‘IT’S OK,’ HE said.
Famous voice, still with a tinge of local accent underneath all the different upper layers. ‘Don’t look so scared. It’s not the first time a fan’s popped up in my dressing room.’
Kayley pushed back her shoulders.
‘I’m not scared, and I’m not a fan,’ she said. Then, in a quick gabble, ‘Don’t let anyone else in, eh?’
‘It’s cool,’ he said. He shut the door behind him. ‘Though I can’t deny my feelings are a bit hurt. Listen, do I know you? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.’
‘Oh, I didn’t mean I wasn’t a fan. Just that I’m not, like, a stalker fan. It’s a coincidence that I’m here, that’s all. I do like your music.’
‘Oh, well, that’s a relief.’ He smiled and her knees nearly gave way. That smile. ‘Seriously, have I? Seen you before? You’re not, like, one of my third cousins or something? I do keep bumping into them.’
‘No.’ She laughed, a little more than the situation warranted. She felt ridiculous, a little bit high, a kite floating free over the rooftops. ‘But you might have seen me last night. At the private view.’
‘At Harville Hall?’ His face transformed into an expression of keenest interest.
Somebody knocked at the door and Kayley looked urgently over her shoulder.
‘Not now, eh?’ called Deano. ‘Can you have my car brought round?’
He winked at Kayley.
‘But we were going to talk logistics,’ complained a voice from the other side of the door.
Kayley stiffened, her gorge rising.
Lawrence Harville.
Deano seemed to see the alarm in her eyes because his tone was firmer than ever. ‘Not just now. I’ve got business to take care of. I’ll call you, yeah?’
‘Well, I don’t know …’
‘The car. Can you get it brought round now, please?’
A silence.
‘Now, or I’m off this project.’
‘OK.’ A grudging mutter.
Kayley smiled with sheer pleasure at hearing Harville treated like a serf.
‘One of the perks of being a rock star,’ said Deano softly. ‘You get to be as bloody rude as you like. I try not to over-indulge, but God, it’s tempting sometimes.’
‘Thanks,’ said Kayley. ‘I owe you one. Though I don’t know how I’m going to get out of here without …’
‘Climb out of the window,’ said Deano.
‘What?’
‘If you want to make a getaway, climb out of the window, then get into my car. It’ll be out there in a minute or so.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Sure I’m serious. It’ll make me feel like James Bond, helping you escape from the evil … youth workers of Bledburn.’
They both laughed, infected simultaneously with the surreal nature of the situation.
‘Go on. I’ll go and appease His Nibs out there. See you in a minute.’
Deano picked up a bag from the top of a filing cabinet and left the room. Kayley, fearing that she might be joined at any moment by a less congenial companion, took his advice and climbed through the window on to the hot tarmac of the back yard.
The car was gliding through the back gates, where a few stragglers stood cheering and waving. None of them seemed to be the ones she was avoiding – it was mostly kids and grannies.
All the same, she ducked behind the rubbish hopper until the car parked up and she was able to climb in without being seen.
Apparently the chauffeur was quite accustomed to random women piling in behind him because he made no comment. He didn’t even turn his head.
How the other half live, eh, thought Kayley, reassured by the smoked glass and the calming hum of air-conditioning. Her breathing steadied and she began to unclench, looking around her at the luxurious upholstery and expensive fittings.
This was quite something. Jenna just drove a little hired run-around, nothing fancy. Deano apparently didn’t want to get as close to his roots as all that.
Deano joined her about five minutes later.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said, sliding in beside her. ‘That Harville bastard never shuts up, does he? So, where are we going? Do you fancy lunch at my hotel?’
‘What?’
God, what must he think of her, sitting there with a gormless expression and the hood of a cheap tracksuit top pulled right over her face?
‘I mean, lunch?’ she amended. ‘Really?’
‘Why not? Is there somewhere you need to be?’
‘Well … no.’
‘There you go then. Lunch it is. OK, Sergio?’
