‘What the?’
‘Oh shit dogs. Oh baby, we could … oh hell. Oh this is all wrong, I have to go. I’m sorry. Fuck it!’ stuttered Tiger, jumping up and grabbing her handbag. ‘Shit shit shit!’ She turned back and scribbled her autograph right across the now-crumpled despatch forms. Within seconds Tiger had bolted from the building to a rousing chorus of cheers from the workmen as she dodged past, frantically tugging her hemline to sit at her knees. Outside, Tiger stopped to gulp some air. There sat Vladimir in the Towncar as it purred calmly in the fresh air of the no-man’s-land of Tower Hamlets, waiting to rescue her. Thank god, she thought, jumping inside.
‘Blue? I swear I saw Johnnie. How did he know where I was? I’m sure he’s been sending the letters. He must be. There’s no other explanation.’ The words poured out as Tiger panted. ‘Vladimir, drive round the block once, before you go to Knightsbridge. I need to look for someone,’ she ordered. Blue delicately wiped an oily smudge from her chin.
‘Calm down, darling. I didn’t see Johnnie out here. You must have been mistaken.’
‘Blue, it was him! I’m sure of it. It’s getting creepy now. He seems to know where I am all the time! I mean, who tells him this shit? He must follow me.’
‘He’s harmless, and you’re paranoid,’ Blue sighed. ‘Okay, so how do you explain the pink card in the bouquet last week?’
‘Well, most girls like pink. It’s a fair choice of colour. God, you were in a weird mood that night.’
‘Then how about this. Johnnie knows where I live. He was outside my house after that press story with a posy. He always finds out where all my shows and appearances are. Think about the letters. “I know where you live.” “I watch you sleeping.” “I know what underwear you have on today.” “I know your secret.” And what about that one that arrived in Vegas …’ Tiger trailed off, remembering she hadn’t been telling Blue about the latest little batch.
‘Woah there. What’s all this new stuff?’ exclaimed Blue, pulling a hip flask from his satchel. ‘I don’t think you’ve been giving me the whole story. Now, have a nip of gin and calm down. I calculate we have around thirty minutes before we get to Knightsbridge and you are going to tell me about every single pink letter that you’ve kept quiet. Got it? And only then can you tell me how you came to have grease and gold paint on your chin and your – your thighs.’
Tiger nodded and swiped the hip flask from his hands with a wicked glint in her eye.
‘Did I hear the word “lunch”?’ asked Rex hopefully.
‘Well, it’s 12.45, so I guess—’ started Sienna.
‘Great. Driver, change of plan. Could you swing round and take us to The Ivy, please,’ he ordered. ‘I’ll ring ’em now, babes, and make sure they have a table.’
Sienna sighed. Dining out again. She would have to get her butt down the gym soon – she had definitely noticed her size 6 outfits feeling a bit snug. Sienna had never had to worry in the past about what she ate, but she figured the constant flow of champagne and being driven everywhere might have something to do with her recently expanding in the arse department.
She looked out of the black cab window as it crawled through the throngs of tourists on Shaftesbury Avenue and finally conceded she was struggling to keep up with Rex. She did her best to be indispensable, both as an employee and as a lover, but it was starting to wear her out. Rex never stopped. All his business seemed to be done over breakfast, lunch or dinner, or on his mobile in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. And then he would continue in the evening after dinner, networking or buttering up editors and clients alike at members’ clubs and parties. It was almost a relief when he went away on his numerous little business trips so she could put her feet up at home, have a face mask, slop around in her pjs, and give her professional smile a rest for a night.
Of course, Rex was incredibly discreet where work was concerned; he was the consummate professional. In fact no amount of alcoholic or chemical substance ever seemed to touch the sides with him. Sienna found it slightly scary how he managed to remain in control at all times. Rex had a knack of getting his associates completely kaboo-bied by the end of a meeting, but he always worked his charm to the very last second, and he always remembered absolutely every word and every promise that had been uttered. Sienna guessed that kind of dedication was what made him one step ahead in business. Every media personality wanted Rex Hunter behind them. So did every woman, sighed Sienna, trying not to think about all the actresses, models and PR girls who seemed to chuck themselves at him on a daily and nightly basis right in front of her. It would help if Rex would introduce her as ‘my girlfriend’ once in a while, rather than as ‘my assistant’.
