Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
H arper fixed herself a quick sandwich. She ate at the table while scrolling through her phone. She’d hoped that by now the paparazzi would have grown bored with their stakeout of Jack, but they were still out there.
There were new pictures of Jack posted today. Grainy, somewhat blurry photos of him draped in the blanket coming across the breezeway last night. Some of the captions speculated that he might be having a breakdown.
She scoffed. Why? Because he’d covered himself so they couldn’t get a shot of his face? Didn’t those lunatics realize they were causing this? It was all so aggravating.
A text came in, the notification popping up over the page she was looking at. It was from Mimi Atwell, one of her clients.
She tapped on the text to read the whole thing in its entirety.
Harper, could we please schedule a zoom? I have another talk show to do and would love your outfit advice again. You nailed it last time and I am desperate for your help! For good measure, Mimi had added four hearts in different colors and some praying hands.
Harper texted back. I’m available in fifteen minutes. Does that work?
Yes! Thank you! More hearts followed.
Harper finished her sandwich and cleaned up, then quickly went into her bedroom. She brushed her hair and twisted it into a quick, but chic, updo, then threw on some makeup. Enough to look presentable on screen.
She changed into a lightweight V-neck sweater in a deep teal. With that she added a pair of simple hoops, her initial pendant necklace, a couple of bracelets, and a hammered band ring, all in gold. From the waist down, she was in the same leggings, but those wouldn’t be seen.
Satisfied she looked presentable and hopefully fashionable enough to give sartorial advice, she took her laptop into the office and got ready for the Zoom call.
She set up the room, sent Mimi a link, and, in a matter of minutes, Mimi responded, logging into the room.
Mimi waved as she appeared on screen. “Hi, Harper. How are you?” Mimi sat at the dressing table in her huge walk-in closet. As she usually did, she’d set her laptop up to take advantage of the lights that surrounded the mirror. Her blond hair was in a high, 1950s-style curled ponytail. Her makeup, black-lined cat eyes and red lips, matched the look.
“I’m doing great. How are you?”
“A little nervous. You know how I get.”
“I do, but I also know that you’re going to do a fantastic job. You always do. What talk show are you going to be on?”
“Kara Stone.”
“That’s on at three, right?” Kara Stone was a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who was trying to transition beyond her music career. Her talk show was only a few months old and, apparently, a hot ticket.
Mimi nodded. “That’s right. I’m the main guest, so that’s nice. And the musical act is a new country group. Lone Star, I think?”
“I’ve heard of them. They’re hot right now.”
“Well, I hope they’re good.”
“What are your outfit options?”
“I have a whole rack of things, but I’m thinking a dress, maybe? I really don’t know. I don’t do a lot of daytime stuff but it’s a different vibe.”
“For sure. Show me the clothes.” Harper sat back.
“Okay.” Mimi went to the wheeled rack against the back wall and started pulling things off it one at a time so Harper could see them.
There were dresses aplenty, but also skirt and top outfits, and some pantsuits. Harper couldn’t imagine how much money that rack of clothes was worth, but Mimi was a rising star, and designers were eager to dress her.
As Mimi hung the last piece back up, Harper rested her hand against her jaw. “What do you like?”
“Well…” Mimi turned her back to the camera and pulled out a patterned, cobalt-blue shirt dress with a voluminous skirt and a wide belt cinching the waist. “I’ve kind of been drawn to this. It’s sort of old-fashioned, though, isn’t it? That’s probably why I like it. Is it too mumsy for me?”
“Hard to say without seeing it on you. It’s definitely got a vintage vibe, which I know you like.” Harper liked it, too, and she knew that Mimi generally looked pretty good in that style of clothing. The more modest styling helped counterbalance Mimi’s pinup girl body and looks.
It also had begun to set her apart from a lot of other starlets who seemed determined to wear as little as possible.
“Be right back,” Mimi said. When she returned, she had the dress on. She twirled, sending the skirt out like a carnival ride. “What do you think?”
Harper smiled. “It’s really pretty on you. Feminine, but it still shows off your incredible shape. And that color with your hair?” She kissed her fingers. “Chef’s kiss. Perfect.”
Mimi laughed. “I do love this dress. But is it a wow?”
“Not in the way a strapless black evening gown is, but this is daytime TV. You don’t want to overdress. Then you look like you didn’t understand the assignment.”
“True.” Mimi nodded, glancing back at the rack. “There is another look I’ve been strongly considering.”
“The green pantsuit?”
Mimi cut her eyes at the camera. “How did you know?”
“Because I know what you’re drawn to. That’s a very different look. But it could be good. Try it on.”
“Okay.” Nodding, Mimi grabbed the suit and disappeared off screen. She returned a few minutes later, wearing the suit, the jacket buttoned and seemingly nothing underneath.
“You’d wear a blouse or something, right?” Harper asked.
“I wasn’t going to. It’s kind of the look right now.”
