MADE IN ESSEX

by Laura Ziepe

  Donna’s mouth dropped open. ‘What size was she?’

  The lady thought for a moment. ‘About a fourteen I think. Why?’

  Donna explained the situation and Adele couldn’t believe how jammy she was. The lady was going to call her customer and get her to contact Donna so she would get her perfect dress. All she’d need to do was get it altered to fit her. Donna seemed to have dropped a dress size recently and was now down to a size fourteen, Adele realised glumly, wishing she was too big to fit into the dream dress she’d just been offered. The lady explained it was £10,500, but she was sure the other lady would give her a discount. Adele had to literally bite her tongue from screaming about the injustice of it all! Donna was going to wear a dress that cost over ten grand and she didn’t even bat an eyelid when the price was mentioned! Adele ordered another glass of champagne to cheer herself up and reminded Donna that it was time to go to Browns Brides for the bridesmaids’ dresses now; it was her turn.

  ‘My sister said anything apart from strapless, because she hates her chest,’ Donna told Adele forty minutes later, as she sat outside the changing room.

  ‘What? You’ve got to be kidding me?’ Adele fumed. She was in the middle of trying a stunning Monique Lhuillier strapless gown. She was already compromising on the colour, which she wasn’t thrilled about; Donna had opted for lilac.

  ‘No. Please Adele, it’s the only thing my sister has asked.’

  Adele was annoyed. The strapless dress she was trying on fitted her perfectly. She hated all the ones with straps in the shop and there was no way she was wearing one of them. This dress was beautiful and it did wonders for her figure. She exited the cubicle with a smile and turned in front of Donna.

  ‘Well, what do you think?’

  ‘Oh Adele, it looks beauts,’ Donna replied looking at Adele in awe. She shook her head sadly, ‘But it’s strapless. What about that one-shoulder one we saw?’

  Adele put her hands on her hips and exhaled sharply. ‘It’s got straps inside the dress, silly. They attach and hook on the dress,’ she lied.

  Donna perked up. ‘Oh, really? Oh, well that dress is perfect then.’

  ‘Agreed,’ Adele beamed walking back into the cubicle. ‘Now, let’s quickly buy them, as I’m sure you have a million and one things to organise.’

  ‘Don’t remind me,’ Donna said, putting her face in her hands.

  Adele smirked as she took the dress off. She’d just have to inform them she was mistaken when they asked her about the straps on the dress. They’d never have time to look for new dresses; there was hardly any time now! As she changed into her own clothes, Adele congratulated herself on somehow always managing to get her own way.

  *

  ‘So how is the business going?’ Lisa asked Jade at lunch. They were sitting outside in the King William beer garden and it was a beautiful sunny day.

  ‘Really well,’ Jade grinned. She was so pleased with how busy they’d been. ‘We’re going to be mentioned in Reveal magazine next week because they love our website, which is great. All the people that buy them seem to love the bikinis too. We even received a thank you card from a happy customer the other day,’ Jade explained. ‘Kelly’s pinned it up on the wall because it was pink and matched the room,’ she laughed.

  Lisa giggled. ‘Sounds like Kelly. That’s amazing that it’s going so well though. Well done you two.’

  ‘How are things with you?’ Jade asked. She finished the last of her pasta and pushed the bowl away, feeling completely stuffed.

  Lisa looked a bit unsure and pulled a face. ‘Something really weird happened to me.’

  Jade frowned as Lisa told her the story about having lunch with Charlie and then about him peering in her room at night and sending her the text message. Jade couldn’t believe what she was hearing!

  ‘Oh my God, shut up! I can’t believe he actually did that! What a perv!’

  Lisa cringed. ‘I know. He just stares all the time as well and says really inappropriate things. What do I do? Nicola is in love with the guy and I can’t bear to be the one to break it to her that her boyfriend is a complete weirdo.’

  Jade sympathised. What an awkward situation to be in; she didn’t envy her one bit. ‘I would perhaps tell him it’s not acceptable and say if he carries on you’ll have no choice but to tell Nicola? That way you’re at least giving him a chance?’

  Lisa nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right. That sounds like a good idea. Just the thought of even speaking to him makes me shudder. He’s so strange.’

