Pinstripes (34 page)

Chapter Thirty-one

Virginia went back to her poky flat. She didn
’t know which was most worrying: having to speak to a journalist or Clara’s plan to make her look sophisticated. She sat in her room and tried to calm herself. It didn’t work so she decided to go for a drive. On the way back she stopped at the supermarket to buy potatoes and baked beans. Since losing her job she had put herself on a tighter budget than usual. Even though she had saved money when she was working she knew that what she had wouldn’t last for ever. When she reached home she picked up her mail and went into her room. She put a potato into the oven and looked at her letters. At last there was one for her parents.

She read it with a sinking feeling. They hadn
’t even read her letter properly. It was filled with accusations and disappointment. “You can’t even hold down a job as a secretary. There really is no hope for you,” read one particularly hurtful line. Virginia threw it away. She had tried to explain, but her parents didn’t want to know. As far as they were concerned, she had messed up yet again. If only they knew what she was doing now. Not that that would make them proud. Nothing Virginia did would make them proud.

She ate her meal, feeling more alone than ever. Clara was right. She was a gutless, useless mouse. The only upside was that if she pulled off the thing with the journalist, then someone would have to show her respect for that.

***

Ella went home and called Jackie. She told her that Clara and Virginia knew everything now and described the new plan. Jackie said the
Sunday
News
would definitely be the best paper to contact.

She spent the afternoon drafting the story. She wasn
’t sure if she was mad to push Virginia into this, or if she was being quite sane. She hoped it was the latter. She decided not to think about it, but to concentrate on her task.

***

Clara went shopping, which she hadn’t done in ages, because of her love affair with cocaine. She went to Harvey Nichols, guessing that Virginia was a size ten because she was slim. She hadn’t asked Virginia because she hadn’t wanted to scare her – or go shopping with her.

As she browsed, she thought about what sort of outfit to buy. She didn
’t want to put her in a suit – if she looked too much like a serious City girl then the journalist might feel hostile towards her. If she looked slightly sexy and trendy, she might win him over. How she was going to get Virginia to look sexy was another matter.

She walked around picking up a number of things for herself before finding the perfect outfit: a below-the-knee black skirt, a pink top and a black cardigan. It was a modern look, and would make Virginia look taller, sophisticated and, hopefully, confident. She paid for the clothes, without noticing the cost. Then she went to look for shoes. When she realised she couldn
’t guess at Virginia’s size, she pulled out her mobile.

“
Virginia, it’s Clara. What shoe size are you?”

“
Why?”

“
I’m finding you shoes, of course.” Clara was impatient.

“
Five.”

“Thank
s, bye.” Clara hung up before Virginia had a chance to ask any more questions.

She found a pair of black open-toed kitten-heeled mules. They were so pretty that she bought a pair for Virginia in a five and a pair for herself in a four.

She rewarded her good work with a drink in the bar before going home. There she called her hairdresser and booked Virginia in for the next afternoon. As it had been an exhausting day, she went back to bed.

***

They had agreed to meet at eleven o’clock at Clara’s flat on Tuesday. Virginia was early as usual and filled with nerves. Clara decided to be nice to her for once. She gave her coffee, sat her on the sofa and made small-talk until Ella turned up.

“
Hi.” Ella felt a bit sheepish now that they knew her secret.

“
Are you ready to outline the plan?” Clara had felt Ella’s discomfort and decided not to prolong it.

“
OK. I think I’ve found the perfect reporter. His name is Declan Davies, although I doubt that’s his real name. Anyway, he loves scandals and he seems to do more of them than anyone else. I don’t know what he looks like, so I guess he keeps a low profile, and I don’t know what he’s like, but apparently his reputation is as the best,” Ella said.

“
How do you know he’s the best?” Clara asked.

“
I called the
Sunday
News
, told them I had a dynamite story and asked who I should speak to.”

“
You made it sound like you’d found him personally,” Clara said.

