‘Ouch. Nice. Not really binned, more never even bothered to take me out of the packaging. But we can forgive him for that.’
‘We can forgive him if he’s going to give you several thousand pounds.’
‘Always little Miss Business.’
‘It’s far easier to have morals with money in the bank.’
‘Disagree. Anyway, he’s still not going to fund my app.’
‘Well then, why message you?’
‘Because he has an even better idea, and one that I much prefer. But I do want to talk it through with you, you being my number one business mentor person.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Don’t want that Rory Walters waltzing in and stealing my crown.’
‘Honey, no one can steal your crown.’ I lean across the duvet covering us as we lie at opposite ends of the sofa – just like we did as students – and deliver a great big sloppy kiss on her cheek.
‘Hmm, I love it when you kiss me like that,’ she says in a weird vampy voice straight out of the Hammer School of Horror. ‘But I love it more when you make me money. So, what is his plan?’ Her voice reverts back to normal for the question.
‘It’s that we join forces to roll out a Shakespeare programme to schools. He gives his name and his support, ties it in with the fact that the RSC are having him inCoriolanusnext year – Tullus Aufidius, although that’s on the DL for now. It’s not been announced and he wants to do it as Jamal Clarke not as Jamal, if that makes sense. But I love that he recognises that his celebrity doesn’t entitle him to dethrone actors who have worked for decades perfecting their craft to get the top roles. That his ego understands. I think that bodes well for us working together, what do you think?’
‘Yep, but he has a reputation for being pretty sound, doesn’t he? My understanding is he wants to get involved but not dominate. Something lots of people could take on board.’
‘Yes they could…’ I stage wink and double point at my best friend.
‘Maybe. So, he supports your schools programme? The one you’ve already set up?’
‘Yes. I’ve had a small degree of success and word is getting around Bristol, but his name attached would give me immediate kudos, and kids will be eager to engage once he’s given it his seal of approval. From what he has said so far, I do all the work on the ground, go into all the schools and deliver the actual programme, he promotes it all over his socials and on any media he does, and occasionally he’ll come and join me presenting the workshops, give it a bit of star appeal. On top of which, he’ll write it off as a charitable expense and pay me a salary so I can roll the programme out to schools who don’t have the budget to fund workshops, which is exactly the kind of schools I want to target but can’t at the moment because I need to feed myself too. It’s going to be immense.’ I’m so excited my voice is high-pitched, the words are pouring out at speed. Having Jamal on board is a game-changer.
‘And did Rory have anything to do with this?’
‘No. In fact, Jamal made a point of it. He said he was grateful that Rory flagged me up but it was my work in the schools in the run-up to Christmas that turned his attention to me. He heard about me speaking at Mandela City Primary and apparently, his nephew loved it. Told him all about it and that prompted him to have a rethink about the best way to use me—’
‘Don’t suppose he wants to use me?’ Luisa says filthily. ‘He’s my celeb pass. Those shoulders!’
‘I think he’s good on that score, he’s taken. Anyway, as I was saying … usemeand my knowledge in a way to benefit the community. He says that whilst he initially agreed to meet me because of Rory and the Shakespeare link he had decided not to get involved because he felt I could easily source the money for an app in a more traditional way and he was worried about the whole apple-fall-from-the-tree thing, so thanks, Dad. But when he saw how enthused his nephew was he thought I was worth a gamble. He wants me to know…’ I have a grin as wide as the Pacific at this point, ‘…that my merit got me back on his radar and nothing else. It was as if he knew how important that was. I appreciated it. I really think this is going to work.’
‘No doubt. Look back to where you were less than a month ago, no job and me bitching at you to monetise this thing, and now here you are, in league with the biggest superstar this city has seen since Massive Attack and on your way to realising your dream. So, now you build upon the dream. What’s your next step?’
‘Seriously? In an ideal world, I’d hire a couple more people who really know their stuff, expand my work into a handbook for them and get this rolled out nationally. I think it could work; I really do.’
‘Excellent. This is awesome.’
We giggle and she leans forward again and envelopes me in a huge hug, kissing the top of my head.
‘I’m so proud of you, Bells, I always knew you were going to make this work. Bloody superstar.’ We sit like this for a minute or two. I love this woman. She lets me go and sits back down her own end of the sofa. ‘Now, we’ve taken care of the important stuff, let’s talk the fun stuff.’
‘And what’s that then?’ I say warily.
‘That? Why, Rory Walters of course. What is going on there? I like him. I always liked him but I saw a whole new side to him at the party. He was relaxed, so at ease, really good fun. And we did good, didn’t we?’
‘Oh yeah. You always do good. Your Christmas Eve Eve parties are one of my favourite things about Christmas.’ I breathe a sigh of relief. The thing with Luisa is that she knows me so well, sometimes I’m scared she can actually read my mind. And then I would be in trouble.
‘Mine too, but I hope you appreciate the effort I went to on Cupid’s behalf this year. Poor Remi spent most of the evening banning people from the Nordic hut so we could keep it for the two of you. He wouldn’t start his set until everyone there knew the hut was out of bounds. I hope to God you made a good use of it.’
I thought back to that evening, so recent and yet feeling like worlds away and know I have another silly grin on my face. But I can’t help it. It had been such a special evening.
‘Oh my God, you did! You did! You had sex in the Nordic hut. I’m putting those rugs in the bin now, but so well deserved. I can’t remember the last time you had sex.’
