“Ah.” I smile mischievously. “You have athingfor him.”
She shoots me a look. “No, Harper! He’s my client.”
“A sexy client.”
“All my clients are sexy. I represent actors and models,” she reminds me.
“And I want an interview with your client Audrey Abbot.”
“Harper—”
“Think about it, Shamari,” I press, refusing to back down.“A huge profile piece about her illustrious career and welcome return to the stage. It’s the comeback of the year! The comeback of the decade! Maybe even the century.”
“You wrote that about Craig David.”
“Okay, fine, I stand by that. But still, Audrey Abbot returning will make front page of the magazine, guaranteed.”
“She hates journalists, Harper. You need to let this go,” she insists.
“She has every reason to hate journalists, but youknowme—you know what kind of journalist I am. I’m not in this to tear people down; I’m all about bringing people up. With me, Audrey can tell her side of the story—or if she doesn’t want to talk about what happened, we’ll focus on her landing a kickass role after sixteen years out of the game, in a play written by a woman and directed by a woman. Shamari, this is her opportunity. I know it! Don’t let someone else write this and screw it up. Let me reintroduce her to the public in the respectful manner she deserves.”
Shamari slows down, coming to a halt outside her office door. She takes a sip of coffee and then looks at me earnestly.
“Harper, did you get much sleep last night?”
“Huh?”
“I got a call from you at two in the morning and then you’re waiting for me at half seven, acting bright as a button,” she remarks. “How do you do it?”
I hold up my cup. “The best coffee in London.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You still with that guy? You said there was someone new when I saw you about a month ago.”
“Liam? Yes.”
“He’s lasted longer than most,” she remarks. “Nice to see you happy.”
“I’ll tell you all about him if you let me chat to Audrey Abbot.”
She sighs. “You’re like a dog with a bone.”
“You know it will be excellent publicity for the play, too. Theproducers will love you for setting this up. They must have ideas for press in the pipeline.”
“They knew Audrey wouldn’t do any. They’ve lined up Julian Newt to do most of it.”
“So a man can take all the credit for a show that wouldn’t exist without the female talent on and offstage?”
Shamari closes her eyes in despair. “I’m envisioning the conversation I’ll have with her when I pitch this. She’ll bite my head off at the mere suggestion.”
“You can vouch for me. Do you remember how you introduced me to Heather Violet at the launch of her delicious rosé? You said I was the one celebrity reporter who genuinely cared.”
“I was a bottle of said delicious rosé down at that point,” she recalls. “I also described her role in the filmLittle Pig’s Grand Adventureas ‘inspired’ to a renowned director.”
“I’m sure she was very good inLittle Pig’s Grand Adventure.”
“She was, actually. Not easy working with a pig.”
“How about this—a profile piece on Audrey Abbot’s comeback, front page,andI’ll feature that sexy Newt actor that you have a thing for in one of my regular features. He could do the ‘My Little Luxuries’ column.”
