‘Nicky! NICKY!’ I shouted, but my voice was lost in the noise of the rain. My handbag slithered off my head, and as my arm took the weight of it, I was nearly pulled over the side.
I pulled myself back and landed on my arse, in several inches of freezing rainwater.
The M word
After twenty minutes banging against the fire door, it was finally opened by Nicky.
‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere,’ she said. I rushed inside past her, drenched. My wet dress was now stuck to me.
‘Thank God, my phone died, I could have been out there all night!’ I said my teeth chattering. Nicky stared, horrified.
‘Nat, I have to introduce you in ten minutes,’ she said.
‘Look!’ I cried. ‘What am I going to do?’ Water was pouring off me, leaving dark wet patches on the carpet. On one side my hair was plastered to my cheek.
‘There’s your other outfit,’ said Nicky going to the garment bag on the coat stand.
‘The EasyJet air hostess?’
‘I was just kidding,’ said Nicky ‘And I’m not sure what else we’ve got? Do you want me to run down to the costume department? What play is on at the moment?’
‘Dangerous Liaisons…’ I said.
‘We’d never get the corset done up in time,’ said Nicky. She went to her gym bag and pulled out a towel.
‘Here, it’s clean,’ she said. I took it gratefully.
‘Can you turn round, I’m gonna have to take off my underwear,’ I said.
Nicky turned. I pulled off my knickers and unhooked my bra, and wrung them out in the plant in the corner.
‘That’s a plastic plant,’ said Nicky still with her back to me. I laughed. It sounded like the crazed yip of a hyena. I dried off with the towel and put my underwear back on. Nicky passed me the pencil skirt and I stepped into it and zipped up.
‘You can turn round,’ I said. I pulled on the orange blouse. Nicky quickly did up the long row of tiny buttons as I towelled my hair. I had no choice but to twist it into a bun at the nape of my neck. I then grabbed a mirror and saw mascara had run down as far as my chin. I rummaged in my bag, found my make-up remover and cleaned off my face. The radio Nicky was carrying hissed and Xander’s voice came through saying Ryan was waiting.
‘Natalie we have to go,’ she said.
‘Can you stall him for at least a minute? Just let me put something on my face.’
Nicky went off and I hastily applied some make-up. I then dashed down to the third floor, where Nicky and Xander were waiting in the corridor with Ryan Harrison, Terri, and the two assistants, who I’d learned from Nicky were called Beth and Mindy. Ryan was leaning against the wall holding a can of Mountain Dew. He’d changed into black jeans, designer trainers, and a tight t-shirt showing off his impressive biceps. His muscled chest was on display through three horizontal rips in the t-shirt – as if he had been swiped at by something with sharp claws.
‘Sorry I’m late. Did you find everything alright?’ I asked. Ryan ran his hand through his dark hair and shrugged.
‘Your Mountain Dew tastes different,’ he said.
‘Um. Well, we’ve got different mountains here in the UK,’ I said.
‘Yeah, there are some really nice ones in Scotland,’ added Nicky.
‘So I’m like getting a taste of your country?’ said Ryan seriously.
‘Yes, they use the water from Loch Lomond,’ grinned Xander. This seemed to please Ryan and we made our way down the stairs. We went through the empty restaurant kitchen then stopped at a door. Nicky excused herself and went through.
‘This leads to the bar. I’ll say a few words, then introduce you Ryan,’ I explained to Beth and Mindy. Terri leant against one of the steel work surfaces and scowled.
‘Did you change your outfit?’ asked Ryan. I didn’t get to answer as I heard Nicky introduce me. I took a deep breath, opened the door and went out into the bar.
Every inch of the floor was crowded. The gold lamps reflected the red velvet walls and carpets, giving everything a warm cosy feel. Our two hundred guests were sipping cocktails whilst waiters circulated with trays. The band we had hired for the party were propping up the bar, their instruments waiting neatly on the back half of the stage. I climbed the small set of steps to the stage, and Nicky handed me the microphone.
‘Good evening everyone and thank you for attending the launch of… the Scottish play,’ I said. The crowd laughed knowingly. I went on to explain how I had uttered the M-word by mistake and they laughed again.
I suddenly spied Jamie, he was at the back of the crowd. Tuppence Halfpenny was stood beside him, swiping away at her phone. She was wearing fingerless lace gloves that matched her dress. Our eyes locked and he gave me a nod. I realised I’d paused too long; smiles were fading on faces in the audience.