Free Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

all of them. And I’ll even learn to love Allen. Actually, I really have nothing against him. He’s just so goddam rich, and I was afraid you might get hurt. But now it’s different, now I love his money!”
    She felt her throat thicken again. “Lyon didn’t care either.”
    “Lyon?” Henry looked puzzled. “Why should Lyon care? Miss Steinberg takes care of his mail and—” He stopped suddenly. His expression changed. “Oh no . . .” It was almost a groan. “Not you, Anne. One lousy lunch and you get hooked?”
    She looked away. “It isn’t that . . . but we talked . . . I thought we were friends . . .”
    He sank down on the leather couch. “C’mere.” She sat down and he took both her hands. “Look, Anne, if I had a son I’d want him to be just like Lyon. But if I had a daughter, I’d tell her to stay the hell away from him!”
    “That doesn’t make much sense . . .”
    “Honey . . . without meaning it, some guys are bad news to women. Allen used to be, but you’ve taken him out of circulation.”
    “Bad news in what way?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “Things come too easily to them. With Allen, they came because of his money. With Lyon, it happens because he’s so goddam beautiful. And in a way I can understand. Why should these guys settle for one woman when they can have them all, just for the taking? But Anne, you landed Allen, a thing the whole town would have bet couldn’t happen. And instead of sending up Roman candles, you’re sitting around moping.”
    “Henry, I don’t love Allen. I dated him for about six weeks in the most casual way. I didn’t even know who he was. I mean, I thought he just sold insurance. Then, suddenly, two nights ago, all this began.”
    Henry’s eyes narrowed. “He’s like a stranger to you, huh?”
    “That’s right.”
    “But one lunch with Lyon, and suddenly you’re soul mates?”
    “That isn’t true. I’m talking about Allen now. I don’t love him. Lyon has nothing to do with it.” “You’re a liar.”
    “Henry, I swear it. Allen never meant a thing to me.”
    “So how come you dated him all these weeks? He was fine until Lyon came along.”
    “That’s not true. I dated him because I didn’t know anyone else. And I felt sorry for him. He seemed so innocuous. There was never any talk of romance between us. Why, he never even tried to kiss me good night. Then, two nights ago . . .” She stopped and fought for composure. Her voice was quiet when she went on. “Henry, I told Allen I didn’t love him. I told his father the same thing.”
    “You told them that?” He sounded incredulous.
    “Yes. Both of them.”
    “And what did they say?”
    “That’s what’s so unbelievable. I’ve never known people like them. They seem to ignore anything they don’t want to hear. Allen keeps saying he loves me—and that I’ll learn to love him.”
    “That can happen,” Henry said quietly. “Sometimes it’s the best kind of love. Being loved.”
    “No! I want more than that.”
    “Sure—like staying here!” Henry snapped. “Want me to draw the picture for you? You give Allen the air. Sure, why not? Millionaires with marriage proposals are a dime a dozen. In a little while this will blow over. Allen will start dating someone else. Then you figure Lyon will ask you out. That’s what you want, isn’t it? Oh, it’ll be great. . . in the beginning. For maybe a month. Then one day I’ll come in and see your eyes are all red. You’ll give me a story about a headache, only the red eyes will continue, so I’ll talk with Lyon. He’ll shrug and say, ‘Henry, sure I dated the girl. I like her a lot. But she doesn’t own me. Have a talk with her, will you? Get her off my back.’”
    “It sounds like you’ve had experience,” she said bitterly. “Do you always make this speech to your secretaries?”
    “No—not to my secretaries. But then we’ve never had one who looked like you. But yes, I have made the speech before, dozens of times.