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Morissey had been staring at Rina's breasts while the designer spoke。 For a moment； I thought he was paralyzed； then he turned around。 〃I think I might be able to do something。〃
〃I knew you could；〃 I said； smiling。
〃I'm not promising anything； of course。 But it's a very intriguing problem。〃
I kept a straight face。 〃Very；〃 I said solemnly。
Morrissey turned to the designer。 〃Do you happen to have a pair of calipers？〃
〃Calipers？ What do we need calipers for？〃
Morrissey looked at her in amazement。 〃How else would we be able to measure the depth and the circumference？〃
She stared at him blankly for a moment； then； taking his arm； began to walk him toward the door。 〃I'm sure we can get a pair from Engineering。 You'd better e with us； Rina。〃
Morrissey was back in a little over an hour。 He came in waving a sheet of paper。 〃I think we've got it！ It was really very simple once we found the point of stress。 The weight of each breast pulls to either side。 That means the origin of stress falls between them； right in the center of the cleavage。〃
I stared at him。 His language was a curious mixture of engineering and wardrobe design。 But he was too wrapped up in his explanation to pay attention to my look。 〃The whole thing then became a problem of pensation。 We had to find a way to utilize the stress to hold the breasts steady。 I inserted a V…shaped wire in the cleavage using the suspension principle。 Understand？〃
I shook my head。 〃You went way past me。〃
〃You know the principle used in a suspension bridge？〃
〃Vaguely；〃 I said。
〃Under that principle； the more pressure the mass exerts against itself； the more pressure is created to hold it in place。〃
I nodded。 I still didn't understand it pletely。 But I had all I needed for now。 What I wanted to know was would it work？
I didn't have long to wait for the answer。 Rina came into the office shortly after that with Ilene Gaillard。 Deliberately she let the wrap fall to the floor and stood there in the repaired negligee。
〃Walk toward Mr。 Cord；〃 the designer said。
Slowly Rina walked toward me。 I couldn't take my eyes from her。 The sweetest pair of knockers a man ever put his head down on。 She stopped in front of my desk and looked down at me。 For the first time that afternoon； she spoke。 〃Well？〃
I was conscious of the effort it took to raise my eyes and look up into her face。 Her eyes were cold and calculating。 The bitch was always exactly aware of the effect she had on me。 She started to turn away。 〃One more thing； Miss Gaillard；〃 I said。 〃Tomorrow when we start shooting； I want her in a black negligee； instead of that white one。 I want everybody to know she's a whore； not a virgin bride。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Cord。〃 Ilene came up to my desk； her eyes shining。 〃I really think we're going to set a new style with Miss Marlowe。 Unless I'm pletely mistaken； women all over the world will be trying for her style once this picture es out。〃
I grinned at her。 〃We didn't set the fashion； Miss Gaillard；〃 I said。 〃Women looked like women long before either of us was born。〃
She nodded and started out。 I looked around the room。 The meeting was over and everybody was getting stiffly to his feet。 Nevada was the last one out and I called him back。
He came back to my desk。 I turned and looked at my secretary。 She was still sitting there； her book filled with shorthand notes。 〃What've you got there？〃 I asked。
〃The minutes of the meeting。〃
〃What for？〃
〃It's a pany rule；〃 she said。 〃Minutes of all executive meetings are recorded and copies circulated。〃
〃Give me that book。〃 I held it over the wastebasket and set a match to it。 When the flame caught； I dropped it into the basket and looked up at her。
She was staring at me with an expression of horror。
〃Now trot your fat little ass out of here；〃 I said。 〃And if I ever hear of any minutes of meetings in this office ever showing up outside these walls； you'll be looking for another job。〃
Nevada was smiling as I turned back to him。 〃I'm sorry I had to speak the way I did； Nevada。〃
〃That's all right； Junior。 I shouldn't have shot my mouth off。〃
〃There's a lot of people in this town think I'm a sucker and that I got conned into a bum deal。 You and I know that's not true but I have to stop that kind of talk。 I can't afford it。〃
〃I understand； Junior。 Your pappy was the same way。 There was only one boss when he was around。〃
Suddenly； I realized how far apart we'd grown。 For a moment； I had a wave of nostalgia for my childhood； when I could always reach out to Nevada for assurance。 It wasn't that way any more。 It was exactly the opposite。 Nevada was leaning on me。 〃Thanks； Nevada；〃 I said； forcing a smile to my lips。 〃And don't worry。 Everything'll turn out all right now。〃
He turned and I watched him walk out of the office。 Shortly after he left Dan Pierce came into the office。 I reached for a cigarette and lit it。 〃About what you said this morning。 I think we ought to change the script。 You better send for the writers right away。〃
He grinned knowingly。 〃I already did。〃
10
WE PLETED THE PICTURE IN FOUR WEEKS。 Nevada knew what was happening but he never said a word。 Two weeks after that； we held the first sneak preview at a theater out in the valley。
I got there late and the studio publicity man let me in。 〃There are only a few seats left on the side； Mr。 Cord；〃 he apologized。
I looked down at the orchestra。 There was a section roped off in the center for studio guests。 It was jammed。 Everybody at the studio from Norman on down was there。 They were all waiting for me to fall on my ass。
I went up into the balcony just as the lights went down and the picture came on。 I found my way in the dark to a seat in the middle of a bunch of youngsters and looked up at the screen。
My name looked funny up there。
JONAS CORD PRESENTS…
But the feeling left when the credits were over and the picture began。 After ten minutes had passed I started to sense a restlessness in the kids around me。 〃Aw； shit；〃 I heard one of them whisper。 〃I thought this was gonna be somethin' different。 It's just another friggin' Western。〃
Then Rina came on screen。 Five minutes later； when I looked around me； the kids' faces were staring up at the screen； their mouths partly open； their expressions rapt。 There wasn't a sound except their breathing。 Next to me sat a boy holding a girl's hand tightly in his lap。 When Rina finally pulled Nevada down onto the bed with her； I could feel the kid squirm。 He whispered； 〃Jesus！〃
I reached for a cigarette and began to smile。 Nobody had to tell me this picture was box office。 When I came down into the lobby after it was over； Nevada was standing in the corner surrounded by kids and signing autographs。 I looked for Rina。 She was at the other end of the lobby surrounded by reporters。 Bernie Norman was hovering over her like a proud father。
Dan was standing in the center of a circle of men。 He looked up as I came over。 〃You were right； Jonas；〃 he cried jubilantly。 〃She creamed 'em。 We'll gross ten million dollars！〃
I gestured and he followed me out to my car。 〃When this is over；〃 I said； 〃bring Rina to my hotel。〃
He stared at me。 〃It's sti