“
Does it matter? The fact is, we’ve got him. I’m going to call him and give him the outline. I’ll pretend to be Virginia, fix up a meeting and then it’s down to you.” Ella looked at Virginia, who began to sweat. “It’s OK, Virginia, you’ll be so well prepared that nothing can go wrong. Anyway, when I speak to Declan the details of the story will be something like this: I previously worked at SFH, but was asked to leave due to a clash with my boss. This has nothing to do with my boss, so don’t think it’s a cheap revenge thing. Then I’ll say that a senior managing director and shareholder is involved in something that would be a major scandal for the bank – I know this because I overheard a private conversation. Then I’ll ask if he would like to meet. I’ll also ask if they pay for things like this, which again gives a motive. If he thinks I just want to make some money, that gives more backbone to the whole thing.”

“
You mean we’re going to get Tim
and
get paid for it?” Clara laughed.

“
Yes, I think so. Isn’t that great?” Ella relaxed. “Once I’ve set up the meeting you have to give Virginia details about Tim. We need her to sound convincing.”

“
I think I can do this,” Virginia said, as confidently as she could.

“
You bloody well better,” Clara retorted. “Although I’ve just had a thought. You sound like you’re from Manchester, Ella. If you call this guy and he meets Virginia who doesn’t, won’t he be suspicious?”

“
Clara, my accent isn’t strong, you know that, and people always sound a bit different on the phone. Virginia’s slight Midlands accent will sound like my slight Manchester accent. I bet he doesn’t even take much notice.”

“
So you’re from the Midlands?” Clara asked.

“
Yes,” Virginia replied.

“
Bloody hell, two northerners. You’re the only two northerners I know.”

Ella and Virginia exchanged glances, but thought it best to keep quiet.

Ella went to Clara’s bedroom to make the phone call. She got through straight away, which was a good omen. She introduced herself and outlined the story as she had told the others she would. Declan was interested.

“
I can find this guy with drugs and prostitutes?”

“
Well, I don’t know about finding him with them, but I’m sure with the right probing he would offer to get you some cocaine and introduce you to prostitutes.” Ella felt nervous, she dreaded to think how Virginia would cope.

“
So, how exactly does this work?”

“
Well, of course you’ll want to meet me, and I will give you more details then you make me an offer. I promise this is not a waste of time. You tell me how much money you’re prepared to offer if the story is all I say it is, and we’ll go from there.”

“
How do I know you’re not wasting my time?” Declan asked.

“
Because if I was you’d know it instinctively. You’re a journalist.” That did the trick. Ella set up a meeting for two days” time. She just hoped that when Virginia met him she would not behave as she normally did.

She went back into the sitting room and told the others what had happened. Virginia tried to look brave when Ella told her the meeting was the day after tomorrow.

Clara, though, was animated. “Should I call Tim now?” she asked.

“
Yes, and tell him that you think you’d like to see him, but you’ll call him soon with a time and place. See what he says. And, Clara, good luck.” Ella squeezed Clara’s hand. She knew it wouldn’t be easy for her to speak to Tim.

***

Clara took a line of cocaine, counted to five then picked up the telephone. She rang his private line and prayed he would pick up. He did.

“
Tim Pemberton,” the familiar voice said.

“
Tim it’s Clara.” She was actually shaking.

“
Clara, darling, I thought I’d never hear from you.”

“
I had a lot of thinking to do,” Clara faltered.

“
So you’ve seen sense. You want to see me.” His confidence was intact.

“
Well, yes, I do. I just don’t know when. Can I give you another call?”

“
Why can’t we arrange it now?” Tim sounded offended.

“
Because, Tim, this is a big step for me, and I need to be sure that the day I see you I can handle it. Please, be patient with me, after all we’ve been through.”

“
OK, Clara, you don’t need to dredge up the past now. You’ll call me soon.” It wasn’t a question.

“
By the end of the week.”

“
Bye, Clara.” He sounded mollified, but Clara needed to be sure, she mustered all her courage.

“
Bye, Timmy,” she said, in her most seductive voice, which she knew would ensure that he bought her story, hook, line and sinker.

***

“It’s all fine,” she announced to the others. “Virginia, I’ve made an appointment for you to see my hairdresser. We need to get you looking like the type of girl who would sell a story for money. At the moment you don’t.”

“
But isn’t all this a bit drastic?” Virginia stammered.

