MADE IN ESSEX

by Laura Ziepe

  ‘I can’t. He’s taking me somewhere nice and it’s all planned. You never mentioned Saturday before and I’ve said yes, already. What about Friday night? Or lunch Sunday?’

  Adele was livid. Talk about use her when she was single and ditch her when she had a boyfriend! Why on earth would she want to go to lunch on Sunday with Donna? Who was she supposed to go out with now on Saturday night? Was this some sort of sick joke?

  ‘Oh do as you please, Donna. But when it all goes wrong and he cheats on you, don’t come crying to me,’ Adele scolded bitterly. She knew she was going over the top but she couldn’t believe the cheek of her. If it hadn’t been for her booking the table and flirting with Neil, she never would have got chatting to Aaron in the first place. What did he see in Donna anyway? Adele was so envious she could almost taste it. He would be taking her to some amazing restaurant in London, most likely. Donna wouldn’t have to pay for a thing. Life was so unfair! A thought came to her. Donna may be going out with Aaron for a meal, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t meet them both afterwards. She would have had her veneers done by then and she was going to make sure she dressed up to the nines to show Aaron what a mistake he’d made.

  ‘Please don’t be like that, Adele,’ Donna begged unhappily.

  ‘I just think you’re being selfish. We always go out together on Saturday nights and now you’re ditching me for a man.’

  ‘I’m not, I swear. I can do any other night, I …’

  ‘Just listen for a minute,’ Adele interjected rudely. ‘I’ll meet you after your meal with that Neil thing and we can all go to a club together. How does that sound?’

  ‘I can’t,’ Donna replied ruefully. ‘He’s taking me to The Fat Duck in Berkshire. We’re staying over in a hotel and I won’t be back until Sunday afternoon.’

  Adele was so fuming her hands were shaking. She was being taken to The Fat Duck! That restaurant had three Michelin stars and Adele was always begging her dad to take her there! This was just so typical! Adele had been so close to the perfect life and she had picked the wrong man. Now Donna was living the life she was supposed to have. This romance between them simply had to be stopped. She wasn’t sure how just yet, but she was going to make sure Aaron realised what he was missing by being with Donna. When he knew Adele was interested in him, surely Donna would be dropped like a hot potato?

  *

  Two days later, Jade was backstage at Essex Fashion Week with Kelly, Lisa, Chloe and Chloe’s friend, Chanel, who was also going to model. They’d decided they needed three in the end and Chanel was tall, slim with light brown hair, so they had the perfect mix. Kelly had already given them a spray tan the night before and they were seated, ready for her to do their make-up.

  ‘I think big, bold, smoky eyes and nude lips. Maybe put a bit of glitter on too,’ Jade suggested.

  ‘Obviously I’m going to use glitter, silly,’ Kelly said, as though it was absurd that Jade had asked. ‘Don’t worry, babe, these girls are going to look beauts. I’m using two sets of fake lashes on each. Their eyes are going to look unreal.’

  Jade smiled, trusting Kelly implicitly. She also did a great job where beauty was concerned. Over the top, but today it would be perfect.

  ‘I’m so nervous,’ Chloe admitted timidly.

  ‘Me too.’ Lisa held her hand out. ‘I’m nearly shaking.’

  ‘Girls, you’ll look so gorge you’ll want to get out there and show off. Keep calm and be reem,’ Kelly grinned, holding Lisa’s hand and wiping over her nail varnish. She looked baffled as she rubbed Lisa’s nails over and over with a cotton pad, the pink nail varnish not budging. ‘Babe, what nail varnish have you got on? It’s not coming off?’

  ‘It’s just normal Barry M nail varnish,’ Lisa shrugged, equally as puzzled.

  Jade giggled as she noticed what Kelly was trying to remove it with. ‘Maybe it’s not coming off because you’re using make-up remover?’

  Kelly laughed gaily. ‘So I am, maybe the nerves are getting to me too!’

  A lady came over to them dressed in black with a clipboard and walkie-talkie.

  ‘Hi girls. Just checking you know when you’re going on stage?’

  ‘No,’ Jade replied. ‘We’ve haven’t spoken to anyone yet.’

  ‘Okay, no worries.’ She looked at the bikinis set out, ready for the catwalk. ‘Oh! You must be Reem Bikinis. I read about you in the newspaper the other day and couldn’t wait to see them in real life. Wow, they’re lovely!’

