Strange Allure

by Susan Lewis

  Being so excited about all the opportunities the Internet was opening up, and what it could mean, not only for There and Beyond, but for all the spin-off programmes and back-up businesses she had in mind, Carla had no problem agreeing to go. John was right into the new technology too, so much so that, as often as he could, he was coming with her to talk to the computer geniuses who were showing them such means and methods of marketing and communication that they’d never even dreamed of until now. In fact, it so fired up their enthusiasm that they both found it hard settling themselves back into the old-fashioned way when they returned to the office.

  However, the stress and challenge of arranging every last detail of the schedule, and dealing with the infinite number of problems that went hand in hand with a foreign shoot, carried them so fast towards Christmas that before Carla knew it they were only five days away, and she hadn’t even thought about shopping. Nor had she given much thought to her birthday, which had come galloping up at its own breakneck speed, with only Richard remembering, making her feel pleased, and sad, and slightly wistful, as she read his email and thought of the birthdays they had spent together in the past.

  The fact that no-one in the office knew wasn’t a problem, until the end of the day rolled around, and everyone started to leave. Then, faced with the prospect of spending the evening alone, she started to regret not speaking up, for she was certain someone would stay for a drink, or even suggest they go out somewhere, if they knew. But how could she tell them now, when she’d left it so late. She’d make them all feel dreadful for not having realized sooner – and besides, she didn’t want anyone to know that she had nothing to do on her birthday. Which wasn’t strictly true, anyway, because she was celebrating with Mark and Sonya at the weekend, then Avril was flying in on Monday, which was Christmas Eve, so there was no reason to feel entirely bereft.

  However, as the door began opening and closing with increasing regularity, swallowing everyone into the dark winter’s night, she could feel herself sinking deeper and deeper into such a childish glut of self-pity that she was finding it hard to keep smiling as she repeatedly called goodnight.

  ‘You taking Eddie for a walk?’ John asked, still looking at his computer screen, though starting to turn towards her.

  Surprised, Carla said, ‘Yes, in a minute. Why?’

  ‘Thought I might come with you,’ he answered. ‘I don’t have to be anywhere until eight, and a few things came up while I was over in Zanzibar that I want to run past you.’

  ‘Sounds intriguing,’ she said, her eyes playfully narrowing. Then, suddenly afraid it might have something to do with Richard and Chrissie’s trip there, she looked quickly away.

  When they left, a few minutes later, Hugo, Verna and Felicia were the only ones remaining in the office, and Felicia was already putting on her coat. Guessing they’d all be gone by the time she got back Carla called goodnight, then, tucking her scarf warmly around her chin, she clipped Eddie onto his lead and followed John, in his thickly padded climber’s coat and preposterous blue bobble hat, out into the cold.

  ‘I’ve got to tell you,’ she said, falling into step beside him, ‘that only you could get away with wearing a hat like that. The rest of us would look utterly ridiculous.’

  ‘And I don’t?’ he said in surprise.

  ‘Actually, yes. So perhaps what I really mean is that only you would have the nerve.’

  Grinning, and still managing to look devastatingly attractive, despite the absurd way he pulled the hat right down over his ears, he said, ‘My mother knitted it. I could get her to rustle one up for you, then we could both look daft.’

  Carla laughed, then paused as Eddie doused the foot of a lamppost, while John started running on the spot and puffing out clouds of white air.

  ‘I’ve got a question,’ Carla said, when they began walking again. ‘I’ve been wondering when I’m going to meet the tantrum-throwing egomaniac we read about in the papers? I only ask because I’ve yet to catch a glimpse of him, and if he’s going to make his debut in Zanzibar, I’d like to be prepared.’

  When he didn’t answer she glanced up at him. His eyes were shining with laughter, which didn’t exactly surprise her, since she’d suspected for some time that the bad-boy image was all a hoax.

  ‘He doesn’t exist, does he?’ she said.

  His grin widened. ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘Easy. Nice guys don’t get the same kind of publicity bad guys get, and as far as I’m aware there’s been nothing about you in the press since the first episode of Beyond was transmitted. Meaning, you haven’t needed any publicity, so Lionel hasn’t cooked any up.’

