Seeking Crystal (12 page)

I mustered an innocent expression. ‘Oh, of course not. Luigi and co are going to be the very epitome of tastefulness.’

Diamond’s eyebrows winged up until she saw my wink. She sat back in her chair. ‘Excellent. Roll on Friday.’

Trace and Xav exchanged a long look. Both knew Diamond would never hire a team of Italian Chippendales but neither quite trusted me. Oh, I was enjoying myself!

I leaned forward, sharing confidences with my sister. ‘I’ve told Luigi, nothing too raw, you know? I stressed that we were all ladies of refined palates. He should make the display hot, but not too hot.’

‘Oh my!’ Diamond flapped at her cheeks with her napkin.

Xav was now studying me with suspicion. I may have pushed the cooking metaphor a touch too far. He nudged my foot under the table.

‘What?’ I mouthed as Trace and Diamond went into one of their little romantic whisper routines. In consideration of me, they didn’t use telepathy when I was around.

‘Hot but not too hot? Cupcake, that doesn’t suit you.’

‘I’m thinking of my sister,’ I said primly.

‘Good, because I’ve kissed you and I can say that you are the female equivalent of red chilli.’

I blushed. ‘Sssh!’

‘Why? It’s all there on film for the world to see.’ His gaze dropped to my mouth.

‘Stop it!’ I was worried that Diamond might notice. Fooling about with her brother-in-law was not the most sensible thing I could do for the future harmony of family relations.

He shrugged. ‘Can’t seem to help myself. Maybe I should give Lola a ring to adjust our plans for Friday. Looks like I’ll be needing a distraction if I’m not to succumb to temptation.’

Succumb!
My rebellious mind shouted, even though it knew it would drop me in so much trouble. I concentrated on feeling aggrieved that he could even consider exotic water ski instructors a distraction.

‘Fine, phone Lola.’ I gave him a smile that was all teeth and no humour. ‘But just bear in mind, cupcake: your party may be mildly diverting; mine is going to be unforgettable.’

On Wednesday, Diamond was called to Rome on an emergency reconciliation job with two feuding members of the same Savant family. Writs had been exchanged and tempers running dangerously high. Trace and Xav went with her for the ride. That was just as well because Lily turned up in the shop with a proposition I knew none of them would approve.

‘Crystal, will you do me an enormous favour?’ Lily asked as she breezed into the shop. Dressed in a vibrant red jumper and skirt, accessorized with lightning bolt silver earrings, she seemed to run a thousand volts through my quiet afternoon of sewing.

‘I’m not sure—depends what it is.’ I threw my work to one side. ‘I always read the small print before I sign up to stuff.’

‘Wise girl.’ Lily leaned on the counter. ‘But you are going to love this. In fact, I’m the one doing you the favour really.’ She picked up my discarded dress—blue, hand-embroidered silk—which I had been hemming. ‘Nice.’

‘For my sister’s hen party on Friday.’

‘Hmm. It’ll look fabulous. But first things first: what are you doing tonight?’

I wasn’t expecting the others back until late. ‘No plans. Signora Carriera will keep me busy I imagine.’

‘Then I will ask her to release you early. I have a mission for you.’

‘That sounds promising.’

‘Steve Hughes—remember him: jaw-droppingly good-looking actor with a bank balance the size of Monaco?’

I grinned. ‘I might just have noticed him.’

‘Well, he’s coming out with James and me to the opening of an art exhibition this evening. His agent thinks it looks good on his profile to be pictured doing high culture. He needs a story to counter some bad press about a broken relationship.’

‘James and you?’

She waved that away. ‘We’re friends—just friends. Or don’t you know about his boyfriend back in LA?’

‘Oh, sorry.’

‘Back to Steve. Girlfriend
du jour
was given the old heave-ho last week over some kiss-and-tell story she sold to the tabloids.’

‘Love rat.’

‘Exactly. Now Steve needs some pretty young thing on his arm tonight to show that he’s so over her and has moved on—someone he can trust.’

Was this leading where I thought it was leading? ‘I don’t do pretty.’

‘Bad choice of words: I meant stunning and unusual. And what better start to your modelling career than to have your name linked to Steve, however briefly? Your face will be in all the gossip columns from here to Seattle.’

‘Steve wants me to go with him?’ I felt a strange mixture of emotions—part exhilaration part terror.

‘Er … he doesn’t actually know it is you I am lining up for him.’ Lily tapped my nose. ‘Don’t go getting all romantic about this—it is one date, a photo opportunity really. He’s not going to fall in love with you and whisk you away to his Hollywood palace so dial back those expectations.’

Actually, I didn’t want him to take me anywhere; there was only one guy that made me think of happily ever afters and his name did not start with S. ‘I know all that, Lily, but it is a bit lowering to find I’m just a name on a list you are running through.’

Lily laughed. ‘If it is any consolation, you were at the top. Will you do it?’

Spend the night straining my eyesight sewing on sequins or rubbing shoulders with film stars? ‘I’ll just check with my social secretary, put off Taylor Lautner till Tuesday, move Robert Pattinson to next week, but it looks as though I’m free.’

‘Thank you. I’ll just sort things out with the signora and we’ll go get you dressed.’

I looked down at my jeans and jumper combo. ‘You mean I can’t go like this?’

‘Just you wait, Crystal Brook, I’ve got something special in mind for you.’

