Chapter 12
Mia
The launch continues with an afterparty at a bar we have hired. The venue has been beautifully dressed with the brand as its inspiration. There’s been no expense spared with a free bar, food, and goody bags full of MIA cosmetics. Putting on my best show, I work my way around, networking. Everyone is enjoying themselves, and I have meetings with investors set up for the coming weeks. After a few hours, I am tired of business talk and go in search of my girls. I find Maria and Lucia at the bar, downing shots.
“Toilet break,” they both insist as soon as they see me, then jump off their bar stools and take me by the arms into the ladies’ room.
“So how is going? Have you been approached by any of the investors?” asks Marisa.
“Yes, a few actually.”
“That’s amazing. We’re so proud of you, Mia.” Lucia beams, and I know she means every word. As much as Lucia and Marisa live for the benefits of being in my life, they do care a lot about me.
“Hey, Mia, I know it’s your night, but any chance we can go somewhere else when this is all over? I really want to find a nice English gentleman, and all the men here are either gay or old.” Marisa pleads, and I wish I could take them somewhere and show them all London has to offer.
“Yeah, I’ve had enough of it all now.” I agree. “The only problem is the guards. They’ll follow us everywhere and not let anyone get near to us. That’s if they even let me go somewhere that hasn’t been security checked already.”
“Argh, they spoil all our fun.” Lucia stamps her feet while reapplying her lipstick. “It’s a shame neither one of them are hot, but they both look like gorillas.”
“We could lose them,” suggests Marisa.
“Not possible.” I sigh. “You girls can go. I’ll just go back to the hotel.”
The bathroom door then opens, and three women about our age walk in.
“Oh, my goodness. Mia, you look absolutely amazing! I love your dress.”
One of the girls flings her arms around me, giving me a hug. I’ll never get used to the fact that because people know me from the fashion world, they think that they know me enough to touch me, when in fact I don’t know them from Adam.
Sensing my uneasiness, she pulls back. “I’m sorry. My name is Alice, and this is Brooke.” She points at her blonde friend. “And this quiet one is Arianna,” she adds, gesturing to the only dark-haired one of the trio. “We work for Beauty Brand magazine, and we are doing a piece on your event.”
“We are so grateful to be here. We love the goody bags. I’ve been trying out the products already, and this lip gloss is just divine,” Brooke chirps in while applying more gloss to her lips in the mirror.
“It’s lovely to meet you girls. I’m so pleased you are enjoying it,” I reply.
“Wow, you speak really good English. Like, I can’t even tell you are Italian,” says Alice.
Marisa laughs. “Another one of Mia’s many talents. Her being fluent in many languages and able to mimic accents has been very useful over the years.”
I smile and shake my head at Marisa, remembering all the times I used said talents as a teenager.
We have a good chat with them, and they tell us about a new club they are going to after the launch party.
“I’ve got VIP passes. You should all come. Plus we are celebrating tonight.” Alice puts her arm around Arianna and continues. “Arianna has finally left her controlling, psycho of a husband.”
Arianna smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She hasn’t said a word since she entered the bathroom.
“Unfortunately, that won’t be possible for me, but you girls go,” I suggest to Marisa and Lucia.
“I’ve got an idea,” Marisa excitedly announces.
“What?” Lucia demands. “Please let it be a good one.”
“Yes, yes, this will definitely work.” Marisa eyes up our three new friends with her hands on her hips.
“Well, go on, then,” I insist.
“We swap clothes!” Marisa exclaims.
Shaking my head, I disagree. “Nope, never going to work.”
“Sure it will.” Lucia starts taking one of blonde girls’ hair down. “See, if we put their hair down, Brooke and Alice can pass for us and Arianna for you.”
“Oh my goodness, yes! Let’s do it,” Brooke agrees.
“Do we get to keep your clothes, though?” Alices asks hopefully.
Looking at the girls, there’s no way the guards will fall for it. Yes, the girls have a similar build to us, and their hair is a similar colour, but they look nothing like us. Arianna is very plain looking and much shorter than me.
“Have you always lived in the UK, Arianna?” I ask, her olive complexion and dark eyes reminding me of my own.
“Since I was very young. But my father was Italian, and my mother was English. I seem to have gotten all my father’s genes.”
“Da quale parte d'Italia veniva?” What part of Italy was he from ? I ask, thinking this may be a sign and considering the crazy idea.
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak Italian. My parents both died when I was a baby.” Arianna smiles, but I can see the pain behind it.
I don’t question her any further. I just put my arm around her, giving her a little squeeze while offering my condolences.
“Please, Mia, let’s just try it,” Marisa interrupts.
“What’s the worst that could happen? Come on, let’s give it a try,” Lucia begs.
Thinking for a moment, I have a quick look outside the bathroom to see where the guards are. One is stood at the front entrance and one at the back. We can’t walk past them, as they’ll see us. I think of a plan to get them to move away from the doors.
“Okay, let’s do it. But we need to hurry up. We’ve been in here a while now, and the guards will be getting suspicious.” I can’t believe I am agreeing to this.
“You go back into the event, Mia, and make sure the guards see you. Get yourself a drink, then come back. Buy us some time while we make the girls look more like us,” Lucia instructs excitedly.
“I’ve got my cordless straighteners in my bag, so I can do their hair,” Marisa states while Lucia ushers me out of the door.
I make my way around the room, and speak to guests situated in front of the guards. I then go to the bar and ask for a glass of water. I sense one of the guards approach me from behind.
“Is everything okay, Miss Alboni?”
“Marisa drank a little too much. She is in the bathroom. I’m just getting her some water.”
“Would you like me to arrange a car for her back to the hotel?”
“No, thank you. I’m sure she will be fine. You can arrange for the car to pick us up in one hour. I will be ready to go then. And stay by the door, please. I don’t want any drunk idiots trying to get in.” I point to the door where a group of men stand arguing with the bouncers.
“Yes, Miss Alboni.” He then returns to the door, and I go back to the bathroom.