you fancy lunch? I know a great little Italian place around the corner.”
“Only if you let me order for myself this time,” Natalie said warily. “And promise not to criticise me over dessert.”
“I promise.” Rhys came around the desk and headed for the door. “I want to discuss your idea in more detail.” He paused at the door, looked over his shoulder at her, and frowned. “Well, get a move on, Miss Dashwood. We haven’t got all day.”
As Rhys and Natalie arrived at the restaurant, Natalie’s mobile rang. She paused on the steps and glanced at the screen. Dominic.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” she told Rhys. “Go ahead in, I won’t be a minute.”
“Dominic!” she hissed into her mobile as Rhys went inside. “Where are you? You’re all over the tabloids—”
“Never mind that,” he interrupted tersely. “I’m standing by the post box.”
“What—?” Puzzled, Natalie glanced around. “I only see a dodgy-looking bloke in a cap and sunglasses—”
“That’s me! I don’t want to be recognised, do I?”
Doubtfully she approached him. “Dominic—?”
“Shh!” He grabbed her arm and pulled her around the corner. He slid his sunglasses down his nose. “I’ve really fucked things up this time, Nat.”
“Oh, Dominic,” Natalie said in exasperation, “why do you always do this?”
“Do what?”
“Self destruct! If something’s good, you always screw it up. I mean, look at us – we were happy once, weren’t we?”
He nodded.
“But you trashed it all, with your cheating and your constant lies. Now you’ve gone and trashed things with Keeley, too. Why?”
“Oh, well – what can I say? I fancied Victoria. And she wanted it as much as I did.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “The point is, Dominic, you don’t do those sorts of things if you love someone.”
“I don’t love Keeley,” he snorted. “We used each other for publicity.” Dominic scowled. “Only now her music career’s skyrocketed, and mine’s gone straight into the crapper.”
“You must’ve known you’d get caught in that broom closet, especially so close to the start of the ceremony.”
“I was drunk, Nat! I only wanted a quick shag before I got myself shackled for life to Keeley.”
“She’s furious, you know. She’s saying all manner of nasty things about you to the press.” Nat smirked. “She told the Sun that you need sat nav and both hands to find your willy.”
“Bitch.” But there wasn’t any venom behind it; Dominic was too gutted to muster any real anger. He sighed. “I know I humiliated her, and I don’t blame her for retaliating. I don’t even blame her for suing me. I deserve it.”
Natalie raised her brow. “Do you think?”
“All I’ve got left is the ad campaign for Klaus…and he’s not best pleased with me now, either.”
“You’re all over the media, isn’t that what he wants?”
“Yeah, but it’s not exactly the kind of publicity he wants for Dissolute.”
“Look, I’m sorry for your problems, Dom, but I’ve got to go. Rhys is waiting.”
“Don’t want to keep Rhys waiting, do we?” Dominic snapped.
She thrust her mobile back in her handbag. “Look, Dominic, I don’t know what to tell you, except to ride it out and hope it goes away eventually.” She smirked. “Rather like your bridesmaid, Victoria.” She started to walk away.
“Nat – wait.” He grabbed her hand. “You’re not really serious about Gordon, are you?”
She turned back and stared at him in surprise. “Rhys? No, of course not! We work together. That’s all.”
“I know when a bloke’s interested in someone, Nat. And he’s definitely interested in you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she scoffed, even as she blushed. “It’s none of your business, anyway. Why do you even care?”
“I’ll always care about you, Nat,” he said staunchly. “We go back a long way, you and me. We were mates before we ever…well, you know. I just don’t want to see you get hurt by that Scottish plonker, that’s all.”
“Rhys is all right, Dom. Really.” Her indignation faded. “So you needn’t worry.” She turned to go, then paused. “By the way, I’ve a favour to ask. A huge favour.”
“Sure. Whatever you need. Unless it involves Gordon,” he added with a scowl. “Then all bets are off.”
Briefly Nat explained about the re-launch and their need for a few big names to draw customers in. “And no one’s more famous than you,” she pointed out. “Except, perhaps, Keeley.”
“What is it you want me to, exactly? Put on a show in the middle of the menswear department?”
“No, of course not! We’ll film a commercial, with you kitted out in clothing from the store, and we’ll do a print ad. There’s to be a fashion show, and a concert – starring you.”
Just then, Rhys appeared on the restaurant’s steps. He cast Dominic a glacial glare. “Are you coming, Natalie?”
“I’ll be right there.” She turned back to Dominic. “So, are you in, Dom? Will you do it?”
Dominic cast a dark look in Rhys’ direction. “I’ll do it,” he said, and added more loudly, “for you, Nat. Not for him.”
She squealed and threw her arms around him. “Thanks so much, Dom – you’re a star! Truly, you won’t be sorry. It’ll be great publicity for you and for the stores.”
“Yeah, right, whatever. Just text me the date and I’ll clear it with Max.”
Max, Natalie knew, was his long-suffering agent. “I’ll send you the details tomorrow,” she promised.
“Natalie?” Rhys snapped. “If you don’t come in soon, they’ll be serving bloody breakfast.”
“Sorry.” She gave Dominic an apologetic smile and turned to go. “Thanks again, Dom,” she said over her shoulder.
“Yeah, no problem. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he called after her ominously, and jerked his head in Gordon’s direction.
As
