Read Online Winner Takes It All by Karen Mason - Free Book Online

fabrics. Mel reintroduced her to Top Shop,
All Saints, Diesel, French Connection and a host of other high
street names. Dressing in short skirts, jeans and strappy dresses
made Alex feel as though she was emerging from a deep sleep and for
the first time in ages she actually felt excited about the
future.
    She walked in to Chicken
Coup to find Simon, Dan’s partner on the dancefloor, wriggling
around to Spacer by Sheila B Devotion. Alex laughed, threw
him a wave and headed for the bar where she poured herself a large
glass of champagne. She needed something to steady her nerves, she
was still smarting from the row she’d had with Tim before leaving
the house. When he’d seen the dark red shift dress with knee length
black boots she was wearing, he’d launched into another lecture. He
took no notice of her when she said she felt sexy and confident and
that if she was hoping to one day be the head of Sheridans,
confidence was pretty important.
    When he hadn’t been able
to win the argument, Tim had launched another tirade at the
location of the party. He hated dance music and felt these gay
clubs were nothing more than meat markets that perpetuated the
stereotype of gay men being sexual predators just interested in
dancing, having a good time and pulling casual partners. By now
Alex had heard enough and walked out.
    Alex didn’t miss Tim.
Instead she felt as though she’d been released from prison; able to
enjoy the company of her family and friends. She knew she couldn’t
get too drunk because tomorrow she and Mel were heading up to
Liverpool to meet Jack Byrne, Mel’s cousin. It would have to be a
whistle-stop because that evening, the two girls were flying out to
Ibiza for four days to look at the Felicidades Complex with a view
to building a hotel there. Alex was so excited at how quickly
things were moving and was so glad she had Mel at her side. She’d
also taken on a secretary called Naseem and an accountant called
Trevor who was helping her manage her money. It was a small team,
but Alex was confident that for now they’d be able to
cope.
    Looking round, she
spotted her brother, conked out on a sofa. No doubt he had been
burning the midnight oil and was exhausted. Hating herself for it,
Alex was quite glad to see Michael looking a complete mess. She
loved her brother to bits, but he was now her competitor and the
more a catastrophe his life became, the more chance she had of
making a success of herself.
    She was shocked to see
her cousin Tara at the party. She was such a timid little mouse, it
was hard to envisage her at a club like this. Alex always thought
it such a shame with Tara. She had the potential to be absolutely
stunning. She was tall and thin like Paula, and with her coffee
coloured skin and huge brown eyes she could have been a model.
Instead she kept her long, dark hair in two plaits either side of
her head and even on an occasion like this, her choice of outfit
was a black long sleeved t-shirt and jeans. Alex had no
recollection of Tara ever having a boyfriend. She seemed to prefer
rattling around in Claremont Hall and running errands for Andrew
McDonald.
    Right now she stood at
one side of the room, clutching what was no doubt a non-alcoholic
drink, watching everyone else having fun. She was thirty going on
fifty-five and Alex couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She made
her way over to her, wondering if she should pick her up a bottle
of beer in the process; she then decided against it, Tara would
only probably pour it down the toilet.
    ‘ Why don’t you
go and dance?’ she asked Tara when she joined her.
    ‘ I can’t
dance,’ her cousin shrugged shyly. ‘I always end up falling
over.’
    It seemed as though she
suddenly realised she had Alex’s attention and turned to face her.
She looked worried about something, that bushy brow knotted in
contemplation.
    ‘ Actually
Alex, can I ask your advice?’
    ‘ Yes of course
you can. Let’s go somewhere more private.’
    Alex led Tara