Monday fiction -The Prize, Part Two.

Consternation, backstage.

‘She’s writing what? And we are research?’ Dominic was the first to voice the troupe’s incredulity.

‘Be calm,’ Vio said.  ‘It’s not that bad. Consider; these two are not quite our usual demographic…’

Someone – possibly Samuel – cleared his throat, perhaps trying to hide a laugh.  Vio gave him a mild glare before continuing to voice his line of thought.

‘… so we don’t have a pair of excitable modern young women to worry about. These more… mature ladies have by now learned the value of discretion…’

Corum snorted. ‘Did you get a good look at these ‘mature ladies’? I wouldn’t like to be on my own with the little blonde…’

‘I would!’ Pete announced, to general snickers.

‘The blonde – Lucy – isn’t the problem.’ Vio tried to regain order.  ‘It’s the brunette – Kate – who’s the author.  Has anyone let the guys know yet?’

A slightly uncomfortable silence as each looked at the other and back again.  Dominic made a hesitant suggestion.

‘Do we need to let them know?’

Vio huffed a sigh. Really, they were a sore trial at times… maybe it was time for him to retire, take a break, move house.  Move continents.  ‘If we don’t, and there are… issues, and they learn that we knew ahead of time… which of you would like to take the blame?’

A soft tap on the door, and they all fell silent and put easy smiles back on their faces before Charlie, who was nearest, opened the door.

Pauline slid into the room, waiting for the door to close before she started talking.

‘Okay, so here’s where we’re up to. Gabes and Luke just called…’ she paused while Corum groaned theatrically.  ‘Yes, so Gabes had one of his feelings and wanted to know what caused it.  I explained about the author and we’ve got new instructions…’

Vio nodded.  He liked Pauline, even though she wasn’t one of them.  She understood, and didn’t care, and that meant she was great to work with.

‘We need to find out more about her.  She could just be another deluded self-publisher with a circulation of friends and family and nothing to worry about.  But until we know, we’ve got to be careful. So Luke wants us – you – to dazzle them a little.  Dinner at the hotel, plenty of attention… we need to find out all we can about them. So, volunteers?’

‘What for, exactly?’ Samuel asked.

‘A driver, to begin with.  And a persuader to back me up as I give the dinner invitation.  The rest of you, get yourselves sorted and we need to get over to the hotel to meet Gabes and Luke…’

‘I’ll drive,’ Pete offered.  ‘Who wants to ride shotgun?’

‘I’ll do it,’ Dominic said.  ‘I don’t have the same… problems some of you do around them.’

‘Excellent,’ Pauline said.  ‘If I’d had to ask, Dom, you’d have been high on my list.  They love your eyes.’

He rolled them obligingly with a grimace.  ‘Not you, too, Paulie?’

‘Exactly; not me too! I’ve been around you boys too long – you feel just like family now.’

*

Lucy grabbed my wrist.  ‘It’s him!  Driving!’

‘You’ll want to sit in the front then,’ I said, resigned.

‘You’re a good friend!’ Lucy squeaked.

Actually, I didn’t mind; I’d just seen who’d left the theatre and was walking towards us, the friendly PR lady at his side – one of the really hot ones.

‘Oh, Kate?’ the woman said.  ‘Before you hop in, can I introduce you to Dominic?  You probably recognised Pete in the car…’

I waved to Pete and shook hands with Dominic.  You couldn’t help but notice he had lovely eyes, but I didn’t comment – he was probably sick of hearing it. His hand was warm and strong and I reminded myself I was nearly old enough to be his mum as I let go again.

‘We wondered if you’d join us all for dinner?’ Pauline asked, interrupting my reverie. ‘At the hotel; we’ll make sure you’re chauffeured home afterwards, of course.’

‘That’s very kind…’ From the front seat of the car, I could see Lucy nodding frantically.

‘The founders of the troupe will be there, too.  So, can I let Dominic and Peter take you over?  I’ll follow on once I’ve got the rest of the boys organised.’

The car was big, dark, expensive and it slid through the nightscape city streets towards the better hotels, the motor a purr.

‘Did you come far this evening?’ Dominic asked.

‘About twelve miles.  Lucy’s boyfriend…’

‘Ex-boyfriend!’ Lucy said, swivelling in the front seat.

‘…gave us a lift over, but he had to leave early.’

The car turned and slowed and pulled in outside a very smart hotel where a doorman touched his cap without any trace of irony and someone swept up to take the car away for parking.

To Be Continued

Sorry to keep you waiting for this - normally, I post the Monday fiction by lunchtime, but today was not that sort of day.