Chapter 35 #2
The bar is cool, chic, and seems to be very exclusive.
I nearly choke at the prices of the drinks.
Evidently they’re going for a certain clientele.
And when I say certain, I mean rich. That’s maybe why it’s only half full.
But I suppose it is Wednesday afternoon.
Too early for any workers desperate for the most expensive champagne in London on their way home from work.
“Don’t look at the price tags. Mr Greystone is paying.” Evie smirks and leans her ear towards her bag. The inevitable ping follows, and she chortles with laughter. “Told you.” She waves at the waiter. “I’ll have a virgin mojito. And a glass of champagne. Any preference, Emma?”
I shake my head. “No preference, surprise me,” I say and smile up at the waiter.
We order food and relax back into the chairs, reminiscing about Devon. Evie regales me with tales about Pinky, Marshall, and Gerald—the farm henchman.
“Thank you so much for coming with me.” Evie holds her hand out to me. I take it and give it a squeeze. “Shopping is so much more fun with someone else. I try and take Pat or Sofia, but they’re not bothered about London, and Tommy hates it.”
She turns and points to her security man, who has pulled up a stool at the bar near the door, sitting quietly and watching us, a coffee in hand. I met him in Devon, but didn’t realise he went everywhere with her. He nods in acknowledgement at us looking over at him.
“Oh my god, don’t look now. Quick, talk to me as if we’re in a deeply private conversation.”
She leans in really close, nodding in fake agreement. I play along, indicating for her to come closer. What is she doing?
“Evie, hi. I thought it was you.”
My heart stops beating as I look up and recognise the beautiful face of Jude’s ex. Lindy. Evie doesn’t miss a beat. Her fake surprise even fools me.
“Lindy. Wow. Didn’t know you were back.” She stands and they air kiss.
“You look amazing. Loving the new hair.” She smiles warmly at the pop superstar.
“Maybe I’ll try going dark, Emma’s looks so lovely.
” Then she snaps her fingers as if she’s forgotten something, pointing at me.
“We should have gone to the hairdressers. I’ll check with Jonno if he’s paying for our hair being done.
” She grins at me, and I fully expect her phone to ping, but it doesn’t.
Lindy turns her beautiful brown eyes on me. “Is that for the wedding?” she asks Evie, whilst blatantly checking me out. “Hi, I’m Lindy. You are?” She waits expectantly for me to answer.
“Hi.” I smile, holding out my hand to be shook.
I’m not sure if that’s the normal greeting for a pop star, but most of my business introductions are handshakes, so I run with it.
She looks down at my hand, as if I’m an alien.
“I’m Emma.” I smile widely and wait. She eventually takes my hand, but her grip is limp and half-hearted.
“Emma who?” As if I should have some sort of title or recognisable name.
“Err, Emma Lincoln.” My voice raises at the end of my name. I don’t know why I make it sound as if I’m not sure what my surname is.
She studies me, but says nothing more. Evie distracts her with chat about her latest single and her amazing visuals to run alongside it.
It’s obvious Lindy loves to talk about herself.
Ten minutes later, and she’s still going.
With both Evie and I like a pair of matching nodding dogs, smiling like robots at the appropriate points.
We only get a reprieve when a well-known actress arrives and she shoots to her table to chat.
“Christ, I thought she was not going to stop. I should have asked her about Kasey. That might have stopped her earlier.” She grins.
“Is she still seeing him?” I ask, sneakily checking out Lindy, who is now trying to out-enthuse the actress.
“No, he is awful. He publicly got off with someone else. I know I shouldn’t like him, but he is lovely.
But you would never want to date him. It would be a nightmare.
I think Lindy bit off more than she could chew.
” Evie sighs. “People think they can handle it. The fame. But it’s so hard.
And when you climb in the tank with the big sharks, you’re always running the risk that you are going to get eaten alive.
” She shudders. “In a weird way, I’m so glad I never reconnected with Kell and Xan when we were younger.
It’s hard enough now. But when they were up and coming, running wild, it would have been terrifying.
” She pulls a face. “It’s hard enough watching my sons.
I’ve got my eyes covered most days, and ear plugs in.
I know when I’m told to stay off the internet, things are getting out of hand with them. ” She’s gritting her teeth together.
“They all seem so normal. So calm,” I say, thinking about them all in London and Devon.
