She Did It: You think you know her - think again.

by Mel Sherratt

  Tamara wished that she could bottle Esther’s confidence. Her own brothers and sister never had any problems. While they got on with their lives, knowing the exact path to follow, Tamara had meandered down a long and windy road with lots of diversions.

  But she was better now. She was much better, actually. Maybe when she next visited the doctor’s surgery he would reduce the dosage of her tablets.

  She grinned, delighted in dreaming about what Esther had suggested. Imagine if the campaign was a success. Tamara could end up with a lot more business. The ideas they’d come up with so far had been innovative, but they did have the best secret weapon possible. The book. Seen enough, it was a sure-fire winner, not like some of the bestsellers she had read that really hadn’t lived up to the hype. It was such an interesting concept, and so brutal.

  Esther had been looking out of the window on to the platform, but she turned back to her with a wicked grin.

  ‘Since we won the pitch for Something’s Got to Give, and found out we were invited to Ascot, I’ve been waiting for this moment.’ Her eyes lit up like a child’s.

  Tamara frowned when she remained quiet. ‘What?’

  ‘You and me.’ Esther pointed to each of them in turn. ‘We’re “Girls on The Train!” Like the Paula Hawkins’ bestseller. Get it?’

  ‘Well,’ she said, nudging her, ‘we’re hardly girls, but yes!’

  As their laughter rang through the carriage, it struck Tamara that she hadn’t laughed so much in a long time. Esther was certainly having a positive effect on her.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Esther felt guilty about Tamara. She was being set up and she didn’t deserve it. But people like her made Esther sick. Brought up in a family with no money worries, she bet all she would have been concerned about as a child was which colour ribbon to put in her hair and whether it matched her fancy dress and shoes. She could bet she didn’t suffer ridicule and bullying to the extent Esther had.

  She could bet Tamara hadn’t wanted to stay away from her fancy school for fear of being called a slag and a slut constantly, being ostracised, getting the occasional thump or kick in the back as girls gathered around her. Esther would bet she would never have failed her exams because she was so stressed over the death of her father, thinking she was to blame.

  Yet hearing her talking about her family, it seemed that Tamara hadn’t had a good time lately either. Even having money didn’t make people happy, it seemed. Although it must help, as privileges wouldn’t have to be earned. Food and clothing, as well as a bed to sleep in would be the norm. It was just love that was missing.

  Esther liked Tamara. She was fun to be around, and she knew she had changed Tamara’s life for the better already, even in the short time that they had known each other.

  She turned her head to her right as something caught her eye. Jack Maitland and four men came rushing across the platform, jumping on to the train with seconds to spare. They were all dressed in stylish suits, which didn’t go well with the red and white flimsy carrier bags they were holding. She watched as they came into the carriage and walked down the aisle, loud and laughing. Oscar was holding his chest, cheeks red at the exertion.

  Through Tamara, she’d learned that Jack was married with twin boys, aged eight. His wife, Natalie, worked in Harrods as a buyer and was often out of the country. Their children had a nanny but were palmed off on grandparents too.

  Esther realised that Jack was above her class but he didn’t really know that, and, even though he repelled her, she still had to seduce him.

  He caught her looking at him. Making his way politely down the aisle, he stopped in front of them.

  ‘Ladies,’ he said with a smile, ‘you both look delightful.’

  Behind him, Oscar nodded. ‘Absolutely stonking,’ he guffawed.

  Esther did her best not to roll her eyes. She smiled as wide as she could, knowing they wouldn’t see how much she hated being with them.

  Jack introduced the other men in their party. If she remembered rightly from the website, Richard, Giles, and Brett worked on the production side of the business.

  ‘There don’t seem to be any spaces left for us to sit altogether,’ Jack pointed out. ‘May we join you?’

  ‘Of course,’ Tamara said.

  Esther smiled widely again. Both men slid into the seats opposite them. Richard, Brett, and Giles sat down a few seats in front.

  Esther glanced around. ‘No Ben?’ she asked.

