MADE IN ESSEX

by Laura Ziepe

  ‘We’ve got this photo shoot in Hertfordshire. I only came round quickly to say hello.’ Kelly added some lip gloss, because it had been kissed off.

  ‘Okay, babe. Have a good time and make sure you get some good images for your business. Close-up shots and everything.’

  ‘We will,’ Kelly smiled lovingly, finding it adorable that he always tried to help.

  ‘Oh before you go, I wanted to ask you if you’re free next Wednesday? Gary has asked us to go to dinner with him and his girlfriend.’

  ‘Course I can,’ Kelly agreed, despite the fact she hated Gary. He was always undermining her and trying to make her look like a fool. Like the time when he laughed at her and brusquely informed her that Europe was a continent and not a country. How many people must make that mistake – yet he spoke to her like she was stupid! Or the time when they were discussing clay pigeon shooting and she said she thought it was horrific that people harmed poor innocent little birds. Gary had laughed and in a scathing voice told her it was clay shells they shot and not the actual pigeons. Like it was obvious or something! He was such a Mr know-it-all and Kelly always had a bad feeling when he was around. He made her scared to speak because he just constantly criticised her every word. But Billy thought he was wonderful unfortunately, and there was nothing she could do to convince him otherwise.

  ‘Gary hasn’t got it in for you,’ he’d told her one night when they’d all gone out for drinks to celebrate after they’d done a big deal. ‘He just thinks you’re funny. You have to admit you say some funny things at times.’

  ‘Yes I know that, but he looks down on me,’ she’d replied, raising her eyes lugubriously. ‘He hates me.’

  ‘He doesn’t hate you! Don’t be so silly,’ Billy laughed. ‘You have to remember that he let me go to Marbella. I pretty much left him in the lurch because I was down at the time and wanted to get away and he let me. I’ve known him and his family for years and he’s done a lot for me. He’s a great friend and I promise he doesn’t hate you.’

  Kelly still didn’t believe him. Of course Gary disliked her. Why would he constantly try to put her down otherwise? His girlfriend, Charlotte, was quite nice. God only knew how she put up with him, she thought, as she kissed Billy goodbye one last time and made her way outside to her white Mini.

  Lisa, Chloe and Jade were already there when Kelly arrived at the studio. The photographer, Martin Lee, was in his late forties with an immaculate head of thick dark hair, which he kept brushing over to one side.

  ‘Hi,’ he said politely, ‘you must be Kelly.’

  ‘Hi, babe,’ she said, shaking his hand.

  ‘Nice to meet you. Jade has already said you need to do the girls’ hair and make-up. We’re going to be using the plain white and black backgrounds for now, but as I was telling Jade, when the weather improves you could always do a weekend shoot and we can go outside. I have a swimming pool and we can get some fantastic shots in the sunshine – if it ever comes out!’ he said jokingly.

  ‘Oh my God, that would be amazing,’ Kelly said, imagining how professional their website would look. ‘We one hundred per cent have to use the swimming pool when it’s hot.’

  Lisa walked over. ‘Come on, sort me out. I need making over. I’m so tired today and have huge bags under my eyes,’ she said, pointing them out.

  ‘You’ll look as good as new in no time,’ Kelly smiled, getting out her make-up bag. Forty minutes later, Lisa and Chloe looked phenomenal. Kelly had used her MAC black kohl eyeliner and grey, silver and black eye shadow on Lisa for a sexy, smoky look, with her long dark hair dead straight in a centre parting. Chloe was going to be modelling the lighter, pastel-coloured bikinis, so she’d made her hair big, wavy and bouncy and used more natural make-up with a touch of mascara and pink Dior lipstick and blusher, which gave her a girly, innocent face.

  ‘Okay,’ Martin said to Lisa, who was going first. ‘If you want to stand there so I can do a light test.’ He snapped away on his camera.

  ‘Should I be posing now?’ Lisa asked dubiously.

  ‘No, it’s fine. I’m just testing,’ Martin explained.

  It didn’t take Lisa long to relax and before they knew it she was posing and getting the hang of it, with Martin’s help. Kelly had a sneaky look at the images on Martin’s camera. They looked fantastic, especially the ones with the black background, which really made the colours in the bikini stand out. Next, it was Chloe’s turn. She walked on set nervously, looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights, but after about ten minutes she was moving in positions without Martin even needing to tell her.

