Page 19 of You Only Live Once
‘I don’t think a leopard changes its spots that much, do you?’
‘I don’t know, but I do know he’s done a lot of growing up while he’s been away.’
I thought back to the philosophical words spoken in previous days and couldn’t help but agree. However, there was still no way I would entertain any thought of having a relationship with Jack Coulsdon-Hart. I had my routine, I had my books, and I had my family. That was all I needed. I’d tried something else in the past and I wouldn’t – couldn’t – go through that pain ever again.
‘Are you happy?’ Poppy watched me rolling out the dough on the cool surface.
‘Yes, of course.’
And I was happy. Wasn’t I?
* * *
‘Darling! You absolutely must go!’ Zinnia, my agent, was waving a finger at me, this one bedecked with a large sapphire ring, through the screen.
‘No, I absolutely must not, Zinnia. I don’t do these things. Remember, we talked about this. Several times.’
‘I know, darling. It’s really not your thing and I do understand, honestly. But this is different. You have to see that? This is a premiere with big Hollywood names. You can’t turn that down.’
‘I can and I think I did – several times.’
‘Yes, well, I didn’t pass that on, obviously.’
‘Can’t you just go instead? Nobody cares about the writers anyway.’
‘Well, they do in this instance, because Bella Dupree raved so much about your book even before she bought the rights. Probably shot the value of them right up, so you really ought to say thank you.’
I gave Zinnia a look that told her that was unlikely to happen. I was of course grateful that my book had been picked up and made into a major Hollywood movie. Beyond grateful. But neither was I about to bow and scrape to the golden great and good to thank them for even noticing me. Without people to write these stories, actors would be out of a job, so I figured it all balanced out in the end.
‘It’ll be great publicity, darling. I know you’re not a great fan of it,’ she said, ever the mistress of the understatement, ‘but this could be really important for your career. There are new writers coming along all the time. You know that, and I know you have a loyal readership, but we do have to keep on top of it all. Bella picking up on this book could bring a whole new demographic to your readership and it’s important that we capitalise on that.’
‘I agree. I just don’t agree with the suggestion that me parading at a premiere will help.’
‘Darling, darling. Sometimes one just has to be seen. It’s all very well cultivating this reclusive romantic image, and that’s fine. That’s worked for us as well, the air of mystery and all that.’
‘It’s not an image, Zinnia,’ I said, doing my best to stay calm.
‘No, no.’ She waved a hand conversationally, every finger sporting a large ring, each a different colour and all catching the light, shooting a rainbow of colours across her desk. ‘You know what I mean, but we can’t rest on our laurels. This is a great opportunity and if you do want to continue as you are, we have to work at it.’
‘I’ll think about it, OK?’
‘Marvellous, darling. You’ve got the tickets, haven’t you? I’ll get the publishers to send a car and book you a suite at the nearest luxury hotel.’
‘You don’t need to do that. I can—’
‘Must dash. So glad you’re going to do this.’
‘I didn’t say I was…’ I let the sentence drift off as Zinnia had long gone.
Shit. I really, really did not want to go to a flashy premiere in London. I didn’t want to go to the village shop, so why on earth would I want to go to the West End?
* * *
‘Take Jack with you,’ Felix shrugged when I mentioned my dilemma the next day.
‘What? No! Why would I do that?’
‘Company. At least, that way, you wouldn’t be on your own. I mean, I know the publishing people and your agent will be there, but I don’t know, maybe it would help to have someone along too who you can relax with.’
