himself； the gaytastic
designer she？d crossed paths with on the set ofBreakfast at Fred？s the day before she was
exmunicated； and the host of the party she just happened to be crashing。
？Hi！？ She smiled enthusiastically； hoping to make him forget he hadn？t invited her to his soir？e。
？Oh dear。？ The designer produced a floral…printed silk hankie from the breast pocket of his navy
blue linen blazer and dabbed at his red eyes with the tip of it。 ？I？m all at sixes and sevens。 My
cushions； you see？they？re ruined。？
Vanessa frowned at the booze…stained ivory cushions perched at the edge of the pool。 ？That？s too
bad。？
？Oh； every cloud has a silver lining； honey；？ he announced dramatically； his tears spontaneously
drying up。 ？And dare I say； I think you are positively sterling！ Who are you and where did you
e from？ You？re just the most delicious little thing。？ Still clutching his handkerchief； Bailey
Winter reached up and caressed Vanessa？s cheek。
Silk and snot。 How lovely。
？I？m； um； looking for some friends of mine。 Blair and Serena？？
？Yes； those two vixens； well； who knows where they？ve gone off to？and who cares！？ He gripped
her upper arm tightly with his small hand。 ？You？re what I？ve been looking for。You？re the newnew
new look。 At last！？
？Excuse me？？ Vanessa wanted to back away； but if she did； she？d fall into the pool。
？You must stay with me this summer；？ he continued； enraptured。 ？Your energy； your profile；
your 。 。 。 baldness。 They？re positively inspiring！ Say you will； my dear。 Spend the night。 At least
one night。 Please。 Don？t make Uncle Bailey beg；？
？Stay here？？ Vanessa surveyed the scene once more： a modern glass…and…