  ‘That’s beautiful!’ Martin exclaimed as she twisted and pouted, ‘you’re a natural.’

  Kelly agreed. Chloe was definitely a natural, and the camera, not surprisingly, loved her. She looked like a gorgeous angel, or a pretty doll, and Kelly knew anyone that saw these images would want to buy the bikinis.

  ‘Chloe babe, you look unreal,’ Kelly admired. ‘How do you know what to do?’

  Chloe gave a nervous laugh. ‘I don’t! I’m just making it up.’

  ‘Well, keep doing what you’re doing,’ Martin conceded.

  ‘Thanks so much for helping, girls,’ Kelly said when they were finished. ‘I can’t wait to see the images when they’re all done. We’ll email them to you. You’ll both model them on the catwalk at Essex Fashion Week, won’t you? We’ve signed up to have our bikinis on stage!’

  ‘What? You never mentioned that!’ Lisa panicked.

  ‘Oh come on, it’s no different to a photo shoot,’ Jade told her. ‘How can you be worried, with your figure?’

  ‘I could do with bigger boobs!’ Lisa said, looking down at her chest.

  ‘Join the club!’ Jade agreed.

  ‘I’m seriously considering getting mine done,’ Lisa explained as they made their way to their cars.

  ‘I know a great surgeon one of my clients has been to. I’ll give you his details if you like?’ Kelly offered.

  Kelly noticed how quiet Chloe was tonight and wondered if something was wrong with her. She was normally softly spoken and never exactly loud, but she could sense she was worrying about something. She’d been texting on her phone all evening too, and Kelly was certain she’d seen Adele’s name on the screen.

  ‘Are you okay, Chloe?’

  She nodded weakly. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Just tired.’

  Kelly nodded, unconvinced.

  ‘Chloe!’ Martin called, appearing from nowhere.

  She turned with an apprehensive expression. ‘Yes?’

  ‘Look, I don’t know if you’re interested in modelling, but with your height and natural ability I just wanted to give you the contact details of a reputable agency in London. There’s no up-front payment or anything like that, and if you send those images in, I really believe you’re just the sort of girl that they’d like to take on. Have a think about it.’ He handed her a card. ‘I can see you getting lots of work.’

  Chloe looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her up. ‘Thanks.’ She took the card, her cheeks turning pink.

  ‘Go Chloe!’ Lisa grinned. ‘Little model in the making!’

  ‘I doubt it,’ Chloe said modestly.

  ‘Good for you, babe,’ Kelly grabbed her hand and squeezed it. ‘We’ll send you your photos and you send them to that agency.’

  Chloe smiled sweetly. ‘Thanks so much for everything girls.’

  ‘We should be thanking you!’ Jade replied graciously. ‘What’s your favourite bikini?’

  Chloe thought for a moment. ‘I think the pink one in the “No Carbs before Marbs” collection.’

  ‘Then come over one night this week and we’ll have made you one,’ Kelly said, reaching for her phone in her bag as it started ringing. She answered it, not knowing the number.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Oh hi there,’ the unfamiliar voice started. ‘Is this Kelly, the beautician?’

  ‘Yes, that’s me,’ Kelly replied in her most professional-sounding voice
.

  ‘Great. I’ve been recommended to come to you and my friend and I would like to get a manicure and pedicure done if possible?’

  ‘Okay, fantastic. When were you thinking?’

  ‘Tomorrow evening? Six-thirty?’

  Kelly was relieved that she was free. ‘That should be fine. What are your names please?’

  ‘Hilary Salmon and Susan Jacobs.’

  ‘Hilary Salmon and Susan Jacobs. Perfect,’ Kelly replied. ‘I’ll text you the address to this number. See you then!’

  She put the phone down and searched for a pen. ‘Has anyone got a pen? And a bit of paper?’ she asked, when she couldn’t find one in her bag.

  ‘I have a pen, but no paper,’ Jade responded, while Lisa and Chloe shook their heads. ‘See, I told you, you need a diary! And you’ve also just reminded me that I don’t have mine still. I’m going to have to get another one until Tony gets back and I can look at his house to see if it’s there.’

