Chapter 32
‘Are you ready?’ Amanda asks, popping her head around my office door.
‘Yep. Just shutting down. Jackson’s going to drive us to Harrods, is that okay?’
‘Okay? It’s great! Some of us do not have a problem being chauffeured around.’
Jackson drops us at the Brompton Road entrance to the finest and largest department store in London and two concierges are on hand to welcome us.
Concierges at Harrods are somewhat an institution in Britain.
They have status. They wind up on postcards, tourists stop to take their photograph, sometimes they even make it to biscuit-tin lids.
It’s their gentlemanly manner, their cute, knee-length, grey jackets with dazzling, gold buttons and their matching grey top hats.
They’re part of what makes Harrods Harrods .
‘Follow me,’ Amanda demands.
‘Wait, I want to look at the bags first.’
‘No, we can do that later, this way.’
She struts towards the lift vestibule where we stare at bottle-green, marble walls trimmed with gold and wait for the lift.
When the doors open on the women’s floor, a pristine lady greets us.
I’d place in her forties despite her flawless, youthful-looking skin.
A pearl necklace hangs over her demure, black blouse, which is tucked into an expensive-looking, black-and-silver-striped pencil skirt.
Her brown hair looks as if she’s just stepped out of a salon and sits with perfect bounce onto her shoulders.
I recognise the scent of expensive perfume as she offers her hand, first to Amanda.
‘Good evening, I’m Julia. Scarlett, is it?’
‘Oh, no, Amanda. It’s nice to meet you. This is Scarlett.’
‘I’m sorry. It truly is a pleasure to meet you, Scarlett.’
‘Ahh, hi, it’s nice to meet you. What is going on?’
Julia titters. ‘He’s sneaky, isn’t he? Come this way. I spend a lot of time styling Mr Ryans, although I think I know what he likes by now so I don’t see him as often as I used to.’
‘It’s so important to have a brand image, I think,’ Amanda says, feigning the accent of the Queen, mimicking Julia. I want to laugh but refrain.
Following behind Julia as she strides without fault in her red-soled shoes, Amanda explains, ‘Gregory said I could pick whatever I want if I got you here. He said you’d say no if he suggested it to you.’
‘I can’t afford this,’ I try to whisper.
Julia stops in front of a frosted-glass door. Before she opens it for us, she leans in towards my ear and whispers, ‘It’s all on Mr Ryans’ account.’
‘But, I?—’
‘Stop fussing, Scarlett,’ Amanda says, wafting a hand past my face and following Julia into the black-walled room. ‘He can afford it.’ And you’re more than happy to accept it.
I huffily take out my phone and send Gregory a message.
You’re such a controlling arse…
I get an almost instant reply.
Enjoy!
In the room, another flawlessly styled woman in a black dress and a man in a three-piece suit with a pink, floral tie are standing to attention and smiling like something out of The Brady Bunch .
Two embroidered sofas are set back to back in the centre of the room and racks of evening gowns line the walls.
A glass table is laden with jewellery and the biggest diamonds I’ve ever seen.
Three white shelves contain a selection of shoes in different colours and styles, highlighted by spotlights above them.
Two dressing areas are separated by black velour curtains held back by gold chains.
Turning in the centre of the room, I must look gormless as I take in the spectacular view. So this is how the other half live.
‘You’re the one,’ the suited man says, offering me his hand. ‘I’m Lucas. This is Genevieve.’
I smile at Lucas and Genevieve as I reciprocate a handshake. ‘Scarlett. It’s nice to meet you.’
‘Champagne?’ Lucas asks, turning his hand flamboyantly towards a waiter carrying two glasses of champagne on a tray in one hand and menus for the restaurant in the other.
‘I could get used to this,’ Amanda says, taking a glass of champagne and sitting on a sofa with the menu.
By the time we’ve ordered food, Julia and Genevieve have selected the first two dresses for me to try on.
‘We’ll start with Scarlett,’ Lucas says.
Amanda wafts a hand. ‘I’m more than happy right here.’ She sips her champagne with her legs lifted, lounging out on the sofa.
Genevieve holds up a satin, floor-length dress in midnight blue.
It has a thick halterneck with a triangle of lace inset over the bust and coming to a point at the bottom of the breastbone area.
Julia holds up an equally long, black dress with full-length sleeves and a wide, round neck, lower at the back than the front. A slit runs thigh-high on one leg.
‘I’ll try the blue first, please.’
Lucas clicks his fingers excitedly. ‘Shoes!’ he sings, as I’m encouraged to move into the dressing room and the velour curtain is drawn around me.
‘That bra isn’t going to work,’ Genevieve says when I’ve revealed my black lace underwear. ‘What size are you? Thirty-two D?’
‘Ah, yes, actually.’
‘This is my job,’ she says, rather pleased with herself. ‘Julia, can we get a strapless plunge in a thirty-two D?’
Julia passes through a bra in seconds and, much to my horror, Genevieve doesn’t leave the room or even turn as I swap my own bra for the strapless plunge. She helps me into the dress and gestures for me to sit as she places the shoes Lucas has picked out onto my feet.
‘Right, let’s take a look,’ she says.
I have to hand it to them, I look fantastic, for me. The dress gives me a figure I’m sure I’ve never seen and the lace point reveals enough to make me appear to have a cleavage without being overt. Genevieve draws back the curtain to display me to the room.
Immediately, without taking a breath or giving her heart a chance to beat, Julia says, ‘No.’
