All That Glitters (29 page)

ANONYMOUS

The website is run by ‘Crystal in her Palace’, who says she used to be married to a Premier League footballer.

A spokesperson for Ladbrokes said: ‘We’re taking bets on who’s behind the website. Carlotta Saunders, the short-haired ex-wife of Arsenal player Claude Saunders is current favourite at 6/1, and Ella Riding, who famously romped with Johnny Cooper, is at 100/1.’

The man-hating website, which also offers advice on how to find the perfect pair of jeans and how to write a business plan, is so pro-women that it’s prompting rumours that whoever’s behind it is GAY.

A source close to the website said: ‘The woman who’s running
YourHappyEverAfter.com
doesn’t want her identity to be disclosed, as she fears it will overshadow the good work she’s trying to do.’

We think it’s more a case of her wanting to stay in the closet. But we’ve looked in our crystal ball and predict we’ll find out who this man-hating WAG is very soon
.

Ella flung the newspaper against the wall of their small office, watched it crash against the parquet floor, and then stared at Chastity in disgust. Her morning had been going beautifully until Nash had phoned to warn them about the piece in the
Daily World
, and as soon as she’d got the paper from the newsagent and read the article she’d been furious. Livid. Who did that journalist – Mark Parker or whatever he was called – think he was?

‘The
Daily World
says we’re gay because we’re helping women find their happy ending without a man,’ she said incredulously, as she shook her head. ‘I can’t believe it. I always knew the
Daily World
was sexist and that they make stuff up, but this is out of order. It’s so offensive.’

Chastity shrugged casually as if the piece didn’t bother her. ‘What did you expect from them? That they’d run a gushing feature about how great it is that women can actually stand on their own two feet?’

‘No, but I didn’t expect them to say it’s a website run by a man-hater. It never even crossed my mind that that’s how it would be perceived.’ Ella folded her arms across her chest and looked cross.

‘The website doesn’t come across like that; they’ve just angled their article to make it sound like it does. And besides, they’re the only newspaper saying that. All the others think the site’s great, especially the
Daily Mail
and
Stylist
.’

Ella frowned and picked up the copy of the
Stylist
to read the piece again. As her eyes ran over the glowing article she felt her anger subside. The
Stylist
article was even better than the one that had appeared in
The Times
the day before. It was the perfect bit of PR.

‘God, the papers really love this “run by a former WAG” angle, don’t they?’ Ella said eventually.

‘It’s because they think all WAGs are dumb bimbos who couldn’t work a computer if they tried.’ Chastity grinned, as she flicked her waterfall of blonde hair from one side of her face to the other. ‘When in reality, we’re not stupid. That’s just how we’re portrayed by the press.’

Ella shot her friend a look.

‘And, erm, we sometimes pretend that we’re clueless so our husbands don’t feel threatened.’ Chastity’s grin turned into a sheepish smile, and Ella couldn’t help but smile back.

‘I just can’t get over the fact that everyone’s so surprised that a former WAG could actually do something with her life – and that it would be successful.’

‘Just how successful has the site been this week anyway?’ Chastity asked, and Ella didn’t even need to look at her computer to know the answer.

‘We’ve had over four hundred thousand visits, and each visitor’s looked at about six articles,’ she replied proudly.

‘Is that good, do you think?’ Chastity asked, but both girls knew the answer. It was amazing.

‘It’s so good that both Diet Coke and Rimmel both want to advertise with us,’ Ella said smugly, and then she named the amount of money both deals would make them. It was a figure so big that Chastity’s mouth dropped open in shock.

‘Wow,’ she said. ‘Just, wow.’

‘I know. And this is just the beginning,’ Ella said, as her violet eyes shone in excitement. But as she looked at Chastity she could see she was deep in thought.

‘Now we’ve got the website up and running, I kind of think it’s time Stacey made that call, don’t you?’ Chastity said as nonchalantly as she could. ‘I mean, if Stacey doesn’t ring him soon, it’s likely that Johnny will have forgotten all about her.’

Ella sighed. In the excitement of launching the site and getting press for it, she’d almost forgotten all about Johnny. It was like the natural high that came from working – and becoming successful off the back of it – was a balm for the pain that Johnny had caused. But she also knew Chastity had a point. She still needed closure from her relationship with Johnny, and the only way to get it was if Stacey got back in touch with him.

