Miss South

by Kay Williams

  “I don't think room service minds what I wear. Do you want to join me? This tie isn't as bad as your last, you might want to be seen publicly in it.”

  “I would love to,” he smiled. “I wanted to talk to you about something but didn't want to do it over the phone.”

  Could the something be the kiss we had shared? Or the fact that we had basically been cuddling in the pool? Or something else? I closed the door and wondered if I was doing the right thing. Why was it that being with him was so easy when it should have been hard? Why was it that when I reminded myself to be distant and careful he only had to smile and I was doing the complete opposite?

  We spent time fussing with the menu and using the hotel's app to order our meals and find some non-intrusive music to play low in background to our conversation, before raiding the fully stocked mini fridge and mixing our own drinks.

  “I need your help,” Heronsgate began.

  “With what?” I asked.

  “The plan to remind Harper that we aren't dating.”

  “There is a plan? That was quick.”

  “I had lunch with Gabriel today and we got talking about it. It is his idea, but I think it’s a good one. If Harper is deluded enough to believe everything she reads in that magazine then the best way of getting rid of her is to get that magazine printing something new.”

  “Parade a date in front of the Everyone journalists, you mean? The magazine will print it because that's what they do, Harper reads it and believes the relationship is over.”

  “The magazine is having a fundraiser of their own at quite an exclusive floating restaurant in the Hudson's Upper Bay tomorrow night; but they aren't booking the entire venue. I can get a table there and I am sure if their gossip writers are worth their money then they will take notice. The end result will possibly end in Harper's tears and tantrums, but she might get the picture.”

  I opened my mouth to tell him the idea had merit and to ask who he intended to rope into the part of his date, but snapped my mouth shut and narrowed my eyes when I realised that I didn't need to.

  “Don't say no straight away,” Heronsgate rushed on. “Obviously neither of us is going to do anything we aren't comfortable with and I am not asking you to flirt with me, or think that it's okay for me to treat you so disrespectfully. But you can't deny that we always have a good time together and we never fail to make each other laugh. I promised you a dinner, come with me to this one?”

  “Problem is,” I said, “we are always comfortable together, and we always flirt.”

  “I'm glad you noticed,” Heronsgate grinned.

  I was glad I didn't blush and had the perfect excuse not to agree outright when there was a knock at the door. I let in the hotel staff who set a table and delivered the food before leaving us to ourselves.

  “Look,” Heronsgate continued softly as we ate. “There is no way I can ask you to do this that makes it sound right. Even though it doesn't have anything to do with using you or us it does appear that way and I get that. If you don't want to do it I do understand, and it won't change us.”

  Us. Twice now he had used that word, did a few kisses make an us? Or was he was being creepy again.

  “You would just have to find someone else to play the part.”

  “Now that does make me sound evil,” Heronsgate winced. “In my defence the magazine would print the story no matter where I was or who I was seen out with.”

  I had told myself to live a little at the airport, now I was sternly reminding myself to err on the side of caution because I was actually thinking about going.

  “The dinner just makes sense because the paper will be there and you won't have to worry about randomly running into one of their journalists.”

  “Knowing there is a plan will give me the strength to put up with Harper for a few more weeks. She will be at the fundraiser I am hosting and Everyone wouldn't miss the event so I can certainly put something together by then.”

  Put something together.

  With someone else.

  That should be a good thing, not something that gave me mini jealous fit.

  If Lucy were here she would be telling me to do it; that was how I was going to justify my stupidity anyway.

  “Tomorrow doesn't give me a lot of time to find something to wear though.”

  “You'll come?” Heronsgate looked shocked; than grinned. “But you still won't need a ball gown.”

  “You are ashamed of me aren't you?”

  “Absolutely not,” he protested instantly but smiled at the tease. “I promise you the restaurant is the best in New York and you will not be disappointed. If you really want to wear something special though I am sure that Gabriel give you suitable from his extensive collection.”

  “And now you have that ready and appropriate answer that would need Ignis's agreement I am thinking that I shouldn't have said yes.”

  “He said to send you his way if you agreed,” Heronsgate explained. “His assistant has some models interviewing for the position Harper couldn't fill tomorrow afternoon and he is going to the studio early to set up.”

  “Right,” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a text to Ignis asking what time would be best for me to visit.

  “Thank you. Tell me how it went today. I watched a little on the television from the media who came. It looked manic.”

  “People seemed to reserve their mania for the souvenir stand, they were excitable but nice when they came to see me.”

  “Souvenirs are new, right?”

  “Yeah, we were pestered for them on the boards so brought what we were asked for and managed to sell ninety per cent of it. Probably at a loss considering the speed that it had to be bought at and in travelling out here but it’s important to give consumers what they want if my publishers want to maintain a business image.”

  “It’s good that you try to understand things from their point of view.”

  “I've never been much of a fan girl. I've never had to have stuff just because it has been endorsed by a celebrity, or has their face on it. I can't help but think they are all a little peculiar for rushing to buy a T-shirt that has my signing date on it. Especially as there were plenty of people today who couldn't give me a favourite part of the book and obviously hadn't read it.”

