MADE IN ESSEX

by Laura Ziepe

  Donna’s mouth flew open wide as she watched Aaron drop to one knee in front of her. She looked down at his happy, yet petrified face and felt more emotional than she ever had in her life.

  Aaron swallowed hard and cleared his throat. ‘Donna, since I’ve met you I’ve had a smile on my face every day. I may not have known you for long but I feel like I know I want to be with you forever. Will you do me the great honour of being my wife?’

  Donna screamed with happiness and Aaron laughed as people in the restaurant started to look round to see what all the noise was about. She bent down and kissed him. ‘Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ll be your wife!’ She shrieked in delight as he placed the biggest diamond she had ever seen on her finger. The restaurant had become silent and suddenly there was a huge round of applause, making Donna and Aaron flush with happiness. Out of nowhere the waiter appeared, bringing two more glasses of champagne, and the waitress handed a huge bouquet of red roses to an ecstatic Donna.

  ‘I love you,’ Aaron said, gazing into the hazel eyes of his wife-to-be.

  ‘Oh my God! I’m going to be your wife!’ Donna shrieked excitedly as she kissed him once more, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. ‘I can’t believe you’ve proposed! I had no idea,’ she said, smiling and sniffing at the same time.

  He dabbed at her eyes lovingly with a napkin. ‘I decided a few weeks ago. I know you’re the one and I want us to get married and move in together as soon as possible.’

  ‘I can’t wait,’ Donna said, staring at him in amazement. He was actually going to be her husband!

  ‘We can have the most amazing wedding day ever. I want you to have nothing but the best,’ Aaron announced as he sipped his champagne.

  Donna grinned. ‘I already have the best; I have you.’

  Aaron beamed. ‘Thanks. Seriously though; if you want a big wedding, then that’s what we’ll have.’

  ‘I’m so excited,’ Donna said, shaking her head as she thought about all the plans they’d have to make. She had always dreamed of getting married and couldn’t believe it was finally happening to her. She gazed down at her engagement ring, which glittered and sparkled in the light; it was absolutely gorgeous and must have cost a fortune. It fit perfectly too she noticed, just like they did.

  ‘To us,’ Aaron clinked glasses with her and they sipped their champagne.

  Donna was on cloud nine. She felt so lucky that she had a warm, glowing feeling sweep over her making her feel like she was floating. Her smile froze on her lips as she thought about breaking the news to Adele; boy was she going to be jell!

  CHAPTER 14

  Jade gasped in horror as she saw the images flash in front of her eyes. ‘Oh my God! Kelly, come look at this!’

  Kelly looked up from the sewing machine, where she was finishing the last of the bikinis from their new line. ‘What’s up, babe?’ she asked as she made her way over to the computer.

  Jade pointed to the computer screen, devastated. ‘It’s Adele’s website! I was on Facebook a moment ago uploading some of the images of our new bikinis and someone had commented on Adele’s bikini page and it flashed up on my screen. I then went to her website and you’re not going to believe this! She’s got the same bikinis as us again!’

  Kelly looked like she’d seen a ghost as she watched Jade flick through the images, mesmerised. The colour drained from her face as she watched their designs displayed across Adele’s website. ‘I don’t believe this! How on earth did she copy us this time?’

  Jade felt like crying. All their hard work felt like it had been for nothing. Adele had not only copied them again, but managed to beat them to it and start selling the same designs earlier. ‘Look,’ Jade said, clicking back on Facebook to Adele’s bikini page. ‘She uploaded these images last week. I don’t understand. They’re practically identical to ours! Even the colours are the same. The only difference is that hers are slightly cheaper!’

  Kelly was just as perplexed as she scratched her head. ‘How has she copied us? I don’t get it.’

