Read Online Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman - Free Book Online Page B

this—his estate”—she gestured out the huge windows—“when he bought it last year.”
    “The Dream,” Alexa echoed, walking in a slow circle around the sun-drenched entrance hall, her suede platforms silent on the cool marble floors. High luxury was nothing new to Alexa—she’d stayed at the starriest of five-star hotels on research trips with her architect dad—but this was absolutely unreal.
    There were sheet-glass walls that looked out onto the shimmering Pacific, red-spotted koi swimming inside a bubble tank, an Xbox 360, and squishy lemon-yellow sofas the size of beds. On every free surface there were vases overflowing with fresh-cut irises, framed snapshots of Jonah laughing oceanside with Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Bell, and porcelain bowls piled high with fat, shiny Greek olives, which, Alexa had once read on a gossip blog, were Jonah’s favorite snack.
    One glance at Holly’s incredulous expression told Alexa that her friend was also wondering if an alarm clock was going to brring at any moment, bursting the bubble of her sueño. The two girls grinned at each other, both trying to contain themselves in front of Esperanza. In the space of saying good-bye to Seamus and walking from the car to the guesthouse, Alexa and Holly had managed to put their long, grumpy road trip behind them. It was hard to hold a grudge in a place that felt like an episode of Cribs.
    “You will find two bedroom suites, one in eachwing of the house,” Esperanza was explaining, pointing left and right like a flight attendant while Alexa wondered in which bedroom Scarlett had stayed. “There are a host of other amenities for you to enjoy,” Esperanza added formally. “And you can reach the main house at any time.” She tapped one French-manicured nail against a white intercom beside the door. “With any request.”
    Seriously? Holly leaned against a wall to fight off a sudden dizzy spell, but that only made her feel as if she might fall through the glass and straight to the azure ocean below. Back home, Holly was constantly expected to scrub the dishes while her brother dried, straighten up her room on weekends, and even prepare dinner if her parents were staying late at work. She’d certainly never been pampered like this. Holly tried to breathe evenly. I so don’t belong here.
    “So,” Alexa was saying to Esperanza, her blue eyes dancing. “You’re saying that if we want, like, foie gras, hot stone massages, and a live Click Five show at three in the morning, we should press that button?”
    Holly glanced at her friend in awe. Clearly, Alexa was having no trouble adjusting at all.
    Esperanza, who, Alexa suspected, had left her sense of humor back in Assistant to Celebrities Training School, gave a brisk nod. Then the white cell phone in her hand vibrated, and she lifted it toher ear. “Yes, Oren, he’s already at The Standard,” she snapped into the phone. “It’s Jonah’s agent,” she told the girls, covering the mouthpiece. “I’ll let you settle in.” Then, with a quick, dismissive wave, she turned and headed out onto the gorgeous grounds of El Sueño.
    Alexa watched Esperanza go, wondering if Jonah’s anal-retentive assistant ever loosened up. Then, realizing it was her time to let loose, she whirled around to face Holly, grinning. “Okay, where should we start exploring?” she squealed—and then her heart stopped.
    Holly was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, with her head in her hands.
    “Hol!” Alexa cried, dashing over. “What’s wrong? Do you feel sick?” Alexa couldn’t stand to see anyone throw up, but she’d make an effort to be strong for Holly.
    Holly looked up, her freckled cheeks splotchy and her gray-green eyes enormous. “It’s just—” she whispered. “I’m not—this house—and Esperanza—and when we meet Jonah tonight—” She shook her head, her light-brown ponytail swishing from side to side.
    Alexa patted her friend’s back. Holly was an East