  ‘What?’ Kelly dropped her lip gloss in astonishment. ‘Reem Bikinis, did you say? They’re here too? At Essex Fashion Week?’

  Jade felt just as angry and turned to the woman. ‘We’re actually called Vajazzle My Bikini,’ she told her sternly.

  The lady looked abashed. ‘Oh sorry, my mistake. I must have got you muddled up with someone else, never mind. Here you are,’ she ticked them off her list. ‘You’re going on eighth.’

  ‘Is that before or after Reem Bikinis?’ Jade enquired.

  The lady eyed her clipboard. ‘After.’

  ‘Well is there no way we can go on before?’ Kelly whined.

  ‘Afraid not. All the programmes for the catwalk show have gone out. They’re being sold now and we can’t change it. They requested they were first on. To be honest, I think they even paid extra.’

  Jade was exasperated. If Reem Bikinis went on first, everyone would find their bikinis boring because they were almost identical! They’d paid a lot of money to be there and put a lot of hard work into their business. She knew there was always going to be competition, that was business, but for someone else to be stealing their ideas and ruining things for them just wasn’t on. ‘Who owns Reem Bikinis? I want to speak to them now.’

  The lady looked concerned, seeing how infuriated Jade appeared. ‘I’m not too sure of her name I’m afraid.’ She looked around. ‘I can’t see her at present, but she’s around here somewhere. Anyway, you’re on eighth. Someone will come round nearer the time to get you prepared. Good luck.’

  ‘I can’t believe this,’ Jade exhaled. ‘It’s not enough that they need to copy our website and launch theirs first, but now they’ve even followed us here and have made sure that they’re going on before us! I can’t wait to see who it is and give them a piece of my mind.’

  ‘I know, babe. It’s seriously starting to piss me off now,’ Kelly said as she applied blusher to Lisa’s cheeks. ‘Let’s just concentrate on our bikinis and models and forget about them. Let’s forget they even exist!’

  Jade knew Kelly was saying the right thing, but it didn’t help the horrible, sick feeling she had inside. How could she not let this affect her? She’d been in such high spirits a few minutes ago, but now she felt as though the rug had been pulled from under her feet. She inhaled slowly, trying to calm herself down. Just focus on what matters, she told herself. An hour later, Lisa, Chloe and Chanel were good to go. Their eyelashes were fluttering, hair big, bouncy and perfect and heels gigantic, making them all four inches taller. Every company had two changes and the final bikini was their favourite one; the Essex Showgirl, which Chloe was going to wear. She knew that one was going to be a big hit and couldn’t wait to watch the audience’s reaction. She hadn’t managed to find the owner of Reem Bikinis yet, as they hadn’t been around when their models were going out. She had seen a couple of sequins and beads fall off when the models had walked out and had laughed with Kelly childishly. Up close, they definitely weren’t as nice as their bikinis. The patterns weren’t even and the beads had been sewn on all wrong, often patchy where the creator was clearly lazy and couldn’t be bothered to spend too much time and attention on them. They were pretty shabby really, though the models looked great in them; they would look amazing in anything though, she noticed.

  ‘Vajazzle My Bikini?’ The lady in black was back.

  Jade nodded, feeling nervous suddenly.

  ‘Models ready please. You’re up next.’

  Lisa walked to the entrance. ‘There are so man
y people out there. I’m scared! Look how high the stage is! I’m scared of heights as well!’

  Kelly wrinkled her nose as she looked. ‘It’s not that high.’

  ‘It is!’ Lisa protested. ‘Aren’t you scared of heights?’

  Kelly shrugged. ‘Babe, have you seen the size of my heels? Of course not.’

  ‘You’ll be fine,’ Jade said, rubbing Lisa’s shoulder affectionately. ‘Just walk straight, go to the end and pose for a few seconds. Good luck.’ She watched through a gap as Lisa strutted down the catwalk like a pro. She looked like a Mediterranean goddess with her shiny, long dark hair swishing and her olive skin shining. Next was Chloe, and she too looked fantastic, Jade thought happily.

  ‘God, I’m jell of her figure,’ Kelly said as she gazed at Chloe walking back towards them.