As the cab pulled up at The Ivy, Rex clocked the usual smattering of paps outside.
‘Hmm, wonder who’s in today?’ he muttered to himself, peeling a note from the large wad in his inside pocket and throwing it at the cab driver. ‘Keep the change mate. Right, come on, Sienna let’s see what’s on at the circus.’
He charged through to reception and greeted the maître d’ like an old friend.
‘Come on, babes, we’ve got our usual table,’ said Rex, ushering Sienna into the restaurant. She had learnt never to look around at the people in a room when she entered, or she would look like a star-fucker or a tourist. Instead, she now waited until she was settled at her table, seat or space at the bar, before having a quick survey of the room just before reaching for her handbag; and then if she saw anyone she wanted a closer look at, she would take out her compact and hold it up in their direction so she could stare for a few more seconds whilst looking as though powdering her nose. Any more staring or surreptitious glancing was strictly off limits, in fact, the said celebrity would then have to be studiously ignored until they got up to leave, at which point generally the whole room would stare for the duration of their exit.
Safely at her table, Sienna flicked her eyes around. A high-profile radio presenter and a comedian sat to her right. She didn’t bother with her compact.
‘What do you fancy?’ asked Rex.
‘Oh, I haven’t looked at the menu yet.’
‘No I mean to drink. Bolli or Stolli?’
‘Um, actually I might have some water, thanks.’
‘Water? Jeez, fish fuck in that stuff. Choose something else.’
‘No really. It’s a bit early for me. I’m okay with a Perrier. I’ll have some champagne with you later.’
‘Hmm. Whatever you say. Bottle of the Bollinger Grand Annee Rosé please and thanks,’ ordered Rex as the waiter swooped. ‘Ahh. Can’t beat a bit of pink,’ sighed Rex, rubbing his hands together and studying his menu.
‘Well, if it isn’t the two lovebirds,’ boomed a familiar voice.
‘Lance! Mate! To what do we owe the pleasure?’ said Rex cheerily. Sienna rolled her eyes and curled her lip from behind her menu. She wasn’t sure about Lance any more. He’d obviously had sex with her sister for a start – ugh – and he also intimidated Sienna the more she got to know him. From sitting in on meetings with him and Rex it was quite evident from his monologues and critiques that Lance had a mind like a steel trap, and a mischievous streak verging on merciless. Sienna wondered whether Tiger was brave or just stupid to have got close to him. Though her sister obviously liked intelligent, witty men. From what Lance had hinted, she sensed the pair had enjoyed a long relationship, long enough for Lance to have felt burned by Tiger finishing with him. It was weird though that Tiger had never mentioned him once, though they didn’t often share confidences.
Sienna certainly found she couldn’t relax around Lance, and she never knew whether to take him seriously or if he was pulling her leg. Rex had told her she would have to get used to people like that in the PR business. Sienna just found it exhausting keeping up with it all.
‘Who are you here with, mate?’ asked Rex.
‘Oh I’m sitting over the other side in social Siberia with Devon Sexton’s manager,’ Lance said under his breath, crouching down to Rex’s
level.
‘Oh? Where’s Devon then? She’s a bit of a babe that one.’
Sienna scowled over at Rex.
‘Well, I’ve got this big feature on her now she’s got her “Devon Rocks” tour coming up. Her bloody management won’t let me near her until they’ve given me the official Hollywood story. Honestly, mate, they’re all so bloody media trained these days, I can’t get a single interesting scrap of gossip out of them. Not like the old days.’
‘Yeah, I’m on the other side though,’ protested Rex, ‘and believe me, most of the “talent” out there can’t string a sentence together. The managers have to give ’em a script to stop them gabbing on to sharks like you about how many pills they necked at the weekend.’
‘Well, bollocks to the manager, I’ll just insist on taking Devon to lunch somewhere miles away, the Fat Duck or something, so we have a long journey; she’ll run out of the official story in about ten minutes flat. Then we make friends and I’ll talk about my new puppy or my mum or something, then I’ll move in for the kill on the way back when she’s forgotten I’m a journalist and thinks we’re best buddies.’ Lance paused and looked at Sienna whose mouth was open as she listened. ‘Are you writing this down? Good for you to know the tricks.’ Lance winked in her direction. Sienna smiled and hastily buried her head back in her menu.
