Premier Deception (24 page)

Charlotte laughed
feeling happy at the thought.
“
but why do
you call him mad Max?
”
she asked.
“
Because he has this danger about him. When I
told him about Ronnie and what he did to me at the party he got
this mad look in his eyes, they went darker and narrowed and he
said that if I wanted him to he would sort him out. I felt a bit
scared so told him that it was fine but I
’
m sure he would have. He also won
’
t hear anything bad said about you, Luke or Sylvia and gets
really angry with anyone who tries. Mary who works in the bar as
well said that she doesn
’
t think that
he
’
s an immigrant from Romania because
her next door neighbour comes from there and
doesn
’
t sound anything like him, and have
you noticed his shoes?
” “
His
Shoes!
”
exclaimed Charlotte intrigued by
the turn of the conversation,
“
yes his
shoes,
”
said Chantelle.
“
I know my Guccis from my Primarks and they are
definitely the real deal. We all think that he is a Russian spy or
from the KGB.
”
Charlotte nearly spat her
wine out with laughter,
“
you have got to
be kidding,
”
she giggled,
“
what on earth would a spy be doing driving me
around for months on end? you
’
re all
mad!
”
They laughed uncontrollably and
decided that they were having far too much fun so ordered another
bottle of wine.

They talked about
everyone at the club. Chantelle was such good company and Charlotte
felt more relaxed than she had in ages. Suddenly she had an
idea.
“
Chantelle I don
’
t suppose you fancy applying for a job that is just about
to come up do you?
”
Chantelle looked
intrigued and said,
“
tell me
more.
”
Charlotte said,
“
well the social media campaign has really taken
off where we invite half a dozen fans to the home games that tweet
or send us a photo in the team strip. It is too much for Allison to
organise and deal with so we thought that we would advertise the
position as a sort of hospitality position, organising the campaign
and then entertaining the kids and taking them on a tour and to
meet various team members. Also because it
’
s been so successful we want to think of other campaigns
and ways to increase the profile. Would you be interested in the
role?
”
Chantelle looked excited.
“
I would love to apply if you think that I could
do it.
”
Charlotte nodded.
“
I don
’
t just think
you can I know you can. I
’
ll give Allison
your details and she can clear it with Elsie Baker.
”

After another half an
hour of excited girly chatter Charlotte offered to call them both a
taxi. As they walked out Charlotte said,
“
I can
’
t wait for the party I am
sure it will be fantastic.
”
Chantelle
said,
“
Neither can I,
I
’
ve never been a guest at one before and
with such a hot guy too, look at us now hey, what happened to those
two girls looking for a summer job?
”
They
hugged each other goodbye and headed their separate
ways.

The day of the party dawned and Charlotte felt
excited. The week had gone slowly and had dragged because everyone
was feeling the toll of the intense season. She hoped that this
would put a spark back into everyone and re motivate the team.

As she ventured
downstairs the house was eerily quiet. There was no weekend
breakfast in the making and no Scruffy to greet her. Charlotte
looked around and then heard sounds from the garden. She saw her
mother chatting to the postman and then did a double take, what on
earth was her mother wearing? It looked like a pink tracksuit and
trainers and she had a white sweatband around her forehead. Her
mother saw her and waved, she said goodbye to the postman and
hurried in.
“
He was just telling me that
Mrs Fraser has had lots of letters from estate agents in the post
which can only mean one thing, they are selling up!
”
she said breathlessly. It
doesn
’
t surprise me they were last seen
together at Binky Barnes
’
s silver wedding
party and you know how long ago that was so they must be having
marital problems.
” “
Mum! you
don
’
t talk about other
people
’
s mail with the postman! You
don
’
t even know that
it
’
s the case and now
you
’
re spreading rumours about them; and
what on earth are you wearing and where is everybody?
”

As if on cue Scruffy
came out of a bush where she had been visiting Roberto the mouse
that lived there so at least she was accounted for.
“
Well Jake is at football in Dorking with Josh,
thank goodness they have relatives there so his mum has done the
taxi service this week, and your father teed off early this
morning, some competition I think, he won
’
t be home until the early hours knowing him.
”
Charlotte added.
“
And
what are you wearing? Please don
’
t tell
me it
’
s your new hobby.
”
“
Well actually as we have the house to ourselves
this morning I was hoping that you would give me some training. I
am doing the Race for Life with Binky Barnes, it
’
s awful her sister
’
s gardeners
cousin has just got cancer so we are raising money for the cause.It
just goes to show you that you are never far away from knowing
someone with this hideous disease.
”

Charlotte shook her
head in confusion.
“
Mum do all of your
friends have strange names?
” “
Not all
dear, Barbara Mactravers wouldn
’
t hear of
it ever since we all found out our porn names.
” “
Your what!?
”
said Charlotte
incredulously.
“
You know, you take your
first pet as the first name and then your mother
’
s maiden name. Mine was Jonathan Grimes very un porn like
given to the fact that we had a guinea pig called Jonathan, but
Barbara
’
s was Muffy Malone. She said it
sounded like a real porn star and wanted nothing to do with
it.
”
Charlotte shook her head, no wonder
her dad played golf.
“
So you want me to
train you for the race? When is it exactly?
” “
Oh it
’
s tomorrow, a bit last
minute I know but I am sure that it will be fine, I have to get
back by 2pm anyway because we are going to
Granny
’
s, there
’
s a 1950
’
s party at the home and
she wants us to get her dressed for the era.
”
Charlotte just looked at her mother in wonder, she would
never ever get used to her mad ways.
“
Ok
then I
’
ll get ready and meet you here in
ten minutes, you had better start stretching otherwise you may pull
a muscle.
” “
We can but hope dear, I need
all the excuses I can,
”
laughed her
mum.
“
Oh Scruff can come too as she
hasn
’
t had a walk yet.
”

