Read Online The Girl at the Bus-Stop by Sam Aubigny - Free Book Online

copies of Disciplinary Attraction . On the wall behind was a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Becky’s head superimposed on a woman’s body. She was dressed in a revealing leather bra, G-string, thigh-length boots and carrying a lethal-looking whip.
     
    ‘Look at that silly bloody photo of me,’ Becky whispered to Rudge, ‘I don’t remember giving permission for that.’
     
    ‘No, I did, sorry,’ replied Rudge, ‘it was a last minute thing they cobbled together. There just wasn’t time for a proper photo-shoot.’
     
    ‘My tits are not that big,’ she complained.
     
    ‘You know what they say, more than a handful’s a waste’
     
    ‘You’d need to be wearing a baseball mit with hers, they’re like melons.’
     
    Becky sat down at the table, and after a few minutes the first guest approached as if paying homage to some royal personage. Some were either just shy or too much in awe of Becky to even speak to her. She’d scrawl out her practiced signature on the inside page of their copy of Disciplinary Attraction , smile warmly and they’d walk away looking happy.
     
    It was the turn of an elegantly dressed, middle-aged fading beauty to step forward and hand her copy over to Becky.
     
    ‘Could you put, “To Gale Buckingham, a dear friend”, Ms Caine,’ she instructed. ‘It’s a bit of a cheek I know, but having read your marvellous novel only last night I feel that we already know each other intimately.’
     
    ‘Okay,’ said Becky smiling ‘is that “Gale” as in Force Ten, or A-I-L?’
     
    ‘Like the wind of course, darling,’ she replied looking hurt, ‘do you not recognise me?’
     
    Becky glanced up from the book and studied her for a few moments with a bemused look on her face.
     
    ‘Sorry, no, should I?’ said Becky, ‘Do you work for the publisher?’
     
    Gale Buckingham looked slightly embarrassed, and   she glanced round at the people within earshot.
     
    ‘You’re so teasing me, Ms Caine,’ she said softly, ‘I’m the Gale Buckingham, you know, the well-known film actress.’
     
    ‘Sorry, I’m none the wiser,’ Becky replied, ‘but there you go, Gale, one signed and dedicated book. Who’s next?’
     
    Gale Buckingham moved away from the table looking flustered, and headed for the nearest waiter carrying drinks. She sank the first glass quickly as if washing down an aspirin, before regaining her composure and sipping the second more gracefully. She glided across the floor to join a gaggle of people chatting.
     
    ‘Hello, Daniel, you darling creature,’ she oozed, ‘I absolutely loved your last. I hear they’re going to make it into a movie, how marvellous. I do hope there’s a small part in it for me.’
     
    After a presentation by Scott Jarrold who sang Becky’s praises as she sat on the raised platform cringing, there was more hand shaking cheek-pecking and socialising. By ten thirty many of the guests had already left and the room was beginning to look cold and empty, like the aftermath of a wedding reception. A rather tipsy Becky sat on a solitary dining chair picking at a plate of bite size gourmet food from the buffet, and sipping another glass of flat champagne.
     
    ‘Hello again, Ms Caine,’ said a smiling Gale Buckingham as she sidled up to her.
     
    ‘Oh, hi there,’ said Becky, swallowing a mouthful of smoked salmon, ‘Gale isn’t it?’
     
    ‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘Gale Buckingham. Look we didn’t have much of an opportunity to talk earlier, but perhaps you’d like to come to tea one afternoon at my London crash pad in Eton Place.’
     
    ‘I’m off home tomorrow,’ Becky replied, ‘but maybe next time I’m in London I will.’
     
    ‘Oh, when will that be do you think?’ said Gale looking disappointed.
     
    ‘Hang on a mo, I’ll just check with my secretary.’
     
    She put two fingers to her lips and whistled loudly across the room, and Rudge dutifully rushed over to join them.
     
    ‘This is Mr Reuben Rudge, my