“Excellent. Now they’re going to interview her.”
We went silent and listened again. I was having a hard time taking in the words, but when Lena announced she was wearing ‘Allegra Valenti’ I whimpered.
Bella snorted. “Get a grip, Ally, you’re famous now. Listen.”
The reporter kept saying words like ‘gorgeous’ and ‘stunning’, but I was sure it had nothing to do with my dress.
And that was when my phone started pinging.
“Tweets?” Bella asked excitedly.
“Hang on.” Instead of checking my phone I flipped the lid on my laptop and went to my Twitter notifications. “Holy fucking shit.”
“I’m so telling Aunty Rosa you just said that.”
“Go for your life,” I said distractedly. Major news outlets were sending out tweets using my Twitter handle with photos of Lena on the red carpet.
“Start retweeting!” Bella shouted, making me jump.
“OK.” Somehow my hands did what they were told and I started retweeting for the world to see.
“How about I take care of Facebook? But I need your login. Then we totally need to put some of these pictures on your website. You have a media page, right?”
“I think so.”
“Here it is.” I could hear Bella’s nails clicking furiously on her laptop in the background. “Is the site WordPress?”
“Huh?”
“WordPress?” she repeated like I was crazy Aunt Gloria in need of a hearing aid.
I thought hard about the brief overview Lena had given me of the site. “Yeah. That sounds about right.”
“Login,” she demanded.
At another point I would have contemplated the sanity of giving my teenage cousin access to my website, but right now I needed all the help I could get. I could always change the password later.
“I’m sending it now,” I told her after a second.
For the next hour our phone conversation was punctuated by squeals and various ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ as my dress hit the online world. It wasn’t until Bella declared that Lena’s category was about to be announced that I realized we were supposed to be watching the awards. I pushed my laptop away guiltily. I couldn’t believe I’d been so caught up I’d almost missed Lena’s big moment.
“She’s got some tough competition,” Bella observed, as clips featuring the other nominated actresses played.
Tinned laughter echoed around the living room as the actor and actress presenting the award made a joke that I barely heard. I wasn’t sure which was worse: seeing my dress on television or waiting to know if Lena had won the award.
In typical Lena fashion, she sat at the table with others from The Long Night production team, with a serene look on her face. She smiled and waved when she saw the camera was on her, like she didn’t have a care in the world. I bit my lip when I saw Duncan sitting right beside her. Then he reached out and squeezed her hand in a show of support. Ouch. Talk about invading her space.
“And the winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama is . . . Lena Lyons!”
I jumped up and stared at the screen while Lena stood to take the award. Her face was lit with joy, yet she remained perfectly poised. Classic Lena.
“She won, Ally! She won!” screamed Bella.
I just kept staring at the screen. When others rose to applaud her as she walked toward the stage, I suddenly noticed tears streaming down my face.
“Ally? Are you there or what?”
“I’m here.”
“I thought you’d gone or something. Why aren’t you screaming?” Bella demanded.
I sniffed. “Because I’m crying, Bella. I’m crying, OK?”
“OK. Appropriate response.”
We both watched in silence as she arrived onstage. After the obligatory congratulations from the presenters, Lena accepted the award. Holding it in her hands, she looked out across the audience. The noise of applause fell away. Always with impeccable dramatic timing, Lena waited until everyone was quiet, with their eyes on her, to speak.
“My mother passed away from cancer when I was sixteen years of age.” Lena’s voice cracked slightly but she held her head high.
A ripple of surprised murmuring flowed through the audience.
“I thought when I lost her, she’d be gone forever,” Lena continued. “What I’ve discovered couldn’t be further from the truth. She’s been with me every step of the way. In every role I play, I draw on her differently. Her strength, her beauty, her pain. It’s all there. In everything I do. That’s why I dedicate this award to you, Mom. You live on inside me every single day.”