“
No. And stop stammering. You’re going to
look
confident, you’re going to
be
confident, and you’re going to have this Declan eating out of your hand. You have to.”

“
Do you want us to come to the hairdresser with you?” Ella asked kindly.

“
Yes, please,” Virginia replied.

“
Well, I think we’d better. If not she’ll probably come away with a blue rinse,” Clara said.

“
Clara, I don’t think I can be someone I’m not,” Virginia pleaded.

“
As we don’t have the first clue who you are, I’m not sure that’s possible,” Clara said firmly.

Ella smiled at Virginia again.
“It’ll be fine, just you see.”

“
I need the bathroom.” Virginia rushed out.

“
If this goes horribly wrong, I’m going to hold you responsible,” Clara said.

“
It’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it. Don’t worry, we will place a twenty-four-hour armed guard on Virginia. She can stay with me, if you like, until after the meeting.”

“
Oh, no. I can just see the two of you screwing up. You can both stay here. As soon as she’s finished at the hairdresser, you both go and collect some stuff and come back. I don’t want either of you out of my sight.”

“
Clara, relax. This will go just as well as the Isabelle thing, I promise.” Ella kept her cool.

“
The Isabelle thing relied on the charisma of Josh, who has bags of it. This relies on the charisma of Virginia, who has none.” And with that Clara went back to her bedroom.

Chapter Thirty-two

They all set off for the hairdresser. Clara had tried to persuade Virginia to wear some of her clothes; Virginia had refused. Clara had said they probably wouldn’t let her through the door of the hairdresser’s looking like an Oxfam reject. Virginia had said she wouldn’t go then, and Ella had to pacify them. She told Clara it didn’t matter what Virginia wore now. Eventually they had set off. Clara moaned that for two people with transport it seemed ridiculous to have to get a cab. Ella said she was quite welcome to ride on the back of Virginia’s scooter. Clara said that Ella’s car was posy and impractical. Ella said that in that case it would suit Clara down to the ground. They were still arguing as they got into a black cab.

The hairdresser was in Knightsbridge. As soon as they got out of the taxi Virginia took one look and started walking in the other direction. Clara grabbed her.
“You’ll be fine, get in.” She pushed her through the door.

Once inside Virginia was rooted to the spot. The salon was huge and white, filled with lots of people with different coloured hair. They were the hairdressers. Most of the clients were either blonde or in the process of becoming blonde. Most of them had jewellery dripping off them; they looked expensive. As they all turned to look at Virginia, she wished that she
’d taken Clara’s advice and changed.

Clara marched up to the reception desk.
“Hi, darling, I’ve got an appointment for my friend.”

The ultra-trendy girl, with spiky pink hair and a pierced lip, looked at Virginia. She arched her eyebrows.
“Fabio is just finishing off. He’ll be with you in a second, darling.” Then she looked at Ella. “Are you all together?” she asked.

“
Yes,” Clara answered, and handed over her coat. Ella sat down on one of the huge white beanbags, which she presumed were reception chairs. Virginia was still immobilised just in front of the door.

After what seemed like ages, a huge man with a blue Afro haircut and wearing a tight white T-shirt came up to Clara.
“Clara, darlin”, how the hell are you?”

“
I’m fab, Fabio.” Clara giggled at her appalling joke and they air-kissed. Ella rolled her eyes. Fabio was a London boy who looked like someone from another planet. Typical Clara. Virginia was now looking at Fabio, although she still hadn’t moved.

“
It’s my friend you’ll be working on today, Fabio. Meet Virginia.” Clara pulled Fabio to where she stood.

Fabio looked her over.
“I love the retro-eighties look. So, Virginia, what’ll it be?” he asked.

“
Huh?” Virginia said. Ella went to stand next to her, in case she fainted.

“
Well, Fabio,” Clara answered for her, “she needs transforming. You can see that. I thought maybe some colour, a trendy cut. You’re the expert, though, darling.”

Fabio pulled Virginia over to a stool and pushed her down on to it. Ella and Clara followed him.

“OK. I think blonde – she’ll make a good blonde. After all, her eyes are almost blue.” He stared at them. “Well, grey, anyway. I’ll give her a spiky cut, not too severe but sexy. Very sexy.” He smiled. Virginia was rigid with fear.