  ‘Me either,’ Jade said, shaking her head, frustrated beyond belief. Vajazzle My Bikini had been doing really well and the girls had quickly realised they needed to keep updating their stock to keep customers interested. Jade mainly designed the bikinis and Kelly bought the best materials and embellishments, as well as making them. They worked so well as a team and hadn’t argued about anything so far. Orders were coming in thick and fast seeing as it was early summer and Jade took care of all enquiries and advertising as well as dealing with the courier company they used to send the bikinis out to their customers. They were both continuously busy, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Customers were of the utmost importance and Jade and Kelly made sure they received their orders as soon as possible. They had decided to wrap them in hot pink tissue paper, tied with a big pink bow and silver sticker which had their company logo on. They prided themselves on being professional and reliable and Jade often wondered how Adele was coping running her business alone. If it was as busy as theirs was, she must have been struggling. They had been so pleased with their new designs, but now somehow Adele had managed to ruin everything by copying them again. Jade racked her brains, wondering how on earth she could have known what they were going to do.

  ‘Check where the design papers are,’ Kelly suddenly suggested. ‘Do we still have them?’

  Jade opened a drawer and pulled them out, flashing them in front of Kelly. ‘They’re here. So there is no way Adele can have them. It just doesn’t make any sense.’

  Kelly nodded. ‘I know, hun. I just can’t work out how she’s taken our ideas. It’s definitely no coincidence our designs are identical; this is Adele we’re talking about.’

  Jade sighed. The past week had been so difficult for her not being with Sam anymore and to take her mind off it, she’d thrown herself into work. It helped having something else to focus on; God only knew how she would have coped otherwise. The doorbell rang and Jade ran to answer it, surprised to see Chloe standing on her doorstep.

  ‘Chloe, hi,’ she said, opening the door and letting her in. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Hi,’ Chloe said softly, as she walked through. ‘I’ve been meaning to come and see you, but I’ve been quite busy recently. I’m so sorry to hear about you and my brother splitting up.’

  Jade didn’t know what to say. She had tried to prevent herself from thinking about Sam because it made her too upset and now here Chloe was on her doorstep, with those piercing green eyes, so like her brother’s. She reminded her so much of Sam it was uncanny; from her fair hair, to her perfectly golden, smooth skin tone, it was obvious for anyone to see they were siblings. She pointed upstairs. ‘Kelly is here working. Shall we go up?’

  Chloe nodded and followed Jade to the upstairs office where she took a seat.

  ‘Hi babe,’ Kelly said, glancing up from the sewing machine where she was back working.

  ‘Hi,’ Chloe smiled and gave a little wave.

  ‘Do you want a drink?’ Jade offered. She took a seat when Chloe shook her head.

  ‘So, how have you been?’ Chloe asked Jade.

  Jade briefly raised her eyebrows, trying not to get upset. She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. ‘As well as can be expected, I suppose.’ She was glad that she’d made an effort today and had actually put some make-up on. Her long hair was in a side plait and she was wearing jeans instead of the Abercrombie tracksuits she’d been slouching around in for the last few days. Kelly had told her in no certain terms that just because she was feeling upset, it didn’t make it okay to have bad fashion sense and that under no circumstances was Jade to wear them again in front of her, as they were an eyesore. Kelly always made Jade laugh when she was down and she was grateful that she worked with her, especially since she’d split up with Sam. Jade was thankful that she looked quite nice; hopefully Chloe would go back to Sam and say she was doing just fine without him, even if that wasn’t the case.

  ‘I saw him the day after you split up,’ Chloe expl
ained. She shook her head as she remembered the state of her brother. ‘Sam’s terribly upset. Is there definitely no way you can work things out?’ She looked up at Jade, her face full of hope.

  ‘Did he tell you everything that happened?’ Jade questioned, secretly glad that Sam was finding it as hard as she was, though she’d guessed because he’d tried to call her so many times. At least it showed he still cared, Jade consoled herself.

  Chloe nodded and tucked her silky, long blonde hair behind her ear. ‘Yes. I was there that night though and honestly Jade, he was so drunk. I just can’t believe that anything happened between them. I truly think that Adele is making it all up!’

  Jade shook her head sadly and fiddled with the end of her plait. ‘But I’ll never know, will I? Besides, Sam lied to me. He didn’t tell me anything about that night and I asked him time and time again what was wrong and why he was acting strange. He shouldn’t have got himself in that situation in the first place.’

  ‘Yeah, babe,’ Kelly supported Jade, looking at Chloe, ‘you have to see it from Jade’s point of view.’