‘I’ll get her to make the call,’ Ella said as she realised that despite the website, it was back to reality. Well, nearly.

‘Oh my God,’ she cried, as her eyes glanced at the newest email to appear in her – well, Crystal’s – inbox. ‘The person who does the commercial partnerships for Wonderbra has got in touch and she says they want to sponsor our newsletter. Chastity, we haven’t even
launched
our newsletter yet.’

Things were getting better and better, and regardless of what Stacey did – or didn’t – find out about Johnny Cooper, Ella knew that wasn’t going to change. It just couldn’t.

‘I’m so proud of you,’ Nash exclaimed as he and Ella sat at a table in a quiet restaurant in Soho. They were in the basement of a tall, skinny Victorian building, and the only lighting came from flickering burgundy candles that were dotted about on heavy oak tables. It was dim and atmospheric enough for Ella to go unnoticed, and as she leant against the exposed brickwork she realised that for the first time in ages she felt relaxed and carefree. The website was a success, she was no longer in mourning for the relationship that she and Johnny never had, and Danny had even been in touch to wish her well. Everything was perfect.

‘So how much money did you say your website was making again?’ Nash continued as he raised an eyebrow.

Ella laughed and tried not to think about how hot Nash looked in a simple white shirt and jeans. He was her friend –
just
her friend – and that was all there was to it. She had to get over this ridiculously inappropriate crush once and for all.

‘I didn’t, but it’s enough for both Chastity and I to draw a salary and to pay for a member of staff when we need one.’

Nash shook his head. ‘I can’t believe how much you’ve achieved in such a short time.’

‘Never underestimate two women scorned by famous men.’ Ella grinned, and Nash smiled back at her.

‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ he replied as he gazed at her, and he realised he’d never seen Ella look happier or healthier. She was simply dressed in a cream silk T-shirt, black Topshop skinny jeans and an olive-green blazer, but despite the lack of designer labels she’d never looked better. She was radiant.

‘And as well as getting the website off the ground, Chastity has been playing detective. If you think I’ve been working hard it’s nothing compared to what she’s been doing.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well,’ Ella said, as she lowered her voice. ‘Chastity thinks that I’ll only be well and truly over Johnny if I have closure.’

‘Closure?’ Nash echoed.

‘Yeah. Even though I’m practically over him now she thinks I won’t really be completely happy until I understand why Johnny never got back in touch . . . so she’s been doing a bit of digging and has put together a plan.’

Nash shook his head. ‘Chastity came up with this?’ he asked incredulously. ‘Chastity Taylor who only ever thinks of herself?’

Ella burst out laughing. ‘She’s changed. And she wants to help me.’

‘So what’s the plan?’

Ella looked carefully around the room to check nobody was listening in on their conversation, and lowered her voice even further.

‘My step-sister got all glammed up, met Johnny in a club, and has got to know him. She got to know him so well that he gave her his phone number,’ Ella said triumphantly. There was a pause as she took a bite of bread.

‘And?’ Nash prompted.

‘And Johnny said that if Stacey ever needed money that she should give him a ring. That he could help her out. So Stacey phoned him, and she’s meeting Johnny to talk “business” next week.’

Nash took a swig of his red wine. ‘Do you think this is safe?’ he asked. ‘Because it doesn’t really sound it.’

Ella’s violet eyes widened. ‘Of course it’s safe!’ she exclaimed. ‘We’re talking about Johnny Cooper here, not some random guy she’s met off the street. As much as I can’t understand why Johnny chose to break my heart, I do know that he’s not dangerous.’

‘But what sort of business do you think he has in mind for your step-sister? Because from where I’m sitting it sounds like prostitution . . . what will she do if he wants to sleep with her?’

Ella rolled her eyes. ‘Johnny’s not
into
prostitutes,’ she said. ‘Trust me. He can’t bear the idea of paying for something he thinks should be delivered to him on a plate.’

Nash held Ella’s gaze for a moment, and Ella could see his eyes were full of concern for her.

