Julia stops in front of a frosted-glass door. Before she opens it for us, she leans in towards my ear and whispers, ‘It’s all on Mr Ryans’ account.’
‘But, I?—’
‘Stop fussing, Scarlett,’ Amanda says, wafting a hand past my face and following Julia into the black-walled room. ‘He can afford it.’ And you’re more than happy to accept it.
I huffily take out my phone and send Gregory a message.
You’re such a controlling arse…
I get an almost instant reply.
Enjoy!
In the room, another flawlessly styled woman in a black dress and a man in a three-piece suit with a pink, floral tie are standing to attention and smiling like something out of The Brady Bunch. Two embroidered sofas are set back to back in the centre of the room and racks of evening gowns line the walls. A glass table is laden with jewellery and the biggest diamonds I’ve ever seen. Three white shelves contain a selection of shoes in different colours and styles, highlighted by spotlights above them. Two dressing areas are separated by black velour curtains held back by gold chains.
Turning in the centre of the room, I must look gormless as I take in the spectacular view. So this is how the other half live.
‘You’re the one,’ the suited man says, offering me his hand. ‘I’m Lucas. This is Genevieve.’
I smile at Lucas and Genevieve as I reciprocate a handshake. ‘Scarlett. It’s nice to meet you.’
‘Champagne?’ Lucas asks, turning his hand flamboyantly towards a waiter carrying two glasses of champagne on a tray in one hand and menus for the restaurant in the other.
‘I could get used to this,’ Amanda says, taking a glass of champagne and sitting on a sofa with the menu.
By the time we’ve ordered food, Julia and Genevieve have selected the first two dresses for me to try on.
‘We’ll start with Scarlett,’ Lucas says.
Amanda wafts a hand. ‘I’m more than happy right here.’ She sips her champagne with her legs lifted, lounging out on the sofa.
Genevieve holds up a satin, floor-length dress in midnight blue. It has a thick halterneck with a triangle of lace inset over the bust and coming to a point at the bottom of the breastbone area. Julia holds up an equally long, black dress with full-length sleeves and a wide, round neck, lower at the back than the front. A slit runs thigh-high on one leg.
‘I’ll try the blue first, please.’
Lucas clicks his fingers excitedly. ‘Shoes!’ he sings, as I’m encouraged to move into the dressing room and the velour curtain is drawn around me.
‘That bra isn’t going to work,’ Genevieve says when I’ve revealed my black lace underwear. ‘What size are you? Thirty-two D?’
‘Ah, yes, actually.’
‘This is my job,’ she says, rather pleased with herself. ‘Julia, can we get a strapless plunge in a thirty-two D?’
Julia passes through a bra in seconds and, much to my horror, Genevieve doesn’t leave the room or even turn as I swap my own bra for the strapless plunge. She helps me into the dress and gestures for me to sit as she places the shoes Lucas has picked out onto my feet.
‘Right, let’s take a look,’ she says.
I have to hand it to them, I look fantastic, for me. The dress gives me a figure I’m sure I’ve never seen and the lace point reveals enough to make me appear to have a cleavage without being overt. Genevieve draws back the curtain to display me to the room.
Immediately, without taking a breath or giving her heart a chance to beat, Julia says, ‘No.’
Followed by Lucas who, with a hand on his hip and the other on his chin, says, ‘It’s all wrong.’
Amanda laughs, presumably at my bottom lip, which has worked its way out in a childish pout.
‘Let’s try the black,’ Julia says.
After the third unsuccessful dress, my poached salmon and asparagus with a side order of potatoes has arrived with a new glass of champagne. The table has been pulled towards the sofas for us to eat. As I pick up my knife and fork, Lucas swoops in and removes my side plate of potatoes.
