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“The first thing you need to do is to get an apartment Or a job Or both,” Jas were easily accomplished He shook his head in disbelief “I still can’t believe Oakland kicked you out and didn’t at least give you some money”

“He didn’t,” Lola said She was lying; Philip had sent a check for ten thousand dollars to her parents’ condo, and Beetelle had FedExed it to her at Thayer’s address But James didn’t need to know this “Philip Oakland is not what people think he is,” she said

“He’s exactly what I always thought he was,” James said

Lola looked up at hilanced away, as if she were ashamed “I knoe hardly know each other,” she said in a s

you ht be able to help me There’s no one else I can ask”

“You poor thing,” Ja boldly, “tell me what I can do and I’ll do it”

“Can I borroenty thousand dollars?”

James blanched at the sum “That’s a lot of money,” he said carefully

“I’m sorry” She took a step backward “I shouldn’t have bothered you I’ll figure so you, James You were the only person as nice to ratulations on all your success I always knew you were a star” And she began to walk away

“Lola, stop,” James called

She turned and, giving him a brave smile, shook her head “I’ll be okay I’ll survive somehow”

He caught up with her “I do want to help you,” he said “I’ll figure soed to ton Park the next afternoon

James then returned to the party, where he immediately bumped into the devil himself—Philip Oakland “Excuse me,” James said

“Heard your book is nuratulations”

“Thanks,” James said curtly For once, he noted, Philip Oakland didn’t seem to be in a rush to move away Ja Lola’s situation it was the least he could do “I just saw your girlfriend,” he said accusingly