At the quaver in Lena’s voice, the crowd broke into applause, and I saw her grip the award tighter. I’d given up trying to stop crying and my cheeks were wet with tears.
“Sorry, I’m not finished,” she said, composed again. “The honor I have in accepting this award wouldn’t be possible without all the amazing people in this industry who allow me to do what I do. I wish I could name you all, but just briefly: the cast and crew of The Long Night. First-class doesn’t even begin to describe you all. And of course, Duncan.”
The camera switched to Duncan sitting at the table. I noticed other guests eying him with interest as they most likely wondered what his ex-wife would say next. A soft smile touched his lips. I could have been wrong, but along with pride, his expression seemed tinged with sadness.
“Duncan’s vision is astounding and anyone who has the opportunity to work with this man should grab the chance with both hands. And finally, to the best friend a girl could have—Allegra Valenti. I’m wearing her work of art tonight. Not only is this woman incredibly talented, she’s the most gorgeous, genuine, generous person I’ve ever known. And now I’m alliterating, so I’d better go. Thank you. This is truly an honor.”
I watched as they guided Lena offstage to the sound of thunderous applause. I jumped when I heard applause through the phone.
“Go Ally,” cheered Bella.
I smiled through my tears, then froze. “You’re right, Bella. I’ve got to go.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because my closest friend just accepted the biggest award of her life and I need to be there to celebrate it with her!” I’d been such an idiot. I was so worried about my stupid dress and my designs and about not fitting in that I’d stayed holed up in Lena’s mansion. It was time I got over myself and joined her.
“Um, Ally?”
“Yeah?” I replied distractedly. I was already shutting my laptop and searching for the TV remote to shut off the awards ceremony.
“You know you can’t just waltz into the ballroom, right?”
“I know that, Bella. Lena’s invited me to the after party. I have to go get ready so I can celebrate with her.”
There was a beat of silence and then a disappointed moan, akin to a tortured animal, pierced my ears. “Oh, man! I’m so jealous right now. It’s not fair! Why do you get to go and—”
I cut her off before she could really get started. “Thanks for all your help, Bella. Love you. Bye.”
Chapter 15
“You’re not freaked out?”
I gripped Lena’s hand tighter. “Oh, not really,” I lied. “Unless you count the fact that everywhere I look there’s very famous people I recognize.”
“I thought famous people didn’t bother you,” she teased.
“Put them all in one room and it’s a bit different.” It was weird seeing them all in real life. Mingling and laughing and not playing roles. I had the strange urge to issue an announcement and order them to hop back into the television and movie screens where they belonged.
“Come on. Let’s get you a drink. It will take the edge off.”
Lena tugged me through the crowd, nodding and smiling at people who offered her their congratulations.
“There you are!”
I immediately recognized Chloe’s bright, melodic voice.
She stopped in front of me and obse
rved my dress. “Oh, I love it! Is that one of yours?”
Her exuberance was catching and I found myself smiling, too. “Yes. It’s a new one I’m thinking of adding to my ready-to-wear collection.”
“Well, I want it. When can I come see the rest?” she asked.
I blinked. “Sorry?”
She waved a hand at me. “I bet you’re taking appointments now, aren’t you? Well, I met you first. Before you were famous. After Lena, that is.” She shot Lena a sly grin. “Can I borrow her, pretty please?”
“Of course you can.” Lena appeared satisfied and turned to order our drinks.
“I’m serious, Ally,” Chloe continued, before I could get a word in. “I’d like to see your designs, and can we talk about maybe doing something for me for the Academy Awards? I know it’s only six weeks away,” she rushed on, “but I’ll make it worth your while if you’ve got some ready-to-wear pieces you think will suit me.”
I shook my head at her because I wasn’t sure if I was hearing right. “I should be paying you to wear my designs.” We all knew that wasn’t how it worked in Hollywood. The arrangement I had with Lena was unusual. Normally, a star would agree to wear a certain dress for a fee due to the coverage it would gain the designer.