  Though he was frowning now, there was no disguising the humour in his tone as he said, ‘Are you doubting my skills as a gambler and womanizer? Because if you are …’

  ‘Never let it be said,’ she interrupted. ‘I’m sure you’re spectacularly accomplished in all areas of excess and carnality, but I still say Lionel is feeding the press the scandal in order to get you coverage when you need it.’

  ‘You don’t honestly think we could hoodwink the British press like that, do you?’ he challenged.

  ‘As a matter of fact, that’s all that bothers me – how you manage to get away with it. Anywhere else in the world it might be different, but here the press is so cynical, and so hot on scams of any sort, that they must know they’re being had. Unless, of course, they’re in on it too, because scandal and excess sells more papers than …’

  ‘Hey, I’m liking this,’ he suddenly cried, ‘because I’ve just realized it means you think I’m a nice guy. What a breakthrough!’

  Rolling her eyes, she crossed Eddie over to the triangular island of Orange Square, and waited while he cocked his leg again, this time on a statue of Mozart. ‘Don’t get carried away,’ she retorted. ‘What I’m saying is, I think you’re a con.’

  ‘Did you hear that, Eddie?’ he demanded. ‘She definitely knows how to wound a bloke. I just hope she goes easier on you, little fellow.’

  Eddie gazed up at him, eager to comprehend.

  Smiling, Carla said, ‘So, am I right?’

  ‘When are you ever not?’ he teased, dodging out of the way as someone suddenly swung out of a telephone box.

  Carla’s irony was audible as she said, ‘Can’t think of a single occasion, and I’m willing to stake big money that I’m right on this one.’

  Stopping with her as she pressed a button on a pelican crossing, he said, ‘Are you disappointed?’

  Her eyebrows went up. ‘That you’re not a temperamental drunk with a babe on each arm, a gambler’s debts threatening your kneecaps, and a penchant for major wobblies threatening my shoot? No, I don’t think disappointed’s the word.’

  Laughing, he said, ‘Should I press to know what is?’

  ‘If you did, I’d probably say duped,’ she responded.

  ‘Ah,’ he commented. ‘Very cautious. Very Carla.’

  She threw him a quick look and was about to ask him to expand, when she thought better of it, and crossed over to the pavement that ran alongside St Barnabas Church. ‘OK, now we’ve got your inimitable charm established as real,’ she said a few moments later, ‘and your dastardly alter ego as bogus, we can look forward to a happy shoot in Zanzibar, which brings us to the purpose of you being out here on this freezing walk.’

  ‘But before we get into that, I want to tell you about a couple of venture capitalists you should meet, who could be willing to get you fully launched into the world of advanced technology.’

  She was immediately interested.

  ‘They’re Swiss,’ he told her. ‘They approached me after we’d had a meeting with Dynamix last week. The chief exec. there must have told them about your interest, and now they’re showing theirs.’

  Carla inhaled deeply, as her excitement yielded for a moment to curiosity. ‘So why did they approach you? No, don’t tell me, you’re the man, so they all presumed you were in charge.’

  ‘I’ve put
them right,’ he assured her.

  By the time they returned to the ménage they were so deeply engrossed in the discussion of yet another electronic spin-off that the subject of Zanzibar had still not been touched on.

  ‘If your new ideas are going to involve any drastic changes,’ she said, going up the front steps ahead of him, ‘we’d better discuss them now. And if they call for an increase in budget …’

  ‘They don’t,’ he assured her, waiting as she unclipped Eddie. ‘Just some artful camera work on the part of non-professionals.’

  ‘You mean equipping the researchers with DVDs to go and get shots the main unit won’t have time to cover,’ she said, pushing the door open. ‘I think it’s a great idea …’

  ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!’

  She stopped dead, so stunned she couldn’t get her head to connect up with this totally unexpected turn of events. Confused, she turned to look at John.

  ‘Surprise,’ he said, his dark eyes simmering with humour.

