Wags To Riches (18 page)

‘Tell it like it is Timmings – Always an Honest Voice’
.

I think I’ll be the judge of that.
 

Underneath the headline
‘Adam and Gail – Is It For Real?’
I read that -apparently:

   ‘Adam is well known for having an eye for the ladies and the ladies are well known for having a soft spot for Adam, our readers recently having voted him one of the ten sexiest men in England. But Adam’s reputation as a ladies’ man may be all about to change, however with the arrival of Gail Auden on the scene – a refreshingly down-to-earth, if somewhat curvy girl’
.

Somewhat curvy?  What is that supposed to mean?  Cheeky cow!

‘Gail is understandably coy about her new flame and didn’t give much away when I contacted her recently…’

Ah – so that’s where I know the name Timmings.  Should have told her to bugger off.

‘I do wish her well but can’t help but wonder if a leopard can change its spots…’

Well – thank you for that Louise
. 
I’m angry now.  She doesn’t even know us and already she’s written us off!  I look at my watch.  It’s two minutes to ten.  I’d better go.  I quickly finish my coffee and leave the café, still annoyed.  I get to the clock and hurry up to Gina who is waiting for me, looking like she’s just stepped out of the pages of
Vogue
in a purple suede jacket, jeans and high heeled boots.  “Parking!” she exclaims, shaking her dark shiny hair everywhere, “Took me ages to find a space!”  She kisses me on both cheeks.  “Are you all right?” she asks, looking at me concerned.

“Oh – I’m just pissed off about this” I say and show Gina the newspaper.  Gina looks at the article and then at me sympathetically.

“What can I do?” I say, “It’s such a load of rubbish!”

“I know it is Gail,” Gina says soothingly, “but there’s nothing you can do.  You can either drive yourself crazy worrying what they are all saying about you and Adam or just ignore them and get on with life.”

“Is this what it’s like though when you go out with someone like Adam?” I ask indignantly, “People write crap about you in the newspapers?  Is it going to be like this all the time?” 

Gina smiles at me.  “No of course not,” she says soothingly.  “It’s bound to be a shock for you -you’re not used to it.  I’ve had years of this – speculation about my weight, about mine and Tim’s relationship – whether I’m going to have a baby – whether I’ve had a boob job - all sorts.  Like I say,” she says, shrugging her shoulders, “it goes with the territory.  Adam’s a good looking, wealthy guy who plays football for a living - people are bound to be interested in him - what he’s doing and who his girlfriend is.  And as for that thing about being curvy – well, she’s just jealous anyway!”

I smile ruefully back.  “It’s easy for you to say Gina –look at you - you are so skinny!” I reply as we walk up to Moreton’s, a very swanky department store.

“Oh if only!” Gina protests laughing as she steps into the revolving door.  I follow her in and we are stood in the bright and pristine cosmetics hall.  “Darling, I simply must get another pot of Plasmolux” Gina says and walks over to the Decruima counter.

“Another pot of
what?”
I ask as Gina picks up a large tub of what looks like face cream.

“Decruima’s Age Defying Plasmolux darling – it is
the
best thing to delay the signs of ageing” Gina replies, looking at the counter, “Oooh – look Gail there’s a refillable tub there with a 9 carat gold lid – I’ll get that” and I try not to physically flinch as Gina spends two hundred and fifty pounds on a pot of moisturiser.  “It’s better than Botox for getting rid of wrinkles Gail” Gina says as she puts her credit card back in her bag.

“I haven’t tried either Gina, so I wouldn’t know” I say.

“Well get some, honestly – you won’t know what you did without it” she replies firmly.  “Your skin will feel absolutely fantastic”.

“Okay - you’ve sold it to me” I say and purchase an albeit much smaller pot at the princely sum of thirty-five pounds.

“Promise me you’ll try it tonight before you go to bed” Gina says.

“Okay” I reply as we go over to another cosmetics counter.  I’m still trying to get my head round Gina spending two hundred and fifty pounds on a moisturiser.  Gosh – fancy being able to do that and not have a coronary when the credit card bill comes.  I shake my head in disbelief.

“This is nice Gail” Gina says, picking out a lip gloss in a shimmery pink colour.  “That colour would suit you”. 

