MADE IN ESSEX

by Laura Ziepe

  The worst thing about the whole sorry situation was that he didn’t even know what had gone on that night. Say Adele was just making the whole thing up? He wouldn’t put it past her. The image of her pink thong flashed through his head and he cringed. If nothing had gone on, why did he have her underwear in his bed?

  *

  Adele was in a great mood. She’d had a deep mahogany spray tan, her hair extensions redone and blow dried to perfection, fake eyelashes reapplied, but best of all, a stunning set of pearly white veneers, which she’d had done in Harley Street. She couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror. She hadn’t looked so amazing in ages! Getting veneers was one of the best ideas she’d ever had. The fact she smoked meant her normal teeth were never as white as she wanted, despite the fact she had them whitened on a regular basis. Her veneers were perfect and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t got them sooner. Her smile could have been on a toothpaste advert she thought ecstatically, as she grinned at herself in the mirror yet again. Of course, it had cost her dad fifteen grand, but seeing the smile on her face had been worth it, she told herself. She was his daughter after all and obviously he wanted to see her happy. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t afford it anyway; it was a tiny amount to him.

  She thought back to the text message she’d received from Sam a few days ago telling her to keep her mouth shut. He was clearly worried and so he should be. She’d ignored it completely, hoping that would make him panic even more. It was his own fault he’d been drunk and careless that night and if she wanted to tell people about it, then that was up to her. Calling her low because she stole the notebook! They had no proof it was her, so they could all go to hell as far as she was concerned. It had been difficult to conceal her delight when she told Jade she’d seen him in Sugar Hut that night. Jade always spoke to her like dirt and treated her like a nuisance or bad smell lingering around. She’d soon shut her up, informing her that her precious boyfriend had moaned about their perfect relationship. The look on Jade and Kelly’s face had been priceless. Jade clearly didn’t know Sam as well as she thought, did she?

  Her phone started ringing and she answered, seeing Donna’s name flashing.

  ‘Hi Donna. You okay, babe?’

  ‘Yeah, I’m good. Just wondered what you were up to tonight?’

  Adele wondered if it was because Aaron had dumped her already and she needed a shoulder to cry on. ‘Why, what’s Aaron up to? How was The Fat Duck?’

  ‘Oh Adele, I can’t explain just how happy I am. I’ve completely fallen for him. The Fat Duck was fantastic and he took me to this lovely hotel called The Coworth Park afterwards and bought me a necklace. He certainly knows how to treat a girl.’

  ‘That’s probably because he’s had so many,’ Adele retorted bitterly. She could feel the anger rise inside her. A necklace? She couldn’t even bring herself to comment or ask her where the necklace was from. She didn’t want to know the answer.

  ‘Don’t say that.’ Donna sounded wounded. ‘He’s only had one girlfriend before me.’

  Adele didn’t want to upset her; not when she needed her to go out with. ‘It was only a joke, Donna, lighten up. So what’s up? Did you want to meet up?’

  ‘Yeah. I just felt bad about last Saturday and thought if you were free we could meet tonight instead? The King William?’

  ‘Yes, sounds great,’ Adele replied, happy she had somewhere to go out seeing as she looked so good. ‘Bring Aaron and one of his friends or something.’

  ‘Really? I thought you would have wanted it to be just the two of us?’

  Adele gave a little laugh. ‘No, it’s fine. I’m sure you want to see him, don’t you? Besides, it’s good for him to get to know your friends. Tell him to bring one too.’

  ‘Who shall I get him to bring? Neil?’

  ‘Whoever,’ Adele replied casually. ‘It’s fine. I’m really pleased for you and Aaron. Let’s meet at The King Will at eight.’

  ‘See you there,’ Donna sang happily.

