Chapter Sixteen
‘Hey, Emily.’ Ben Sage-Whittle got to his feet and hugged me. He smelled good, maybe something like Terre d’Hermès. Ben was very tall, a great Viking of a person, and he towered over me in a way that felt vaguely thrilling.
‘Hi,’ I said, a little breathily. ‘Sorry, I know this is so silly and awkward.’ I slid into the green button-back leather seat opposite him at Soho House on Dean Street.
‘Oh, not at all,’ he said, waving away my nerves.
Chloe and his publicist had set up this little encounter so we could check that we didn’t totally hate each other, which I thought seemed sensible.
‘All part of the fun, isn’t it?’ He sat back in his chair and smiled at me, running a hand through his fair hair, all soft and floppy.
He looked so relaxed, like he owned the place.
It put me at ease, like this was just something people did all the time.
And I was reassured that there would be big trouble if it looked like any of the other members were taking photos of us.
I suppose that’s why people like Ben joined clubs. A place to go and not be bothered.
We ordered coffees and got down to talking. ‘So, is this the sort of thing you do all the time?’ I took a sip of my oat flat white.
‘Of course not,’ he laughed, then paused and looked at me out of the corner of his eye. ‘Why, do you?’
‘No! I think I’ve just been single a while and Chloe thought this would be a nice little bit of “romantic intrigue” or whatever she likes to call it. What’s your excuse?’ My nerves were wearing off, and I seemed to be absorbing a little of Ben’s natural confidence.
‘In the politest possible way, I think there’s a feeling that going out with you will bring me a degree of . . . how should we say . . . populist appeal?’ He said with a raised eyebrow.
‘Oh, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being popular. I hope some of the Wonderwick magic rubs off on you.’
He took a sip of his coffee. ‘And it doesn’t hurt that you’re very pretty, of course.’
‘Well, I suppose that helps, doesn’t it?
’ I said, lightly, but inside I felt all fluttery.
I supposed when it was essentially a glorified business transaction it was easier to be straight-forward.
I was used to overthinking everything, holding back, being unsure, but clearly this was going to be much easier.
Maybe I should get Chloe to broker all my relationships.
‘So, you’re filming at the moment? How’s it all going?’
Now that was a big question. I couldn’t tell him the truth, obviously.
He was a proper actor and if he knew the stuff I had been putting up with from Josh then he would never take me seriously.
It would be as if I was tainted by association.
‘Well, it’s probably slower going than anything you’re used to.
It’s the only thing I’ve ever done so I don’t know any different, but actors who come from .
. . well, you know, independent films and theatre, things like that, I think they struggle a bit with how little we can actually get done in a day. ’
‘You’ve really only done the Wonderwick series?’ he asked, incredulous. I nodded. ‘You have the vibe of someone who’s done, shall we say, more serious work.’
I wasn’t going to bother trying to convince him of the merits of Wonderwick, so I figured I would pull out my current trump card.
‘I’m on the next Edgar Malek film,’ I said, shrugging lightly.
I hadn’t actually pulled the trigger but I was about to get Glen to commit me to the project, and I wanted something to prove to Ben that I could be as serious as him.
‘Damn.’ He smiled and threw up his hands in defeat. ‘Well, you’ve got one up on me there. I read for it but they gave it to bloody Tom Dwyer in the end.’
‘Tom’s good. I saw his Stanley in Streetcar a couple of months ago.’
‘He’s a nice guy, you’ll have a good time,’ Ben said, sitting back in his chair, his long legs crossed in front of him. ‘I’m just jealous, that’s all.’
‘Of him getting the part?’
‘And him getting to spend time with you,’ he added, smiling. ‘I’ve had worse offers of . . . what was it your publicist called it?’
‘Strategic alliance,’ I laughed.
‘Right.’ He nodded. ‘I always thought you had something about you.’
‘Well, thanks,’ I said, taking a sip of coffee and setting the cup down on the saucer. ‘But you can’t just drop something like that and expect me not to ask for specifics!’
‘Oh, just a lot of so-called up-and-coming actresses for the most part but there was this one time . . .’ He looked around to check no one was sitting too close.
‘Go on,’ I said, my interest piqued.
Ben dropped his voice and leaned in. ‘Well, let’s just say a famous momager floated the idea with my publicist for some cute red carpet moments and that we are definitely spelling cute with a K.’
I gasped. ‘No!’
‘So you see how this—’ he gestured across the table ‘—makes a little bit more sense?’
‘I do. So, what happens now?’
‘I suppose we can tell the matchmakers that once your Wonderwick duties are over, we can regroup. We’ve met, we know we get on, I like you, you like me, we can let nature take its course, right?
’ he said with a sly smile. ‘Nothing too formal or serious, just . . . something fun and mutually beneficial.’
I checked the time on my phone. ‘Well, now that’s sorted, I actually have to go – I have a meeting on Broadwick Street in five minutes,’ I said, picking up my bag. I didn’t really have a meeting, I just wanted to keep this short and leave the mystery hanging in the air.
‘Well, this has been fun,’ he said, rising to hug me goodbye.
I could see our movement was drawing attention from people at nearby tables, all of them pretending they weren’t looking.
‘Huh, it’s working already.’ Ben kissed me on the cheek, which I hadn’t been expecting, and the surprising feeling of his lips against my skin made a little shiver of delight run through my body.
‘Definitely working for me,’ I said, trying to inhabit a confident new persona as I strode out onto the busy street.
I couldn’t wait to tell Chloe her vision had come to fruition.
I didn’t necessarily feel like the kind of actress who did the whole ‘showmance’ thing but I could give it a bloody good go, couldn’t I?