“Oh that is nice” I say admiring it, “I’ve just bought that moisturiser though”.

Gina rolls her eyes.  “Gail – it is okay to treat yourself you know” she says.  “Go on – live a little!”  The words Adam had said to me before he gave me the money flit across my mind -‘Do you good to treat yourself.’  It would be nice actually to treat myself.  I think I deserve it. 

“Okay – I’ll get it” I say.

“Good!” Gina says.  “And when you’ve paid for that, we’ll go and look at some clothes”.

****

“I really like that bikini I’ve bought Gina” I say as I sip my coffee, “but God knows where or when I’m going to wear it”. We’ve decided to take a break from spending and have a spot of lunch.

“Oh I’m sure it will come in when you and Adam go on holiday” Gina says brightly, using her complimentary biscuit to stir her cappuccino and then taking a bite.  “Besides – you couldn’t
not
buy it at that price can you?”

“Well that’s true” I say.  I just didn’t plan on buying a teal coloured string bikini today – it’s not the usual thing I would buy on a shopping trip – normally it’s a new top and a CD or something.  It is gorgeous though.

“Now – what shall we have to eat?” Gina asks, picking up the menu.  “They do lovely pastries in here” she says as she leans across the table.  “I know we shouldn’t really, but their lemon meringue is to die for” she whispers.

“Well – we’ll have two large slices of that then” I say firmly, “and a bowl of chips each” and Gina laughs.  After the waitress has taken the order, I look at the many bags resting on the floor around us.  “You don’t think that pink suede miniskirt I’ve bought is too short do you?” I ask Gina.

“No – not at all” Gina asserts.  “There’s nothing wrong with showing a bit of leg you know darling!  It doesn’t mean you are a hussy!”

“Oh I know” I reply, “it’s just a bit shorter than what I’d normally wear that’s all”.  Well – quite a lot shorter actually.  “I didn’t think I’d quite got the legs to wear something like that” I say.

“Gail – it looks great, honestly” Gina says, “You must stop putting yourself down!”

I smile.  “I know” I reply.  “I can’t believe how much stuff I’ve bought today” I continue, “Bikini, two tops, bra and knickers set, that pink skirt, pair of jeans...”

“Don’t forget those gorgeous leopard skin heels” Gina interjects,

“Pair of heels – thank you Gina - and a dress.  Oh and the moisturiser and lip gloss”.  In a few hours I have bought the same amount of clothes than what I would normally buy over a few months.

“And I’ve got two skirts, pair of trousers, moisturiser, scarf and two tops – that’s quite good going” Gina says, looking through her shopping as she spoke.  “It’s going to be fun carrying all this lot to the car!”

“Where have you parked darling?” Gina asks as we make our way through town.

“Oh I can’t drive” I say, “I was just going to get a taxi back to Adam’s.  I thought it would be nice to be there when he comes home from the match”.

“Oh let me give you a lift - you can’t wait for a taxi with all that lot” Gina says.

“That would be great thanks” I reply gratefully and we start to stagger up the stairs in the multi-storey car park. 

“Why can’t we use the lift Gina?” I ask after a few minutes as we trudge slowly up yet another flight of rotten stairs.  I don’t know
how
Gina is managing these stairs in those heels – I really don’t.  My feet are killing me and my boots have a much lower heel than hers.

“This is giving us a good aerobic workout” Gina says, stopping for a second to catch her breath, “It will help burn off that lemon meringue”.

“Oh good” I say dryly, panting slightly.  “I’m so glad you parked right at the top Gina” I add and she laughs.  Finally, we get to the top floor and stand for a few seconds getting our breath back.

“That’s my car there,” Gina says proudly, pointing to a bay where a sma
rt looking black Porsche Cayenne Turbo was parked.  “Tim bought it me for my birthday”.

“Oh right” I say, “Run out of bath salts had they?” I ask jokingly and Gina laughs. 

We get in the car and Gina drives us to Adam’s.  She drives like a maniac!  Does everybody drive like this in this world?  After a near miss on a roundabout and a particularly hair raising corner that Gina decided to take at 40mph instead of 20, we finally arrive outside the gates to Adam’s house.  I get out to punch the security code in, my legs trembling and then reluctantly get back in.  Gina drives down to the house and pulls up outside the front door.

