Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
Juliet was in her office, talking to her PR, Rachel Rathbone, on the phone. Or rather, Juliet was listening while Rachel talked. She wasn’t happy.
‘You have to embrace being wanted for yourself, not just for your product,’ she was saying. ‘All my other clients are screaming for the opportunities I bring you, that you keep turning down. It’s driving me nuts. What you have to understand, Juliet, is that you are as desirable a package as your product. You’ve created this business all on your own, from nothing. A whole new sector of fine jewellery, sold in the best stores in the world, with a shop on Walton Street. You’re still young-ish, ha ha, you’re beautiful, independent, very successful – and a single mother. Like your wonderful work, you are a sparkling gem, and it’s time you used that.’
Juliet sighed. She’d heard it all before. Pretty much every time they spoke, because Rachel was always wanting her to do interviews for glossy magazines that were based around her. Juliet totally understood that was the norm, but she just didn’t want to do it.
‘I don’t want to be one of those women who flog their brand through their personal life,’ she said.
‘Well, in that case,’ said Rachel, ‘I suggest you change your product from being fine jewellery, to making rivets or guttering. It’s a luxury brand, and like all of them, as well as the object itself, we’re selling the idea of a fabulous lifestyle: wafting around Positano in a Pucci kaftan and a Giuliette pendant, arriving at the Serpentine summer party looking amazing in a Valentino dress with a Giuliette–Valentino collaboration bracelet on your wrist. Both of which, I may remind you, you did last summer. You have a successful business, you look great – and you’re a mum. You are living the dream your product projects, so you’re the best person to sell it. The end.’
Rachel waited a beat before adding her punch line: ‘And if you don’t do this interview, I will resign from handling your business. I’ve got you the cover of the Sunday Times Style section, basically the Holy Grail for a brand like yours, and they want a portrait of you to go with the article, so if you say no, you are disrespecting what I do and I will wave you goodbye. And you know me well enough to know I mean it.’
Juliet did. It was what she loved about Rachel. They were very alike.
‘Can it just be a head shot?’ she asked.
‘Why?’ said Rachel, a suspicious edge in her voice.
‘I’m six months pregnant.’
Rachel hooted. ‘Oh, that’s going to be heaven for the journalist. The perfect excuse to ask about the mystery father of your mystery children. Is it the same father?’
‘No comment,’ said Juliet.
‘Well, I’m telling you now,’ said Rachel. ‘That approach won’t work in an interview for the Sunday Times . Not even for the fluffy fashion section. They’re all rottweilers in there, even the ones in designer shoes, and your mystery act is only going to make them more determined to find out the truth, because refusing to talk about it just makes it seem like the father’s identity must be some massive big deal – George Clooney, Prince William, Boris Johnson. Get my drift? So I think we need to decide how you’re going to answer that question. I’ll coach you. Question one: Who is the father of your children?’
For a moment, Juliet was too appalled to answer. Just saying she wouldn’t talk about it had always seemed the most honest way to approach it.
‘Sperm donor,’ she said before she’d even thought it through properly. ‘It was a sperm donor. Both of them from the same one, so they are full siblings. I’ve always wanted to have children, but I’m so committed to my business, I don’t have time for a relationship, so it seemed the most efficient way to do it.’
Almost true, she told herself.
‘Great,’ said Rachel. ‘Very modern, they’ll love that at the paper. In fact, that’s a story I could place everywhere. I can see the headline now: “No father by choice – is this the true modern family?” Shall I make some calls?’
‘No,’ said Juliet, firmly. ‘I’ll say it for this interview – and any others in the future that will really help promote my brand, but I’m not going to be the poster girl for sperm donor babies, okay?’
‘Well, that’s all fine, but just make sure you stay as successful and hot as you are now. Because the moment your brand loses its lustre, you might be glad of any hook you can grab to get yourself some publicity – and, as you know, I’m the girl to get it for you.’
‘My jewellery will get the publicity for me.’
‘You’re right, to an extent. Your jewellery is that fabulous or I wouldn’t have taken your account on. I only work with brands when I keenly want the friends and family discount for myself, but just don’t forget that you are a very important part of the package too.’
‘Fine,’ said Juliet, ‘but can you still ask about just doing a head shot?’
‘No!’ said Rachel and slammed down the phone.