  Chanel came off the catwalk and sighed. ‘Oh my God, I loved it! Can’t wait to wear the next one!’

  Jade was pleased. She’d watched the cameras flashing when the girls had walked down the catwalk and she’d been able to lip-read several people in the crowd saying they liked them. Maybe it didn’t matter about Reem Bikinis after all?

  *

  Adele was overjoyed. Her models were the tallest and slimmest around. She kept well out of Jade and Kelly’s way today, sneaking off to the audience throughout the show, so they still had no idea she owned Reem Bikinis yet. She was so happy she’d had the wise idea to make sure her bikinis had gone on first. She’d paid extra, but it was worth every penny. Everyone loved them. She made sure she was listening to people in the audience and all she could hear were gasps about how one girl had to have the purple one for Vegas, or that another needed to buy some for her swimwear photo shoots. She felt proud that she’d actually created something people were talking about. She’d never felt this way before in all her life. It didn’t matter how good she felt though, she still had an annoying niggling reminder that none of this was actually her idea. Still, she was the one that had made the swimwear. She was the one that had sat up all day and night sewing sequins.

  She sorted through the next lot of bikinis quickly, to give to the models for their second change. As they were heading back towards her, to her horror she pulled a thread of beads by accident on one of the bikinis and the whole row came tumbling off, hitting the floor and making tiny tinkling sounds.

  ‘Shit!’ she murmured under her breath, not wanting anyone to see. The panic was rising inside her; she had ruined her final one! It was the best bikini that she was saving until last. The one she envisaged being her best seller. Now what was she going to do?

  ‘What are we wearing next?’ one model asked her, removing her top in a split second to reveal perfect, pert breasts with no shame whatsoever.

  Adele handed each of them a bikini and told her favourite model to wait one moment. She had an idea.

  ‘But we need to go on soon!’ the model protested.

  ‘Just wait a moment,’ Adele retorted tersely. ‘It’s my company and you’ll go on when I say, got it? I won’t be long.’

  The model stood there agog as Adele darted in and out of the sea of people backstage. Then Adele saw exactly what she wanted; the Essex Showgirl bikini. The best part was that it was unattended. Jade, Kelly and the others were discussing something by the stage and not even looking, the fools! This was the only one Adele hadn’t copied. The pattern was too difficult and she didn’t have the patience. Not only that, but they’d also run out of the embellishments the girls had used. No doubt they’d bought them all, she thought, grabbing the bikini and running back. It was gorgeous and now it was hers. She looked at the label sewn inside with VMB printed in silver letters and took a pair of scissors from her bag. Two snips later and the label was gone.

  ‘Here you are,’ she sang to the anxious model. ‘You’re on last please.’

  ‘Thanks. Wow, this one’s my favourite! Talk about save the best until last!’ She looked pleased as she slipped it on.

  ‘Thanks,’ Adele replied tightly. She then hurried back to the front of the stage where her seat was to watch.

  *

  Jade walked back to the bikinis to get the next three ready.

  ‘Right Lisa, you’re wearing this one from the Ibiza category.’ She handed her a leopard print monokini with lace trim. ‘Chanel, this one is for you,’ she said passing over a turquoise and gold two-piece, ‘and Chloe, you’re wearing the Essex Showgirl one …’ Jade frowned when she realised it wasn’t where she left it. ‘Kelly, have you seen the Essex Showgirl?’

  Kelly was concentrating as she reapplied Lisa’s lip gloss. ‘No, babe. It was on the table, wasn’t it?’

  ‘It’s not here!’ Jade began to panic. ‘It’s gone.’

  Kelly stopped what she was doing. ‘It can’t be gone; it was there just a minute ago. I saw it. There was no mistaking the electronic blue colour.’

  ‘Electronic blue?’ Lisa tried not to giggle, knowing this was a serious matter. ‘You mean electric blue, hun,’ she said kindly to Kelly who nodded. ‘You’re right though, I saw it too; it was right there,’ Lisa agreed, pointing to the table.

  ‘What colour is electric blue?’ Chanel asked in wonderment looking at the ceiling.

  ‘It’s bright blue,’ Jade replied quickly. ‘Can everyone help look for it please?’ Jade looked under the table and in places she just knew it wasn’t going to be. It was worth a shot though. They needed that bikini!