“Sounds
divine,” Clara said.

Not for the first time Ella felt sorry for Virginia.

After that someone was summoned to take Virginia away and put her in a gown, which was more like a hospital gown than a hairdresser’s gown; it reminded Ella of the way people looked before they had surgery. She and Clara sat down on two white chairs near Fabio’s cutting station.

“
Clara, did you have to bring her here?” Ella hissed.

“
It’s the best place in London,” Clara replied.

“
But if we’d taken her somewhere less trendy she might not have gone into such a state of shock. This place is too trendy for anyone,” Ella continued.

“
Oh, shut up. It’s not too trendy for me. Anyway, Fabio’s a miracle worker and she needs a miracle.”

They watched as Fabio put foils in Virginia
’s hair, painting it yellow. Virginia still hadn’t said a word.

“
You’re not turning her yellow, are you?” Ella asked, horrified.

“
Blonde, darlin”, relax. I’m giving her a few different shades of blonde in highlights and a blonde blonde all over. By the way, did you give her Valium before you brought her here? She seems to be away with the fairies.”

“She’s
naturally quiet,” Clara explained, wondering how Virginia was ever going to talk to a journalist. Fabio finished painting Virginia’s hair and set her under a dryer.

“
I bet it’ll look great,” Ella said to Virginia, who didn’t respond.

“
Leave her alone. Shit, Ella, if she goes into a coma in a hairdresser’s she’ll have no chance with the journalist,” Clara whispered.

“
Well, in that case you’ll have to pretend to be her and go along instead.”

“
You know I can’t do that. He might find out. Anyway, I’m not wasting three hundred pounds on her hair if she doesn’t do it.”

“Shit
Clara! That’s a bit steep.”

“
I told you, Fabio works miracles.” They scowled at each other then sat quietly until a young man with red spiky hair took the dryer away and told Virginia he was taking her to wash her hair. Virginia didn’t move, so he took her arm. She looked at him and then followed him to the white basin. The hair-washer tried to have a conversation with Virginia but she didn’t even speak when he asked if the water was all right. When he’d finished, he led her back to the chair. Ella and Clara looked at the wet blonde hair and Virginia covered her eyes with her hands.

Fabio returned.
“It looks lovely don’t it?” he said.

Virginia kept her hands over her eyes.
“Christ, Clara,” she moaned, “what are you doing to me?”

Fabio started cutting.
“So, what are you up to, darlin”?” he asked Clara.

“
Nothing much. I’m not working anymore.”

“
Always said you were too good-looking to work.” Fabio grinned.

“
You sound like my father.”

“
Well, you know I’d take care of you.” Fabio laughed.

“
But I’m the wrong sex for you,” Clara said.

“
You mean you’re gay?” Ella regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She’d sounded like Virginia.

“
Yes, darlin”. Is that a problem?” Fabio teased.

“Sorry
. It’s just that you don’t seem, well, you know ...” Ella stared wide-eyed at the huge man in front of her – he seemed so masculine.

“
Where do you get your friends from Clara?” Fabio said, as he snipped away.

“
Don’t worry, Fabio, they’re both northerners,” Clara said, as if that explained it.

He shrugged.
“Anyway, I’d make an exception in your case, Clara,” he said.

“Thank
you, I’ll keep it in mind.” Clara shot Ella a look. Fabio took out a hairdryer, plied Virginia with mousse and started drying her hair. She still hadn’t removed her hands from her eyes. When he’d finished, he stepped back.

“There
you go.” He beamed. Clara stood up to get a better look.

“
Wow, Fabio, you’re a genius,” she said. Virginia’s hair looked amazing.

Ella gulped.
“Christ, she looks great.”

The colour was clever: Fabio had put different shades of gold into Virginia
’s hair. The cut was funky and attractive. Although they could not see her face, the hair was a definite improvement.

“
Virginia, move your hands,” Clara snapped. It had no effect. Ella shrugged moving one of Virginia’s hands herself; Fabio removed the other. Virginia’s eyes were closed. “Look, Virginia. Look!” Clara urged excitedly. Virginia opened one eye, then the other. She stared into the mirror and blinked. She didn’t know who she was staring at but the girl in the mirror looked great.