The chauffeur revved up the car and turned in the back yard, edging slowly through the baying hordes outside the youth club.
‘I’m not exactly dressed for lunch in a posh hotel,’ said Kayley, her brain maintaining a running commentary of, Me, invited to lunch by Deano Diamond, wait till the girls hear about this.
‘Babe, when you’re paying what I’m paying, you can turn up to lunch in a bin liner. Don’t sweat it. And sorry about calling you “babe”. I know it makes me sound like a dick, but I don’t know your name.’
‘Kayley.’ She was really having trouble breathing now. This was just too much.
At least they were away from the youth club now, and on the high road out of the estate.
‘Ah.’ Deano sat back, throwing back his head, shutting his eyes. ‘Kayley. Of course.’
‘What? You don’t know me.’
‘I don’t know you, but I know of you. You work for Jenna, right?’
‘Right,’ said Kayley slowly, suddenly seeing how this fantasy-turned-reality might land her in an awkward situation.
‘I did see you at the private view, but it was all a bit …’ He threw his hands up in the air, and sat straight abruptly, turning the smile up to full beam. ‘You know.’
‘She wasn’t expecting you.’
‘I gathered. And I was surprised. It’s not like Jen. She’s always been prepared for every single eventuality. It’s rare for something to catch her unawares. I thought she’d at least have briefed security. But no. It seems like I was out of sight, out of mind.’
He sighed.
‘She’s had a lot on her plate,’ said Kayley warily, hoping she wasn’t about to be enlisted as a go-between.
‘Hasn’t she just? New house, new man, new life. Apparently. Who is this guy? I’ve been worried sick about her.’
Deano’s eyes were so full of soul Kayley thought he might ascend through the car roof to the heavens above. He had to be sincere, didn’t he?
‘Jason’s sound,’ she said. ‘He wasn’t always an angel but he’s got a lot going for him now, with the art and all that.’
‘And his rich, connected new girlfriend and all that,’ added Deano with a bitter laugh. ‘Landed on his feet there, eh?’
‘You think he’s out for what he can get?’
‘Well, don’t you?’ Deano edged closer, putting a hand on her wrist.
She looked down at the rings on his hand. One of them was a wedding ring, a glinting platinum band. She’d never seen Jenna wearing hers.
‘No,’ she said flatly, and she turned away.
I’m turning away from Deano Diamond. I’m giving him ‘fuck off’ body language. What the …?
‘OK, OK, I’m sorry,’ said Deano, removing his hand. ‘Jason’s a friend of yours. I get it.’
‘It’s not just that. He really loves her, all right? Really.’
She cringed into the silence. No doubt Deano would be ordering Sergio to stop the car at any minute, and inviting her on to the pavement. This didn’t seem to be what he wanted to hear.
‘And her?’ Deano’s words barely broke the stillness, a fearful whisper over the purr of the engine.
She turned back to him, sympathetic now, seeing the anxiety emanating from him in jagged waves.
‘Sorry,’ she said gently. ‘But yes. From what I can make out, she’s bang into him.’
He winced.
‘Rebound,’ he said, but he didn’t sound as confident now.
‘Maybe,’ she conceded, wanting to be kind, although she could see that giving him hope might not be the best idea.
The car slowed and pulled up in a car park beside a small country house hotel set in neatly manicured grounds.
‘Wow, where’s this?’ She stepped out of the car, letting Deano help her and taking his gallantly offered arm. ‘I never knew this place existed.’
‘Used to be a lunatic asylum,’ said Deano with a grin. ‘Scrubs up nicely, doesn’t it?’
‘No way? This is Pitfields? Didn’t it used to have all those huts all over?’
‘They got demolished, I suppose, when it was sold off.’
‘And now it’s a hotel for rock stars.’
She looked up at the ivy-covered front, then at Deano, and laughed with enchanted glee. What a life she was leading!
‘Well, you don’t have to be a rock star to stay here,’ he said, squiring her up the front steps. ‘But it helps.’ His teeth shone, perfectly even and white in his smile.
