Miss Wrong and Mr Right(15)

‘Ok, so, the Raven Street Theatre is staging Macbe… the Scottish play…’

Jamie leant down and whispered something in Tuppence’s ear. She looked up and smirked. I struggled to keep on track.

‘Um, and I’m thrilled to introduce the man who will be starring in… it…’

I just couldn’t take my eyes off Jamie. He leant down and whispered something else to Tuppence, she gave a coquettish little smile and rubbed herself against him.

‘Sluttish… I mean, the Scottish play…’

I could hear people begin to mutter at the back. Tuppence was still intent on her phone, swiping languidly at the screen. Jamie looked at me again. His beautiful brown eyes stared deep into mine. I gripped the microphone.

‘Right, well I’m thrilled to introduce, Ryan Harrison!’ I finally said. Ryan came bounding up onto the stage and the crowd clapped and wolf-whistled. Arms were raised with phone cameras and as they started to flash, Jamie was obscured. I moved down off the stage and stood back by the door. Ryan took the microphone and waited for the applause to subside.

‘Thanks Nadia. It’s great to be here at the Raymond Street Theatre,’ I stood with a smile plastered to my face and my hair still plastered to my head.

‘Um, I’m really excited to be here in London. I wanna drink tea, eat cake, and get lost in the fog! I wanna show my fans a different side to me… Dark, savage. I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into Hamish Macbeth!’

He then kissed his fingers and gave them the peace sign. There were hysterical screams from the audience. The cameras fired more flashes and Ryan came back off the stage. Terri, Beth and Mindy were on hand to get Ryan through the door and into the empty kitchen.

‘I love the Great British people!’ he cried. Mindy handed him a fresh Mountain Dew with a bendy straw. He drank greedily as if he’d just done a three-hour concert in Carnegie Hall and not a thirty-second speech. I caught sight of my reflection in one of the huge stainless steel fridges. I totally looked like an EasyJet air hostess. My make-up looked like it had been applied during an earth tremor, and a halo of frizzy was sticking up.

‘Are we okay to go up to the conference room?’ asked Nicky. ‘We’ve arranged for Ryan to do some press interviews and meet some of our staff and financial donors.’





Over the next three hours we didn’t stop. Ryan did loads of press interviews, met the staff of the theatre, our board of directors, our financial donors, three men from Westminster Council, and even the wife of the man who had supplied the crash barriers. Everyone wanted a photo and to tell him how much they loved him. I was amazed how many of them watched Ryan’s TV show, Manhattan Beach.

Finally we took Ryan, Terri, Mindy and Beth down to the front entrance, where their people carrier was waiting. Terri heaved herself in wordlessly, followed by Beth and Mindy. Ryan stopped to shake hands with Xander and Nicky. Then he reached me.

‘Thank you Ryan. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at nine am,’ I said. ‘We’re expecting them to sell out fast.’

‘Cool,’ grinned Ryan. ‘And it’s Natalie right? Not Nadia.’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘Catch you later Natalie,’ he grinned and climbed into the car. Xander went back inside, and we stopped under the awning of the theatre. Nicky beckoned to a waiter through the window and he came out with a couple of cocktails. We each took a long grateful sip. The rain continued to pour down.

‘Thanks I needed that,’ I said. ‘What time is it?’

‘Half ten,’ said Nicky. ‘I think most people have cleared out now,’ she said craning her neck to peer through into the bar. ‘It’s just the reality TV crowd hoovering up the free booze.’





‘I’m knackered,’ I said finishing the last of my cocktail. ‘I think I’m going to head ho…’ but I didn’t manage to finish as I heard a voice.

‘Natalie, hello…’

We turned to see Jamie standing with Tuppence Halfpenny under a giant black umbrella. She had his coat draped around her shoulders and was shivering as she held his arm.

‘Jamie,’ I said. There was an awkward moment and then he leant in and pecked me on the cheek. His slightly stubbly cheek brushed mine and for a moment I could smell his hair, rich and clean…

‘Umbrella!’ shrilled Tuppence as it shifted and the rain caught her.

Jamie stood back and we stared at each other.

‘Sorry Nicky, this is Jamie Dawson,’ I said. Nicky smiled and shook his hand.

‘And I know who you are,’ said Nicky to Tuppence. ‘We were so pleased you could attend, didn’t I say that Natalie?’