  ‘He’s got the runs,’ Jack explained. ‘Came on last night, apparently.’

  ‘Poor Ben.’ Tamara doled out the sympathy. ‘That’s terrible at the best of times but awful on a day like this that only comes around once a year. It’s sad that he’ll miss it.’

  ‘He said he might catch a later train and join us if he’s feeling better,’ Jack added.

  ‘Oh, let’s hope so.’

  Esther said nothing. She doubted he would turn up later. He was probably still too embarrassed about their recent spat. She must have made him uncomfortable. Good, he deserved it after his stupid attempt to belittle her, although he needed to man up if he let a small thing like that get to him. She tried to hide her smirk.

  ‘I’m so glad you could both make it today,’ Jack said, sitting opposite her.

  Esther could see his eyes twinkling already, and wondered if he had dabbled in a pick-me-up. She couldn’t see Jack doing that kind of thing, if she was honest, but you never knew with these rich sorts. Esther made it one of her missions to find out before the day was finished.

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it, Jack,’ said Tamara.

  Esther loved Tamara’s posh accent. How she wished she had learned to speak better before now. At least her fake accent didn’t give away exactly where she came from. That would have been embarrassing. She had an edge to her voice, not a rich tone in sight, but she was sure no one would guess where she originated.

  Oscar pulled out a bottle of Bollinger. ‘Let’s get this show on the road,’ he yelled.

  ‘Hurrah!’ she replied, watching Tamara’s smile widen.

  Jack popped the cork, and, without too much overspill, poured champagne into the plastic glasses. Oscar handed them around to their group and they raised them up in the air afterwards.

  ‘A toast, I reckon,’ said Jack. ‘To Dulston Publishing and Parker-Brown PR working well together. And to Something’s Got to Give becoming publishing’s next big thing.’

  ‘The next big thing!’

  Their voices rang out around the carriage, much to the annoyance of the couple that was sitting across the aisle from them. Clearly being in the middle of all these toffs wasn’t something they were comfortable with either.

  ‘There’s no doubt it will be a bestseller,’ Tamara said. ‘Some of the best marketing campaigns have covered abysmal books with no soul or character, and they have still sold in their thousands. We have the most fantastic novel too. It’s going to rock the book world.’

  Jack raised his glass in the air. ‘I’ll drink to that.’ He turned his gaze back to Esther’s. ‘What do you think?’

  Esther leaned forward, playing with the stem of the glass, twirling it back and forth at the base, all the time her gaze never leaving his. ‘I think it will do really well.’ She smiled. ‘I’m positive everything possible is being done to ensure its success.’

  ‘It’s in very good hands.’

  When Jack winked at her, the air between them almost crackled with electricity. Esther noticed that charming twinkle again, hoping it was directed at her.

  Finally, she broke the spell by looking out of the window. She didn’t want to give anything away, not yet. Tamara might put a stop to it and that would never do.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Tamara wished she were as confident as Esther as she surreptitiously watched her chatting across the table to Jack. He was showing her a map of Ascot Racecourse, pointing out where the box he had booked was located.

  Tamara smiled at no one in particular. It was amazing
how easy it was for Esther to talk to people. Oscar had turned to face Richard and was chatting animatedly to him, his feet out in the aisle.

  She sat there feeling a little flustered that no one was talking to her, waiting for someone to notice. She didn’t want to interrupt Jack and Esther, but thought she should have been seated across from him if anyone. It didn’t seem right that he was showing Esther the detailed map of the grounds.

  She supposed she could have joined in, but she wanted them to bring her into the conversation. She didn’t want to come across too needy, not today of all days.

  ‘There’s a new area this year, the Village Enclosure. It looks like it will be a lot of fun, with alfresco dining and cocktail bars. Live bands and DJs even. We have passes to enter.’ Jack tapped on the paper. ‘We also have passes for the Grandstand. We’d have to wear morning dress for the Royal Enclosure—’

  ‘Including top hats?’ Esther queried.