  “I like things,” Heronsgate said. “But I have never been part of a branded advertising campaign. One of the reasons I love Gabriel's work is because he don't make a fuss that I favour him. I don't understand it either, and I try not to profit off it.”

  “My publishers are in a different boat, they have to make money off my popularity. It won't be around in this magnitude forever and it is benefiting all the writers in their library.”

  “I saw the library stand. Most of the media commented on the fact it was there.”

  “It's advertising their own company in a way. I haven't asked, but I am positive that they must have received an influx of submissions because their name is now out there with mine and writers can see the positive way they respond to popularity.”

  “It's nice to talk to you about this kind of thing, Harriet. You are understanding, accepting and capable of seeing how all the pieces fit together in a broader corporate sense.”

  “Lots of people can do that, Henry. It is not special.”

  “What I mean, is that even though this is your moment you aren't being selfish with it.”

  “I wouldn't be having this moment without Lemon Grove,” I replied. “I'm grateful that they bought my book and they certainly let me have more of my way when it came to the deal that was negotiated.”

  “Have you discussed how you are going to move forward?”

  “A little. I still need a proper job, as fun as this is I'm not making enough to keep up this kind of lifestyle.”

  “You are earning a nice cushion.”

  “The first morning it happened I wasn't even thinking about the money. I wanted to go back to bed, reset my day and wake up in the safe, comfortable, five-copies-
sold life I had gone to bed in.”

  “And now?” Heronsgate chuckled.

  “Now I'm hoping it’s going to turn into a mortgage deposit.”

  “So sensible. I love it when I ask you a question wondering if I'm going to get a stupid answer and you say something else.”

  “I'm going to self-assess at the end of the month.”

  “And tax! Beauty, imagination and common sense. I'm so glad I met you,” he grinned.

  I felt myself colour and covered it as best I could by sipping at my drink. I could tell he was pleased to have caused my reaction, thankfully Ignis chose that moment to text me back with an address and a time which I accepted. Heronsgate decided not to tease me for the blush and conversation moved on to more important things than work.

  # # #

  I sat on the edge of the bed in the highly expensive dress that Ignis had insisted that I have thinking about the meal last night and the one to come.

  After dinner and dessert Heronsgate and I had moved on to the sofa, there had been no touching, kissing or renewing of the affections we had shared the night before past our usual smiles and soft flirting.

  To say I was confused was an understatement. He had used the term 'us' twice, I didn't like the idea of him going on his fake date with someone else, we teased and flirted all the time and instead of taking advantage as most other men I knew would have done he instead had been the perfect gentleman.

  I had a restless night, woken myself up with my mile swim, and hadn't seen Heronsgate at breakfast, not wanting to pester the extremely busy and hard-working man I had written and then cancelled sending several text messages throughout the day.

  I checked my figures; this morning I was sitting on one hundred and ninety-seven thousand one hundred and twenty-four.

  Total lifetimes sales now placed me just over half way to my first million copies.

  Of course I was still a long way off a million pounds, not that I felt I would ever reach that sum, but I was sure that by the weekend and my next royalty payday I was going to have a nice chunk to put in my savings account again and I would definitely have to self-assess, the only person I knew who did that, aside my parents, was Lucy and I had distracted myself from texting Heronsgate by sharing messages with her and arranging a date we could get together so she could help me if I needed it.

  Heronsgate was due any minute and I knew he wouldn't be late; the restaurant was on its own man-made island and had its own monorail train to ferry its dinners to and from the mainland in accordance to the set times diners booked their tables for. If you were late for the train then it left without you and you missed your reservation.

  I stood in front of the mirror and ran my gaze over the outfit again.

  I wanted to be critical; but it was a beautiful thing, fitting like a second skin emphasising and flattering my figure in a way I had never known that clothes could.

  It was a dark blue A-line knee length dress with a halter top, decorated with white lace along the hem and baby blue delicate sequin swirls in varying lengths that almost looked to rise and fall like waves as the dress moved. I had bought a new clutch and pair of kitten heels in a sky blue to match the sequins and left my hair down hoping to disguise the fact I wasn’t wearing any jewellery. I doubted that the few pretty costume pieces picked up while shopping would stand up to scrutiny. It was quite stressful knowing the press would be watching and ready to pounce if I was wearing or sporting anything fake, unbranded or similar to what I had worn to the signing.

  If it had been just me I wouldn’t have cared, the press could have said what they liked because I knew there were more important things in my life to be saving for, but I was going to be seen with Heronsgate and the last thing I wanted was for him to regret our friendship if I dragged him into the fetid waters of tabloid journalism simply because I hadn’t taken five minutes to consider what I was doing, especially as he had taken the time to compliment my common sense.

  A knock at the door caused my nerves to jump.

  I told myself to get a grip. I wouldn’t have been nervous at all if we were going to eat in the hotel restaurant, and that all I needed to do this evening was be myself.

