‘Dom got away lightly, of course.’ Sabrina took a sip of her scalding coffee.
‘Dom got away lightly because he orchestrated this for you.’
‘What?’ Sabrina’s brow furrowed.
‘He called the editor and—’
‘Of his rival newspaper?’
‘Yes, he knew it was happening and he wanted you to get the most money possible.’
Sabrina sat back in her chair and sighed. ‘Shit! All those papers he could have sold.’
‘Yep!’
‘He always was a fair man.’ Sabrina sounded slightly wistful but gave herself a mental shake.Don’t be getting soft on the twat, he was hardly fair in love and war, now, was he? Come on, Sabrina.
‘One hundred and fifty grand in the hand.’ Caroline rubbed her hands together. ‘Don’t say I’m not the best agent in the world, either. I negotiated that for you, you know.’
‘How could I forget.’ Sabrina laughed. ‘And I want you to have half of it.’
‘Don’t be silly. Twenty per cent on everything as it always has been.’ Caroline downed her coffee in one.
‘No, I mean it. It’ll soften the blow for what’s coming.’ Sabrina screwed up her face.
‘Oh my god, you’re not going to tell me what I think you are going to tell me.’ Caroline reached for her vape.
‘I’m so sorry, Caroline but I need to get out of London, especially now.’ She picked up the newspaper and waved it in the air.
‘This will all die down again, like it always does.’
‘Until the next best scandal, it will.’ Sabrina ran her hand through her hair. ‘I don’t want this life anymore.’
‘So, what are you doing? Where are you going. Is Dee putting you up for a while? You surely can’t be going to down to the depths of Cornwall to be a cashier again?’
Sabrina laughed.
‘I’d rather not say just yet and jinx everything, but I promise to send you a postcard.’
‘You’ll send me a fucking invite to the opening of that acting school you’ve been harping on about for so long.’
‘You’re so bloody blunt.’
‘I mean it Sabrina, you’re so incredibly talented. Use that talent to your own advantage.’
‘Aw, that’s one of the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.’
‘Maybe I should have said it sooner.’ The women laughed. ‘You’ve got this. And I don’t want a cut of the newspaper money, just make sure you send all the best little prima donnas you create, my way.’
‘You strike a hard bargain, Caroline Smart.’
They then looked at each and through laugher, chanted, ‘Who wants a soft agent anyway.’
Chapter Thirty-Nine
‘Have you seen the article?’ Linda Harris greeted Charlie Dillon as he came in for his morning coffee. ‘She did a proper interview with theHartmouth Echo, in her own words, it says here. Who’d have thought it.’
‘Yes, we appeared to have had an actress in our midst. Let’s hope she’s happy eh. Looks like she’s been through a lot, poor cow and I always liked the girl.’