  ‘Yes.’ Jack nodded. ‘I’m not into that much of a malarkey so we won’t be allowed in there. But there is lots to do elsewhere. The day starts at two when the queen rides past for the royal procession. Then the racing begins. There are six in all, the last one at five thirty-five.’

  ‘Sounds exciting,’ she heard Esther say, hanging on to Jack’s every word.

  ‘Once the racing has concluded, it’s live entertainment. Or you can sing around the bandstand, which is another tradition, and a fantastic end to the day, especially with the weather as it is. Then everything wraps up at nine, that’s if anyone is still standing. It’s a long day of drinking and eating.’

  Oscar turned back to her then to refill their glasses.

  ‘Remind me how long you two have worked together before you started on the pitch for us?’ Oscar asked, once he had completed his duties.

  ‘Only for a few weeks,’ Tamara replied. ‘I hired Esther on a temporary basis. She’s been amazing for the business though, as you know.’ She raised her drink in the air and smiled at Esther as she looked over upon hearing her name. ‘She has such a great eye for PR campaigns and is an excellent copywriter.’

  ‘Stop it.’ Esther waved a hand in front of her face. ‘You’re embarrassing me.’

  ‘Sounds like you need to add her to your staff.’ Oscar nodded knowingly. ‘Especially if the campaign for Something’s Got to Give is a triumph. Jack was very impressed.’ He put an arm around the man’s shoulders. ‘Weren’t you, Jack?’

  Jack nodded, his fringe falling in his eyes. He swept it away again before speaking.

  ‘Yes. If this campaign is a success, then I’m sure this might be the start of a long and prosperous partnership. I think you’ll need more staff, then, or a partner maybe.’

  Tamara laughed, a bit intimidated by his openness. She liked Esther, but not enough to make her a partner. She was unwilling to trust anyone for that, even if it meant keeping the business small.

  This venture with Dulston Publishing could be the start of bigger and better things. It could prove her parents wrong, and even make her mother sit up and listen. But Esther would never be her equal, no matter what. She wasn’t of the same class as her, the same breeding.

  Esther had been educated at state school. She hadn’t even been to university. She was fine as an assistant, but it was Tamara who would run the business. Maybe she could keep her on side for a while, fool her into thinking she was more than she was. There was no harm in that.

  She watched as Esther lapped up the attention, her fingers fiddling with her hair, winding down a tendril that had strayed from her updo. Who could blame her? Brains and beauty were a great combination and Esther had them both.

  Tamara had brains, though. People always underestimated her because of her soft streak but she was well aware that Esther could be the one to take her business to higher places. She might come up with the ideas and the campaigns but it would be her name, Parker-Brown PR, that would be on everyone’s lips.

  She gasped inwardly. Gosh, she sounded as stuck-up as her mother!

  ‘One step at a time,’ she said, turning to her employee with a smile.

  Esther raised her drink and clinked the plastic glass with hers, giggling at the silly noise it made.

  The tannoy burst into life and the operator gave a minute’s warning that they would be arriving at Ascot.

  Relief flooded through Tamara. She needed to check on her make-up as she had a feeling, with the heat of the day, she would be looking like a ripened tomato.

  She wafted a hand in front of her face. How on earth the men were feeling with their jackets and waistcoats on top of their shirts she didn’t know. She was practically glowing and not in a good way.

  ‘Ah, Ascot,’ Jack said with a sigh. ‘I used to live here when I was younger.’

  ‘Yes, Tamara mentioned earlier,’ Esther said.

  Tamara turned to her, a puzzled expression on her face. Esther’s tone had a touch of cynicism and iciness about it. But Esther cleared her throat and smiled.

  ‘It’s a beautiful place,’ Jack continued. ‘I was incredibly fortunate to grow up with so much land around me, and of course there were the horses. But I didn’t get to see my parents much. My father was deeply disappointed when I didn’t want to follow his career.’ He went quiet as he gazed out of the window for a moment. Then he turned back to them, his smile returning.

