‘Look, I’m sorry – OK?’ he said, keeping his voice low. ‘It was a dick move not to mention I was married, I know, but I didn’t think we’d ever see each other again.’ A thought I could easily have had myself only a few weeks ago. How much did I ever really know about all those first-date guys? The one-night-stand guys? Only as much as they told me. It worked both ways. Blake was standing far too close to me as usual. ‘Let me make it up to you?’
‘How could you possibly do that?’ I frowned, annoyed. Staring into his eyes. The same eyes I’d swooned over only a few months before.
‘What if I let you do my make-up for the wrap party? You can show off your talents, anything you like, and I’ll make sure people know how good you are. Try and repair any unintended damage.’
I really had to go. I hadn’t quite finished with Blake, though, so maybe there was something we could do to right his wrongs. I needed to think about it.
‘OK, that might work,’ I said, biting my tongue and trying to smile. Mum always said you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
‘Swing by my dressing room tomorrow around eight?’ he said, with a wink. ‘I’m sure we can work this out.’
I nodded my agreement and Blake let me pass.Creep.I took a moment to gather myself and slowly walked the last few steps to Gem’s room. There was no way Blake was a big enough deal to ever get in here. The runner handed me our coffees and I smiled in thanks, then took a deep breath and walked back in.
Twenty-six
Saturday 7thSeptember
I kept staring at my phone. Tony hadn’t replied – even though I’d seen him start typing with my own eyes. He’d obviously changed his mind about what he wanted to say. He’d read my letter, seen my message and decided not to respond to either. It was torture not knowing what he’d started to say, what he thought of what I’d said, but maybe his silence told me everything I needed to know. I stepped on board the water taxi, but this time I sat inside the cabin, next to the driver.
‘Ah! No view for you today,signorina?’ he said, with a smile on his lips. ‘You don’t want to feel the wind in your hair?’
‘No, thank you,’ I replied, politely. Phoebe and I had been pinned to our seats by thewind in our hairyesterday, water spraying in our faces in exchange for the chance to enjoy the view. I wasn’t making that mistake again. I disembarked feeling much calmer and more together and Chiara waved me straight through, my platinum pass around my neck, shining in the sun.
‘Can I put Phoebe Barrington on the list for the wrap party?’ I asked. Best to double-check, in case my privileges had been reneged overnight.
‘Of course, Ms Mason, I’ll make a note,’ she said. ‘You’ll just have to escort her in when she arrives.’
‘Perfect. Thank you.’
Me:You’re definitely in for later, Phoebs. I’ve left your name on the door.
Phoebe:Wooohooooo! That is fab-u-lous news, chica, thanks! Who’d have thought you’d end up being one of my most influential clients?! This is quite the turnaround, Abs.
Me:The real Abigail Mason, whose pass I’ve somehow wangled, is trapped somewhere, furious. It’s the only explanation.
I looked at my message to Tony again and cringed.
He’d be on his way back to LA by now, cracking on with his busy, American life. I took a quick selfie in front of the cinema, holding up my platinum pass, and posted it on my socials.
Working on the VIPs at the VFF.#VIP #AAA #itsmehi #teamga #thea-listteam
I tagged Jackie and Stella – and Lucy and Danny for good measure. I didn’t want any of them to think I’d just disappeared off the face of the earth. I swiped myself into the building and headed for the lift, pulling my phone out one more time to switch it off as per the rules. Ting. My heart skipped a beat, but it was just a couple of people liking my post on Instagram.Why had he started to reply and then stopped?
My old self was fussing about in the back of my brain, desperate to be acknowledged.Focus on your career, Abi.Yes, exactly. I turned my phone OFF and was still deep in thought as I knocked on Gem’s door.
‘Come in!’ she called.
‘Morningggg,’ I sing-songed sunnily, in the same way I’d done yesterday, pushing the door open with a smile, to find Gem in the middle of the room stood next to Blake. She gave me a funny look and slightly nodded in his direction as if to say:Who’s this guy?!
‘Morning, Abi, nice and early again!’ she said.
‘Oh hi, Abi,’ Blake said, strange and stilted. He kept his eyes lowered as if he was scared to look at me, or had been caught red-handed, which was more likely.
‘Morning, Blake. In for make-up already?’ I asked, breezily. Knowing full well he wasn’t.
‘Er… no… I was just having a quick word with Gem.’
‘Ohhh –is thisthe Blake you were talking about yesterday?’ Gem asked, her blue eyes bright and alert. Blake looked terrified.