  She started to laugh. Then, turning back, she went on laughing, and gasping, as she saw that amongst all her colleagues, who obviously hadn’t gone home, were not only Sonya and Mark, but Avril too.

  ‘Oh my God! When did you get here?’ she cried, throwing her arms around her.

  ‘This morning. Happy birthday.’ Avril looked almost as thrilled as Carla, and very Californian, with her smooth golden tan and shining blonde hair.

  Carla had tears in her eyes as she looked round at everyone’s beaming faces. ‘This is … Oh God, it’s … It’s wonderful,’ she declared, laughing at Frazer, Russell and Hugo who were still frantically pinning up streamers and birthday balloons.

  ‘Champagne,’ Sonya declared, pushing a full, fizzing glass into her hand.

  ‘I can’t take it in,’ Carla gasped. ‘I thought no-one knew. Oh God, whose idea was it?’

  ‘Whose do you think?’ Mark said, looking at Avril.

  ‘Of course,’ Carla laughed. ‘Oh no, look at me crying. What an idiot. I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘Happy birthday,’ Mark said, giving her a hug.

  ‘OK!’ Avril cried. ‘Get that coat off, then let’s get this party started!’

  Right on cue Felicia hit a button on the sound system, filling the room with a deafening chorus of Happy Birthday, which they all sang along to, then Carla’s breath was taken away again as they showered her with gifts, while the irresistible dance numbers of the moment began blasting out of the CD.

  For a while, as she opened her presents, and drank champagne, she was too dazed to do much more than gasp and laugh, and throw things at Hugo and Kit who kept teasing her about all the hints she’d dropped that today was her birthday. In next to no time Felicia, Donna, Jackie and Sonya were dancing in the middle of the room, then John grabbed her hand and dragged her over to dance too, and very soon the place was alive with the beat and ringing with laughter.

  It had been so long now since she’d partied that Carla had been half-afraid she’d forgotten how. But the way she entered into the madness of loud music and flashing lights, with all the careless flamboyance of a disco diva, showed that she wasn’t even out of practice. It was so exhilarating and liberating, throwing herself around like this, music pulsing through her body, champagne fizzing through her veins, and everyone she knew and cared about dancing, laughing and drinking along with her. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t wearing a party dress, or make-up, or sparkling high-heeled shoes, no-one else was either, and her clumpy black boots, blue jeans and navy fisherman’s sweater were just fine for cavorting around the desktops with one partner after another, after another, until she finally spun breathlessly into the kitchen where the food was laid out and more champagne awaited.

  ‘This has got to be the best birthday I’ve ever had,’ she told Donna, the make-up designer, whose fleshy cheeks were stuffed full of cheese vol-au-vent.

  ‘Another glass for our illustrious exec.,’ Frazer declared, passing over more bubbly.

  ‘Where’s my dancing partner?’ John demanded, banging in through the door. ‘Ah! What happened to you? You abandoned me in the middle of my favourite Ricky Martin.’

  Laughing, Carla helped herself to some pâté, and said, ‘Have you ever seen yourself dance?’

  ‘Have you?’ he retorted, making her laugh again.

  ‘Ah! Food!’ Avril cried, staggering in with Sonya. ‘And more wine!’

  ‘Mark’s fallen in love with Phoebe,’ Sonya declared. ‘She’s got to be at least three feet taller than him, but married to me, he’s used to looking up to a woman.’

  As everyone laughed, Carla said, ‘Who’s got the kids?’

  ‘My mother. We’re staying here tonight, by the way. John, please dance with me so I can make all my friends sick with jealousy and ruin their Christmases when I keep on and on about it for the next year and a half.’

  As he tangoed her off Avril dived into the food, while Carla hiccuped and refilled her glass. ‘Did I ever tell you I love you?’ she said, wobbling slightly as she looked at Avril.

  ‘I’m not sure how I feel about that,’ Avril responded, ‘not when we’re supposed to be sharing a bed tonight.’

  Carla spluttered with laughter, and, turning to Hugo and Frazer, said, ‘If she tries to talk you into making it a foursome, as your executive producer, I forbid it. OK?’