  ‘I know,’ Chloe agreed. ‘I just was wondering if there was any way you think you could talk to Sam or meet up …’ Her eyes flicked to Jade’s cynical expression and then down to the floor. Chloe paused. ‘But I can see now it’s out of the question. I know Sam was wrong, but it’s just such a shame. He’s still crazy about you and he’s really devastated.’

  ‘I was crazy about him too,’ Jade said sullenly. ‘But it’s over. He ruined it.’

  Chloe nodded as if she understood where Jade was coming from. ‘How have you been?’

  Jade was glad to change the subject and turned to her computer. ‘Well, it looks as though Adele strikes again. Come and look at this, Chloe,’ she said, showing her the copied designs on Adele’s website.

  Chloe looked uncomfortable and awkward as Jade showed her the images. She obviously feels sorry for us and doesn’t know what to say, Jade thought to herself.

  ‘Can you believe it?’ Kelly asked Chloe, getting angry once again. ‘We just can’t understand where she’s getting our designs from.’

  Chloe couldn’t look Kelly in the eye and picked her bag up. ‘It’s really weird, isn’t it? I wonder … how … how she stole your designs?’

  ‘I know. We just can’t work it out,’ Kelly said, watching Chloe as she put her jacket on.

  ‘I can’t stay for long,’ Chloe said hastily, ‘I have to be home for dinner. I just wanted to check you were alright, Jade.’

  ‘Yes. Thanks for coming round, Chloe. I know it’s a shame about Sam and me, but unfortunately it just can’t be helped.’

  Chloe waved her hand as she walked to the door. ‘Bye Kelly, see you soon. Don’t worry Jade, I’ll let myself out. Speak soon.’

  ‘Bye,’ they chorused.

  Jade looked at Kelly, surprised to see a suspicious look on her face. ‘What are you looking like that for?’

  Kelly opened her mouth to speak, but then hesitated. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said finally as she pinned red flowers on black bikini bottoms.

  ‘What do you mean it doesn’t matter?’ Jade replied. ‘Just say what you were about to. I hate it when you do that.’

  Kelly stopped what she was doing and stared at Jade. ‘Okay fine, I’ll say.’ She took a deep breath. ‘It’s something about Chloe that I’m unsure of. I know she’s a lovely girl who wouldn’t harm a fly, but did you see how strange she was acting when you told her about Adele stealing our ideas again? She couldn’t get away quick enough.’

  Jade frowned, bemused. ‘That’s just because she felt awkward for us. Why are you saying this?’

  Kelly exhaled. ‘Look, I get she feels awkward for us, but could it be because she had something to do with it? That day at the photo shoot I remember her acting quiet and a bit offish and she was texting all day on her phone. I remember I caught a glimpse of who she was texting; I’ve never mentioned it before because it didn’t have any significance, but now I’m not so certain.’

  Jade was baffled. What was Kelly getting at?

  ‘Who was she texting? I remember seeing her on her phone a lot too, but so what? This whole thing has nothing to do with Chloe.’

  ‘She was texting Adele.’

  Jade shook her head, certain Kelly couldn’t be right. Chloe was lovely. There was no way on earth she would betray them and give their designs to Adele. Kelly was crazy! She sighed and finally spoke. ‘Kelly, you must have got it wrong. Chloe is on our side, not Adele’s. Maybe she has another friend called Adele; have you thought of that? How could you even suggest she may be in on it? She’s one of the sweetest, nicest people I know.’

  Kelly put her hands up. ‘I can’t help it if that’s what I think! I’m telling you, she was texting Adele. It’s not exactly the most common name in the world! I’m being serious. I was watching her just now and she was acting guilty. Maybe she just mentioned what some of the designs were like to Adele without thinking?’

  Jade thought about it for a moment. Chloe spying for Adele and discussing their designs? There was just no way. ‘Kelly, you’ve got it wrong. Now please stop accusing innocent people. You’ll probably be saying it’s me next!’

  Kelly gave a sulky pout. ‘I know what I saw and I have a good read of people’s reactions. Don’t believe me then.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Jade said firmly as she typed an email to a customer.

  ‘You never take anything I say seriously,’ Kelly huffed, lifting her chin in the air defiantly. ‘I bet if it was Lisa saying it, you’d listen.’