  Adele changed into the Victoria’s Secret lingerie and admired herself in the full-length mirror. Her cosmetically enhanced cleavage was now her second favourite body part, after her teeth. She had a nice curvy size ten figure that any man would be happy to have wrapped around them. There was only one man she had her eye on at the moment though, and that was Aaron. Now there was a man that knew where to take his girlfriend! She’d never forget the moment Donna declared he was taking her to Cipriani restaurant in the West End for their first date. That was one of her favourite restaurants, where tons of celebrities were spotted! Then he’d splashed out on The Fat Duck and Coworth Park Hotel and who knew where else. Donna was so lucky and she didn’t deserve it. Yes, she had a pretty face, but she was huge compared to Adele. Why did Aaron like her? She slipped on the new Balmain jeans she’d recently purchased online, with a cream Phillip Lim top which showed her tan off. Tonight, Aaron was going to notice her. He was going to see her sitting next to frumpy Donna and wonder what on earth he was doing. Adele was certain of it.

  She sighed as she saw four bikinis sitting there that needed to be sewn and finished. She’d had lots of orders to keep her busy since Essex Fashion Week and hadn’t got round to some of them because if she was honest, she couldn’t be bothered to make them all. It was tiring and she’d had other things on her mind, such as getting her teeth done. Two of the customers had been emailing constantly asking when they would be receiving them, but she’d just fobbed them off, explaining they were on their way. Then there were the irritating customers that just constantly called up and wanted her opinion on every single bikini and whether it would suit them or not. Did they really think she had nothing better to do than sit talking about whether lavender would suit their skin tone or sequins would be too over the top for a family holiday? They needed to get a life and sometimes she just ignored her flashing mobile, not having the energy to be helpful and nice to boring women droning on. At first she had just wanted the website to be email only, but there was no way she was losing customers to Jade and Kelly, just because they had a phone number to call and she didn’t. Not letting them get her down tonight, Adele brushed the thought of the unfinished bikinis to the back of her mind, promising herself she’d do them tomorrow. Nothing was going to put her in a bad mood. Even the sun was still shining, making her excited for summer and holidays ahead. If her plan worked, maybe Aaron could whisk her off to the Maldives or Hawaii? Just imagine the type of room he’d be able to afford! Donna wouldn’t appreciate it as much as she would; she didn’t care as much about money and wealth. Adele was accustomed to the finer things in life and she wanted that fact to remain. She couldn’t live off her dad forever and she needed a man who could keep up with her demands. A lovely big Essex home was a must-have, as were designer clothes, bags and shoes. Men who made lots of money were so much more attractive to her and always had been. In her eyes it wasn’t acceptable to date someone just barely scraping by; it would be far too embarrassing and she’d hate to not be able to afford her weekly blow dry and spray tan. Cutting back wasn’t an option. Her mum, Janice, had always told her to marry a rich man; no one knew better than she did just how important it was. Her mum had come from nothing, brought up in a tiny council house in Dagenham with six brothers and sisters. Apparently, at one point, her mum and two sisters had shared a single bed in one room and her three brothers a single bed in the other. They were box rooms too, she was often told, and there wasn’t enough room to swing a cat in either of them. Then her mum had met her dad at school and luckily he’d been successful, earning decent money from the age of eighteen when he started his own property development business. Now her mum had a six-bedroom house in Chigwell, three holiday homes abroad, a private yacht and top of the range sports cars. That wasn’t including the fact she was often draped in huge diamonds, had her own personal trainer and cosmetic surgery as and when she wanted it. It was often she wanted it as well, Adele thought wryly, remembering the state of her beloved mum after her latest facelift.
It had been horrifying and like something out of a horror movie. She hadn’t stayed with her mum for long because the sight of her with bright red, bloodshot eyes and bruised cheeks had made her want to vomit; she’d simply made her excuses and left, waiting a few weeks before she’d gone back to visit.

  Her phone rang and without looking at the caller ID, Adele answered it.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Oh hi there,’ the high-pitched woman’s voice came down the phone. ‘Is this Reem Bikinis?’

  Adele huffed in annoyance and rolled her eyes. ‘Yes. How can I help?’

  ‘I was just wondering when you’re getting new stock in …’

  Fifteen minutes later, Adele finally hung up, relieved the boring phone call was over. That was the third time that week she’d been asked about new bikinis coming out. It must be because there weren’t that many to choose from at present, she realised, thinking of her selection. She needed new ideas and fast, but she’d racked her brains, and being creative wasn’t exactly one of her strong points. She wondered what other designs Jade and Kelly had come up with. There was one way she could find out she decided, and dialled Chloe’s number.