  Jade thought Lisa looked stressed out over the situation and tried to change the subject. She told her about Kelly and the fact she thought Chloe was the one going behind their backs and telling Adele all their business plans.

  ‘No way! She can’t possibly think it’s Chloe. Chloe is adorable. I can’t imagine her ever doing anything malicious. She really likes you and Kelly too, I can tell, so why would she go behind your backs? It makes no sense.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I said, but Kelly is certain it’s the only way Adele is finding out,’ Jade replied, arching an eyebrow.

  ‘Heard anything from Sam recently?’ Lisa asked.

  Jade looked down at the table miserably. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to get Sam out of her head most days. She missed him so much it hurt, but he had let her down in the worst way possible and she was far too proud to allow him to talk her round. ‘No, he knows I don’t want to talk to him. We’re over.’

  Jade looked up and Lisa nodded. ‘It’s just such a shame. You were so happy with Sam and it’s so hard to imagine him cheating with Adele. It was clear for everyone to see how much he loved you. I just don’t understand. Have you met anyone else you like? I know it’s early, but sometimes it helps to go on another date to try to move on.’

  Jade looked into the distance thoughtfully. ‘Funnily enough, your cousin, Tony, asked me out for a drink the other day when I told him me and Sam had split up,’ she confessed.

  ‘Really? Did he?’

  Jade nodded. It had been a surprise to her too, but she’d told him she wasn’t ready. ‘I still can’t imagine being with anyone apart from Sam if I’m honest, so I told him it’s too soon.’

  ‘What did Tony say?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘He understood,’ Jade replied. ‘He’s a lovely bloke, but I still have feelings for Sam. I wish I didn’t.’ Feeling herself becoming emotional, Jade swallowed hard and changed the subject. ‘Been on any more dates recently? Any new men in your life apart from Pervy Pervison?’

  Lisa gave a little laugh. ‘I’m actually getting a bit sick of dating, you know. I’d actually like to find a boyfriend now, but it’s hard. I mean, I know I did the right thing with Jake, but sometimes I can’t help thinking about him and how happy he is with his new fiancée. I looked at his Facebook page for the first time the other day and saw photos of their holiday together. It was so strange.’

  ‘I bet it was!’ Jade replied, finding it difficult to imagine Jake with a girl other than Lisa. ‘I looked at Sam’s the other day as well. There weren’t many updates, but I forced myself to delete him as a friend as I don’t want to torture myself by looking at his page every five minutes.’

  Lisa stared at the floor, thoughtfully. ‘Maybe I should do the same with Jake. I’m over our relationship, but it’s just weird seeing him with someone else.’

  Jade smiled at her friend. There was no way she was going to have trouble finding a new boyfriend eventually; even dressed in jeans and a casual white top she looked stunning. ‘You’ll find someone when you least expect it,’ Jade told her confidently.

  Lisa exhaled heavily. ‘Not you as well. My nan always says that to me!’

  Jade sipped her white wine spritzer and looked Lisa in the eye. ‘Everyone says it because it’s true! When you least expect it, he’ll come along.’

  CHAPTER 16

  Chloe couldn’t wait to see the commercial she’d just finished filming on the television; it was going to be amazing. E
veryone had been so nice to her at the shoot and she’d had people doing her hair and make-up the whole time, making her feel like a film star. Since she’d joined the modelling agency Chloe had started to feel more confident. Adele had been wrong about one thing and that was that she should act shy. Her agency constantly drummed it into their models to be self-assured, with a positive attitude, and Chloe had learned behaving like this was the only way she would ever book jobs. She had now shot her first commercial and had also been to four other castings, where she had successfully booked one other job so far. She was going to be in Look magazine modelling their best fashion picks for the summer and she couldn’t wait. She played Cheryl Cole’s latest hit, ‘Call my Name’ on her iPod and lay on her bed, flicking through a magazine. Five minutes later, Chloe saw her mum appear at her bedroom door.

  ‘I’ve been calling you for ages, but I can see why you couldn’t hear me now. Adele is here to see you,’ her mum informed her.

  Chloe’s heart sank and she switched her music off. She sat up on the bed and whispered to her mum. ‘Just tell her I’m not in,’ she pleaded.

  Her mum sighed. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous. I’ve already told her you were in your room. Honestly Chloe, please stop being so rude.’