“Well, at home they are. It’s just when they’re let loose. Then things go pear-shaped. To be fair, Kell is never normal, so I’m not sure why I expect it.” She grins. “I’m off to the loo. Be back in a sec. Can you order me another mocktail please.”
She smiles and heads out, and I order the drinks and sit back, people watching.
The bar has filled up, and the people are fascinating.
Lots of head tosses and brushing of hair going on from the women.
Lots of men around trying not to look interested.
One or two, however, are blatantly flirting. This is the place to see and be seen.
I clock Lindy checking out Evie’s toilet departure, and think for a moment she’s going to follow her to the loos. But she doesn't, she heads back towards me. Oh joy. I don’t need to be looking into her beautiful face. No comparisons are needed. I know the score here.
“Emma Lincoln.” She's wagging her finger. “Why do I know your name? Are you in TV?” She sounds like she’s auditioning for a part in a Sherlock Holmes movie. Trying to parse out all the parts to some great mystery.
“No, no.” I smile and shake my head.
Then her eyes light up as if she’s remembered where she knows me from. She’s in the wrong profession. She should be an actress rather than a singer with those skills.
Her face changes and she snaps her fingers together, her index finger pointing directly at me.
“Emma Lincoln. The woman who owns the building Jude wants. Has he bought it from you yet? He was hell-bent on it. Going on about it in London and LA. I know how ruthless these Greystones are. Don’t be fooled by Evie.
She’s as cold and ruthless as the rest of them.
” Her eyes are hard but her smile is fixed in place.
“Friendly advice. I hope you drove a hard bargain and got a good price.” She's staring at me intently, and I feel like I’m being put under a microscope.
My heart stuttering to keep beating. My mood nosediving.
I force out a noncommittal smile. “Well, it was nice talking to you.” I go for the polite brush off, and luckily someone calls her back to her table. She rushes off like I don’t even exist anymore.
“Was that Lindy at the table?” Evie shuffles back into her comfy spot.
“She wasn’t bothering you was she? I don’t think she got over Jude ending it with her in LA.
Although she didn’t seem too bothered at the time as she was with Kasey.
But I’ve heard on the grapevine since that she was gung ho to speak to Jude again.
She’s delusional. If he ended it, that’s it.
No returns. He takes a while to decide things, but once he has, that’s it.
He doesn’t go back. He’s worse than Jonno.
Like a piece of stone at times.” She glances over at Lindy, who is air kissing a few ladies who’ve turned up.
Evie brings out her phone, as it pings three or four times. “Ahh, Jonno has sent me the schedule for flights and things. We can coordinate if you want?” She moves closer to me and we have the phones between us as I pull mine out to get my diary up.
Half an hour later, we’re still sat going through the diary. “God, these kids have a busier schedule than me,” I huff as Evie and I try to wrangle our households so that we can all go to Ireland together.
“Well, look, it was a good idea, but I know how hard it is. So if we can’t make it fit, we can go separately. Although, I know Jude will not leave without you. So he’ll wait for you and the—”
“Why will Jude be waiting for her? And to go where?” Lindy has snuck up on us. We were so busy staring at our diaries we never noticed her arrival.
I see Evie’s face change and she misses one beat only before stating, “The wedding,” as if Lindy is a bit dense.
Well, she has already told her that. She keeps her eyes on Lindy but doesn’t offer any further information. I see her glance towards Tommy, who has started to meander closer to us.
Lindy’s face changes to one of incredulity.
She stares at me. “No fucking way. So he hasn’t managed to get your building yet.
” She smirks at me. Shaking her head as if she feels sorry for me.
“As I said, ruthless. He must really want that building if he’s dating you for it. ” She smugly glares at me.
“That’s enough, Lindy. Jude ended it with you in LA,” Evie says softly but with force.
“Nobody ended it with me. I decided to start seeing Kasey Becker. Upgraded.” She’s spitting bile. It’s not a good look.
The whole bar seems to have quieted. You could hear a pin drop, and I’m trying to sink into the leather sofa.
“Then why are you bothered if Jude is dating Emma or not. He’s moved on the same as you.” Evie has stood up and Tommy is stood next to her.
Lindy casts a quick look at him and huffs a nasty smile. “I’m not sure you call it dating. More like strategy if he still wants to buy her fucking building. Isn’t that the Greystone way? Get what you want by any means necessary. Play the long game, whatever that looks like.”
I feel like someone is pummelling my stomach. Punch after punch.