  ‘Hi Adele,’ Chloe answered in her usual jolly voice.

  ‘Hi, hun. How are you?’

  ‘I’m really good thanks. I’ve been meaning to tell you that I …’

  ‘Listen,’ Adele interjected, not wanting to listen to what she assumed was frivolous rubbish Chloe was going to tell her. ‘I need to know what new designs Jade and Kelly are coming up with. You need to find out for me soon. I don’t know how you’re going to do it. Maybe just go over there and ask them. They’ll tell you and then you can tell me.’

  ‘Well, they may not tell me,’ Chloe replied feebly.

  ‘Of course they’ll tell you! They have no reason not to! Just grow up and do it, okay? You owe me, remember?’

  ‘I’ll try,’ Chloe said dubiously.

  ‘Thank you. Of course they’ll tell you,’ Adele softened now that Chloe was cooperating. ‘You’re their model and they trust you. I can’t believe they don’t even pay you to do it, to be honest. Then again, I suppose seeing as you’re not going to be a real model, it’s a bit of fun for you.’ Adele couldn’t resist the little dig.

  ‘But Adele, that’s what I was trying to tell you! The modelling agency want me! They’ve taken me on as a model. I have a casting for an advert at the weekend and I’m so nervous. I don’t know how to thank you for your advice …’

  ‘What?’ Adele interrupted, furious. She couldn’t believe her plan had backfired and Chloe had been taken on! ‘That’s great news,’ she forced herself to say, seething with jealousy.

  ‘I’m in their new faces section. Hopefully I’ll get lots of work. They’re paying for me to have some head shots too. It’s so exciting!’

  ‘Just brilliant,’ Adele said unenthusiastically. ‘I need to go now anyway. Find out for me about the bikinis and I’ll speak to you soon.’

  ‘Okay. Speak soon, Adele. Bye.’

  Great, Adele thought glumly, trust that little cow Chloe to ruin her good mood. Hopefully tonight Aaron would be able to change all that.

  CHAPTER 11

  ‘Seriously, babe, I know we were told we would sweat doing that yoga, but I didn’t realise it would be that bad!’ Kelly was exasperated. After being told by a client about Bikram yoga, which was basically just yoga, but in a room that was one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, she had managed to persuade Jade to join her in a class. After all, her client had informed her you could burn off up to eight hundred calories an hour, and that wasn’t information she could ignore. They were at Epping tube station waiting for a train. There wasn’t anywhere to park at the yoga class so they thought it would be easier than driving and searching for ages for a parking space somewhere. Kelly turned to Jade. ‘I’m not being funny, but I’m half tempted to go and get a blow dry or something. I look like a drowned rat and I’m meeting Billy now!’

  Jade giggled. ‘I’m sure he won’t mind. Just have a shower quickly before he comes over. You don’t even look bad as you are.’

  Kelly looked down at her outfit. She always made an effort with her appearance, even when going to the gym, and she’d opted for a baby pink Adidas crop top with a hot pink Ralph Lauren hoody unzipped over the top, bright pink matching Adidas leggings, with her hair tied back in a matching pink hairband. In her opinion you could never wear too much pink; it was her favourite colour. She’d even put rollers in her hair that morning to give it a bit of bounce, but now it was just flat and stuck to her scalp. She had no choice but to wash and dry it quickly. There was no way Billy was seeing her like this.

  They could see the train making its way to the platform in the distance and Kelly watched it coming. ‘Babe, I was thinking. Do you reckon you can get a tan on the tube because it’s so hot and obviously you’ve got the bright lights as well? I swear everyone that works in the City looks like they have sun-kissed skin and I was thinking it must be to do with the tube or something.’

  Jade looked at her like she had two heads and then her mouth twitched and she burst into laughter. ‘Kelly, are you kidding? I mean I know you come out with silly things sometimes, but seriously. Of course you can’t get a tan on the tube!’

  Kelly stared at the train thoughtfully in disbelief. ‘I still reckon there’s a chance you know.’

  Jade rolled her eyes and gave an amused laugh. ‘Okay, Kelly, if you say so. I should have brought my factor fifteen in that case.’

