Mrs Drummond, and introduce him to his adopted culture and family. Better late than never.
Will he love it as much as I did? she wondered. If he does, will it be hard for him to come back?
This was something that hadn’t occurred to her before, and it worried her. Because, of course, she would have to come back. Her whole life was in Romania now. We’ll be gone a month or so at most , she told herself. Carl can hold the fort here while I throw these vandals out of Loxley and find some suitable tenants. Then it’ll be back to business as usual.
She would tell Abel it was a holiday. It would be a holiday for him. For her, it was more complicated. Part of her was longing to see Loxley again, although after Mrs D’s letter she dreaded the state she might find it in. But another part felt desolate at the prospect of leaving Michel, even for a few weeks. Before he died, Henry Crewe had implored his daughter to settle down and get married. ‘Find a good man,’ Henry told Tish. ‘A kind man. Someone who can make you truly happy.’
That’s the problem, Daddy , she thought sadly. I’ve already found him. All I have to do now is get him to love me back.
CHAPTER FIVE
Striding past the waiting paparazzi, ignoring the catcalls and boos from the gaggle of kids on the sidewalk, Sabrina Leon slipped into Il Pastaio on Beverly Drive feeling like a million dollars. In black skinny Balenciaga trousers and a figure-hugging black silk vest from Twenty8Twelve, accessorized with a vintage DVF leopard-print scarf and her trademark oversized Prada sunglasses, she looked every inch the star. After two long months climbing the walls at Revivals, it felt good to be back in the action. OK, so most of the attention she’d gotten had been negative. But at least it was attention. Given time – and another hit movie under her belt – Sabrina felt sure she could turn the tide. Just as long as I’m not forgotten. Hatred’s cool. It’s indifference that scares me.
Ed Steiner, her manager, waddled up to the maître d’. ‘We’re joining the Rasmirez party for lunch. Table eight, twelve thirty.’
‘Follow me, sir. You’re actually the first to arrive.’
He looks even fatter than usual , thought Sabrina, watching Ed attempt to weave between the other diners to get to the coveted table eight, the best in the house. Nervous too , she thought, clocking the rivers of sweat streaming down his forehead and the twitchy, rabbit-in-the-headlamps look in his beady agent’s eyes. He’d better not start fawning all over Rasmirez like we’re some kind of fucking charity case.
In fact, over the last two weeks, Ed Steiner had moved mountains trying to convince Dorian Rasmirez of his client’s softer side. ‘She’s edgy, I’ll grant you, and yes, she can be difficult. But you have to remember where she came from. Sabrina’s childhood was like a Hammer Horror. Seriously. Her mom tried to sell her when she was two. Actually sell her. For a drug debt.’
Rasmirez was sympathetic. He was a kind man. But he couldn’t afford to take on somebody else’s problems, or let them spill over onto the rest of his cast. Ed had sworn blind that Sabrina had changed, that she’d learned her lesson. He just prayed she didn’t undo all of his good work today.
Early signs weren’t good. Coiling her long legs beneath her seat, ignoring the No Smoking signs, Sabrina lit up a Marlboro red. ‘He’s late,’ she drawled, deliberately blowing smoke in the direction of the most disapproving-looking diners. ‘If he’s not here in five minutes, we’re leaving.’
Reaching across the table, Ed removed the cigarette from Sabrina’s mouth, stubbing it out in a plant pot by his side.
‘Stop being infantile. The man only flew in from Europe a couple of hours ago. With his schedule, you’re lucky he’s seeing you at all.’
Serena laughed bitterly. ‘Oh, yeah. I’m s oooo lucky. When I’m giving him a year of my time, for free , the tightfisted son of
Will he love it as much as I did? she wondered. If he does, will it be hard for him to come back?
This was something that hadn’t occurred to her before, and it worried her. Because, of course, she would have to come back. Her whole life was in Romania now. We’ll be gone a month or so at most , she told herself. Carl can hold the fort here while I throw these vandals out of Loxley and find some suitable tenants. Then it’ll be back to business as usual.
She would tell Abel it was a holiday. It would be a holiday for him. For her, it was more complicated. Part of her was longing to see Loxley again, although after Mrs D’s letter she dreaded the state she might find it in. But another part felt desolate at the prospect of leaving Michel, even for a few weeks. Before he died, Henry Crewe had implored his daughter to settle down and get married. ‘Find a good man,’ Henry told Tish. ‘A kind man. Someone who can make you truly happy.’
That’s the problem, Daddy , she thought sadly. I’ve already found him. All I have to do now is get him to love me back.
CHAPTER FIVE
Striding past the waiting paparazzi, ignoring the catcalls and boos from the gaggle of kids on the sidewalk, Sabrina Leon slipped into Il Pastaio on Beverly Drive feeling like a million dollars. In black skinny Balenciaga trousers and a figure-hugging black silk vest from Twenty8Twelve, accessorized with a vintage DVF leopard-print scarf and her trademark oversized Prada sunglasses, she looked every inch the star. After two long months climbing the walls at Revivals, it felt good to be back in the action. OK, so most of the attention she’d gotten had been negative. But at least it was attention. Given time – and another hit movie under her belt – Sabrina felt sure she could turn the tide. Just as long as I’m not forgotten. Hatred’s cool. It’s indifference that scares me.
Ed Steiner, her manager, waddled up to the maître d’. ‘We’re joining the Rasmirez party for lunch. Table eight, twelve thirty.’
‘Follow me, sir. You’re actually the first to arrive.’
He looks even fatter than usual , thought Sabrina, watching Ed attempt to weave between the other diners to get to the coveted table eight, the best in the house. Nervous too , she thought, clocking the rivers of sweat streaming down his forehead and the twitchy, rabbit-in-the-headlamps look in his beady agent’s eyes. He’d better not start fawning all over Rasmirez like we’re some kind of fucking charity case.
In fact, over the last two weeks, Ed Steiner had moved mountains trying to convince Dorian Rasmirez of his client’s softer side. ‘She’s edgy, I’ll grant you, and yes, she can be difficult. But you have to remember where she came from. Sabrina’s childhood was like a Hammer Horror. Seriously. Her mom tried to sell her when she was two. Actually sell her. For a drug debt.’
Rasmirez was sympathetic. He was a kind man. But he couldn’t afford to take on somebody else’s problems, or let them spill over onto the rest of his cast. Ed had sworn blind that Sabrina had changed, that she’d learned her lesson. He just prayed she didn’t undo all of his good work today.
Early signs weren’t good. Coiling her long legs beneath her seat, ignoring the No Smoking signs, Sabrina lit up a Marlboro red. ‘He’s late,’ she drawled, deliberately blowing smoke in the direction of the most disapproving-looking diners. ‘If he’s not here in five minutes, we’re leaving.’
Reaching across the table, Ed removed the cigarette from Sabrina’s mouth, stubbing it out in a plant pot by his side.
‘Stop being infantile. The man only flew in from Europe a couple of hours ago. With his schedule, you’re lucky he’s seeing you at all.’
Serena laughed bitterly. ‘Oh, yeah. I’m s oooo lucky. When I’m giving him a year of my time, for free , the tightfisted son of
Similar Books
