I’m not quite buying it like Eb is. Something seems off, churning under the surface.
I curse myself inside, because charity starts with those closest to you, and I haven’t been there nearly as much for Tiff as I should have been over the past few months. Even though she’s in Belgravia along with me and Josh, we’ve been like passing ships in the night. Hardly anything more than D&S messages, voice notes, and the occasional pizza night.
And I’ve been babied up of late. Massively.
Tiff doesn’t do so well with that kind of thing.
It’s me who takes her hand this time, giving it a squeeze.
“Girl time,” I say, drawing the Santa conversation to a close. “Let’s go have fun, ladies. Christmas is calling.”
Fuck, I’m one hell of a lucky girl. Tiff can he hungover and snarky, and loud mouthed, and Eb has the classic kind of sarcasm that raises eyebrows, and I love them both for all of it. I really do.
I have blessings longer than my shopping list, and the best kind of friends I could ever have.
Yet another thing to add to myElla Edwards has it goodlist.
It’s far longer than my shopping list.
Hell, it might almost be even as long as my Naughty one.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
User 4197. Male. 52.
I have a great love for shows, especially theatre. Having made my career in the industry, producing creatively for mass audiences, I would now like a more personal show of my own.
And I would like you, my dear, to be the main star.
I want to see you as a solo performer on a grand stage, flooded by spotlights while you give me the performance of a lifetime. I’ll be the only member of the audience, and the rest of the venue will be completely empty.
Use whichever toys, and whichever props and aids you require. Create your own dialogue and your own storyline and let those creative juices flow. Just make certain you receive a standing ovation at the end of the show.
Our theatre is of course fully booked up at this time of year, which is why you will need to arrive at 2.am, when the place will be empty. Your performance will begin at 2.30.
Considering the ungodly time, you may bring a chaperone – though he or she must stay out of sight.
Please note, I heard on the grapevine that you have a penchant for stinging nettles. That is something I would really like to see. Grant me that and you will receive a generous bonus.
Proposal duration: 50 minutes, plus a 10 minute encore.
Proposal fee: £60,000
Ilegit gasped in shock when the location of this proposal came through. It’s in the bloody West End, at one of the major theatres. I went there once when I was a kid to watch Evita with Mum and Dad. Who’d have ever the fuck thought I’d be up there on that very same stage myself one day. Especially performing for a bloody producer.
Solo.
I’ll be performing solo.
“He knows about the stinging nettles,” I tell Josh. “A generous bonus if I use them. Maybe he’s a founder – or knows a founder.”
“Anyhow,” Josh says, “I’m pretty sure that stinging nettles die off at this time of year, so that’s a no go. Hang on a sec.” He taps away on his phone. “Google says the nettle foraging season ends in October, and that any frost soon kills them off.”
“And we’ve had a fair few frosty mornings of late.”
“Yep.”
“Damn, I don’t know whether to be happy or sad about that.”
