studios.
Alida’s stomach recoiled from the idea. “I’d rather not today, Jill.” She offered a rueful smile. “You know interviews churn me up. One day next week, I promise.”
“Okay. Sandwiches in my office then. I want your decision on which clothes are to be photographed for the magazine spreads.” She grinned. “I was on the phone to Suzanne at the factory. She says it’s a madhouse. Orders are pouring in. Everyone wants to top up their stock of Alida Rose.”
“Perhaps I should go there and help,” Alida suggested. Anything to keep busy. “You can decide on the photographs, Jill.”
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Jill gave her a stern look. “I’ve got you today. Suzanne can handle the orders. Besides, who knows what offers have come into the office since we’ve been out? I need you at my side, Alida.”
“If you say so,” Alida meekly agreed, not really caring what she did as long as she was doing something.
Jill used her car phone to check on calls and to order sandwiches from her favourite delicatessen.
Alida reflected that it was Jill who had “discovered” her, not the other way around. Jill Masters picked her own clients and she prided herself on having a stable of stars, or stars in the making. She was very good at what she did. Alida had never regretted accepting her offer, her advice, her sense of direction or her friendship. The only wrong move she had ever made on Alida’s behalf was the visit to Riordan River. But that was only in a personal sense. Careerwise it had been a brilliant success.
When they arrived at Jill’s office, the receptionist’s desk was dominated by a vase of beautifully arranged yellow roses. The woman smiled at Alida. “They’re for you, Alida. Mr Poletti sent them.” She handed over the accompanying card.
It read. “To my golden girl. Your devoted admirer—Ivan.”
For some foolish reason, tears pricked Alida’s eyes. Ivan was being his usual flamboyant self, yet… Had he seen her need last night? The need that Gareth might have fulfilled. Stupid to ever underestimate Ivan’s perception of people. He was uncannily accurate. He was also her friend and he wished her well. Alida took a deep breath and blinked back the moisture in her eyes. At least she had friends. Good friends.
She should call him to thank him, but she didn’t feel up to fielding questions on Gareth. Not yet. She would write Ivan a thank-you note. That would avoid the problem for a little while, anyway.
But Alida soon discovered there was no avoiding the problem when it came to Jill. Once they were seated in her office with cups of coffee and the sandwiches, Jill made no bones about leading into the subject.
“Are you seeing Gareth Morgan again?” she asked point-blank.
Alida’s heart lurched, but she did her best to mask her feelings with a deadpan face. “No, I’m not,” she replied flatly. “I don’t expect to see him ever again.” That should close the subject… she hoped.
It did. They talked of other things while they ate lunch. But Alida was conscious of Jill’s shrewd grey eyes noting her lack of appetite and her lack of any joie de vivre now that she was out of the public eye.
However, once they had cleared the desk of the remnants of their lunch, it was briskly down to business. Jill kept a file of all Alida’s designs. She produced a thick folder from her filing cabinet and they sorted through the sketches, selecting the clothes that would best serve their purpose of pinpointing Alida’s unique talent. They were halfway through the task when the telephone on the desk buzzed. Alida went on sorting as Jill answered the call.
“I’ll be right out,” she instructed, and was already on her feet as she put the receiver down.
“If it’s a client, do you want to use this office?” Alida asked.
“No. You stay here,” Jill tossed at her as she headed for the door.
Alida didn’t look up when the door opened a couple of minutes later. She had no warning
Alida’s stomach recoiled from the idea. “I’d rather not today, Jill.” She offered a rueful smile. “You know interviews churn me up. One day next week, I promise.”
“Okay. Sandwiches in my office then. I want your decision on which clothes are to be photographed for the magazine spreads.” She grinned. “I was on the phone to Suzanne at the factory. She says it’s a madhouse. Orders are pouring in. Everyone wants to top up their stock of Alida Rose.”
“Perhaps I should go there and help,” Alida suggested. Anything to keep busy. “You can decide on the photographs, Jill.”
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Jill gave her a stern look. “I’ve got you today. Suzanne can handle the orders. Besides, who knows what offers have come into the office since we’ve been out? I need you at my side, Alida.”
“If you say so,” Alida meekly agreed, not really caring what she did as long as she was doing something.
Jill used her car phone to check on calls and to order sandwiches from her favourite delicatessen.
Alida reflected that it was Jill who had “discovered” her, not the other way around. Jill Masters picked her own clients and she prided herself on having a stable of stars, or stars in the making. She was very good at what she did. Alida had never regretted accepting her offer, her advice, her sense of direction or her friendship. The only wrong move she had ever made on Alida’s behalf was the visit to Riordan River. But that was only in a personal sense. Careerwise it had been a brilliant success.
When they arrived at Jill’s office, the receptionist’s desk was dominated by a vase of beautifully arranged yellow roses. The woman smiled at Alida. “They’re for you, Alida. Mr Poletti sent them.” She handed over the accompanying card.
It read. “To my golden girl. Your devoted admirer—Ivan.”
For some foolish reason, tears pricked Alida’s eyes. Ivan was being his usual flamboyant self, yet… Had he seen her need last night? The need that Gareth might have fulfilled. Stupid to ever underestimate Ivan’s perception of people. He was uncannily accurate. He was also her friend and he wished her well. Alida took a deep breath and blinked back the moisture in her eyes. At least she had friends. Good friends.
She should call him to thank him, but she didn’t feel up to fielding questions on Gareth. Not yet. She would write Ivan a thank-you note. That would avoid the problem for a little while, anyway.
But Alida soon discovered there was no avoiding the problem when it came to Jill. Once they were seated in her office with cups of coffee and the sandwiches, Jill made no bones about leading into the subject.
“Are you seeing Gareth Morgan again?” she asked point-blank.
Alida’s heart lurched, but she did her best to mask her feelings with a deadpan face. “No, I’m not,” she replied flatly. “I don’t expect to see him ever again.” That should close the subject… she hoped.
It did. They talked of other things while they ate lunch. But Alida was conscious of Jill’s shrewd grey eyes noting her lack of appetite and her lack of any joie de vivre now that she was out of the public eye.
However, once they had cleared the desk of the remnants of their lunch, it was briskly down to business. Jill kept a file of all Alida’s designs. She produced a thick folder from her filing cabinet and they sorted through the sketches, selecting the clothes that would best serve their purpose of pinpointing Alida’s unique talent. They were halfway through the task when the telephone on the desk buzzed. Alida went on sorting as Jill answered the call.
“I’ll be right out,” she instructed, and was already on her feet as she put the receiver down.
“If it’s a client, do you want to use this office?” Alida asked.
“No. You stay here,” Jill tossed at her as she headed for the door.
Alida didn’t look up when the door opened a couple of minutes later. She had no warning
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