Twist

Despite the fact that he used a double for every stunt that he did, Mel Yager was still known around Hollywood as being a macho kind of guy. That wasn't surprising, of course, reflected Jason Lambeth, for a town like Hollywood was always more enamored with the image of the man than the reality; and bronzed and broad-shouldered, Mel Yager looked every inch of a man's man. However, few knew Mel as well as Jason did, being the star's accountant. The self-confidence the star exuded before an audience became petty insecurity when he was alone with his closest friends. The generosity he displayed in public became avarice in private. The smile he put on for his fans became a bullying snarl behind closed doors. It was a snarl that Jason did not look forward to seeing.

Right now, Mel Yager was lying by his pool, a pool larger than some homes in many third world countries. Looking down through his sunglasses at the movie star, Jason thought, perhaps the only thing real about him was his suntan. But then Jason saw the bottle of artificial suntan beside the chaise lounge, and Jason realized that even that wasn't real.

Mel knew his accountant was there, Jason was sure, but the star pretended to be asleep, so that anyone coming into his august presence would know that he was interrupting the repose of the great one.