‘Mate, can you sit with the little lady for two minutes while I go and decant?’ asked Rex.
‘Sure. My pleasure!’ replied Lance as Sienna looked up like a rabbit in the headlights. Before she had a chance to politely decline, Rex was off to the gents and Lance was already in his chair and leaning in.
‘So how is the delectable Miss Starr?’
‘I’m good thanks,’ replied Sienna self consciously. ‘You?’
‘How’s Miss Starr Senior?’ asked Lance, ignoring Sienna’s question.
‘Yeah, er, she’s good I think. She’s in Cannes next week doing a show.’
‘Cannes eh? Who’s that for?’
‘Some royalty, or something. I don’t keep up to date I’m afraid.’
‘You close to Tiger?’
‘Well, she’s my sister.’
‘That’s not what I asked.’ A smile crept across Lance’s face. Sienna looked nervous. Lance backed off. ‘Okay, so let’s just kill time. I’ve always wanted to know, where did she get her stage name?’
‘Why don’t you ask her yourself?’
Lance arched an eyebrow at her.
‘Oh that’s right, you don’t really talk any more do you.’ Sienna smirked. ‘Well, let’s see now. She always says she chose “Starr” because she used to like watching the stars as a kid whenever she felt lonely. She says she believed there was one up there for everyone.’
‘Whenever she felt lonely? I know it’s a long way to Tipperary but it aint exactly the Gobi Desert.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Ireland. She grew up in Ireland, didn’t she?’
‘Er, no! We grew up in Hertfordshire.’
‘Darling, I’m sure you’ve worked this out by now, but I have known your sister in the biblical sense. She once told me on a late boozy night about growing up in Clonmel, after I introduced her to my greyhound Paddy, from Ireland.’
‘Oh yeah, ’cos my sister has such a strong Irish accent – how silly of me not to notice.’
‘Well, okay maybe there’s no accent, but—’
‘Look I think you’re confused. Sure, Mum had Irish parents but she was born in Kilburn. After she met Dad they lived in Hertfordshire, like, forever ’til they died.’
‘No, I definitely remember … ah. You know what, sorry, I must be thinking of someone else.’
‘You’re right about that.’
‘So go on, you were saying about her stage name.’
Sienna had learnt enough from her time at Hunter Gatherers to know that she shouldn’t crawl into the detail with a hack like Lance so she simply repeated the fiction that ‘Tiger’ had been her sister’s nickname for as long as she remembered. In fact, because of the age gap between them, she couldn’t remember her sister being referred to as anything else. In fact her parents hardly mentioned her at all throughout Sienna’s childhood.
‘So … hang on, how can you be a Starr too in that case? I’m confused.’
‘It’s quite simple really. I just liked Tiger’s stage name better than our boring family name and I decided to change it after our mum and dad died.’
‘Yeah, I heard about that. Must have been tough to lose both your folks like that.’ Lance paused. ‘You changed it from what?’
‘Oh nothing special. I thought Starr sounded – well, like a movie star. It was an improvement on my old name, put it that way.’
‘Which was?’
Sienna stopped and took a deep breath. She managed to look at Lance straight in the eye.
‘Why all the questions?’
‘Just curious! A choice of name says a lot about someone. I’m interested! You know me, I’m a journo. I get paid to be nosey. C’mon … it’s just harmless fun to kill the time!’ Lance winked and put his hand on Sienna’s arm. She tensed.
‘Relax! So come on, what’s your family name?’
‘I don’t want to say.’
‘Something to hide?’
‘No.’
‘Sounds like you have to me,’ Lance goaded.
‘Oh for god’s sake. It’s Adams!’ The diners on the surrounding tables looked around at Sienna. She lowered her voice. ‘Sienna Adams. Satisfied?’
‘That your real name?’
‘Yes!’
‘Why the big secrecy over that?’ Lance shrugged.