  ‘Oh sod it; I’ll just put it in my phone for now. What did I say their names were? Hilary Haddock or something?’

  Lisa laughed loudly. ‘I’m sure you said Salmon!’

  Kelly typed their names into her phone. She loved getting new clients; the more money the better.

  Chloe kissed her goodbye as she got in Jade’s car and thanked her for doing her hair and make-up again. What a lovely girl, Kelly acknowledged. Still, there was definitely something bothering her tonight though, she would lay money on it.

  CHAPTER 6

  A few days later, Adele was on her way to see Chloe. She knew she’d most probably have the images by now and she wanted to see what they looked like. Her photo shoot with Skye was booked for tomorrow and she needed her photos to look better. She needed people to want to buy her bikinis instead of Kelly and Jade’s, and surely a professional model and photographer would be the answer? Adele marched up the path and rang the doorbell and had to contain her laughter as she saw Chloe’s shocked expression as she opened the door.

  ‘Oh! Adele …’

  ‘Hi, hun,’ Adele said with a forced smile as she barged her way in. She’d always liked Chloe, but her lack of confidence and shy ways were beginning to annoy her. She knew she felt bad about Jade and Kelly, but that was just tough luck. Adele needed to know everything they were up to and Chloe was just the person to tell her, whether she liked it or not.

  ‘You may as well come up to my room,’ Chloe said walking up the stairs, ‘my dad is in the lounge watching football and my mum is cooking our dinner in the kitchen.’

  ‘Okay babe,’ Adele replied, wondering whether they could perhaps squeeze another plate for her round the table. She’d been sewing bikinis all day and she realised she’d only eaten some toast and two bags of Hula Hoops. A nice home-cooked meal was exactly what she wanted. She needed to go food shopping desperately, but didn’t have the time with her new business. Every minute of the day counted and all she’d done for the past several days was work, work, work. She honestly didn’t know how people did it all the time. Waking up to an alarm in the morning was torture, but she had to get her website up quickly; there was no way she was losing out to Jade and Kelly. This was a battle she was going to win. She had now designed twelve bikinis, which were all copies from Jade and Kelly’s book but slightly different. Better, in her opinion. She couldn’t wait to see Skye strut her stuff the next day and put Lisa and Chloe to shame. It was going to be hilarious to see their photos and compare them to hers!

  ‘So,’ Adele exhaled, when they reached Chloe’s room. ‘Tell me everything about the shoot. How was it?’ she asked as she descended into a chair and put her feet up on the bed.

  ‘Yeah, I think we did okay,’ Chloe said earnestly.

  ‘Show me the images then,’ Adele replied casually, drumming her fingers. She spun the swivel chair round to face the computer. ‘Are they on here?’

  Chloe jumped, as though she’d been electrocuted. ‘Errr … wait, I’ll see if I can find them …’

  ‘Don’t be shy, Chloe. I know they’ll have sent them to you by now and I thought we had a deal. Don’t pretend you don’t have them because I know you do. They’re the ones in the wrong remember? Not me. They’ve completely stolen my whole business idea,’ Adele said indignantly.

  ‘How can you be so sure?’ Chloe replied mutinously.

  ‘Chloe, I came up with the idea in Marbella last year! I stupidly told them my plans and now look what they’ve done! I’m livid,’ Adele said, waving her hands as she spoke.

  Chloe quailed at Adele’s incandescent expression. ‘Okay, I believe you.’

  ‘Finally,’ Adele replied curtly, rolling her eyes. ‘Now show me the images,’ she commanded.

  Chloe shook the mouse on the computer, making it come to life, and then clicked on her photos so Adele could view them.

  Adele was fuming as she clicked through the photos of Chloe looking amazing in their swimwear. How did she look so bloody good when she hadn’t even modelled before? she wondered irritably. This photographer was cheap too! She’d seen his prices written in that notebook of theirs! So why did everything look so good? Oh well, Adele reassured herself, my images will be even better than this.

  ‘Did they discuss any other ideas?’

  Chloe faltered. ‘Errr … I don’t think so …’

  ‘Chloe?’ Adele’s voice was harsh and demanding.

  ‘Something about Essex Fashion Week,’ Chloe responded hastily, caving in.

