Nothing to Hide

ONE “Because I own nightclubs, people assume I must be a depraved, perverted playboy living a debauched life.” Zairn Lomond: playboy extraordinaire. What else did she know about him? Hmm… Nothing. Roxie Kyst’s only reason for joining the Talk at Sunset audience was to support her roommates. They’d saved every spare dime to travel a couple of thousand miles to be in the same room as Lomond for a few minutes. “And that’s not the case? No debauchery?” Drew Harvey asked his guest. “Zairn, I’m disappointed.” Zairn Lomond lifted his arm to drape it along the back of the couch behind the stunning actress at his side. Judging by the elated smile on the woman’s face, she didn’t mind. Why should she? “Drew,” Lomond said, an arrogant slant to his lips. “You’ve partied with me… Have you ever seen anything debauched?” Drew Harvey paused. A tight smile teased his lips, damming a laugh. “I plead the Fifth.” Everyone laughed, Lomond included. “It’s all relative, right? My life isn’t like most others.” “Like any other,” Drew said. Led by a vast number of women, the audience had gone crazy when Lomond first appeared. Her friends’ idol had a magnetic kind of ease, she’d give him that. His appeal came in more than just his appearance, he oozed charisma. From that angle, she got why Toria and Jane went cuckoo for him. Not that she’d follow suit. Going cuckoo for a guy wasn’t her style. “Have I seen some wild things?” Lomond asked, without disguising his smug nonchalance. “Sure. Have I been a part of some extreme setups? Yeah. That’s life. It’s the life I live.” “Knox Collier is one of your best friends,” Drew Harvey stated. “The Collier family own a vast percentage of the world’s media.” “Yeah, you’d think they’d go easier on me,” Lomond said, earning himself another laugh. “Some might speculate that your Collier connection is exactly why you’re targeted so frequently in the press.” Lomond responded with a slight twitch of his shoulder. “Do you have an opinion on that? Have you considered severing the connection?” “You think breaking with the Colliers is likely to improve my image in the press?” Lomond asked, shifting to sit straighter. “Look, I’m in the public eye and have connections to some newsworthy people. I chose this life, and everyone is entitled to their opinions. Free speech is our right and sometimes that speech isn’t in my favor. I don’t lose a lot of sleep over it, Drew.” “You’re credited with a lot of high-profile matches. Unofficial word is, you’ve been responsible for some famous marriages, got top actors and actresses involved with movies that made their careers and/or earned them Oscars. Same for producers, directors, the whole range. You can make or break a career. It’s said everyone influential owes you a favor… and that you have dirt on hundreds, thousands of people, including those in the business and political worlds.” “I know people who have dedicated their lives to information gathering. Personally, I don’t bank data.” “But would it be fair to say?” Drew asked, receiving the same shoulder response as before. “You have power in prominent circles. Know something about everyone from movie extras to presidents.” Little response, just a slow, controlled blink. “You are facilitator to the world’s rich and powerful, right?” “Crimson venues pride themselves on showing our guests a good time. If someone needs something specific, we’ll find a way to provide it.” “And with a network like yours, I imagine there’s little you can’t provide. Maybe it’s jealousy. Could that be why the internet is rife with questions about your business and lifestyle?” “People like to speculate.” “Yes… especially when there’s a premature death involved.” A tense, more somber air crackled through the studio. Jane leaned in to whisper, “He’s talking about Dayah Lynn.” “Dayah’s passing was a tragedy,” Lomond said. “We mourned her and cooperated with the investigation.” “Your reputation took a hit after that incident. Is that why you came up with the idea of opening yourself to extreme scrutiny?” “As much as I’d love to take credit, the contest wasn’t my idea,” Lomond said. “But we at Crimson have nothing to hide.” The host adjusted his angle to address the audience. “We teased a challenge earlier in the show. One lucky member of our audience will be invited to tour the Crimson network with Zairn as he opens his doors to winners of the Crimson Experience.” Drew looked at Lomond again. “What exactly is the Crimson Experience?” Offering a snicker, Lomond eased into his arrogance. “It will vary depending on where we are.” “Contests are running across the world as we speak, aren’t they?” Lomond nodded. “Yes. Winners will be contacted after the deadline this weekend.” “But our winner from the audience, he or she will accompany you on the whole tour. It’s what? Three months?” “Almost three months on the ground. Longer if you factor the travel time. We’ll spend around a week in each city and end right here in LA,” Lomond said, smoothing a hand down his thigh. “A documentary crew will follow the winners as they receive their experience in each city.” “The documentary will air next year?” “Yes. The