‘I don’t know …’ Sienna looked uncomfortable as Lance stared at her intensely. She felt like he was already reading her thoughts. Her shoulders dropped and she turned her face to him.
‘Oh alright, If you must know I got bullied at school. They all used to … sing the theme song from the Addams Family.’ Lance stifled a laugh. Sienna ignored it and continued, ‘I’ve had a – a thing about it ever since. Look, don’t laugh, I’m really touchy about it. Really touchy. School wasn’t – it was bloody awful if you must know.’
‘Oh darling, I’m sorry. Truly I am.’ The waiter appeared at the table with more pink champagne. Sienna watched as he let the cork out with a sigh. She was pleased at the distraction.
‘I got bullied too if it makes any difference,’ said Lance as the waiter disappeared.
‘Yeah? What for?’
‘I used to get chased around the football pitch with penknives and called “Daddy Long Legs”.’ Lance smiled.
‘Oh yeah? Well, I got “Twiglet Legs”.’
They both looked at each other and burst out laughing.
‘So is Sienna your real name?’
‘Yes!’
‘Well, after all that secrecy I’m not sure whether to believe you.’
‘What?’ she replied, looking alarmed. Wild horses wouldn’t get her to reveal that along with adopting Starr as her surname, she had dropped her dorky Christian name in favour of her middle name. Unlike the name her parents had given her, Sienna Starr was a name destined for stardom. Now her heart was beating loudly as she wondered how on earth Lance would come to know her real name.
‘Well, Sienna,’ started Lance. ‘For all I know, you could be called Wednesday.’
‘Huh?’
‘Wednesday Addams?’
‘Oh ha bloody ha,’ said Sienna, realising with relief her leg had been pulled yet again. Where was Rex anyway? she thought irritably, realising he’d been gone for an age. Sienna looked over towards the restrooms to see him bowling over towards them mighty cheerfully. A table of attractive women stared at him as he passed and nudged each other. One of them made a ‘phwoaar’ face. Sienna was really fed up now.
‘What took you so long, Rex?’ she asked as he approached.
‘God, women, they all turn into nags don’t they,’ remarked Rex, taking back his seat. ‘You’re too young to be a nag, Sienn
a, tone it down, babes.’ Sienna sighed and turned to her menu once again.
‘Okay, I’m off,’ announced Lance, ‘be good, you two.’
‘Yeah, see you, mate. Have fun with Devon and er – don’t do anything I would,’ said Rex, winking. With that Lance disappeared back to his table, humming the Addams Family theme song as he went. Sienna fumed underneath her forced smile.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked Rex, sensing her tension.
‘Nothing, it’s just – Rex? Is that …? Oh for goodness’ sake, so that’s why you were gone so long. Will you wipe your nose, please?’ Sienna bristled as she passed him her napkin. Rex waved it away laughing, and took a huge wet sniff followed by a swig of champagne. Sienna sat there simmering. She couldn’t believe he was on it so early in the day. How did he manage it?
Rex was now making eyes back at the table of ladies.
‘Rex, don’t embarrass me. And why are you getting high now anyway?’ she snapped. ‘I thought it was something we did together – our special thing. Since when did you start doing it in the daytime?’
‘Babe, I’ve been doing chang longer than you’ve been alive. Now quit with the nagging, you’re turning into a bore,’ he retorted, washing back his vintage rosé.
The words stung. Sienna felt well and truly out of her depth in every way. She decided she really should have some champagne after all, and leaned over to pour herself a glass. Her mind kept flicking back to the exchange with Lance. Something just didn’t sit right. Why was he so interested in her and Tiger anyway? And that weird comment about where she grew up, arguing with her as if she wouldn’t know what country her own sister had grown up in. Okay, so there were ten years between them, and Tiger was always away at boarding school but her folks told her everything about Tiger she needed to know; not that there was anything that interesting.
God, Sienna hated how Lance had a knack of wheedling information out of people; she mentally kicked herself for giving in to him. There was no question, she had to harden up; learn from the tough guys. She’d dipped her toe and got eaten up for breakfast by Bob Bell. Now it was time for her to find a way to prove she could really play with the big boys. Then Rex wouldn’t find her such a bore, would he?
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