  ‘Do they still live here?’ Tamara asked. ‘Your parents?’

  Jack shook his head. ‘They moved to London in twenty-twelve. Much closer, yet I still don’t see them any more often. Families, huh?’

  As passengers began to get up from their seats and gather together their belongings, they followed suit. Tamara held in a sigh. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who had trouble being everything their parents wanted them to be.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Esther shimmied to the end of her seat and stood up, running a hand down the front of her dress to straighten it out again. Thank goodness it hadn’t creased as much as Tamara’s, which now had more pleats than a Roman blind around her middle.

  She stood in line along with everyone else, feeling the excitement, as they waited for their carriage to come to a stop. As they were ready to disembark, she felt Jack’s hand on the small of her back.

  ‘You smell as gorgeous as you look,’ he whispered into her hair.

  Esther could feel his breath on her neck. She smelt his aftershave, a mixture of black orchids and plums if she wasn’t mistaken. Her cheeks flushed when she glanced at him. Was he flirting with her? And he a married man? Tut, tut. She smiled but chose to say nothing, hearing him chuckle as they moved nearer to the exit.

  Once they were all on the concourse, Jack clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. ‘Let’s do this!’ he cried, pointing in the direction of the taxi rank. ‘Let’s go spend some money.’

  Inside Ascot Racecourse, Esther’s nerves ratcheted up as familiar scents invaded her senses, and scenes around her reminded her of a world she was no longer a part of. She tried to control her breathing, hoping not to get too stressed by the huge throng of people they joined as they made their way to their box. It might seem strange but, unless she was out on the steal, she hated such close proximity to so many people. The sense of isolation engulfed her more. She was certainly a nobody in this crowd.

  Jack had been right. The dress wear did seem more apt for a wedding. The men were mostly wearing suits, and the women were far better dressed than she had anticipated. She cursed under her breath. How could she have thought she looked acceptable this morning? Some of their hats alone must have cost more than the dress Tamara had bought for her. And these women oozed class too, whereas she was only pretending.

  Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to come here after all. Too many memories were forcing themselves to the front of her mind, suffocating her, reminders in every direction she looked. And the horses. How she missed the horses.

  ‘Man up, Esther,’ she muttered under her breath and lifted her shoulders in the hope it would
bring back the confidence she had felt deserting her.

  She tried, really tried, but she couldn’t get lost in the excitement that was buzzing in the air. It all seemed such rigmarole. Men walking around like penguins and women like porcelain dolls. It wasn’t her scene at all. And there were so many people. A feeling of light-headedness began to envelop her as people pushed and cajoled her.

  Luckily, once they had been shown to the box, Esther could relax a little. The room Jack had chosen was in prime position. It would comfortably hold about twenty people, standing-room only, but today had been laid out for lunch. Three round tables with cream underclothes and square, purple tablecloths over them stood in a line. The wall to their right was lined with waist-high cabinets, with a black marble worktop full of drinks and glasses. Coffee cups and hot water dispensers stood at the ready, and trays of pastries. She saw Richard take one. As he caught her eye, he looked at her sheepishly.

  ‘Travel sick,’ he explained, wiping crumbs from his mouth. ‘Need a little sugar.’

  Esther nodded, knowing exactly how he felt. She was nauseous too but it was with nerves and trepidation, hate and revenge churning her up in knots.

  Beyond them all was a glass partition overlooking the racecourse, with a door leading on to a small terrace. She moved towards it to look out. Below them, thousands of people were sitting in their seats, walking around or stopping to chat. She was so glad she was up here, out of the way, and that there was somewhere to place their bets quite close by. She wouldn’t have to leave the box if she didn’t want to.

  Jack came to stand beside her, holding two glasses of champagne. He passed one to her.

  ‘I’ve heard from a good source that they have over three thousand staff on hand this week,’ he told her.

  Esther raised her eyebrows in jest, remembering those figures as part of their pitch. ‘I wonder where I’ve heard that before.’