"Dae? What the heck kind of name is that for a writer?"
Audrey and Stephen had just made love on a king size bed, careless that the occupants of the adjacent suite could hear them. They, too, had been fucking like there was no tomorrow the night before. Audrey rested her head on her boyfriend's chest.
He had a point, thought Audrey, but staring at Stephen, with his smart-alecky expression that often annoyed her, she felt he had no right in criticizing her. That would be left to the critics. Audrey sighed and gazed toward the mirror of their hotel room. It was a quaint, intimate standard room at the Bellagio. Coming to Vegas was not something Audrey had wanted to do, especially not for her birthday. But Stephen had insisted and finally convinced her it would be an adventure, knowing how she'd always welcome adventure. "Most romance novelists have names that sound very, very ordinary, and even of the suburban housefrau type," Stephen went on," You know, names like Mary Alice Christine Ellen Bower. I figure that's because housewives read these, well these very trashy books and feel that the author can relate to their dull existence."
"You may be right," Audrey said, "but that doesn't mean I can't stand out. I will dare to be different. Dae is a mysterious, exotic, pretty name. And with just that one name it's even more enticing."
"Well, far be it from me to judge. I'm a writer, too and I understand your need for self-expression. Come here, I want to go down on you some more."
"Stephen!" With his strong arms, he embraced her and began to kiss down her neck, hoping to move downward. Audrey released herself from him quickly.
"No more of that today. It's morning."
"So? There's no real concept of time in Vegas. We can do it whenever we want."
Audrey kissed him lightly on the lips and giggled. "Ohh, so tempting," she said, "but you've forgotten why I'm here. I want to finish my first novel. The manuscript is almost done. I told my agent she'd see it by Monday."
"But it's your 30th birthday! What the hell are you thinking? We're in Vegas. You don't intend to spend the whole weekend writing do you?"
"Just part of the day. Look, Steve, you knew what you were getting in me when we got together. I never interfere when you're working on your own writing."
"I always welcome opportunities for sex."
"Is that so? You mean just with me or other girls?"
"Please don't start with that again. You know I have eyes only for you."
And your eyes were on the breasts of that girl serving drinks at the casino, Audrey thought in silent anger.
"Will you let me write? You can go ahead and enjoy the casinos if you'd like. Come back when you're ready for lunch and we can eat at a nice restaurant hereabouts"
"Alright, so what are you working on? What's the novel about?"
"It's a love story set in 1950's Vegas. She's an actress, a feminist, Katherine Hepburn type and he's a gambler and a sexist bad boy. It's perfect."
"This bad boy wouldn't be based on me, would he?" "Could be. Anyways, go away. You're distracting me. I can't think with you standing there completely naked.".....................................
Las Vegas, 1958 Lola Montgomery realized that it was going to be difficult to enjoy privacy while staying at the Stardust. Unless a person had been living in the moon (which she heard people say would be possible some day), they did not know who she was. She had appeared in countless films, and won 3 Oscars. She was hoping this new film shot in Las Vegas would earn her a fourth. The movie was "Las Vegas Lover" and she had been paired with William Holden. She knew he had a reputation for being a lady's man but she knew better than to strike up an affair while at work. She had already refused the advances of Cary Grant and Clark Gable, the latter being painstakingly hard to actually do. Lola walked over to the bar and thought she'd have a margarita.
All eyes followed her. She was a vision in white. It was a short dress, the skirts reaching above her thighs, and the top was gossamer and had a low-cut collar that showed off her breasts a la Marilyn Monroe. All she needed was a blonde wig and they'd think she was Marilyn, who also enjoyed Las Vegas. Lola's legs got the attention of one particular man, dressed in a black suite and fedora, who was at the gambling tables. She noticed how he looked -
Audrey went blank and paused at the keyboard. How shall he look? Oh, every man she fantasized about was always Stephen. Wavy, dark brown hair, smooth white skin, muscular body, cute round high butt, great chest, blue-grey eyes. But she knew that he'd have to look like someone she'd never met before. If only she could memorize how certain handsome men looked like. She wondered if anyone had that ability. For the time being, he'd have to look like Steve.
"Miss Montgomery, I know you've heard this before. But you are so beautiful that I just had to buy you a drink. My name is Jon James."
"Mr. James, I thank you but it's always good to hear it again - that I'm beautiful."
The waiter, a short, bald, fat foreign man that could have been Peter Lorre, served them their cool drinks.
"And what do you do Mr. James?"