ENTOURAGE

"I've been in this business a long time," said Barbara Miller, "Let me tell you. Let me tell it to you straight. I know when I see a star. She's sitting right in front of me."

Simone watched as Barbara went to her desk.

"We have more offers for you than any other client," said Barbara, "You can have your pick of movies. But let me tell you - I'm here to guide you. This movie was your breakout and everyone wants you. It can go one of two ways."

"Well, Barbara," Simone brightened, "I'm happy to hear your thoughts."

Barbara never smiled genuinely, but there was a smile all the same.

"We have a shot at Peter Jackson's Aquaman," Barbara held up the script. "Peter himself asked for you. I'm not going to come out and say it's definite. But he wants to set up a meeting."

"Of course," Simone's brow was quizzical to appraise the script. "I appreciate you being honest with me, Barbara."

"That's all I'll ever be," Barbara opened her arms wide. "I know you're a star. You get this part, a Peter Jackson film - everyone else will open their eyes. They'll see what I see."

Simone stood, and offered her hand. "Thank you, Barbara."

On the way out, Simone got into her white convertible, and her cell phone rang. She pulled over at a Starbucks and signed autographs while she leaned the cell phone in her ear.

"What, you were never gonna call me back?" barked Shauna, the publicist. "Listen here, sweetie. You gotta move out of that homestead you call a home. You want a garden - fine. There's plenty of Beverly Hills mansions with lawns so big you can roll around if you like. But you can't put your face out there - on your breakout film - and have your neighbor with a stepladder jerking off."

Simone laughed, waving to the crowd, clutching her Starbucks, getting into her convertible. "I'm sure it's not like that. I'm happy to look at new homes."

"Good," said Shauna, "It's only any luck that you've saved most your money. Most actresses splurge on a huge party - but for you, the privacy's getting us bigger exposure. You need a bigger house. I know just who to call."

"I trust you, Shauna," Simone cooed.

"You shouldn't trust anybody in this damn town," said Shauna. "But if you're gonna trust somebody, it's gonna be me, and I'll get you a damn house."

Simone drove home, to the comfortable million-dollar or so home with the lovely garden out back, furnished in white, and where she could hear her neighbors cars drive past or occasionally a football land in her yard. Since her breakout movie, the paparazzi had been relentless, and she had received stalker fan mail, but it was always with a smile that she greeted her fans.

Her phone rang, and Simone picked it up.

"Simone," Jessica Alba's voice spread like honey, "I'm throwing a bash. You have to come over."

Simone, with her white blonde hair and little black dress, turned heads to enter Jessica Alba's home, and there stood with Jessica by the pool, and no man could tell who he found more desirable.

"Oh, I see Vince," Jessica pointed, and led Simone over to a group of four.

"Hey-hey, Jessica!" Vince clambered Jessica in a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, guys," Jessica waved and smiled, "This is my good friend Simone. Simone - this is Vincent Chase, the actor."

"Hello," Simone smiled and shook his hand, and turned to the others.

"These are my friends - E and Turtle," Vince indicated, "And this is my brother, Johnny."

"Good to meet you," said Simone, nodding to E and Turtle with a smile, and turning to Johnny, "Viking Quest, right?"

Johnny was surprised, and smirked, "Uh, yeah. Vic-to-ry!"

Simone laughed and when she did, the guys stared as one.

"I'll leave you in safe hands," Jessica nodded with a smile to Simone, and went to mingle.

"Shall we get a drink?" Vince suggested.

The four guys claimed couches and Simone took a one seater and they could barely keep their eyes off her.

"I saw your movie," Vince nodded, "Wow. That's all I can say."

"You know," spoke up Johnny, with a gesture, "I was on Melrose Place when I saw it. You were pretty good."

"Thank you," Simone smiled, as Vince looked askance, Turtle shook his head, E raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "So I hear we're going to be in Aquaman together?"

"That is the plan," Vince leaned in, and smiled, "I'm due to go to Sundance for Queen's Boulevard."

"Sundance," Simone nodded, looking round at the group with a smile. "It'll be quite the adventure."

Vince gestured. "You coming?"

"I certainly have no other plans," Simone laughed, and this brought all their spirits up. "Sure."

