‘Well just watch the little shit,’ said Seb. ‘He’s got the ear of Sally and Lisa and they’ve got him on a very loose rein. That’s how he got Little Miss Chocolate Drop on the show.’
‘Seb, you can’t say that!’
He raised his wine glass to her. ‘Darling, I can say what the hell I want. There’s only you and me here and, besides... I think she’s lovely. If I wasn’t gay, I’d be up her like a rat up a drainpipe.’
‘You’re incorrigible.’
He wagged a finger at her. ‘I knew there was something I had to tell you. Are you free on Friday?’
‘What have you got in mind?’
‘I’ve been invited to a charity do, making wishes come true for kids with terminal illnesses. We’ve got a table and they want to offer an auction prize of lunch with the stars. I thought you and I could do it.’
‘Lunch with a stranger? Oh come on, Seb. We might get stuck with stalkers.’
‘It’ll be all tightly controlled. And the guy I spoke to says they expect the prizes to go for thousands so that’ll weed out the nutters. Come on darling, I already said you’d do it. There’s a group from Les Mis doing a few numbers and the champagne’s going to be flowing like, well, like champagne.’
‘Seb,..’
‘Pretty please?’ He pouted.
‘Okay, but your driver takes me from here and takes me home afterwards.’
‘Young Martin can drive you back.’
Carolyn’s jaw dropped. ‘He’s not going, is he?’
Seb laughed. ‘Your face,’ he said, ‘Of course not. It’s the stars they want, not the bloody network leeches. Yes, we’ll take you there and we’ll drop you home afterwards. And wear something sexy, we’ll see if we can get your price up.’
There was a knock on the door and a female runner appeared with Seb’s lunch, a plate of smoked salmon and a salad. Carolyn left Seb to his food.
CHAPTER 29
Seb’s driver was a thirty-something Glaswegian with a shaved head and a small diamond stud in his left ear. Like Billy, he drove a Mercedes but, unlike Billy, he was an aggressive driver, cursing and swearing whenever anyone caused him to brake and with an unhealthy tendency to pound on his horn to voice his displeasure. Carolyn couldn’t understand why Seb put up with it. She would have been a nervous wreck if he’d been her regular driver. Seb patted her on the knee and flashed her a beaming smile. ‘You’re a trooper for coming,’ he said.
‘It’s for charity, and it’s Friday so I can have a lie-in tomorrow. But I’m a bit worried about this buy-a-date thing.’
‘It’s lunch,’ said Seb. ‘And you won’t be on your own. The charity sends along a chaperone, if you want one. And, like I said, the cost will be way out of the price range of any would-be stalkers. Last year some internet whizz-kid paid thirty grand for lunch with Patsy Kensit. He was a big fan of that movie she did, way back when.’
‘Absolute Beginners,’ said Carolyn. ‘David Bowie was in it. And James Fox.’
He patted her on the knee again. ‘Anyway, don’t worry. Seriously. The auction is usually about ten, so I can have you home by midnight if it’s all too terrible for you.’
Carolyn saw flashes off in the distance and she realised they were almost at the hotel. As always, the paparazzi were lined up outside but, thankfully, they had been herded behind a metal barrier. Several of the more enthusiastic photographers had brought stepladders with them so they could get a better view. She took a small mirror out of her Prada bag and checked her make-up.
‘Darling, you look lovely,’ said Seb, adjusting his tie. The car pulled up in front of the hotel. ‘Once more into the breech.’ He waited for the driver to climb out, walk around the car and open the door. He stepped out, grinned at the waiting photographers and held out a hand for Carolyn. The flashes intensified as Carolyn stepped out of the Mercedes. She was wearing a figure-hugging Alexander McQueen dress and Prada shoes that matched her bag.
She stood with Seb, moving her gaze from camera to camera. ‘Is Seb your new boyfriend, then, Carolyn?’ shouted one of the photographers.
‘Just good friends,’ said Carolyn.
‘Very good friends,’ said Seb, patting her on the arm.
‘Over here, Carolyn!’ shouted a female photographer at the side of the group and Carolyn turned to give her a full on smile. Her face was starting to ache, but it was part of the job and she knew she had to literally grin and bear it.
Another limousine pulled up, so Seb and Carolyn moved inside the hotel to give the new arrivals the limelight. There was a second area for photographs with a board filled with the names and logos of the event sponsors. There was a taped cross on the floor and Seb and Carolyn took their mark with no help needed from the flustered PR who was checking off names on a clipboard. There was a single photographer with a top-of-the-range Nikon. He took three quick snaps and winked. ‘Thanks guys,’ he said, clearly appreciating their professionalism.
