The Stars Shine Down

The airport manager led Lara and Philip into the reception office. "I can sneak you out of here," he said, "or..."

Lara turned to Philip. "Let's get this over with, darling. Otherwise, they'll never let us have any peace."

"You're probably right."

The press conference lasted for two hours. "Where did you two meet...?"

"Have you always been interested in classical music, Mrs. Adler...?"

"How long have you known each other...?"

"Are you going to live in New York...?"

"Will you give up your touring, Mr. Adler...?"

Finally, it was over.

There were two limousines waiting for them. The second one was for luggage.

"I'm not used to traveling in this kind of style," Philip said.

Lara laughed. "You'll get used to it."

When they were in the limousine, Philip asked, "Where are we going? I have an apartment on Fifty-seventh Street..."

"I think you might be more comfortable at my place, darling. Look it over, and if you like it, we'll have your things moved in."

They arrived at the Cameron Plaza. Philip looked up at the huge building.

"You own this?"

"A few banks and I."

"I'm impressed."

Lara squeezed his arm. "Good. I want you to be."

The lobby had been freshly decorated with flowers. A half dozen employees were waiting to greet them.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Adler, Mr. Adler."

Philip looked around and said, "My God! All this is yours?"

"Ours, sweetheart."

The elevator took them up to the penthouse. It covered the whole forty-fifth floor. The door was opened by the butler.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Adler."

"Thank you, Simms."

Lara introduced Philip to the rest of the staff and showed him through the duplex penthouse. There was a large white drawing room, filled with antiques, a large enclosed terrace, a dining room, four master bedrooms and three staff bedrooms, six bathrooms, a kitchen, a library, and an office.

"Do you think you could be comfortable here, darling?" Lara asked.

Philip grinned. "It's a little small - but I'll manage."

In the middle of the drawing room was a beautiful new Bechstein piano. Philip walked over to it and ran his fingers over the keys.

"It's wonderful!" he said.

Lara moved to his side. "It's your wedding present."

"Really?" He was touched. He sat down at the piano and began to play.

"I just had it tuned for you." Lara listened as the cascade of notes filled the room. "Do you like it?"

"I love it! Thank you, Lara."

"You can play here to your heart's content."

Philip rose from the piano bench. "I'd better give Ellerbee a call," Philip said. "He's been trying to reach me."

"There's a telephone in the library, darling."

Lara went into her office and turned on the answering machine. There were half a dozen messages from Paul Martin. "Lara, where are you? I miss you, darling"..."Lara, I assume you're out of the country, or I would have heard from you"..."I'm worried about you, Lara. Call me..." Then the tone changed. "I just heard about your marriage. Is it true? Let's talk."

Philip had walked into the room. "Who's the mysterious caller?" he asked.

Lara turned. "An...an old friend of mine."

Philip walked up to her and put his arms around her.

"Is he someone I should be jealous of?"

Lara said softly, "You don't have to be jealous of anyone in the world. You're the only man I've ever loved." And it's true.

Philip held her closely. "You're the only woman I've ever loved."

Later that afternoon, while Philip sat at the piano, Lara went back into her office and returned Paul Martin's telephone calls.

He came on the line almost immediately. "You're back." His voice was tight.

"Yes." She had been dreading this conversation.

"I don't mind telling you that the news was quite a shock, Lara."

"I'm sorry, Paul...I...it happened rather suddenly."

"It must have."

"Yes." She tried to read his mood.

"I thought we had something pretty good going for us. I thought it was something special."

"It was, Paul, but..."

"We'd better talk about it."

"Well, I..."

"Let's make it lunch tomorrow. Vitello's. One o'clock." It was an order.

Lara hesitated. It would be foolish to antagonize him any further. "All right, Paul. I'll be there."

The line went dead. Lara sat there worried. How angry was Paul, and was he going to do anything about it?

Chapter Twenty-five

The following morning when Lara arrived at Cameron Center, the entire staff was waiting to congratulate her.

"It's wonderful news!"

"It was such a big surprise to all of us!..."

"I'm sure you'll be very happy... "

And on it went.

Howard Keller was waiting in Lara's office for her. He gave her a big hug. "For a lady who doesn't like classical music, you sure went and did it!" Lara smiled. "I did, didn't I?"

"I'll have to get used to calling you Mrs. Adler."

Lara's smile faded. "I think it might be better for business reasons if I keep using Cameron, don't you?"

"Whatever you say. I'm sure glad you're back. Everything is piling up here."

Lara settled in a chair opposite Howard. "Okay, tell me what's been happening."

"Well, the West Side hotel is going to be a money-losing proposition. We have a buyer lined up from Texas who's interested in it, but I went over to the hotel yesterday. It's in terrible shape. It needs a complete refurbishing, and that's going to run into five or six million dollars."