Caught on Camera

Chapter 11, Scene 1, Part 20

Chapter 11

There's Something about Rachel

Scene 1

"I wanna be loved by you, just you and nobody else but you, I wanna be loved by you – alone. Boo boo bee doo." Marilyn Monroe's breathy voice flowed seductively out of speakers hidden in the landscaping around the Sterling Inn infinity pool.

Famous beautiful people Rachel'd only ever seen on television or in films chatted, laughed, ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves like regular folks. At the far end of the pool deck under a large umbrella, Rachel reclined in a cushioned teak chaise lounge, her long legs stretched out, feet bare. Incredulously she pinched herself. Am I actually being paid to party with the guests while other chambermaids clean my rooms?

Wendy had produced a Hollywood Movie Love Song challenge. Beside each love song title on a monogrammed card, brunch guests were invited to write the name of the film in which it had been sung. Each person with an accurately completed list received a thousand dollar gift card. Rachel saw no reason she shouldn't be one of them.

Rachel poised a slim silver souvenir pen engraved with the names "Catherine & Halden" and the wedding date over the blank line next to the song title I Wanna Be Loved by You, sung by Marilyn Monroe. The back of the smartphone in her left hand provided a solid surface to write on.

For the past hour, she'd used the smartphone camera's zoom feature to observe and photograph the guests. With the patience of a fisherman she'd waited for opportune moments to aim the phone for stealth photos while pretending to text.

"Some Like it Hot," Mickey said at her elbow.

Startled, Rachel managed a grin. Her heart swelled at the easy smile aimed exclusively at her. Until she became distracted by the Love Song challenge, she'd tracked his progress around the pool. If anyone noticed her taking photos, it'd be him. "Already wrote it down." She showed him her card.

He eased onto the adjacent chaise lounge, elbows on knees facing her, and whistled. "You've nailed them all so far."

Mickey wore nothing but tight candy-striped swim trunks and a pair of sunglasses. His tanned shoulders and sleek torso glistened with sunscreen. She'd watched him –- okay, spied on him using the zoom -- as he schmoozed with the guests. He laughed, he gestured, he air kissed cheeks, he exuded practiced charm as he methodically worked his way from each small group gathered under a shade umbrella to the next around the three sides of the infinity pool until he reached her. Popular, handsome, outgoing and confident, Mickey was her polar opposite.

A waitress swiftly approached, the same snitty girl who'd purposely ignored her all morning except to remove empty dishes. Mickey ordered two glasses of ice water, and the waitress headed for the outdoor buffet and bar set up under a green and white striped awning near the dining room entrance.

The wedding guests luxuriated in the relative privacy, some of whom had arrived that morning with their children and nannies. Rachel refused to exploit the adorable children, by taking their photos. Crossing that line felt super disgusting.

Ryan Gosling and his drop dead gorgeous partner soaked up the sun on matching teak loungers, their daughter fast asleep in a covered stroller close by. Michael Bublé, the famous Canadian singer, bounced his giggling young children in the shallow end of the salt water pool. His stunning wife in a white bikini sat on the edge of the pool, dangled her feet in the water, and laughed at their antics.