Kayley enjoyed every minute of being shown into the hushed, luxurious dining room, especially the way nobody even looked twice at her shabby tracksuit and minging old trainers. If she was here with Deano, she was legit. No further vetting necessary.
‘Well, I’m honoured to have you as my guest, Kayley,’ said Deano, once they were seated with knees weighed down by the heavy damask tablecloth. ‘Would you like a drink?’
‘I know it’s only lunchtime, but could I have some champagne? I didn’t get to drink any myself last night, you see, ’cos I was working, and it was killing me. I’ve only ever had it once, at my cousin’s wedding, and it’s gorgeous.’
‘Whatever the lady wants …’ Deano ordered a bottle from the hovering waiter.
‘This is random,’ she said, once the bottle had arrived and the glasses were filled to the brim with bubbles. ‘Drinking champagne with Deano Diamond. As one does.’ She giggled, still unable to bring her head down from the clouds it had entered a little while ago.
‘One should do it more often,’ said Deano, taking a sip. ‘How did you get the gig with Jenna? Do you know her from back in the day?’
‘Yeah, vaguely. My sister was a mate of hers at school. She used to come round to ours. I was the pesky little sister who tried to spy on their conversations.’
Deano laughed.
‘Did you hear anything worth knowing?’
‘Nah, mainly they were just doing each other’s make-up and gassing about Take That. Boring really. You’d never have known she’d turn out like she did. She was dead normal.’
‘And then she met me.’
Kayley smiled, but a little tightly. She knew Deano wanted to steer the conversation back to Jenna, and she wasn’t comfortable with it. All the same, she meant to make the most of her bonus lunch with the stars. Or star.
‘What’s lobster like?’ she asked hopefully when the waiter returned to take their order. ‘Is it like prawns? ’Cos I love them.’
‘Try it and see,’ said Deano, turning to the waiter and ordering two dressed lobster salads. ‘So, did you fill in an application form?’ he said, once the waiter was out of range.
‘What?’
‘For the job. Jenna’s assistant, or whatever you are. Was it advertised at the Jobcentre?’
Kayley fidgeted with a sterling silver napkin ring.
‘No, of course not.’
‘She just thought of you and gave you a call?’
‘I was working at the youth club. I thought you’d have known. She came to me about funding some new equipment. Hey, and she was going to do that talent show thing you were on about up there, but she pulled out, and so will you if you know what’s what.’
‘Really?’ Deano raised perfectly plucked eyebrows. ‘Why?’
‘Because you don’t want to be hand in glove with Lawrence Harville, that’s why.’
‘Oh?’
Deano leant forward, all ears.
‘Don’t you know what happened?’
‘I live in Los Angeles, Kayley.’
‘Oh, come on. You must know.’
‘OK.’ He sat back. ‘I know he was implicated in this drugs case. The one your Jason was originally up for.’
‘Yeah, so why are you …? I mean, the case got thrown out but he’s guilty as sin. And he’s got it in for Jen and Jase. And me. That’s why I’m skulking about in this shitty old hoodie. It’s not ’cos I think it suits me.’
‘No, well, I did prefer what you had on last night,’ said Deano, with a rather suggestive smile.
He waited for it to take its effect, then leant towards Kayley, his eyes burning with serious intent.
‘Listen, Kayley, I’ve no right to ask this of you.’
She wanted to look away, wanted to frown, but she could do nothing but stare back into his silvery electric-spark gaze.
‘Ask what?’
‘Will you put in a word for me? With Jenna? Tell her I want to work with her on this documentary project. How can I make a documentary about my career without her? She is my career. I need her in this film.’
The lobster salads arrived, looking quite unlike anything Kayley had ever eaten in her life before. She was almost dismayed at its exotic glamour. Was she really supposed to eat it?
As for the Jenna thing … well, she could mention it. It wasn’t like he was asking her to meet him in his hotel room, was it?
‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’ll ask her.’ She picked up a lobster claw and prodded inside the pointy shell. ‘How do you eat this?’
‘Do you want me to get the meat out for you?’
She watched him, still with a sense of unreality.
‘I mean, it’s a reasonable enough thing to ask, isn’t it?’ she said, as if still working it out herself. ‘It’s work. It doesn’t mean she’s going to …’
He looked up at her.
‘Going to what?’
‘Why did you split up?’ she blurted. ‘She’s never told me.’
The sparks in Deano’s extraordinary eyes faded and a cloud seemed to pass over him.
‘All my fault,’ he said. ‘I was blind and stupid. I let myself believe the hype, and trust me, Kayley, that’s a fatal mistake. But if enough people tell you you’re a god, well …’
‘Did you cheat on her?’
‘Yes.’
‘That woman who was with you last night …’
‘No, she’s just an agent. She has herself lined up as the next Jenna, though. But she won’t be. She doesn’t have Jenna’s fight or fearlessness. Once I get Jenna back, I’ll sack Parker.’
Kayley’s mouth dropped open.
‘Once you get her back?’
‘That’s what I’m here for, Kayley. No point beating around the bush. Even if not as my wife, then as my agent. I need her. I can’t write. I haven’t written a fucking note since she left.’ His voice broke and she saw a glisten in his eyes that might have been the start of tears. ‘I’m finished, Kayley, if I can’t get her back. The best thing that ever came from Bledburn …’ He threw his hands in the air. ‘Gone.’
She didn’t know what to say.
‘Maybe just, er, a glitch, don’t you think? Writer’s block. Lots of people get it.’
He shook his head.
‘Not this dude. I need Jenna. I can’t create without her. Please help me, Kayley. Please.’
‘I … don’t know …’ She was trying to construct some kind of sentence, or at least a thought that made sense. She was still trying when a very unwelcome third party appeared at their table.
‘Deano, I thought we were going to …’ Lawrence Harville stopped short and ran a hand through his impeccable hair, staring at Kayley.
She shrank back, wanting to pull the hood all the way over her face.
Shit.
‘Well, well,’ he said. ‘If it isn’t our little canary.’
Seeing that Deano’s curious expression demanded satisfaction, he waved a hand that was much less nonchalant than he appeared to want it to be.
‘Oh, nothing you need to worry about. Just … never mind.’ He made a huge effort to drive Kayley out of his field of vision. ‘Our meeting?’ he said. ‘We really need to get some of the fine detail sorted out.’
‘Look, I said I’d call you. I’m busy here, yeah? Lunch? With a lady? So I’ll see you around, OK.’
Harville pinched his lips, his cheeks whitening.
Kayley had seen that look on him before, and the last time it had been the precursor to a slap across the face.
Not this time, though.
‘Don’t forget,’ he muttered, before stalking out of the dining room.
Kayley looked after him, her eyes wide.
‘Fuck me, another bullet dodged,’ she said with sincere relief, once he was safely out of the building.
‘Do you really think he’s out to get you?’
Deano, interested, put down the forkful of salad he’d been about to shovel into his mouth.
‘He definitely is. I grassed him up. And you know what the rules are in Bledburn.’
‘Thou shalt not grass,’ agreed Deano. ‘Right. I’m going to level with you about something else, Kayley. I hate the bastard. I don’t want to deal with him. He’s a Harville. But he’s managed to get his name mixed up in this talent contest malarkey, and I can’t seem to prise him off it. I’m hoping that, if I give him enough rope, he’ll eventually hang himself.’
‘They didn’t get him last time,’ she said. ‘He’s coated in Teflon, that bastard. Nothing sticks to him.’
‘I’ll stick to him,’ said Deano. ‘Like glue, if I have to. I want the last traces of Harville out of this town, for good.’
‘Well, that’s something I’d definitely want to help you with.’
He tilted his head to one side, smiling at her consideringly.
‘You know, I’m glad we ran into one another, Kayley. Something tells me we’re going to hit it off.’