  Suddenly, Kelly screamed at the top of her lungs. ‘Oh my God! Get it off me! Help! Quick!’ She threw her hoody to the floor, running away and throwing her arms wildly in the air.

  Jade had never been so puzzled in her life. ‘What are you doing? What’s wrong?’

  Kelly was gasping for breath and swallowed hard. ‘There’s a bug on my jumper, babe. You know I don’t do bugs; I can’t handle anything that crawls.’

  Jade sighed, breathing out sharply. ‘For God’s sakes, I thought it was something serious for a minute. Quick, the train is coming. Give it here, I’ll get it off.’ She walked over to her pink hoody cautiously, picking it up carefully with her fingertips.

  ‘Be careful!’ Kelly cried, covering her eyes with her hands because she couldn’t bear to watch.

  Jade gently shook the jumper, gave it the once over and then realised that nothing was there. ‘Kelly, there is no bug. What are you talking about?’

  Kelly lifted her chin defiantly. ‘There is! It was on the right side on my chest and it was green.’

  The train pulled in and Jade looked once more and then felt the laughter rising in her throat. ‘Do you mean this?’ She pointed to the trademark Ralph Lauren horse logo, which was green. Kelly had clearly thought was a bug.

  Kelly’s eyes widened when she saw it. She shook her head uncertainly. ‘No.’ She hesitated and then turned to get on the train, taking it back. ‘It had wings, it can’t have been that.’

  Jade laughed and she could see the smirk on Kelly’s face as she turned her head momentarily before taking a seat on the train.

  Kelly took a seat and then got her make-up bag out of her gym bag.

  Jade gaped at her. ‘You’re not doing your make-up on here are you? The train will be shaky, how will you keep a steady hand?’

  Kelly said proudly, ‘Hun, when you can do your make-up on public transport perfectly, you can do anything. Trust me, I’m a professional.’

  Jade shook her head. ‘But you’re having a shower when you get back. How will you not get your face wet?’

  Kelly looked at her as she curled a set of eyelashes. ‘Experience, babe. I don’t have time to do my make-up after showering because Billy will arrive and there is no possible way that boy is seeing my bare face!’

  Jade laughed, obviously unsurprised. Kelly had been with Billy for over nine months and he’d still never seen her without make-up. Kelly made sure she set an alarm to wake up early before Billy could see her make-up free.


  Shortly after, they arrived at the station and went their separate ways.

  Kelly selected a white pair of 7 for all Mankind jeans and a tight All Saints denim shirt for Billy’s arrival, which she buttoned just under her cleavage. She blow dried her hair quickly and retouched her make-up, just on time. Her mum was away for the weekend with her partner, Peter, at a spa, so luckily she had a free house. Her nan was looking after Lord McButterpants too, so Billy had agreed to stay over and keep her company for a few days and she was looking forward to it.

  ‘Hey babe,’ she said, opening the door and kissing him. He was dressed in a black work suit with a blue tie, his hair sleek to the side as normal and Kelly thought about how lucky she was to have such a handsome boyfriend. Something was up though, she noticed, as she spotted the frown lines on his forehead. He looked worried.

  ‘Hi,’ he said, following her in the house. His shoulders were slumped and his voice was low. She could tell something was wrong before he even told her. Normally he was chirpy, upbeat and would practically scoop her up in his arms and hold her tightly because he was so excited to see her.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Kelly asked, her big blue eyes open wide.

  He took a deep breath and sighed dramatically as he loosened his tie. ‘It’s just work problems, babe.’ He sat on the sofa in the lounge and took his shoes off.

  She exhaled sharply; glad it wasn’t anything to do with his mum. He had her worried for a moment there and she’d first thought that she may have got worse again. She sat next to him and rubbed his knee gently. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

  He thought for a moment, staring at the coffee table in front of him. ‘I tell you what, why don’t we just eat dinner first and I’ll tell you after. I’m bored of thinking about it.’

  Kelly nodded and then realised she didn’t have any dinner. Was she supposed to make him some? Normally when he came over her mum cooked dinner and they would all sit together. She couldn’t cook to save her life and wasn’t even sure what food they had in the house. ‘Errr … Billy … I haven’t actually made dinner as such.’