  I answered the door and immediately laughed.

  “Well that’s going to do my ego wonders, thank you,” Heronsgate complained with a smile.

  His suit was the same dark blue as my dress, his shirt and shoes were black, but his tie, cufflinks and handkerchief were sky blue and a fair match to my own accessories.

  “Ignis?” I guessed.

  “He did text with your choice,” Heronsgate admitted holding out his hand. “How was your day?”

  I grabbed a shawl in case it was cold when we left the restaurant, took his hand and he tucked it into his elbow as we walked to the elevator.

  “After my morning with Ignis I spent some quality time with a manuscript.”

  “Not with your publishers?”

  “Rosemary decided she wanted to see a show and do some shopping, they have a flight booked home early hours tomorrow morning and this was her only chance, all work and no play and all of that.”

  “That is a very true sentiment,” Heronsgate agreed. “I couldn’t hide the last minute reservations so there is going to be some press outside the hotel. The car is waiting and it is best not to stop or you will be penned in, but smile and try to relax.”

  “Some press?”

  “Alright. I’ll be honest. A lot of press.”

  I remembered Heronsgate asking me how I would feel if I woke up and the press were on my driveway because he was coming over for coffee. I had made light of it at the time and he had let me, but I hadn’t really considered the implications of what he had been trying to get at.

  I had dressed knowing I needed to be careful, but I had been thinking about the Everyone journalists seeing me from a distance. Not a school of sharks waiting at the hotel for a more up-close photo of us spending time together, but if I couldn’t manage moments like this than there was going to be no hope for our friendship and there was even less point in worrying about the kiss.

  This was going to be a test and I needed to make a good impression in front of Heronsgate. I doubted that I would ever keep public attention but I didn’t want him to feel as though this wasn’t a part of his life I could adapt to.

  “So long as I can ignore them, then I will be fine,” I smiled.

  Heronsgate led the way across the hotel’s empty lobby and I steeled myself against the automatic flinch I knew would come if the press tried to stop us. Heronsgate went first, which caused the rush I expected, but he held the door for me giving me some measure of protection from the thrusting of microphones. The car was only several steps and I ignored the calls of my name while Heronsgate moved next to me like an over-protective shadow. He opened the car door for me and I slipped in first, dragging the dress out of the way so he could get in and shut the door.

  Heronsgate let out a relieved breath that made me laugh as the car pulled into traffic.

  “Do you ever feel guilty for not talking to them?” I asked.

  “No,” Heronsgate answered. “They get enough out of me during the week, or at event press conferences, race days, and charity events. When I spend time with my friends, that’s time which is ours, not theirs.”

  So we were friends now, not an ‘us’ as we had been last night when he had been trying to convince me into this evening. I wanted to ask but almost as if he knew what I was about to say he gave a tiny shake of his head and he used one finger from where his hands were linked in his lap to point forward. I looked into the front of the car where the driver was concentrating on the road, but how easy was it to drive and listen at the same time?

  “I haven’t quite worked out why anyone would want that job,” I said, and Heronsgate relaxed when he realised I had understood. “Long hours spent on the street waiting for your celebrity to appear and to get less than thirty seconds to get a photo and a sound-bite for your editor. What do you say if y
ou blink and miss your opportunity?”

  “It sounds incredibly stressful when you put it like that,” Heronsgate chuckled.

  “You said you’ve been to the restaurant before,” I said, changing the topic. “What’s it like?”

  “In one word? Delicious.”

  “You say that as if the hotel hasn’t been,” I complained. “It’s been so nice I haven’t gone anywhere else. I should have eaten out more often during my stay.”

  Heronsgate surprised me by launching into a conversation about food and his favourite places to eat in New York, the conversation flowed easily but it wasn’t as teasing or comfortable as it usually was between us, along with both of us avoiding talking about our kiss I couldn’t help but feel strained and awkward. We reached the dock-side were the restaurant had its waiting room and station, we were shown upstairs into an empty VIP lounge and advised the train would be along in a few minutes. Our car would be separate from the rest of the diners; not that there were too many of them. The Everyone party was already in full swing and though they hadn’t booked the whole restaurant they did appear to have the majority of the tables.

  “I’m sorry about the car ride,” Heronsgate apologised softly when we were alone. “I get suspicious when I don’t get my usual staff. I didn’t know the driver or how discrete he was going to be.”

  “Sounds more paranoid than suspicious,” I teased.

  “True,” Heronsgate chuckled softly and eased a half step closer into my personal space. “I promised myself that I wouldn’t ask about two nights ago, I don’t want you to think that the only reason I asked you to dinner tonight was because of that kiss, but I’m dying a little here, Harriet. Is pretending that it didn’t happen how you usually tease?”

  He wanted to have this intimate conversation in a train station? Really? Then again it was empty and it would be completely private.

  “Not usually, no,” I answered truthfully. “I don’t want you to take what I say the wrong way and I’ve been trying to think of another way of expressing myself but very bizarrely I can’t find the words.”