Followed by Lucas who, with a hand on his hip and the other on his chin, says, ‘It’s all wrong.’
Amanda laughs, presumably at my bottom lip, which has worked its way out in a childish pout.
‘Let’s try the black,’ Julia says.
After the third unsuccessful dress, my poached salmon and asparagus with a side order of potatoes has arrived with a new glass of champagne. The table has been pulled towards the sofas for us to eat. As I pick up my knife and fork, Lucas swoops in and removes my side plate of potatoes.
‘We don’t want you to bloat.’
Once again, my pouting lower lip is out and Amanda snorts.
‘You too, missy,’ Lucas says, taking away her side order as well.
Now it’s my turn to laugh.
Lucas is quick to get me back on my feet after dinner. Genevieve and Julia begin searching the racks again.
‘Is it all right if I look too?’ I ask.
‘Of course,’ Julia replies.
Searching through a number of black dresses, I pull out one: a satin halterneck fastened with three buttons at the nape and a cut-out back.
It’s fitted to the waist then A-line in shape, with a short train, an inch or two.
Then I see a sheath-cut, black dress, subtly embroidered with small, black crystals.
It’s strapless with a sweetheart neckline.
‘Can I try these?’
Lucas scrutinises the two dresses then says, ‘Not bad, not bad. Let’s try them.’
This time, Julia helps me dress and Lucas picks the shoes again. First, I put on the black halterneck and step out from behind the changing curtain.
‘That’s my favourite so far,’ Amanda says.
This time, it’s Genevieve who disapproves. ‘I just don’t feel wowed by it.’
I’m beginning to lose the will to live. What started as fun is now laborious and tiresome. I traipse back behind the curtain and Julia helps me slip out of the halterneck and into the crystal-laced dress.
‘These will be perfect,’ Lucas says, handing Julia a pair of jewelled sandals.
Julia straps me into the sandals and gives me a hand to stand up. The dress feels amazing; it fits my waist perfectly and the silk slip kisses my legs as I walk but I don’t bother to look in the mirror. Instead, I step straight out to the lion pack from behind the curtain.
Lucas gasps and puts his hands together, touching the tip of his nose as if in prayer. ‘That’s it. That’s the one!’
‘He won’t be able to take his eyes off you,’ Genevieve adds.
Julia claps excitedly. ‘Accessories!’
‘This one!’ Lucas says, taking a thick, diamond choker from a blue, velvet box and handing it to Julia.
‘Hair up, definitely up,’ Genevieve says.
Julia places the choker around my neck and turns me to face the mirror. ‘Go on, take a look.’
In the mirror, I see Amanda grin and slowly nod her head. It’s still the same me, but even I must admit it’s a better version of me. I look a million dollars… but that’s also the problem.
‘There’s no way I can let Gregory pay for all this. I’m sorry, I do love it but it must be a fortune.’
‘Hunny, do you have any idea how much his clothes cost? Anyway, the necklace would be on loan; people rarely buy these things,’ Lucas points out.
‘But what about the shoes and dress?’
Julia rests a hand on my shoulder. ‘To Mr Ryans? Buttons.’
‘You could always soften the blow,’ Amanda offers, dangling lace French knickers from one finger.
* * *
By the time we’re back in the Mercedes with Jackson, I have a dress, a new pair of shoes and a bag, a diamond necklace on loan and a black, satin corset with matching stockings and suspenders – the ‘Mercy Corset,’ so I’m told.
Amanda has an entirely new outfit as well, minus the underwear, and Julia was more than happy to put it on Gregory’s tab and take her commission.
Stepping out into the crisp air has made me realise how much the champagne has gone to my head.
‘Sweet dreams,’ Amanda calls as she leaves the car.
Jackson and I wait until she’s in her apartment block and the door locks behind her.
‘Thank you for picking us up.’
‘It’s never a problem. It’s good for Gregory right now too.’
‘How is he?’
‘About as stressed as I’ve seen him. Usually, it’s just business or even when it’s personal, it’s only about him. But he’s concerned now for Lara, and for you.’
‘Has your team had any luck today?’
‘Nothing yet but they’re good guys; they’ll keep trying.’
When we arrive back at the apartment, Gregory is drinking coffee and looking over documents splayed out on the coffee table in the lounge. I gather this is the information the team has pulled together on Pearson so far.
‘Did you get a dress?’
I give him a playful scowl. ‘Yes, I have a dress but you shouldn’t have paid.’
‘You could just say thank you.’
I plant a kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you.’ Then I hand him the smallest of the Harrods bags. ‘This is for you.’
He peeks into the bag and moves the black tissue to one side to reveal the Mercy Corset. I take the bag back from him. ‘You won’t be too late, will you?’
He clears his throat and turns to Jackson. ‘I, we, we won’t be too much longer, Jackson, will we?’
I hang up my dress then take a shower. It takes some time and skilful manoeuvring but I’m eventually dressed in the corset and stockings. I decide to add the jewelled shoes into the mix and finally, the diamond choker, then I dim the bedroom lights and lie on the chaise longue, waiting for Gregory.
Eventually, the door opens and he stands, observing from the doorway, his arms folded, eyes hooded.
I feel seductive, ridiculous and more feminine than I’d ever have thought possible.
‘What are we going to do with you?’ His words are low, heavy, promising.
He rolls up the sleeves of his white shirt as he moves towards me. He plants my legs on the floor in my heels, then forces them wide apart in a sudden move that makes me lean back on my hands, the Mercy Corset pushing my breasts upward. Then he kneels before me. Mine. All mine.