Page 56 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“I’d love to be able to afford the rent on one of those places myself,” Holly said wistfully. “But I’d have no spending money if I did. Mam keeps saying I should be saving to buy, anyway, and you don’t argue with Mam once she gets an idea into her head.”
Having met Sylvia Doyle, Jess could well believe it. “Your mam was saying you’re hoping to stay long-term with the group,” Jess said casually. “I won’t say anything, I promise, but do you want that for yourself or is it something your mam wants for you?”
“Oh, no, I totally want it!” Holly nodded fervently. “It’s an amazing job, and it’s seriously cool at the moment. Afric said she basically couldn’t do without me because I’m doing loads of extra stuff that I’m not even supposed to be –” She blushed bright red and slapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, forget I said that.”
Jess suppressed a sigh. Given how unnervingly open Holly was, she could easily be leaking to the press without even realising it. She lived in the village where the media spent most of its time when they weren’t camped out at the gates of the castle.
“Holly, once you’re not smuggling drugs for her, I doubt you’re doing anything wrong.”
“Oh, yeah, no.” Holly grinned. “She goes for power naps when they’re not filming and she gets me to take her up food afterwards. I’m not allowed in – I have to leave it outside the door of her suite.”
“Is this all coming from the kitchen?” Jess asked curiously.
Holly nodded. “She always asks for a salad and a steak sandwich.”
“A steak sandwich?” In fairness, Jess thought, Marco probably did a mouth-watering steak sandwich.
“Between you and me, Jess,” Holly said, glancing over her shoulder as if somebody might be listening, “I think she’s feeding Diva at the same time. Like, I heard she doesn’t eat red meat, so why would she be ordering steak? Please don’t tell Mrs McDonagh, though. She’d go mad if she knew. And she’s terrified of animals. I heard that she once screamed so loud at a mouse that it just dropped dead on the spot.”
Jess felt the corners of her mouth twitch. “She will make trouble if she finds out Diva’s being fed her fillet steak.” She sighed. “Both dogs are supposed to be fed outside or in the basement, right?”
Holly nodded. “Yeah, but Diva is smaller, and there’s never any mess. I’ve never heard her barking in there either, so I think she must be really well trained.”
Not that I’ve noticed, thought Jess.
“You look like you’ve had a long day,” Robert said as they stood at the bar in Páidí’s after work.
“Eventful.” Jess smiled, trying to shake off some of the tension she was feeling.
TheDaily Globe’s report that morning had sparked more trouble between Doug and Mel, according to a furious Lisa.
“I need you to find out who the fuck this reporter is,” she said, “and why their byline doesn’t appear on any of the shit they’re putting out about us! How thefuckare they even finding out this stuff?”
Wisely, Jess had decided that an ‘all publicity was good publicity’ remark might come across as flippant. But she was a bit tired of being blamed every time something negative appeared in the media – especially when it was happening almost every day.
She’d been grateful when Snuggles had provided a distraction later in the day, after he’d got loose in the grounds long enough to dig up half the flower bed on the outside set and leave a large deposit of his own in the middle of the fake street.
Ben, who’d apparently let him off the lead for a run, had been charming and apologetic, while Mel had told him not to worry and ordered two of the ADs to clean up the mess and reorganise the flower beds.
Jess sighed and accepted a light beer from Páidí. “Did I tell you I’m helping to organise a housewarming party for Emily at the end of the month?” she asked Robert.
Robert took his own glass and they made their way to the closest empty table. “The receptionist.”
“My friend, yes.” Jess sat down on a low stool and sipped the cold beer, wondering for a moment if she’d imagined his eye-roll.
“Will you come along?”
He drank deeply and wiped his hand across his mouth. “I don’t want to intrude, I barely know her.”
“You’re not intruding, and I’m inviting you.” Jess glanced around. “Emily needs to settle in and get to know people.”
Robert laughed. “Won’t that happen anyway?”
“Maybe. Eventually.” She shrugged. “I’m just speeding things up.”
He looked bemused, and she hesitated, remembering her promise to Emily. But she wouldn’t be breaking any confidences, and chances were Robert had heard it already.
“Emily’s been hearing some hurtful things back about her.”