  ‘We don’t take orders after six o’clock,’ Hugo responded.

  ‘You don’t take them before,’ Carla countered, sipping her drink, and turning to see who’d come into the kitchen now. It was Yale, followed by Rosa.

  Carla’s smile was dazzling, though her eyes weren’t quite focused as she cried, ‘Rosa! How are you?’

  ‘Happy birthday,’ Rosa said, smiling through her teeth.

  ‘From me too,’ Yale declared, sweeping Carla into a dramatic embrace. ‘Sorry we’re late. Got stuck in traffic. So, the big three-oh, eh?’

  ‘And she doesn’t look a day over forty,’ Avril chipped in.

  Carla flashed her a smile and turned back to Rosa and Yale. ‘Have you got a drink?’ she asked, grabbing a bottle and thrusting it at Yale. ‘There’re glasses over there, next to the sink.’

  Rosa’s expression was sour as she stood aside for Hugo and Frazer to go off and rejoin the dancing.

  Carla winked at Avril, then said, ‘Tell me, Rosa, I’m interested to know what I’ve done to upset you. I only ask because you’ve been so hostile towards me since you were cast, that I’d like to know why?’

  Rosa’s face was pinched as her small eyes darted between Carla and Avril. Though she was outnumbered, it was already evident that she intended to stand her ground. ‘Why are you pretending not to know?’ she responded bitterly.

  Carla’s smile started to fade. ‘As a matter of fact, I don’t know,’ she responded.

  Rosa scoffed her disbelief.

  ‘Why don’t you just answer the question?’ Avril suggested.

  ‘Hey, come on, the atmosphere’s getting a bit tense around here,’ Yale chipped in.

  ‘And we can’t have that, not on my birthday,’ Carla declared, sipping her champagne. ‘So that’s why we’re trying to clear it.’ She looked at Rosa. ‘Now, do you want to tell me what’s bothering you, or do we have to go on playing guessing games?’

  Rosa’s face was becoming tighter all the time. ‘You’re making it sound as though I’m the one with the problem,’ she snapped. ‘But don’t think I don’t know how much it’s galling you to have me on the cast.’

  Carla’s head tilted to one side. ‘Why do you say that?’ she demanded.

  ‘You know why.’ Her eyes were so harsh, and her manner so contentious, that Carla felt a moment of sobriety, as it dawned on her that she didn’t actually want to pursue this. But it was too late to back down now, so, steeling herself, she said, ‘Would I be right in assuming it has something to do with Chrissie and Richard?’

  Rosa’s eyebrows made a haughty arch. ‘Amongst other things.’

  Carla frowned a
nd glanced at Avril to see if she’d understood, but Avril didn’t seem to have either. ‘Listen,’ Carla said, starting to feel angry as she turned back, ‘you were the one who cut me dead the day you walked in here, and it’s you who’s come very close to being offensive in your manner ever since. So yes, I’d say that you’re the one with the problem round here, so either you tell me what it is, or leave your damned baggage at home, OK?’ Her tone became so sharp towards the end that Rosa’s face turned scarlet.

  ‘Chrissie told me everything,’ she seethed. ‘So I know how you blocked my casting, and I know you wouldn’t have let me in this time, if it weren’t for John and Yale.’

  Carla started to speak, but nothing came out.

  ‘You could have given me a job a dozen times over,’ Rosa hissed, ‘but you never did. Do you have any idea how it feels, when your own so-called friends won’t give you a part? And now you have you’re expecting me to be grateful! Well, forget it. As far as I’m concerned I’m working for John on this production, and you can just go fuck yourself.’ With that, she slammed her glass down on the table and stormed out of the room.

  Stupefied, Carla turned to Avril, then Yale, who appeared equally as shocked.

  Coming to first, he said, ‘Listen, I’m really sorry. I don’t know what went on before between you two, but she was well out of order with that. I’ll talk to her. It won’t happen again.’

  ‘You’re damned right it won’t,’ Carla fumed.

  ‘No, please,’ Yale said, holding up his hands for calm. ‘She’s obviously got the wrong end of the stick about something …’