Golden Girl (2 page)

‘It’s complicated,’ I sighed. ‘And what you’re saying is contradictory. Don’t put on an act but don’t let him know if I’m feeling insecure? Which
is it?’

Pia grinned. ‘Both. You’ll get the hang of it.’

My phone bleeped that I had a text.

Need 2 C U. Urgent. JJ.

It was eleven o’clock at night. Dad was downstairs. No way would I be able to creep out without him seeing me. I texted back:
Am in pjs having sleepover with Pia. Dad on sentry duty
downstairs. I cd b shot if I try to leave. Can it wait til a.m.? Is problem?

He texted back.
I didn’t mean now. No prob. I have a plan for Easter. Surprise. Hope U like. CU tmoro at 9. My place. JJ XXX

I texted back.
XXX

God, life was good – even if I did have to do some studying and swallow some fish oils along the way.

I got up early the next morning, even though it was a Saturday. I needed time to prepare to see JJ. I showered, washed my hair and tried on everything in my wardrobe while Pia
snored away on the floor. That girl can sleep through anything. I wanted to look my best but also not appear to be trying too hard. I settled for my skinny jeans, a red top and my red Converse. A
touch of make-up and a squirt of the Chanel no 19 that Gran had given me at Christmas and I was ready. I was looking forward to seeing JJ and talking through our plans for the holidays. It was
going to be his seventeenth birthday soon. I wanted to quiz JJ’s sister, Alisha, about what he might like as a present. What to buy the boy who has everything? I also wanted to take him
somewhere special, which was a challenge considering some of the places he must have been in his life. I’d made out a list of things that we could maybe do if he liked the sound of them. I
checked it over as I had a quick cup of green tea. Bleurgh. It tasted like boiled grass but, along with the daily moisturising, it was all part of my and Pia’s new health and beauty
routine.

All these places could be fab except for the fact that JJ might not be allowed to go without Vanya, the family minder, in tow. Mr Lewis insisted that he accompany JJ and his
sister, Alisha, whenever they went out in public. I made a mental note to try and find out if JJ could escape without Vanya and, if so, where to. So far, on the few dates we’d had, Vanya had
come along too. He was very discreet and kept himself at a distance but both of us were aware that he was always there, watching us. Safety and security are very important to the residents at
Porchester Park, both in the building and outside. The only real time we’d had alone was at my house or in his apartment and, even then, my family was around at my place and his family and
assorted staff were always there at his. We’d been interrupted mid-snog a few times.
Très
embarrassing.

I’d been to all the locations on the list with Charlie or Pia, but I hoped that it would be different, more romantic, going to them with a boyfriend. I also wanted to get to know JJ
better. Because we’d had so little time on our own to talk, I didn’t feel that I’d got to know the real boy behind the charming, very polite manner he had. I wanted to know what
he thought about all sorts of things, what he wanted to do after college – I think he’d mentioned something about being a lawyer once, but I wasn’t sure. I wanted to know what
made him laugh, what made him cry. Maybe I’d give him a questionnaire as a joke. It was really hard to find out stuff like that when I was constantly surrounded by my friends. Not that I
wanted to shut my mates out. No way. I know the rule. You don’t drop mates for a boy. All the same, there has to be some private boy/girl time if we’re going to make it work.

At ten to nine, I checked in on a still sleeping Pia, decided to leave her there and set off for the Lewises’ apartment.

I stopped at the door that opened into reception from the staff area so that the cameras could read my irises. The security at the block was very high. It was designed by the SAS and all the
apartments had bullet-and-bomb-proof windows, plus most of them had panic rooms. It felt cool that I could cruise my way in like this, but then all the staff know who I am and that I’m no
threat to anyone. The doors swung open to let me through and I waved to the receptionist, Grace. I noticed she’d had her blonde hair cut into a neat bob. She gave me the briefest of nods as
she spritzed water onto an elegant display of bamboo and white orchids in a vase to the right of her desk. Out front, through the floor-to-ceiling glass window, I could see Didier, the doorman and
security guard. He glanced over but then turned away to open the door of a sleek black Mercedes that had just driven up. When he isn’t busy, he’s much friendlier than Grace. She’s
cold and business-like and saves her smiles for the residents. Yoram, the other security guard, is the same. He doesn’t do chit-chat. No-one questions me going upstairs any more, even though,
generally, staff don’t mix socially with residents. However, everyone who works here knows that I’m mates not only with JJ, but also with Alisha. I often go up to see her or she comes
down to hang out with me and Pia. Most of the teens at Porchester Park stay in their exclusive little world, not going out without minders and not mixing with the other teens in the block, never
mind the sons and daughters of staff. JJ and Alisha are the exceptions – and Alexei, a Russian boy who arrived just after Christmas. They’re all home-schooled and are glad to meet
people their own age. Life can be lonely for them up there in their beautiful homes and the one thing that their parents’ money hasn’t been able to buy them so far is true mates.

