Make Believe (3 page)

“Hudson will be happy.” He smiles. “Right. Jessica, where do you want me now then?”  He purrs. He’s a different person now he has me all signed and sealed away.

“Same place please.” I point at the chair. 

I regain my composure and start the job in front of me.

I keep telling myself over and over in my head that this is just another normal client. He’s noone special. But I can feel him watching me.

I glance down towards his face, and he catches my stare straight away.

I look away immediately.  It makes me uncomfortable.

“Are you ok, Jessica?” he asks.

“Yes, of course, just thinking the process through,” I lie.

“I hope I’m not putting you off?” he smirks.

He knows what he’s doing and the effect he’s having on me.  He must be so aware of the effect he has on every women or person he meets.  Just to be in the presence of such a megastar is a lot to take in, but an arrogant one is so much harder!

There’s a knock at the door.

“Come,” Elliott shouts.

“Hey Hudson, to what do we owe this pleasure?” He pokes Hudson as he walks by.

“I’ve come collecting paperwork.” He raises his eyebrow at me.

“Hey, leave the poor girl alone. I have it here – all safe and secure.” They both laugh out loud together, sharing yet another private joke.  I start tugging at my necklace, thinking about how the hell to get out of there.

“That reminds me, Rebecca.” He turns and stares at me.

Elliott bursts out laughing.

“It’s Jessica, you dope!”

“Well, they all look the same,” Hudson concludes. Not embarrassed by his mistake at all. “You, whatever your name is. We need you to work tonight. Elliott has a charity ball and needs to look his best. He doesn’t have a date for the event. Would you believe she’s ill? So, you will need to accompany him.” 

Before I have time to object, I hear him talking to Elliott.

“Well, she’s not the prettiest thing going but she’s the best here. She’d be ok after a few drinks and she may even put out! She’ll do fine, Elliott.”

How dare he refer to me like that. I feel the tears pooling in my eyes. How could one man be so cruel? Referring to me as if I had no feelings! What a disgusting excuse for a man.

“Excuse me, Elliott, I’ll be back in a minute.” I excuse myself and push past Hudson before he sees my tears.  I head towards the loos where Mia meets me on the way.

“Oh my God, Jess, are you ok?”

“No, not really,” I start to sob as I feel the anger build.

“What the hell’s happened? I bet it’s that asshole, isn’t it? Has he made a move on you?”

“No, no nothing like that. It’s not Elliott, it’s Hudson.”

I tell her what he’s said and what I’ve got to do this evening. I can see the anger in her eyes.

“And what did Elliott do?”

“Well, that’s it, he did nothing. I think he’s afraid of Hudson. I’ve got to go, Mia. He’s due on set in half an hour and I’m already behind.”  I blot my eyes dry, dabbing water on them hoping that Elliott can’t tell I’ve been crying.

“Sorry, Elliott. I’m back now and we’d better make a start.” I try not to look at him.

“Hey, Jess, I’m sorry about Hudson. He’s a good guy, really. I know he acts like a pretentious wanker but his heart’s in the right place.”  He turns his head to look at me.

“I’ll have to take your word for that, as I can’t see a heart there.” I manage to a raise a smile.

“He’s done so much for me, and my career. I wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful if it wasn’t for him. He made me.”

He sounds so grateful to him.

“But surely you’ve had something to do with your own success as well. You have to be good at what you do to get where you are.”

“Yes, true,” he smiles, “and thank you for that. But you need someone strong and in the know how on your side watching your back as well. If not, the paparazzi will pull you down before you’ve even started.  And what he said about you he didn’t mean. He was only kidding. He thinks you’re very attractive like I do, and that’s why he thinks you’d be good for tonight. You make me look good.” He smiles.

God, was that a back handed compliment?  Is that meant to make this whole thing better?             I finish dusting him with powder.

“You’re finished, Elliott. I’ll follow you onto set to check that there’s no shine. What time do you want me to come to your hotel to start your makeup?”

“I’ll pick you up at eight. Be ready, the makeup’s just an excuse. You see, I need to give girls excuses so they go out with me.” He winks.

“Oh poor you. If that’s the only way you can get a date then how could I possibly refuse?” I smile pleased I’ve recaptured the old Jessica.

“Thanks, I’m looking forward to it,” He replies placing his hand on mine. The chemistry he divulges is hard to ignore.

In the car on the way home I hear my phone buzz again. I glance over it.

Jess,

Hudson’s date’s cancelled. Can you bring a friend so he has a date too?

Thanks

Elliott. X

Oh shit, I don’t want to have to do that.  The only other female I know here is Mia, and it’s not fair to expect her to have to put up with Hudson all evening.

But on the plus side, it would be so much more fun if she came.

I run down the stairs.

“Mia, Mia, I have a date for you tonight,” I smile.

“What?”

“Elliott’s texted and asked if I could bring a plus one. Who else would I ask but you?” I smile.

“Ooh, a date with Elliott Tate. How could I refuse?”

“Well, yes him, and the asshole.”

“No way. I don’t see why I should do them any favours.”  Then she smiles. “But then again, on the other hand it could be fun - an evening of luxurious food, drinking and dancing with the best eye candy in town. Ok, you’ve persuaded me.”

Now that’s the reason she’s my best friend!

Chapter 3

“Mum, I’m fine, honestly. No, it’s just Henry having one of his strops…..he’ll be out of it by the time I come back. Yes, I know, we make a good team ……no, I haven’t met anyone else….. Yes, I am keeping myself safe. Mum, really, do we need to do this now? I’ve got things to do; I have to get ready for work. I will call you again in a day or two. Yes, I love you too. Bye.”

