Shopaholic to the Stars

“You won’t.” Lois gives a laugh. “The truth is, Cyndi’s really too busy to look after me anyway. April always said she would be.”

“She has too many clients,” says April ruefully.

“I don’t have too many clients!” I say at once, and Lois laughs again.

“Great. Well, count me as one of them.” She smiles once more, then heads away, across the crowded room.

“Next time you go shopping, I’m coming with you,” says April, smiling. “You can find me a purse like that too.”

“Of course! And thank you so much for introducing me to Lois.”

“My pleasure! Thank you so much for pointing out that the scene I was shooting made no sense. They’re still rewriting it, I believe.” She winks at me. “See you girls later.”

She melts away into the crowd, and I gleefully turn to Suze.

“Did you see that? Lois liked the bag! She wants to talk terms!”

“Of course she liked the bag!” says Suze, giving me a hug. “Well done, Bex! Lois seems really nice,” she adds consideringly. “I thought she was supposed to be horrible.”

I’m about to say that that’s exactly what I was just thinking, too, when Luke’s voice hails me.

“Darling, are you all right?” I turn to see him with Aran, two women I don’t recognize, and Sage, who is wearing a silver dress and matching shoes and her hair in a sixties beehive.

“If that bitch gets it,” she’s saying furiously. “If that crazy bitch gets it …”

“Sage, calm down,” Aran murmurs.

“Having fun?” says Luke.

“Yes!” I say, still glowing. “We’re having a great time! Hi, Aran; hi, Sage …”

While I’m introduced to the two women, Sage flops down on a chair, furiously tapping at her phone.

“What’s up?” I say quietly to Luke.

“Lois Kellerton,” he murmurs back. “Florence Nightingale.

I have a feeling Lois is going to get the role. Just don’t mention it, OK?”

“Oh.” I feel an uncomfortable twinge. “All right.”

I can feel Suze’s eyes burning into me, and I know what she’s trying to say: I should tell Luke that I’m going to start working with Lois Kellerton. She’s right. I should. Only I’m not quite sure how to do it in front of Sage.

Could I text him?

I get out my phone, open a text, and start typing.

Luke. I have a new client. It’s Lois Kellerton.

No. Too blunt. I delete the whole thing and try again.

Luke, I have an amazing new opportunity, which I don’t want to mention out loud. And I hope you’ll be pleased for me. I THINK you’ll be pleased for me. There may be a very slight conflict of interest, but we can always build Chinese walls, and

Damn. I’ve run out of room. I’m just backspacing again, when Sage looks up from her own phone.

“Cute purse,” she says, spying the Art Deco bag and pulling it toward her. “Is that yours, Becky?”

Shit. Shit.

“Oh. Um …” As I’m working out how to answer, Luke plunges in.

“That’s one of Becky’s work purchases,” he says. “You know she’s a stylist, Sage? She’s worked at Barneys and at a major store in London. Remember, I was telling you about her work yesterday.”

“I do,” says Aran, looking up from his phone. “We couldn’t get you to shut up about it.” He winks at me, then resumes tapping at his phone.

I can’t help feeling touched. I had no idea Luke was bigging up my work.

Sage’s brow has wrinkled as though she’s recalling a distant memory from a past life. “Sure,” she says vaguely. “You told me. So who is this purse for?”

“I think it might, in fact, be for you!” Luke’s eyes twinkle. “Am I right, Becky?”

No. Nooooooo!

Disaster. Total disaster. Why didn’t I hide it under the table?

“Um …” I clear my throat. “Actually—”

“For me?” Sage’s face lights up. “How cool. It matches my dress.”

Is she crazy? It’s totally the wrong silver.

“The thing is—it’s not—” I reach for the bag, but it’s too late. Sage has stood up and is trying it out, posing as though she’s on the red carpet. I meet Suze’s eyes—and she looks as horrified as I feel.

“I think you’ve scored a hit, Becky,” says Luke, delighted. “Bravo.”

“The thing is, it’s for a client,” I say awkwardly. “I’ve promised it to her. Sorry. I can try to get you another one like it.”