  ‘Mmm … I read about them doing that already. I’ve already booked to go myself.’

  ‘Read where?’

  ‘Never mind. Was there anything else? Did they share any other designs they were going to be creating apart from the ones they’ve already done?’

  Chloe shook her head. ‘No, I swear they didn’t mention anything else.’

  Adele believed her. She was a quivering wreck around her and made it so blatantly obvious when she was lying. She almost felt sorry for her. ‘Look Chloe, it’s okay. I’m your friend, remember? I’m only doing what needs to be done. I’m the innocent victim in all this, not them, so don’t feel bad for telling me what they’re up to. Jade doesn’t really like you, silly. She’s just nice to you because you’re Sam’s little sister. I heard her saying it when I bumped into her in Buckhurst Hill the other day. She feels she has to include you so she looks good to Sam. You know that don’t you? You understand?’

  Chloe nodded, her eyes glistening.

  ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ve known you since you were little and we’ve always got on so well, haven’t we? We used to sit up talking about boys for hours. Do you remember?’

  Chloe’s mouth curved into a smile. ‘Yes, I remember. Do you remember that time when we pranked that girl on the phone who was being horrible to me at school? You called her up and put on that scary voice.’

  Adele laughed, ‘Yes, I remember that.’

  ‘I’m sorry I doubted you,’ Chloe said, her eyes down-cast.

  Adele was about to say it was all okay when she noticed the model agency card by the computer. ‘What’s this? Elite Model Management,’ she read the silver words printed on the card.

  ‘Oh,’ Chloe replied, discomfited. ‘Just something the photographer gave me. He told me I should contact them or something stupid,’ she waved her hand, dismissing the idea.

  A familiar feeling of jealousy crept throughout Adele’s veins. ‘If he told you that you should contact them, then why don’t you?’ she demanded.

  Chloe gulped. ‘I doubt they’ll want me. The girls on their website look so tall and slim.’

  Adele looked at Chloe. Yes, she was stunning, with penetrating green eyes like Sam’s, and she supposed she was tall enough too, but a real model? No way. She didn’t have a high-fashion, edgy look at all in her opinion. Adele wanted Chloe to send her images across so she got rejected, which she was certain she would. She was aware everyone must always tell Chloe how pretty she was; she deserved to be knocked down a peg or two. Pretty by no mea
ns equalled model. Adele watched Britain’s Next Top Model. She knew the type of girls that won that show! They often looked like skeletons or aliens, with lank hair and pale white skin. Yes, Chloe needed to realise that she wasn’t perfect and was never going to be a top model. ‘I tell you what. I’ll send them across for you. Right now. This could be an amazing opportunity. Of course they’ll want you!’

  ‘Do you really think?’ Chloe said shyly.

  ‘I know,’ Adele lied.

  She searched through the images for the worst ones. It was hard because they were all really nice, but there were a few not so great that she managed to find. Chloe logged into her emails and typed in the agency address.

  ‘Do you really think those ones?’ Chloe questioned, unconvinced. ‘There are loads of others I like better. I look like I’m about to blink in that one,’ she pointed out.

  ‘Trust me,’ Adele said pointedly, ‘you can’t see which ones look best! You have to get someone else to decide. You are your own worst critic. Have you ever heard that expression?’

  Chloe looked into space thoughtfully. ‘I think so.’

  ‘Well then.’ Adele clicked the send button. ‘Done.’

  ‘Thanks Adele. I never believe in myself and maybe I should.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Adele replied, her chin rather tight. Then she noticed something else that caught her eye. ‘Is that one of their bikinis?’ she said, rushing over to a pink and silver embellished number.

  ‘Yes. They gave it to me to say thanks.’

  Adele laughed derisively. ‘Oh, that’s hilarious! As if you’re going to wear this bit of tat!’

  ‘It looks better on,’ Chloe said mulishly, defending the bikini, which she clearly loved.

  ‘Babe, please. It looks like it’s from Primark or something,’ Adele sniggered. ‘I’ll give you one of mine and only charge you half price. Mates rates and everything,’ she chirped, trying not to feel disheartened about how well the bikini was made. How did they sew it so it all stayed together? she wondered furiously. She’d used the same designs and same bikinis, but hers looked nothing like this one!