Chloe’s upper lip curled in distaste. “I’ve never liked that whole deal. If it’s a dress I’m happy to wear, then I’ll wear it.”
“I agree,” said Lena, turning back to us and handing me a glass of champagne.
“Oh, and it’s not for a while yet, but I want something really special for my twenty-first at the end of this year.”
“Sure,” I said easily, because none of it was really sinking in.
“Great! Sorry to be rude, but I gotta go see Taylor. Can I call you next week to arrange a time?”
“Sure,” I said again, because it seemed like the obvious response.
Chloe shot me a high-voltage grin then leaned in and gave me a tight hug. “Can’t wait!” She disappeared into the crowd.
I stared after her. “Did she mean . . . ?”
“Taylor Swift?” Lena finished for me. “Yes, they’re friends.”
I nodded, or at least I thought I did because my head felt numb. It wasn’t from the alcohol—I hadn’t even taken a sip yet.
Lena reached out and guided me by the arm through the crowd. “Let’s find somewhere to sit.”
We were halfway across the room when we heard a deep voice call Lena’s name. Lena’s hand tightened on my elbow. She stopped and turned slowly.
“Hello, Duncan,” she said.
“Come and join us?” he suggested.
He was just as I remembered. Smooth and sophisticated and way too old for Lena. His dark hair had more salt and pepper than last time we’d met, and his face was more heavily lined too, but annoyingly it suited him. It wasn’t that he was good-looking. He was a little too hard edged for that, with his strong Roman features and his slight paunch—but he had a quiet sort of charisma.
I sneaked a glance at Lena. Her face was unreadable, but I was betting sharing a table with Duncan during the awards ceremony had already pushed her to the limits of her exceptional acting prowess.
“It might not be appropriate,” she replied.
“Don’t be silly, dear,” a female voice interrupted. “If you don’t mind, I don’t mind. Everyone else can keep their opinions to themselves.”
I tried not to gape at the woman sitting next to Duncan. His ex-wife. Or was that current partner? I’d been so distracted by Duncan I hadn’t even seen her there. It was ungracious of me, but I immediately rejoiced in the fact that she was nothing like Lena. She was Duncan’s age, for a start. At a guess I’d say mid-to-late fifties, but she was so well preserved it was hard to tell. She had that look that all women of a certain age who have had too much plastic surgery get. Full lips, big cheeks and wide-eyed. It was like her entire face had been frozen. Her blond bob was styled carefully to match. It looked so stiff, like I could reach out and snap an end off like spun toffee.
I took a sip of the bubbly liquid to distract myself from the awkwardness of the situation.
“Join us for a drink?” she asked.
Lena nodded and sat beside Duncan. That left the seat next to his ex-wife free.
Duncan extended an arm, indicating for me to sit. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Ally. Please join us.”
I tried to smile and nodded. Oh, well. I couldn’t have exactly expected Lena to sit there.
“And you must be Allegra,” the woman said as I sat down.
I nodded again. “Yes. I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”
She gave me a warm smile. “No, we haven’t. I’m Miranda.”
“Hi, Miranda.” I racked my brain for something to say. Everything that came to mind was entering dangerous territory or grossly inappropriate. So, are you and Duncan officially back together? Did you enjoy seeing Duncan and Lena’s marriage fail? Wisely, I kept my mouth shut.
“I must say,” Miranda went on, oblivious to my inner turmoil, “Lena’s dress is exquisite.”
“Thank you.”
“How long does it take to create something like that?” she asked with genuine interest. I glanced over at Lena. She was having a quiet conversation with Duncan and appeared to be comfortable, given the circumstances.
I returned my focus to Miranda. “It really depends. The dress itself can be made within one or two weeks depending on the degree of complexity. It’s the design phase that’s harder to quantify. Sourcing material can take time, too.”
“I understand. Duncan’s a producer. Projects can take years in development.”