“Here we are!” she says brightly, “I’ll just open the boot for you darling.  Do you need a hand with your bags?”

“No- I’ll be fine thanks” I say as I fumble in my handbag for my keys.

“Well - see you soon Gail!” Gina says, getting out of the car and enveloping me in a heavily perfumed hug, “I’ll give you a ring and hopefully next time Sharon can come out with us as well”.

“That would be great,” I say.  And I’ll get a taxi home instead.  “Thanks for today – I’ve had a really good time”.

“Yes – I have too, it‘s been great!” she replies and gets back into the car, “And don’t worry about the newspapers Gail!” she calls and waves as she heads off down the drive.  Hmmm – that’s easy for you to say I think.  You’re used to this.  And the article wasn’t about you and Tim.  I take the paper out of my bag and put it on the table to ask Adam about it later, before carrying all my bags upstairs.

It’s a very pleasant experience putting all my new clothes away in the dressing room – there’s that much space I can’t decide where to put things.  Not like at home where my wardrobe and drawers are absolutely groaning with clothes and there’s just
no
room.  I have a quick shower and decide to try on one of the new tops I’ve bought.  It’s a silver satin strapless bodice and isn’t something I would have normally chosen, but Gina had suggested it and I just bought it without bothering to try it on, thinking I can always return it.  I squeeze myself into it, put on my dark blue jeans and a pair of diamante strappy heels and go to look at myself in the mirror.  Gosh - I do look glam
. 
The bodice hugs my every curve and the dark jeans make my legs look really long.  I look really different.
 

I hear a car
outside and glanced out of the bedroom window.  Adam’s Bentley is just disappearing into the garage so I hurry out of the dressing room, through the bedroom and down the stairs.  “Hi!” I call, opening the front door.  “How did it go today?”

“Nil-nil” Adam says as he walks inside.  He looks me up and down and lets out a low whistle.  “Bloody hell!  You look nice!” he says.

“Thanks” I say smiling, “Gina persuaded me to buy this top”.

“And I’m bloody glad she did – it looks lovely!” Adam says appreciatively and gives me a kiss.

“So what happened in the match then?” I ask and Adam sighs.

“Oh – it was really frustrating Gail – we had a few really good corners but couldn’t seem to make anything out of them and we had a few chances at goal in the second half – Tim almost scored just after half time but no luck.  Anyway - it’s done with now.  Let’s talk about you” he says, putting his arms around her, “Have you had a good time today?”

“Yes, I’ve had a great time” I reply smiling up at him and then notice the newspaper on the table.

“What’s the matter?” Adam asks as I frown.

“This – look” I say and show Adam the photograph who sighs.

“Who do you think that source was who spoke to the newspaper?” I ask.

“One of the bar staff, a waiter – who knows?  Could have been anyone Gailey.  I don’t really care to be honest,” Adam replies.

“Louise Timmings had something to say on the subject as well – look” I say and show him page 11.  Adam glances at it and snorts with derision. 

“Seriously though Adam, can I ask - how many girls have you been out with?” I ask, even though I don’t want to know the answer.  “The newspaper implies you’re – how can I put this – quite a ladies’ man”.

Adam looks at me and closes the newspaper.  “Believe me Gail - I haven’t been out or been to bed with for that matter - a quarter of the girls the papers say I have.  If I’d have been with every girl that the newspapers and magazines say I have – well – I’d never had time to play any bloody football, as I would have been too busy shagging!” I can’t help but smile.  “There’s been Sarah and Nicola who you know about already and apart from that there was Sally.  I went out with Sally for about two years before I got signed to Grandmere and there was also a girl called Donna who I got off with in a nightclub once when I was pissed and she made out that we’d had sex in the manager’s office!” Adam continues, looking very indignant.  “I mean – I did kiss her, but I certainly didn’t have sex with her!  It’s all in the past now anyway” he continues and presses my hand to his lips, “I’m with you now and that’s all that matters.  Now – why don’t show me what else you’ve bought today and then I’ll cook us some dinner”.