‘Really, it will be okay. Besides, you don’t need to worry about me any more, remember? You’re not on my payroll.’ She’d forgotten how Nash took it upon himself to look after her all the time, and as much as she liked it she knew he had to stop. Especially if she was going to shake off the crazy crush she had on him. ‘Now, tell me the latest news about the agency, and how’s Ansku doing?’

‘It’s going really well. We’re almost definitely going to get the funding we need to expand, and our list gets bigger every day – we’ve got some really great girls on the books.’

Ella grinned. ‘It must be hell having to work with hot young things every day.’

‘Oh, it’s torture,’ Nash laughed. ‘But someone has to do it, and I don’t mind. It’s quite interesting, when you come down to it.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, say a client wants a girl with long brown hair who looks “edgy”. We’ll send along a selection of girls who we think fit the bill, but the tiniest thing can make or break a girl’s chance of getting the job,’ Nash said.

Ella frowned. ‘Like what?’

‘A particular fashion label was after a size-eight girl who could model a trench coat perfectly. They wanted a brunette who could pull the look off, but also gave off a continental vibe. So we sent a very successful French model along, but they rejected her because they didn’t like the shape of her nostrils.’

Ella’s mouth dropped open.

‘I’m not kidding. The poor girl lost a seventy-thousand-pound job because the client wanted her nostrils to be rounder.’

‘God. Think what that would do to your self-esteem,’ Ella remarked.

‘I know. It’s brutal. Luckily Ansku’s been there and knows what it’s like, so she can pep the girls up when things get tricky.’

‘And how is your relationship with Ansku?’ Ella asked, although she didn’t really want to know the answer. She still felt strange thinking about her, and couldn’t work out why she felt irrationally jealous every time Nash mentioned her name.

Nash shrugged. ‘Things are going well. I never could have set the agency up or got it off the ground without her – as much as she likes to argue, she’s also the perfect business partner.’

‘And how’s everything else with her?’

Nash looked puzzled. ‘In what sense?’

‘In the romantic sense of course!’ Ella said lightly.

‘Um . . . there is no romantic sense. Ansku and I don’t have that sort of relationship. We never have done. God, could you imagine trying to work with someone you were having a relationship with? It’s almost as ridiculous as the thought of you and I getting together.’

Ella swallowed hard and refused to look Nash in the eye. ‘But that night at Shoreditch House . . . didn’t you and Ansku go home together?’

Nash shook his head slowly. ‘No. Why would you think that we did?’

Ella thought hard and tried to remember that fateful night. ‘Because you so obviously fancied her,’ she said at last. ‘And she clearly liked you.’

Nash burst out laughing. ‘Ansku wanted to pick my brains about her career – and what she could do outside of modelling – and I didn’t fancy her in the slightest.’

‘But how could you not?’ Ella pressed. ‘She’s stunning.’

Nash gave Ella a wry smile. ‘Ansku
is
beautiful, but Ella, she’s not my type. She never has been, and she never will be.’

Ella tried not to smile, but she felt her heart leap with pure, unequivocal joy. Okay, so Nash had also said that the idea of the pair of them getting together was ridiculous . . . but he wasn’t right
all
the time, was he? As Nash continued to talk about some of his more demanding clients, Ella wondered what Nash would be like as a boyfriend, and then quickly nipped the thought in the bud. Nash
was
always right, and he was right about this. Getting together with him would be stupid and it would definitely ruin their friendship.

Wouldn’t it?

‘Good evening, darling! I wondered when I’d see your pretty face again,’ Johnny leered, as Stacey walked into the nondescript hotel room Johnny had given her directions to. They were in Euston, but they could have been anywhere in London, or anywhere in the world. The room was sparsely furnished with an MDF desk and TV unit, and the bed was covered in a yellow and blue striped blanket that looked as though it would be itchy to touch. The curtains were a murky green, the lampshades were cream and crooked, and the overall vibe of the place was one of a hotel that no longer bothered to try. It reminded her of a resort she and Jay had stayed in on a package holiday to Egypt.

‘They do rooms here by the hour,’ Johnny continued, as he patted the edge of the bed and gestured for Stacey to join him. ‘But trust me, I never need that long.’

Stacey forced a smile and gingerly sat down on the corner of the bed. ‘I’m sure you don’t,’ she replied lightly. ‘But I’m jealous of the lucky girl who gets a full hour of your expertise.’