“It’s not quite as complex as that,” I told her.
“But it’s creative. And creativity takes time.” She paused and appraised me. “I suppose you think this whole situation is rather strange, don’t you?”
I raised the glass to my lips again to cover a pained smile. Strange didn’t quite cover it.
Miranda waved a hand toward Lena and Duncan. “We can’t expect them not to have a relationship. That would be naive. He’s already talking about casting her in another movie. She’s incredibly talented, our Lena.”
Our Lena? “Yes, she is,” I croaked. I was glad it was noisy in the large open space, as the roughness of my reply was lost.
She leaned in close and lowered her voice. “Duncan’s always been the type who couldn’t resist a rescue. I can’t say I blame him. Lena is a unique creature. All confidence and vulnerability wrapped up in a magnificent package.”
I coughed into my drink and she reached over and patted my back. “Don’t believe everything you read, darling. I’m very fond of Lena. In fact, I think she’s better off without Duncan.”
Alright, so maybe she didn’t hate Lena like the media suggested, but what was she doing here with her ex-husband anyway? Did the reports of their reconciliation have some truth behind them? Before I could find the courage to ask her outright, she reached over and grasped my hand.
“How’s Lena doing?” Miranda tried for an encouraging smile, but all the work she’d had done morphed it into a toothy lip pout.
There was an unexpected sincerity to her question. Any righteousness I’d been feeling on behalf of Lena ebbed away. “She’s doing fine.”
“Good. I have no desire to cause her any trouble.”
My eyebrows shot up and I removed my hand.
“You know what I mean, sweetheart. Lena would do better with a man closer to her own age. I can’t wait to see Fool For You,” she said, referring to the romantic comedy Lena was currently filming. “She and Jake make a stunning couple.”
I’d been pouring the rest of my champagne down my throat because this was not the way I’d envisaged a Golden Globes after party going. I was hoping the alcohol would help. Apparently not. Somehow the bubbles got stuck halfway down.
Lena looked across at us. “Are you alright, Allegra?”
If I wasn’t so busy choking I would have shot her a look at the u
se of my full name. She really needed to give it a rest.
“I think I need to visit the restroom,” I managed when I could breathe again.
Lena nodded, taking that as our exit to leave. We said our polite goodbyes and headed in the direction of the restrooms.
“Are you OK?” Lena asked when we were out of earshot.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“I’m fine. Whether I like it or not, Duncan’s not going to go away. He was pitching another movie to me. What did Miranda say?”
I patted my chest and cleared my throat, a strategic move to bide my time. Oh, hell. Where to begin? As I met Lena’s gaze, I knew the conversation between Miranda and I would remain private. I wasn’t sure I believed all that rhetoric about Lena needing more, but I agreed with Miranda about one thing. Lena was better off without Duncan, and anything that kept her focused on the past was a bad idea.
I gave my friend a weak smile and told her the only thing that was safe to repeat. “Miranda thinks you and Jake make a stunning couple.”
Lena stopped walking and stared at me. Then she threw her head back and hooted with very uncharacteristic laughter, drawing a few amused looks from the guests nearby.
“Come on,” she said once she’d recovered. “Forget about all of that. The night’s only just beginning.”
Chapter 16
A couple of hours later I almost felt like Ally instead of Allegra, and I was starting to forget I was surrounded by movie stars. Or maybe that was the champagne? I’d kind of lost count after the second drink.
I’d also had numerous enquiries about my designs and knew I had to consider setting up some sort of calendar and contact database or else I’d lose track of things. I was still sober enough to scan the crowd from time to time. I told myself it was stupid to want to see Jake again. Given I’d bolted from the room after our kiss, it was unlikely he’d be hoping to see me.
I thought I’d been conducting my routine crowd scan in an inconspicuous manner until Lena tapped me on the shoulder.
Heartthrob (Hollywood Hearts, #1) Page 11