  Chloe threw her eyes upwards, annoyed that her mum couldn’t just lie for her. ‘Go on then, send her up.’ Chloe stood up, ready to face her. She’d had enough of Adele’s bullying ways and although she was terrified of her, she decided there and then she wasn’t going to dance to her tune anymore. Maybe it was the new burst of confidence she gained, but she realised it was time to tell Adele to get lost. Chloe had accepted Adele bossing her around because she had truly believed they were friends. But how could Adele be a true friend and treat her the way she did? The more Chloe had thought about it, the more she realised Sam was right; Adele was using her. Just who did she think she was, coming to her house, treating her the way she did and threatening her all the time?

  ‘Hi, babe,’ Adele grinned like a Cheshire cat as she walked into Chloe’s room.

  ‘Hi Adele. What’s up? I’m a bit busy,’ Chloe replied firmly, wanting her to leave already.

  Adele ignored Chloe’s irritable tone and sat on her bed, putting her feet up and leaning comfortably on her hands. ‘Need you to do me a favour, babe. You see, Jade has just tweeted about Vajazzle My Bikini being in Reveal magazine next week and I want to know how they managed to worm their way in there and what the article is about. Reem Bikinis is better than theirs and if anyone should be written about it’s my company. I need you to find out who their contacts are.’

  Chloe felt her heart hammering in her chest and her hands were clammy. She couldn’t take this anymore. She didn’t want to spy any longer for Adele and she knew she had to stand up to her. Jade and Kelly didn’t deserve it and she felt terribly guilty about what she’d done in the past; this had to stop now. She knew Adele saw her as nothing more than a walkover and someone to do her dirty work. Well not anymore, Chloe decided. Adele’s gruff, masculine voice interrupted her thoughts.

  ‘Errr hello? Chloe? Did you hear what I said? I need this info ASAP!’

  Chloe cleared her throat. ‘No,’ she answered meekly.

  Adele’s mouth flew open and her face scrunched up, making her look ugly. ‘What did you just say?’

  Chloe heard the doorbell ring downstairs and wondered if her mum would be too distracted to hear her cry for help if Adele decided to thump her one. Chloe stood up tall and folded her arms across her chest. ‘I said no,’ she repeated, more boldly this time.

  Adele’s face contorted with shock and rage. ‘What do you mean no?’ she asked in a loud voice, standing up and putting her hands on her hips.

  Chloe closed her eyes momentarily, knowing it was now or never. She looked Adele square in the eye and with all the force she could muster, spoke as assertively as physically possible. ‘I mean no, Adele. No, I won’t find out anything else for you. I’ve had enough of you bullying me and getting me to sneak about for you. I’m going to come clean to Jade and Kelly and tell them what happened. Now, get out and leave me alone!’ Chloe gasped for breath as she finished, shocked that she’d actually managed to finally speak that way to Adele.

  Adele took deep breaths, her face turning red and her eyes glinting like a mad person. ‘After everything I’ve done for you, Chloe, this is how you choose to repay me! I should have just let those girls beat you up in the toilets that night, shouldn’t I?’

  Feeling more confident than ever, especially seeing as Adele hadn’t even touched her yet, Chloe stood up to her. ‘I said thank you that night, Adele, and ever since then you’ve tried to manipulate me and boss me around. You’re just as bad as those girls in the toilets that night!’

  Adele started to walk away, clearly stunned by Chloe’s outburst. ‘Whatever, Chloe. You’re just a child and when you need me in future, you can dream on if you think I’ll be there. You did exactly what I asked you to and went behind Jade and Kelly’s backs, so spare me the innocent act. Jade and Kelly will never speak to you again after I tell them who my little spy was. I’m going to go round there right now and tell them everything you did. I’m going to laugh when they never speak to you again. They’re going to hate you.’

  Chloe’s eyes became hot with tears and a lump grew in her throat. Adele was right; they were going to be furious with her. ‘I didn’t want to do it,’ she gulped. ‘You made me! You threatened me!’

  Adele smirked callously. ‘That’s just your word against mine.’

  Chloe jumped when she heard another familiar voice behind her.

  ‘And we know whose word we’re going to believe. Don’t worry Chloe, Jade and I won’t hate you.’

