Page 23 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

“Any more fans out there?” Adriene asked.

“It was down to three when we checked a few minutes ago,” the woman said. “If you will all follow me.”

The woman took the lead, while her colleagues made a loose circle around the Centurion Pictures group.

It turned out only a single fan remained in front of the hotel. Tessa, Adriene, Peter, and Hattie signed autographs for her and took selfies, then the group departed in three SUVs.

The party they were bound for was being throw by Cineteca Paoletti—the company that handled the distribution of Centurion’s releases in Italy. The fete was a yearly event, attended by a who’s who of Italian entertainment. Tonight, Billy, Tessa, Peter, and the others were to be the guests of honor.

Thirty minutes after climbing into their rides, they pulled up in front of the Di Loreto Museo di Antichità, the museum where the party was being held.

Like most entertainment industry events, a step and repeat backdrop was set up outside the entrance so that paparazzi could photograph attendees. Lizzie and Stacy hung to the side while the others smiled and posed for the cameras.

Once that was done and the group had moved inside, an attendant directed them to a hallway that took them to an impressive set of wooden doors. In front of the doors was a podium behind which a trio of women stood.

“Benvenuto,”the woman in the middle said.

“We’re with Centurion Pictures,” Lizzie said.

In English, the woman said, “Angelica will show you in.”

The woman on her right dipped her head and smiled. “If you would follow me.”

The third woman pulled the doors open, and Angelica led Billy and the others into a large, high-ceilinged room where a couple hundred people were already in attendance.

From somewhere deeper in the space, a string quartetbegan playing music from Hattie’s Academy Award–winning soundtrack toDesperation at Dawn, which had also won the best picture Oscar for Billy, Peter, and Ben.

“Sweetheart,” Hattie said to Peter, “if you’re wondering what you can get me for my birthday, live musicians playing my music every time I walk into a room would be nice.”

“I bet it would,” Peter said.

“I was looking more for ‘Of course, dear. What a lovely idea.’ ”

“Of course, dear. What a lovely idea.”

She wrapped her arm in his. “I knew there was a reason I married you.”

“Ah! There you are!” a voice boomed from several feet away.

The crowd parted, and Marcus Paoletti strode out, arms open wide. He was a tall, barrel-chested, bald man, blessed with an abundance of charm and charisma, which served him well as founder and president of Cineteca Paoletti.

“I was afraid your plane wouldn’t arrive in time,” he said, then wrapped Billy, who happened to be closest, in a bear hug.

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Billy said as they parted. He motioned to Adriene. “This is Adriene Adele, costar ofStorm’s Eyeand a rising talent.”

Marcus wrapped her in a hug and air-kissed her cheeks. “Miss Adele, it is an honor to meet you.”

“I should be the one saying that to you,” she said, beaming.

“And you know Tessa, Peter, and Hattie, of course,” Billy said.

“Everyone knows the glamorous Tessa Tweed.” Marcus gave her a hug. “And the talented Barringtons.” He hugged Hattie first, then Peter, then stage-whispered to Hattie, “Did you enjoy the little musical surprise I arranged for you?”

“I was just telling Peter what a wonderful treat it was!”

“Thanks, Marcus,” Peter said. “I have a feeling I’m going to be paying for that for a long time.”

Marcus laughed. “My apologies, my friend. But how could I not have done something to honor someone who creates such lovely music?”

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