I love my mum very much, but she drives me crazy! She’s a very opinionated woman who thinks that the world should revolve around her.  She likes to enforce her opinions on you and wonders why you don’t live by them! She loves Henry and thinks that I should drop everything to be with him!  “He’s going to be a consultant, Jessica. What a great life you will have. You should stop pretending to have a career, and start getting ready for a family!” I can hear her words echoing through my head.

How little she really knows me. I would never give up my life for a man. I’m not made that way.  Being brought up in a big family has made me very independent - maybe a little too much. I find it hard enough to let people into my life, let alone help me.  My mother, on the other hand, had a totally different upbringing; she was an only child. Once she had grown up, she met a nice respectable young man and got married and had three children. She was happy with her lot until her world fell apart! She discovered that my father had been cheating on her for years. The affair that changed her world was with her cousin.  He had been seeing her pretty much their entire relationship; this broke my poor mum, and changed our lives forever. I was only three when he left.  My mum had to go out to work in the end, changing her whole social standing.  Being the youngest, I don’t really remember anything pre-my-father-leaving but the others, they all bear the scars!

“Jess, they’ve just pulled up. You ready?” I hear Mia call.

“Yes, just on my way down.”

I search the room for my silver pashmina; it matches my mulberry bag beautifully, a present from Henry a few years ago. It looks perfect with the black satin strapless dress I’m wearing which fits in all the right places. My hair’s straight and my makeup looks as sexy as hell. I’ve gone for a grey smoky eye look. It never fails.

I put on my black satin high stilettos. God, I wish I could walk in them better. I take one last look in the mirror, yes, that will do nicely. I will show that arrogant asshole, “Not the prettiest thing!” I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I come down the stairs.

“Hi, yes, come in.” I hear Mia being as gracious as she can.

I peek over the top of the bannisters. They are both standing there in their black tie tuxedos.

I pull back just as Elliott glances up. How does he do that?

I take a deep breath and hold onto the bannisters as I proceed to walk down the stairs. This is not the time to fall.

“Hello everybody,” I smile as they turn to look at me. I glide down the stairs so elegantly, so unlike me! Elliott’s mouth practically falls open! Now that’s the reaction I was hoping for. As for Hudson, he stands there with the most condescending smirk on his face.

He leans into Elliott, “Told you so!” and laughs.

Elliott doesn’t say a word; he can’t take his eyes off me. I walk over to them where he then gently kisses my cheek.

“Wow, Jessica, you look incredible,” he smiles looking me up and down.

“Jessica, you do classy very well. You should make the effort more often,” Hudson replies, pulling me towards him and fixing a kiss on my cheek.

Aargh, get off! I shout inside my head.

“Thank you, Hudson, I’ll take that as a compliment,” I smile.

“Here, Jessica, have some champagne. Hopefully it will help make the charity event less of an ordeal!” Elliott says.

“I need some help in the kitchen, anyone?” Mia asks.

“But before I have time to reply, Elliott’s at her side.

Oh shit, don’t you both go and leave me with the asshole.

“Jessica, come sit while we have to wait. I wanted to run through the protocol of tonight with you.”

I walk over to the sofa and sit next to the arm, hoping that he’ll sit the opposite end to me. But no of course not- he plonks himself right next to me. I don’t think he understands about personal space.

“Elliott will always lead you. That’s really important. When you’re in front of the photographers you must remember to lean into him. This stops all the crap of the magazines talking about body language.  He’s too dominant, she’s in love, etc. You get the idea. Elliott will introduce you as a friend.  Smile, point your leg forward and stick your bum out - you don’t want too look fat!  Make sure you are always at his side, doing what he says or the rumors will start. He knows what he’s doing, OK? You understand, yes, Jessica?”

“Yes.” I reply. The enormity of the event is dawning on me. God, I really hadn’t thought this through. Photographers and interviews?  What the hell was I thinking? I am appearing with the most prominent man of our time. What if the English papers get hold of it? What about Henry? Shit, he doesn’t even know who I’m working for.

Elliott and Mia appear from the kitchen. Chatting away, Elliott hands me a glass of bubbly. I take it.

“Here’s to tonight,” he smiles.

I put the glass to my lips and drink the contents down.

“Thirsty, Jess?” Mia giggles.

I half smile.

“Jessica, I forgot, only one more drink tonight, we can’t have you falling all over the place. That would not look good for Elliott, now would it?” Hudson scowls at me.

I lean forward and place the glass on the table.

I look at Mia and she winks at me. She knows exactly what I’m thinking.

We approach the outside of Vibiana, a beautiful events place. It’s manic. Hundreds of people line the streets. The cameras flash constantly. I have never seen anything like it.

We pull up to the curb and the chauffeur gets out the car and opens our door. Hudson climbs out first, holding out his hand for Mia. Then Elliott gets out next and the crowd goes berserk, girls shouting his name, screaming at him. It’s deafening. He leans into the car to grab my hand.

“Are you ready for this?” he asks.

“Not really.”

“Too late.” He smirks and pulls me up out the car. The photographers go crazy.

“Elliott, Elliott, over here! No, this way! Elliott, please, just a smile. Who’s your date Elliott?”

It’s so crazy I can only make out a few sentences. Elliott holds onto my hand and puts his other hand into the small of my back. He leads me towards some of his fans, where he starts to sign some of their autographs. One woman scowls at me, I half smile at her. She continues to stare. “He’s mine.” She mouths at me. I turn away quickly avoiding her eye contact. You can have him I think, I only work for him.

Elliott turns to me and pulls me back to where Hudson and Mia are standing.

“Right, we can go in now. Jessica, this is where the real press are. Remember what I told you,” Hudson says.