  Chloe turned round to see Kelly standing there, staring at Adele in outrage.

  ‘Oh my God, Kelly!’ Chloe cried, squeezing her tightly in a hug. Chloe had never been so pleased to see her before.

  ‘Your mum just let me up, hun, and I heard everything. I actually guessed that this is what had happened anyway; that’s why I came here to see you,’ Kelly explained, before turning to Adele with a threatening glare. ‘So now we know how you copied and came up with all the same ideas, don’t we?’

  Adele shrugged, as though she couldn’t care less. ‘Believe Chloe all you want, but she happily told me everything I wanted to know. I never had to push her into anything. In fact, I think she enjoyed going behind your backs.’

  ‘She’s lying!’ Chloe protested in self-defence. She turned to Kelly. ‘I promise I didn’t want to tell her anything or give her your new bikini designs, but she wouldn’t leave me alone, she knew how much I was frightened …’

  ‘Don’t worry, hun,’ Kelly interjected, ‘I know how much of a twisted cow she is.’

  ‘Who do you think you’re calling a cow, you thick bimbo?’ Adele sneered.

  Kelly flushed with anger and she lunged forward and slapped Adele hard across the cheek. ‘Never copy us again and don’t you ever call me a thick bimbo!’

  Adele’s mouth was wide open in shock as she stood there holding her cheek, which was getting redder by the second. ‘Get out my way,’ she spat as she barged past Chloe and Kelly. ‘I need to get out of here before I actually do some damage to the pair of you! Don’t think I’m letting you get away with slapping me, Kelly. You did it last year in Marbs too and I haven’t forgotten.’

  ‘You deserved it then just as much as you did now,’ Kelly snapped. ‘You’re a bully and a coward, Adele. If you have a problem, let’s sort it out right now.’ Kelly stood with her head held high, waiting for a response.

  Adele looked her up and down and shook her head. ‘Nah, you’re not worth it. I have better things to do with my time, thanks very much. I don’t know why I bothered copying your website anyway because quite frankly, it’s a load of crap,’ Adele hissed, slamming Chloe’s bedroom door behind her.

  Chloe faced Kelly, exhaling slowly. ‘Thank God she’s gone.’

  ‘Hopefully for good,’
Kelly added. ‘I can’t believe I hit her like that. I’ve never slapped anyone in my life apart from Adele – twice!’

  Chloe sat down, feeling a little shaken. ‘She deserved it. The look on her face was priceless,’ she said with a little laugh.

  Kelly joined in, giggling, and sat down by Chloe’s computer on the chair. ‘I saw her constantly calling you that day of the first photo shoot and I thought you seemed stressed. When you stopped by at Jade’s the other day I could tell how uncomfortable you were when we spoke about Adele copying the designs and I just knew it had to be you telling her. It wasn’t that I thought you would do it on purpose, I had a feeling Adele was forcing you, especially after I spoke to Sam. I was right.’

  Chloe still felt guilty. ‘I’m so sorry. Can you and Jade forgive me?’ she asked, hopefully.

  Kelly’s pink glossy lips curved into a smile. ‘On one condition.’

  ‘Anything,’ Chloe said, ecstatic that Kelly didn’t hate her.

  ‘Will you model for us on our next shoot? I heard you’re doing well now after joining the agency, but remember, we found you first,’ Kelly joked.

  Chloe sighed with relief. ‘Of course. I’ll model whenever you need me.’ Chloe sat chatting to Kelly about the modelling jobs she’d got and blushed when Kelly told her how impressed she was. ‘Do you want a drink?’ she offered, ten minutes later.

  ‘No, hun. Thanks for the offer but I’d better go.’

  ‘Off to anywhere nice?’ Chloe asked her.

  ‘I wouldn’t say nice,’ Kelly informed her. ‘But trust me; I have people to see and some very important places to go.’

  *

  A few hours later it was beginning to get dark, the perfect time for Kelly to set off on her next mission. Dressed head to toe in black, including a black baseball cap, Kelly made her way out the door, once again racking her brains to remember where Gary lived. They’d picked him up once before a meal and Kelly knew he lived in Loughton near the station, but that was about it. There was no way she could ask Billy for his address – not only would he think she’d gone crazy, but she was still upset after the way he’d spoken to her.