person who wins tonight will be able to direct a supplement to the documentary. Streaming a video diary as often as they want. The world will be able to follow progress and keep up with the news as we travel.” “Proving you have nothing to hide?” “And having some good times along the way,” Lomond said, focusing on the host even while the actress wriggled closer. “It’s an excellent prize,” Drew Harvey said. “Comes with five-star hotels, all expenses paid and an allowance for clothes, hair, make-up, whatever they need.” “That’s right.” “And unrestricted access to you and your team.” On another easy smile, Lomond’s eyes glittered with innuendo. “Unfortunately, there will be some restrictions.” The host laughed. “Right.” “But the winner will be involved in our daily briefs and given the VIP treatment at every venue. They’ll also have unrestricted backstage access. They’ll meet the guests—” “Famous guests?” “Yeah, whoever we have appearing or who’s in for a good time.” “No doors closed in their face.” “No,” Lomond said. “They’ll have complete access and will be invited to contribute to the documentary. They’ll be interviewed for it throughout and after their experience comes to an end. The winner will have full editing rights over their own comments too.” “Approval before air?” “Exactly.” “So nothing can be doctored or manipulated?” “We have nothing to hide,” Lomond said again. “Nothing to Hide” would be a good title. Except Roxie’s suspicion ticked up the more often it was said. Anyone that adamant and arrogant would believe himself above typical rules. Lomond probably thought the winner would be too star-struck to dig in and ask the hard questions. Drew Harvey switched to talk to his audience again. “How does that sound?” The room went wild, further stoking the ego of the man on the couch. He chose that moment to notice the actress. Her breasts were squashed against him, it was a miracle he hadn’t noticed her before. Of course Lomond wasn’t repelled by her proximity, he smiled and winked before leaning in to whisper something. The beauty laughed and stroked his arm. Roxie didn’t get it. Well, she did get it. Both of them were Hollywood hot and knew it too. In their positions of society, there would be few scenarios, if any, where they didn’t get exactly what they wanted. “As if that wasn’t enough…” Drew Harvey shouted over the audience, calming their cheers. “At the end of the experience, before they return home, the tour prizewinner will receive all secondary prizes given tonight and, as a reward for their hard work, fifty thousand dollars!” More cheering and clapping. With good reason, the audience dialed it up to eleven. Fifty thousand dollars was a lot of money. Was it bribery? Who wouldn’t give someone a positive review in exchange for that amount of cash? The host tapped Lomond’s leg to get his attention away from the woman on the couch. The two men exchanged some unheard words and then got up to approach the audience. “Okay, take a seat! Take a seat!” Drew Harvey called. Roxie hadn’t realized so many people were standing. “It’s unusual for us to do this, bear with us… Every member of our audience will win something tonight. And, believe it or not, the final decision was to do this by the Oprah method. You’ll find an envelope under your seats. Don’t open it!” The audience did as he said. “If you have a red envelope, stand up!” Jane stood up, excitement shimmering around her. Blazing anticipation was buzzing around the room, upping the temperature of the air. “Open those red envelopes!” Drew paused for a few seconds. “All of you are the proud owners of a pair of tickets to the Crimson Resort in the Bahamas! Flights and hotel stay included!” Lots more cheering. Jane dropped into her seat, showing them the glitzy invite. “Next, gold envelopes, stand up!” Leaping to her feet, Toria held her envelope high. The gold prize was a pair of tickets for the grand New Year re-opening of the New York club. According to the host, it had been closed for months undergoing a multimillion-dollar refurb. Her gregarious roommate was perfect for the prize. Jane, the most demure of their trio, wouldn’t be comfortable getting VIP treatment, not if she was singled-out. In contrast, Toria would lap up any and all attention, in the most fabulous way. The green envelope holders won a thousand dollars; blue envelopes got masses of merchandise. Next, Drew Harvey told those with purple envelopes to stand… or, at least, she figured he did. Without Toria and Jane nudging and pushing at her, the cue would’ve passed her by. The lights on the host and Lomond became more vivid when the audience were plunged into darkness. A spotlight formed over her. Damn, did it have to be so bright? Roxie held up a hand to block the brilliant white light’s glare. “The five of you come on down!” Drew Harvey yelled. Five? Roxie wouldn’t have seen the others even if she had looked around. Jane jumped up to get out of the way and pulled Roxie onto the stairs, giving her a push to get her moving. Drew Harvey spoke again, “Stay with us, folks! You’ll find out which of these lucky people are about to have the time of their lives!”