimsuits to the four women in the pool. After they put them on, climbed out, and wrapped themselves in robes, he pointed to the gowns on the rack. "Pick whichever one you like and just take it".
Cindy Crawford tied her robe's belt, realized something, and looked at Simon. "You're leaving?"
"Yeah, it's already eleven. But you can stay and party till tomorrow morning".
Helena Christensen was choosing a gown from the rack. Hearing this, she said, "Simon, you're leaving? Isn't this your house?"
"From now on it's just for parties", Simon replied. "I have other places to stay".
Helena Christensen realized she'd asked another silly question.
Simon took a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to Cindy Crawford, the nearest. "Well then, I had a great time with you today. When you've decided about the reward, call me".
Watching Simon turn to leave, the other three women crowded around Cindy.
Stephanie Seymour, feigning nonchalance, naturally reached for the card in Cindy's hand, but Cindy dodged. Stephanie curled her lip. "It's only a business card, I thought it was a blank check".
Cindy Crawford hid the card completely in her hand, excitement flickering across her face.
A contact like Simon Westeros couldn't be compared to a check, only some foolish woman would want a check. For once she didn't ignore Stephanie Seymour; she gave her a sidelong, half-smiling glance. "If you got a check, how much would you fill in?"
"At least..." Stephanie blurted, then stopped and rolled her eyes. "Not telling you. Anyway, that card was meant for all four of us, right?"
"You can ask me for the number".
With that, Cindy took a gown from the rack, grabbed her heels, and headed for the villa.
Paulina Porizkova and Helena Christensen, who'd planned to choose carefully, saw Cindy's move, quickly picked gowns, and followed.
Stephanie Seymour stamped her foot in frustration, then hurried after them. Though her first thought had been a check, she knew the worth of Simon Westeros's private contact, the youngest billionaire in the country. If she hooked him…
For tonight's party, every Room in the manor and villa had been opened.
Simon found Janette in a lounge upstairs, on its terrace; Kathryn and a few others were with her. Seeing Simon, Janette said sourly, "I didn't dare interrupt while you were downstairs feeding the cats so happily".
Simon smiled, slipped an arm around her, and kissed her lips. "It's late; let's go rest".
Janette complained, but feeling Simon's hand she softened, linked her arm through his, and turned to Kate. "Kate, need a ride?"
Kate shook her head, glanced at Simon. "I'll head back myself".
Janette didn't insist. After nodding to the others she left the terrace; they said goodbye to guests along the way and reached the front drive, where Neil Bennett already had the car waiting.
During this period Simon had not only bought this Palisades mansion but also added a property in Malibu, right next to Janette's original house. With little late-night traffic and Palisades virtually adjoining Malibu, half an hour later they pulled up at a mansion very near Point Dume Park.
It was already midnight.
After a shower, Simon and Janette lay together on the big bed.
Too late and both tired, they did nothing else. Just as he thought they'd drift off, Janette, curled against him, chatted softly, then suddenly said, "Simon, there's one more thing".
"Mm?"
Janette said, "You're twenty now".
Simon pretended to be startled. "Don't tell me it's a marriage ultimatum?"
Janette laughed and tapped his chest. "I won't rush you, I'll never rush you into marriage. Actually, my big brother's coming to L.A. tomorrow; says he's passing through and wants to have lunch with us".
Simon blinked, then smiled. "That's all? Of course. Um—who, again?"
After so long together Simon knew the basics of Janette's brothers, and he understood the Johnston Family couldn't ignore him and Janette forever; the timing made perfect sense.
Janette said, "My eldest brother, Anthony Johnston."
Simon nodded. "He could've come tonight. But tomorrow, shall I book a restaurant?"
"No need. I mean, we can eat at home; my brother wants to keep it low-key".
"Then I won't go to the office tomorrow morning; we'll make lunch together". Simon paused. "Your big brother, he's older than your kid sister, right?"
"Yeah", Janette said, puzzled. "My brother's forty-one, my aunt thirty-eight. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, just occurred to me".
Janette paused, then laughed and scratched his chest. "You'll meet my aunt eventually. But don't get any ideas, none at all".