None of the staff know that I’m dating JJ, apart from Dad, of course. He doesn’t totally approve but he can’t object, not with his mantra that what a resident wants, a resident
gets. I just don’t think he ever expected that a resident would want to date his daughter. It’s a mad world and sometimes feels like ‘us and them’, upstairs-downstairs, but
I’m getting used to it and finding out that the residents are not so different, just because they’re loaded. They might dress in expensive clothes but inside their feelings are the
same. Alisha’s the same age as I am and she’s never had a proper boyfriend either. She says it’s because, for the last few years, her family haven’t stayed in one place long
enough for her to get into a relationship but I think that it’s also because, despite the luxury lifestyle, she doesn’t get to meet a lot of boys our age.

Over in a corner, one of the housekeeping staff was changing a candle. They’re burnt every day in reception to give the lovely smell that always permeates the building. One day, Pia and I
looked up on the internet how much those candles cost. One hundred and twenty pounds, just for one big one! Only the best for Porchester Park residents . . . My Aunt Maddie says they have money to
burn. She’s right there. Pia and I say it’s like stepping into Wonderland when we go into the main block. It’s another world where no expense is spared and although the public
areas are neutral in décor, I’ve seen inside some of the apartments and know what treasures lie behind those closed doors. Each one is different, depending on which interior designer
did the decoration, but there are rare antiques and artefacts, original paintings by the grand masters, priceless Persian rugs, gold-leafed ceilings, state-of-the-art kitchens, bathrooms with
marble from France and Italy, and vast living rooms as big as football pitches, most with stunning views through floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out over the park. One apartment had the
whole interior of a French château transported over and incorporated into its rooms, though most apartments tend to favour a more modern, uncluttered look, with everything brand new and the
best that money can buy.

‘Where are you off to?’ asked Dad, suddenly appearing behind me. He was immaculately dressed, as always, in a dark suit and tie and, even though he’s my dad, I had to admit he
looked handsome, if a little tired. He had shadows under his blue eyes and there were a few grey hairs starting to appear in his mane of dark hair.

I pointed upstairs. ‘Er . . . JJ,’ I stuttered.

Dad frowned. ‘Don’t be long up there. I don’t mean to be a killjoy but you know what your priority has to be this holiday and it’s not boys.’

‘I’ll be quick,’ I promised. ‘He . . . he just wanted to tell me something.’

‘There’ll be plenty of time for boys once your exams are out the way. In the summer. But right now you have to concentrate on what’s important.’

Give me a break
, I thought. It’s only the first day of the Easter holidays and already he’s on my case. Didn’t he realise that having my first boyfriend was a big thing
in my life? Like,
major?
He probably didn’t. My lack of boyfriend had never been a topic of conversation between us. And I
would
study. But I also wanted to enjoy myself some of
the time.

‘I read in one of my
How to Study
guides that time off is important in order to keep a clear head,’ I said. It was worth a try, not that Dad knew the meaning of time off or
relaxation. His job was full-on. I rarely saw him in casual clothes or chilling out because he’s on call twenty-four seven.

‘Yes, but time off when you’ve done a few hours’ work.
Not
time off first thing in the morning before you’ve even started!’

‘Dad, it’s Saturday. Some people do have weekends, you know.’ I couldn’t win. Luckily, Dad’s mobile rang and, as he went off to answer it, I headed for the lift. A
few minutes later, I was up on the Lewises’ floor and JJ was opening the door for me. I still got a rush whenever I saw him because he’s easily one of the best-looking boys I’ve
ever met, with a tall, slim frame, short, dark hair, a divine full mouth and beautiful deep brown eyes. He kissed me lightly on the cheek and I caught his light citrus scent. He always smelt lovely
and clean, unlike some of the boys at our school who gave off an aroma of stale biscuits or unwashed socks.

‘So, what’s the big surprise?’ I asked as I followed him through into the kitchen where Alisha was seated at the black-and-pearl granite breakfast bar tucking into croissants
with Alexei. He waved hello. It was a shame he and Alisha didn’t fancy each other because they made a stunning couple, both tall and slim – Alexei with floppy blond hair, cheekbones to
die for and pale blue eyes, and Alisha his opposite – sultry-looking and dark-eyed with long brown hair which, though naturally curly, was professionally blowdried every morning to look
glossy and straight. They’re both into their designer clothes and accessories too – Alexei even more so than Alisha. He’s always flashing a Rolex or Cartier watch or showing off
the latest phone or gadget he’s got. Not that JJ doesn’t have the best, too. He does, but he doesn’t show it off like Alexei. Alisha did consider Alexei as a boyfriend, as we all
did when he first arrived, but, like me, she didn’t feel the magnetic pull of chemistry and settled for just being friends instead.