"Pretty girl like you," said Turtle, "You must have quite the following."

"Oh, I'm just like Jess, really," Simone took her fringe off her face, "I live in a small quiet place, but I suppose it's time to move up into the hills."

"It's all about the residential codes," Johnny began, "You can't go wrong. Your career can suffer. I should know… "

"Johnny," Vince smiled to cover his brother's lapse. "Where are you looking?"

"My publicist has me looking at a place in Bel Air," Simone nodded, "It has a bit of a garden… "

Vince spread his hands. "You like gardening?"

"I like the quiet life," Simone admitted, "But I suppose, once you're famous, there's really no going back, is there?"

Simone offered a small smile in the change of mood she had affected.

"Hey, 's all good," Turtle opened his arms wide and shook his head. "Sometimes it gets a bit much, y'know? I mean, Vince gets girls who send him their bras, know what I mean?"

Simone chuckled nervously, "You do?"

Vince looked between his captors. "In my defence, I do return them."

"Yeah," Johnny chuckled disagreeably, "Not within the day… "

Simone laughed at that along with the others, and felt a leap of faith light up every bulb in her body.

"You know, we are having an after party back at the manse," Vince turned to Simone, "You should come join."

Their eyes were upon her. Simone blushed and her smile dimpled. She gestured helplessly and nodded with a smile.

Simone pulled into the lot, the Hummer among other expensive cars in the drive. Vince's mansion was a red brick oasis with a lawn and a pool, and she tucked her cell phone into her white handbag which she zipped up as she came upstairs.

"Yo!" Vince hailed with a salute.

Simone found the boys in the indoor pool.

"I thought there'd be more people," Simone set her handbag down, dipping her feet in the pool, the waves lapping at her white Capris.

"All left," Vince raised his hand, "Besides, couldn't have those fans mob you in my house, could we?"

Simone smiled gently, and caught Turtle raising his eyebrows and grinning.

"I don't have a bathing suit," Simone shook her head.

"Come on, just come in your clothes," Turtle gestured.

Simone slipped a look to Vince, giggled, and slipped in. The rush of the bubbles and wetness of her hair plastered to her face, was overshadowed by the reverberation of the cheers from the guys.

She blinked water on her eyelashes to spy Vince on his inflatable recliner, Johnny discreetly mugging with his putting lotion on his biceps, Turtle smoking a joint, and Eric who had jumped up to answer the phone.

"It's Ari," Eric threw the cell phone over to Vince.

Vince turned to Simone and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Hey, Ari."

Simone padded the length of the pool, pulling herself up by the brick, and surprising Eric who had fetched himself a beer.

"You want one?" Eric popped the top off. "Or a towel, maybe? Change of clothes?"

Simone smiled and nodded to the handbag on the other side. "It'd have to be a magic purse."

"You could star in it," suggested Eric.

Simone laughed. "A witch. I'd be perfect for the role."

The guys lounged in the pool, and Vince gestured, for what was largely him listening to what his agent Ari had to say.

"So, where did you grow up? Vince and I are from Queens," said Eric, taking a swig.

"A small town in Pennsylvania," Simone showed pearly-whites, "You know, it takes a lot of grit to survive. I respect what you and your friends are trying to accomplish. No matter what happens, you have each other, and you have your roots."

"You must have family?" quizzed Eric. "Friends? Cousins? A relative, maybe?"

Simone shrugged, "You know, they all want the same thing. Money."

Simone stiffened, and Eric scratched his neck. Simone stood up, water dripping on the bricks.

"Hey, don't tell me you're gunna drive home like that," Turtle gestured.

Vince tucked the cell phone out of range. "Hey, I've got some spare clothes in my drawer you can use."

Simone nodded and smiled, took a towel from where it hung on a rack, and went upstairs. Vince's room was easiest to find; it was the largest. She stood in his ensuite, took off her clothes, and changed into a pair of sweat pants and a grey hoodie, and used the towel to mop the excess water.

It was to her vast relief, as she went out of that house after waving and smiling a goodbye, that nobody had thought to follow her upstairs, as she drove out of the lot and into downtown LA, her hair dripping on the leather seats as the night air blew its cruel breeze across her features.