‘I can’t be seen like this!’ I hissed to Lily as we waited for Steve and James outside the Fenice Theatre. The white-pillared entrance loomed above us like an entrance to Olympus; it was guarded by a phoenix, which hung, carved and freshly gold tinted, over the flight of stairs. The organizers had staged this evening’s art exhibition in the sumptuous foyer of the opera house and I could already see the brightly-coloured evening dresses of the ladies mingling with the black tie suits of the men. White jacketed waiters wound between the groups of art lovers offering delicate nibbles and flutes of champagne. They were the gods of the international social scene; I was one very unimportant human interloper and we all knew what happened when mortals messed with deities. I tugged the hem of my outfit lower—it was mid thigh and I was not used to displaying so much leg. ‘I’m not dressed for that crowd.’

Lily glanced at the guests and sniffed. ‘Not a scintilla of fashion taste among them. Those dresses have been in their wardrobes for years. Classic, classic, classic, yawn, yawn, yawn. You, girlfriend, are wearing a signature piece from Julien Macdonald’s latest collection, London Fashion Week’s star turn.’

‘I am not wearing a signature anything because I am wearing not very much!’ The hem finished at the top of my leg before it barely got started. The V front and back meant not very much material had been used in the bodice either. The only place there was any coverage was in the floaty train that billowed from the back which was what made it qualify as evening wear.

‘You look lovely in cream and gold. You know, the embroidery on that alone costs more than the average family car.’

‘Oh God. Lily: I order you to keep me away from the red wine.’

‘Just be careful. Julien was more than happy to lend it to me as he knew that he’d get some nice shots in tomorrow’s press but I did promise to get it back to him in the same condition in which I received it.’

‘This is such a bad idea.’ If Lily hadn’t been holding on to my arm, I would have picked up the train of my skirt and run for it—high-heeled gold boots notwithstanding—a Cinderella who bottled out before the ball.

My little panic attack amused Lily but she did not make the mistake of letting go. ‘You can’t change your mind now. Just think of the negative press for Steve if he gets stood up.’

‘How on earth would they know?’

Lily rolled her eyes at my naivety. ‘Because they have been tipped off that they can get a shot of him leaving the party at around ten with his date. These things are not spontaneous, you know.’

Two men stepped out of the street running down the side of the church opposite the opera house. One short and fat, the other medium height and slim: our dates had just arrived. Steve’s burly minder closely followed them.

‘Quickly now: Steve won’t want to hang around outside in case any press have come early. Candid shots never look good.’ Lily tugged my arm and we fell in behind the director and his star, through the glass doors and into the foyer. Cloakroom attendants were on hand to take our wraps and coats. Only then did Steve relax and greet us.

‘Hey, Lily, you’re looking amazing!’ He kissed the wardrobe mistress on the cheek twice.

I had to bite down on a scream: I was in the same room as my hero. I was HIS DATE!!!!!

James gave us both a hug. ‘Hi, Crystal. Feeling up to this?’

I gave him a weak smile.

Lily brushed a loose thread off the film star’s lapel. ‘Like the jacket, Steve. Tom Ford?’

‘Yes. It’s one of my favourites.’ Steve turned to me.

Deep breaths, Crystal. Don’t disgrace yourself.

‘Hi, you must be Crystal. Thanks so much for agreeing to this madness tonight.’ He leant forward and gave me two kisses as he had Lily. ‘Love the dress.’

‘Thanks,’ I squeaked.

He gave me an understanding look. I imagine any normal girl must act really strangely around him so this was not the first time he had reduced someone to a blithering idiot.

‘Here’s the deal, Crystal: this whole gig is in honour of a friend of mine, so we sip champagne, say “hi” to a few folks, support the cause, then we split.’ He rubbed his hands in a workmanlike fashion. ‘I’ve got a heavy poker night lined up with the guys from the crew back at the hotel, so I want to leave in about an hour. Is that OK with you, Crystal?’

Not very flattering but I was hardly going to demand his undivided attention all evening.

‘No problem.’

‘Great. Let’s go mingle.’ He offered me his arm, which I took. I hoped he couldn’t tell that I was shaking in my four-inch heel boots. Fortunately he seemed unfazed by the fact that I towered over him. ‘So, tell me about yourself. Lily said you were an extra for the movie?’ He checked his reflection in the wall mirror as we passed.

‘Yes.’

‘So, do you want to be an actress?’

That was so far from being my ambition, I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘No way!’

He gave me a quick grin, almost making me swallow my tongue as I got a blast of his cobalt eyes. His onscreen charisma was even more obvious in real life. ‘I’m getting to like you more and more. Wannabe actresses are a pain in the butt and I meet far too many of them. What do you do?’

‘I make carnival costumes—you know, like the masks and robes we were wearing at the weekend. It’s a Venice tradition.’

‘Hey, now that’s really interesting.’ He patted my hand in what I couldn’t help but think a patronizing gesture—well done, the little people. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been on a date with someone who makes things. People who make scenes, sure; but not useful things like costumes. Dating a talented craftswoman shows I’ve got hidden depths, doesn’t it?’ He winked to undercut the egocentric nature of the comment but I guessed he probably meant it. He guided me into the crowd smoothly, people turning to look as he joined them: sunflowers following the sun. Not betraying that he had noticed how they reacted, Steve took me straight to the artist whose work we were supposed to be appreciating. I had not had a moment to see what pieces were being exhibited. I brushed past a tortured clown sculpture as we cut our way through the gathering and glimpsed a ravaged ballerina on one paint-splattered canvas so I hazarded a guess that the exhibition had a theatrical theme.

Steve thrust his hand out to a diminutive man dressed in peacock blue. ‘Hey, Sebastian, great show you’ve got here.’ Not that he’d seen it.

‘Oh, Steve, you made it!’ The artist fluttered in a nervous little circle, his flute of champagne slopping over his fingers as he switched hands to shake Steve’s palm. I retreated a step, mindful of my dress. ‘How perfectly darling of you!’