Read Online London by Carina Axelsson - Free Book Online

Ellie and I walked back to Big Ben and stood among the tourists to admire it.
    I’d seen a photo in the newspaper a few days back that had shown four cleaners washing the face of the enormous clock. As I gazed upward, I couldn’t help remarking that there was no way I’d ever dangle from a rope like that.
    â€œNot unless you were after a clue,” Ellie said as she turned to look at me, a smile in her eyes. “Under those circumstances I bet you wouldn’t even bother with a rope before climbing out there.”
    I laughed. “You might have a point.”

TUESDAY EVENING
    Burgers and More
    Ellie and I had parted ways under Big Ben. We both had early fittings with Belle La Lune the following day, plus Ellie was jet-lagged. But before going home to Notting Hill, I thought I’d drop by my agency. It was on the way, and with a bit of luck, I might have Charlotte’s undivided attention for a few minutes to ask her more questions before she left for the day.
    Halley and I rushed to the Tube and caught a Circle line train to Sloane Square. From there we walked down King’s Road until I reached the small, leafy lane just off it that housed Thunder.
    I swung open the heavy glass door and was immediately thrust into the hyper-busy and buzzing world of fashion. The usual soundtrack of hip-hop music was playing in the background, and I could see Charlotte’s brother Charlie in a meeting with a client through the glass wall of his office across the room. He gave me a quick wave as I walked in and asked Emily at reception if I could see Charlotte. All the bookers, including Jazz, sat at two long, adjoining tables in the middle of the main room. Headsets in place, fingers tapping at their computer keyboards, they were all concentrating on the booking task at hand, occasionally looking up to wave or smile or blow a kiss at the various models walking in and out of the room.
    While I waited for Charlotte, I wandered over to the wall of zed cards behind the booking tables. I’d finally had a proper zed card printed after I came back from New York, but seeing images of myself all made up with perfect hair and makeup, in color on a professionally printed glossy card, still kind of freaked me out.
    â€œAxelle, Charlotte is ready for you,” Emily said as she bent to greet Halley. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
    I thanked her and accepted the offer of tea (peppermint), then followed her to Charlotte’s office.
    Charlotte waved me in with one hand. Her other hand was holding her cell phone to her ear. Her mane of red hair was free, her heels high, and her clothes black. This was Charlotte’s preferred uniform.
    â€œSo, Axelle,” she said after setting her phone down on her large chrome-and-glass desk, “first things first—we’re in luck. I’ve just heard back about Gavin’s brief. I had to call in a favor because no magazine gives out details from its shoots—at least not before the story has run. But don’t worry,” she continued quickly when she saw my look of concern, “the favor was long overdue. Anyway, Gavin was indeed hired by Harper’s Bazaar to shoot a profile piece on Johnny Vane. It’s meant to coincide with the upcoming anniversary—it’s twenty years since Johnny opened his first shop in Marylebone—just downstairs from where you’ll have your casting tomorrow morning, in fact.”
    I started to interrupt her and she smiled. “Yes, I did get you a casting appointment, but it doesn’t look like Johnny’s going to be there, unfortunately. He’ll be at Big Sky Studio all day tomorrow overseeing the shooting of his autumn-winter ad campaign, but you should do the casting regardless.”
    â€œThat’s fine,” I said. I could ask questions whether or not he was there.
    â€œAnyway,” she continued in her deep voice, “to get back to Gavin’s booking for Harper’s