  ‘Is it like that colour?’ Chanel pointed to a tall brunette model about to walk onto the catwalk.

  They all stood with rapt attention, watching the girl about to go on stage.

  ‘Oh my God!’ Jade shouted. ‘That’s it! Stop that girl!’

  ‘Oh my God!’ Kelly echoed as they ran over to the entrance of the catwalk.

  Jade was so close to grabbing the girl back, that she even felt the silkiness of the material. It was too late though; the girl had gone. It was a nightmare. Their favourite bikini they had spent hours designing had been snatched, and all the credit would go to Reem Bikinis.

  ‘How could it have been taken?’ Lisa asked, stumped. Jade saw the concerned look in her eyes and could tell she felt sorry for them.

  ‘I didn’t see anyone,’ Chanel said shaking her head.

  Jade glanced at Chloe, who looked uncomfortable. She obviously felt bad for them too; she couldn’t even look her in the eye. ‘Chloe?’

  Chloe was so disconcerted she jumped.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Jade continued, staring at Chloe.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine,’ Chloe said hastily. ‘Just wondered what on earth happened, that’s all.’

  ‘It’s so obvious,’ Kelly said, her voice getting louder the more she got worked up. ‘Reem Bikinis stole it, just like they stole our website. If only we knew who owned it we could give them a piece of our mind! Right now, I’d have so much to say! If only we knew whose it was.’

  ‘It’s mine.’ The voice was powerful and striking, like the sudden sound of thunder.

  Everyone turned and Jade knew who it was instantly; perhaps she’d known all along? It was Adele.

  ‘I should have guessed it was you,’ Jade responded with a poisonous glare. Lisa ushered Chloe and Chanel away so they could chat in private.

  Kelly couldn’t hide her exasperation. ‘It’s you! Why did you steal our website, Adele? Then not only that, but our bikini as well? What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘Girls, girls,’ Adele said superciliously waving a hand as if to shut them up. ‘Let’s not run away with the fairies. I didn’t steal anyone’s ideas. I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Come on, this is all just silly nonsense.’

  ‘Where did you get my notebook? That’s what I want to know,’ Jade accused.

  ‘What notebook?’ Adele looked as though she had no idea what she was talking about. Jade began to doubt Adele had it, but then remembered she had practically copied all their designs. They were all on her website. The only way to know their designs was to look through the notebook. T
here was no other explanation. ‘Look girls, let’s be mature about this,’ Adele retorted robustly, folding her arms. ‘We’re mature enough to have a civil conversation, aren’t we? We’re businesswomen after all. I’m sorry if you’ve got the wrong impression, but I haven’t copied you. Yes, I knew you decorated the odd little bikini in Marbs, but I didn’t have any idea that you were starting your own business up. How would I? I’ll admit, I thought the idea of customising swimwear and designing it properly was a good one, which is why I’ve started Reem Bikinis. But copy you two? I wouldn’t dream of it.’ Adele creased her forehead disparagingly.

  ‘You stole our bikini for the show. How do you explain that?’ Kelly eyed her disdainfully.

  ‘Oh that! Oh you’re not annoyed about that, are you? Girls, come on, there are like a million garments flying around backstage. It’s hard to keep up! Our bikinis are similar and I apologise, I wasn’t backstage to supervise my models. One of them picked up your one by mistake. It’s an easy error to make. You can have it back of course.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Jade replied sarcastically. She couldn’t believe the cheek of her! She was acting like she was doing them a favour by giving them their own bikini back.

  ‘Listen. It just so happens that we’ve all come up with the same idea. I launched my website a few weeks ago. What about you two?’

  Jade and Kelly looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. She had launched her website before they had. How could she have possibly had her website built so fast? If she did somehow have the notebook, she couldn’t have had it for very long. It didn’t make any sense. ‘We’ve just launched,’ Jade finally said.

  ‘Oh, so that means mine was running before yours? So I could say, if you think about it, that you copied me?’ She gave an irritating, pathetic little laugh.

  ‘Look Adele. We can’t stop you from starting your own business. But, we just think it makes no sense to copy our designs when you can think of your own.’

  ‘I don’t copy …’

  Jade cut her short. ‘In fact, it makes no difference to us what you do, not really. Copy all you like. It’s quite flattering actually.’