“
I knew it! I knew she was gorgeous.” Clara clapped her hands and ran to the till to pay.

“
Is it me?” Virginia asked.

“
Yes, it is, and you look terrific,” Ella replied. She had not imagined in her wildest dreams that Virginia could be so transformed by a haircut. She almost booked an appointment with Fabio herself.

“
My God,” Virginia said.

Clara and Ella got Virginia out of the salon. She kept touching her hair.
“Is it me?” she asked again.

“
Yes, it bloody well is, and I don’t think it’s fair that after one haircut you look like a fucking movie star,” Clara said. “It took me much more than that.” Virginia and Ella gazed at Clara: she looked so peeved that they burst out laughing.

“
It’s the ugly-duck syndrome,” Clara stated, as they drove back in a cab to her flat.

“
I don’t think Virginia was ever ugly,” Ella said.

“
No, but she looked boring. I always said she had potential, didn’t I?” Clara said.

“
I look so different,” Virginia said.

“
Can you stop obscuring my mirror?” the cab driver asked angrily.

When they got out Ella told Virginia they were going to get their things together so they could stay at Clara
’s for a couple of days. “I’ll drive us,” she said, and led Virginia to her car.

On the journey Virginia didn
’t speak; she pulled down the sun visor and stared at herself in the mirror. Ella decided to enjoy the peace. Two days with Clara and Virginia would be anything but peaceful. They went first to Ella’s, where she threw a few things in her sports bag, then to Virginia’s, then headed back to Clara’s.

Clara had had some more cocaine. She was a little miffed by Virginia
’s new look although she didn’t know why. Virginia looked lovely. Clara had hoped she would drag her into the right century, but she hadn’t banked on her looking quite so good. She also had not anticipated that Virginia’s transformation would bother her.

When they arrived, she had a bottle of red wine waiting.

“Clara, don’t tell me you’ve got alcohol ready.” Ella said dumping her bag by the front door and flopping down on the sofa.

“
Well I thought we’d celebrate Virginia turning into an attractive young woman.” Clara said it with a hint of hostility.

“
You did this to me,” Virginia retorted sensing the hostility.

“
Don’t forget it,” Clara hit back pouring the wine.

“
I need the bathroom,” Virginia stated and ran to look at herself in the mirror. Again, she couldn’t believe it. Apart from the fact she was blonde and her mousy look had gone, she did look good. She looked modern. Her eyes looked bigger and the way he had cut her hair away from her face, made her face look softer. As she smiled at herself in the mirror, she hardly recognised the girl smiling back.

“
I’ve created a monster,” Clara said.

“
Shit, Clara, anyone would think you liked her looking the way she did.”

“
I didn’t. I just didn’t think she’d look quite so good.”

“
Well it’s great for us that she does. The idea was to have the journalist eating out of her hands. And looking like that, she will.”

“
As long as she doesn’t behave the way she did when she was at the hairdresser,” Clara said.

“
We’ve got tonight and tomorrow to make sure she doesn’t,” Ella replied.

When Virginia returned they started preparing her for the journalist. As they drank, Virginia loosened up.

“Thank you, Clara,” Virginia said.

“
What for?” Clara asked.

“
My hair. I know it’s so I don’t mess up, but thank you anyway,” Virginia replied.

“
Just make sure you don’t mess up,” Clara said.

She felt a new confidence.
“You know, maybe I
can
do this,” she added.

“
Declan has booked lunch for you at Hush,” Ella told her. “He insisted.”

“
Who pays?” Clara asked.

“
He will. We’re giving him a story, after all.”

“
But I’m not very good at eating in front of strangers.” Virginia’s confidence had dissolved already.

“
You know which knives and forks to use, don’t you?” Clara asked.

“
Yes, but ...”

“
OK. Just order a salad and say you’re on a diet. You don’t have to eat much,” Clara told her helpfully.

“
The food isn’t important,” Ella said impatiently. “I’ve written down what you have to say and I’ve also written down the questions I think he’ll ask, with answers. Study them and we’ll test you tomorrow. And, Virginia, relax. We’re here for you.” Ella handed her a piece of paper.