“Maybe on the red carpet and maybe on women who are desperate for attention, but that’s not you, Mimi. You don’t need to try that hard. The suit looks fantastic. That color is amazing. It’s gorgeous. Again, a perfect complement to your hair and skin tone. But that much exposed skin on an afternoon talk show?” Harper shook her head. “From a practicality standpoint, you’re not going to be comfortable. You won’t want to move much, even with the jacket taped down.”
That was pretty standard practice when a woman wore something particularly revealing. Fashion tape disappeared against the skin and provided a little protection against a wardrobe malfunction. Even so, it was human nature not to move too much when wearing something so low-cut.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Mimi sighed. “But a blouse is so boring. And corporate. I don’t want to look like I just came from an office.”
“Remember when you did that photo shoot on the beach? How we turned that scarf into a halter top?”
Mimi nodded. “You think that would work?”
“I do. Show me your scarves.”
Mimi disappeared for a moment, then came back with a shopping bag. “I just got these from Gucci.” She opened the boxes, one by one.
“That one.”
Mimi’s expression turned skeptical. “But it’s mostly light blue. Or pale turquoise. Not sure what that color is officially. Does that go with this green?”
“It definitely does. Look at that pattern. It’s got some of that emerald green in it. That blue with that green is fresh and unexpected and very tropical. Doesn’t hurt that it’s Gucci, either. Think party in Palm Beach.”
Mimi smiled. “I like that. Hang on.”
Mimi turned and slipped the jacket off, tossing it over the rack of clothes. She took the square scarf and tied two ends together at the back of her neck, then the other two at the small of her back. She put the jacket back on and faced Harper again. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s perfection. Some big gold jewelry, a pair of strappy gold sandals, and you’re done.”
Mimi was all smiles now. “What color should I paint my toes?”
“That light blue. Embrace it. If you wear that suit, that is. If you wear the dress, I’d do a red lip and red nails.”
Mimi put her hands on her hips. “How am I going to decide?”
Harper knew Mimi well. One of her continuing issues was power. She talked about it a lot. How she never felt like she had much. How most of it seemed to belong to the men in the industry who controlled everything.
But the talk show she was going on was hosted by a woman. Maybe being powerful wasn’t as important. “Do you know what Kara’s going to wear?”
“No idea. But I think she usually wears pants and some kind of jacket.”
“Is Raffi going with you or are you using their hair and makeup?”
“I could do either.” She touched her hair. “He did this. It was a test to see how I’d like it. And if it would give me a headache or not. So far, so good.”
Harper thought a moment. “I’d take both outfits and decide when you get there, based on how you’re feeling in the moment. The suit is more powerful. The dress is softer, more open. Either way, that high ponytail works, if that’s something you were thinking about.”
“I was.” Mimi came back and sat at her dressing table. Up close, the suit and scarf colors really popped. “Maybe I’ll get Fayetta to take some photos of me in both outfits so I can see how they look, too.”
Fayetta was Mimi’s housekeeper and, Harper imagined, her sounding board when there was no one else around. Harper was fine with that. She’d met Fayetta. The woman took no prisoners. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“Thanks, Harper.”
“Anytime, Mimi.” Harper meant it, too. Unlike some of her other clients, who’d been unhappy with Harper’s news about moving to Florida, Mimi had been fine with it. For that, Harper would always be on call for Mimi.
Mimi wiggled her fingers. “Talk to you soon. Bye now.”
“Bye.” The screen went black as Mimi disconnected. Harper carried her laptop back to her bedroom. Her phone, which she’d forgotten on the bed, was vibrating with an incoming call. She grabbed it and took a look at the screen.
Jack.
She answered. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Hey.” He let out a long, frustrated sigh. “Those boats are still out there. Those idiots with their cameras. I came here to relax and get away and recharge, man.”
“I know you did.” He’d come here to escape a bad decision, made worse by the woman he’d made it with, but Harper wasn’t going to bring that up. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this. How can I help?”
“I don’t know, man. I feel like…like giving them a piece of my mind.”
“You know that won’t help, Jack. You know that’s exactly what they want you to do.”
“Did you see what they’re saying about me? That I’m losing my mind. Can you believe that? They’re saying I’m having a breakdown. Me. Well, if I am, it’s because they won’t leave me alone .”
“I know, I know.” Harper rubbed her forehead. She felt for Jack. His escape plan had turned into a trap, and he seemed to be reaching his limits. “I’ll try to think of something, okay?”
Jack sighed into the phone. “It’s not your problem, man. I appreciate you wanting to help, but—”
“Hey. It is my problem. You’re my guest. And my client.”
Another long sigh filled her ears. “I’ll be all right.”
“I know you will. But I still want to help.”
He laughed softly. “You’re all right, Harper.”
“So are you, Jack. Hang tight. I’ll come up with something.” She had no idea what, but she was sure going to do her best to figure something out.