They started out
heading towards the park. Her mother
’
s
idea of a run was actually a fast walk. She had Scruffy on the lead
and had a water bottle in the other hand.
“
You can
’
t neglect your fluid
intake,
”
was her explanation for carrying
it. It took them 20 minutes to get to the park that should have
only taken 5 minutes, largely due to the fact that her mother
stopped to talk to all the neighbours and spent 5 minutes clearing
up after Scruffy, as she said,
“
there
‘
s no such thing as the Poo
Fairy, you know.
”
By the time they had
reached the park they had not even broken into a jog.
“
How many miles is it?
”
asked Charlotte doubting that her mother could even manage
one mile at this rate.
“
Oh I
don
’
t know, but we get a number and a
goody bag so that will be nice won
’
t
it?
”

The park was full of
joggers and there was a cafe doing a very brisk trade given that it
was a December day and absolutely freezing. Charlotte got them two
teas and they were grateful for the warmth it gave them.
“
This is nice isn
’
t
it?
”
said her mother.
“
Mother, daughter time. You have been so busy since you got
that job that we don
’
t spend much time
together. You must tell me everything about it and
don
’
t leave out any details especially
the ones about that gorgeous driver of yours. Trudy thinks
he
’
s got the hots for you, you know you
could do a lot worse. I am sure that driving
doesn
’
t pay that much but at least
it
’
s a steady income.
”
Charlotte cringed, oh no her mother was match making again,
the last time was a disaster. She had invited her friend Sadie
Goldsmith round for a barbeque and told her to bring her son Zak.
Charlotte had just left school and her mother thought that he would
be a good catch because he was Jewish and according to her you
never find a poor Jew. Well he had been terrified and not at all
comfortable with the situation. He had obviously no experience with
girls because he had been to an all boy
’
s
school and spent the whole day bright red and tongue tied. They had
spent the time being thrown together at every opportunity and had
ended with him trying to teach her chess as it was the only thing
he felt comfortable with.

“
You
’
ve got that party tonight
haven
’
t you dear?
”
said her mother suddenly.
“
I hope
it
’
s a good one, don
’
t forget to take some pictures for me, I bet their house is
amazing. That reminds me I want to do the hallway so we will need
to go and visit those new show homes for inspiration. You know you
have to keep abreast of the trends otherwise you become old
fashioned.
”
Charlotte laughed, another
one of her mother
’
s pastimes. She loved
nothing more than a good nose around a show home, the trouble was
she then came home and started throwing out her nic nacs as her
father called them.
“
Come on,
”
said her mother.
“
Let
’
s get home and
I
’
ll make you some pancakes like they do
on American TV and then you had better get off into town for your
hair appointment. When I was your age I used to spend all day
preparing for a good night out.
”

After a morning with
her mother Charlotte was glad to escape on her own into town. She
borrowed her mother
’
s car and drove in,
relishing the peace and quiet. She just had time for a Costa and a
look at her magazine and then she had a hair appointment at 2pm.
She was hoping that it wasn
’
t too early
and that it would last the night. She grabbed a seat in Costa after
getting a Latte and then sat down to read the magazine. It was
great to switch off and read about the celebrities. She was
interested to see a piece about Sylvia in one of the columns. There
was a photo of her from her modelling days and a short paragraph
speculating on the state of her marriage to Ronnie. There was also
a piece on Ben as hunk of the week showing him with his shirt off.
Gosh I see that every day thought Charlotte, somehow that took any
of the shine out of seeing it. Not that he was her type anyway. He
had boyish good looks and a cheeky grin, pleasant enough but
nowhere in the same league as Max. The thought of him sent a shiver
down her spine. Goodness tonight couldn
’
t
come fast enough for her. As she got up to go she looked through
the window and saw Maurice coming out of a shop. Goodness he
mustn
’
t see me, she thought as she
didn
’
t want to answer any questions as to
what she had planned this weekend, so she sank back out of sight
until he was gone. She really liked Maurice. He was a gentle man
who always looked as though he had the weight of the world on his
shoulders. He always had a smile for everyone and was very generous
to the workers and fans, nothing was too much trouble for him and
everyone loved him, unlike his brother who ruled with a rod of iron
and intimidated everyone. Waiting until it was safe Charlotte made
a quick getaway into the salon across the street.

“Barberella
”
was the name of the salon which always made
Charlotte smile. It was very un Barbarella like with its
chandeliers and fancy wallpaper and gilt mirrors everywhere. Jason
was the hairdresser extraordinaire who was very camp and called all
his ladies - Darling and spoke to everyone like he was their best
friend. He loved a gossip and pounced on Charlotte as soon as she
entered the salon.