  Jade tutted loudly. ‘Stop being so stupid, Kel.’

  ‘Well it’s true,’ Kelly muttered as she pinned some more flowers in place.

  Jade shook her head, thinking how silly Kelly was being. ‘Look I have enough on my plate thinking about Sam all the time without thinking about Chloe now as well. Let’s just forget it, yeah?’

  Kelly nodded reluctantly. ‘Okay, but I’m not going to change my mind and I promise, I’m going to do my best to get to the bottom of all of this.’

  Jade sighed, wondering why Kelly couldn’t just forget about it all. She felt drained and exhausted. Chloe was such a lovely girl and Jade was certain that Kelly was barking up the wrong tree. She just hoped she didn’t make things worse in any way; Kelly saying she promised she was going to get to the bottom of everything was a very worrying thought.

  *

  Adele rolled her eyes as she listened to the customer at the other end of the line.

  ‘I’m sorry, but I’ve received my bikini and one of the flowers has already fallen off. I’ve only just tried it on. Another two of the flowers are loose as well and I must say, I’m really not impressed with the quality at all,’ the angry woman explained.

  Adele really couldn’t be bothered with this. She had another five bikinis to make and send out and the college girls she had hired to help make them were over thirty minutes late. ‘So the flowers were on the bikini when you received it, yes?’ Adele asked.

  The lady sighed. ‘Yes. But then I tried the bikini on and one fell off. When I looked closely there were some others loose as well.’

  Adele paused and then exhaled sharply. ‘Look, I’m sorry but if the flowers were attached until you tried it on then I can only imagine you’re too big for the bikini, meaning you’ve stretched it and made them fall off.’

  The woman was exasperated. ‘Excuse me? I’m a size eight! All I did was try it on and it practically fell apart! I want a refund!’

  Adele yawned, bored of the conversation; there was no way she was giving this woman her money back. She ordered it and she was getting it. ‘No can do I’m afraid,’ Adele asserted.

  The woman gasped in shock. ‘But it’s a faulty product!’

  ‘Correction,’ Adele interjected. ‘The product was fine until you tried it on. You said so yourself. It’s been worn by you and we cannot give you a refund. You ruined it and when you tried it the flowers came off. So if I were you I would g
et sewing, babe.’

  ‘I tried it on, that’s all! It still has the hygienic strip inside the bottoms. I haven’t worn it anywhere! This is disgusting!’ The woman was clearly irate as she huffed down the phone.

  ‘No refunds, sorry. Is there anything else I can help you with?’ Adele asked in a cheery tone, much to the woman’s annoyance.

  ‘I can’t believe this! How can you sell me a faulty product and not give me a refund? This is so unprofessional! I’m going to report you. In fact I’m going to go to the citizen’s advice bureau right now! I have rights! I …’

  ‘If there’s nothing else, then I must go. Thanks for the call,’ Adele said with a smirk as she hung up the phone and then switched it on silent in case she decided to call again. Some customers really were just nothing but a nuisance. They complained about everything! So what if a couple of flowers fell off? Big deal. Why didn’t she just stitch them back on? Adele glanced at her Cartier watch and sighed. The two college students she had hired, Libby and Megan, were late again. She gave them all the bikinis to make and usually pretended she was doing other work or had meetings to go to while she left them and just went for a spray tan or pedicure. Running a website was actually hard work and hiring the two students meant she wasn’t earning as much. She only paid them six pounds an hour, but this still ate away at her profit margins. She didn’t think the girls were actually any good, they spent far more time chatting than sewing, but she knew they needed the cash and she was more than happy to give them the work rather than sit there and do it herself. The doorbell rang and Adele jumped up to answer it.

  ‘About bloody time,’ Adele said as she flicked her hair behind her shoulder when she opened the door.

  Libby looked nervous. ‘Sorry Adele. We got held up at college.’

  Adele raised her eyebrows. ‘Whatever, just get on with it. I need these five bikinis made within the next two hours before the post office closes.’ She threw the material and flowers on the floor in front of them, making Megan flinch. ‘Now, I must go out,’ she said, pausing as she tried to think of an excuse, ‘I have an important business lunch.’ Adele put on her oversized Dior shades and turned, her head held high as she walked out.