Page 45 of Mistaken Impression

“Okay.”

“So, I can do that while you finish going through the script.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“It will be… once I’ve made us both a coffee.”

She wanders off to the side kitchen, but has only just got there when the door to the studio opens and Kennedy comes in, followed by Ruby. Fortunately, Vivian isn’t with them today, but Kennedy is eyeing me closely already, and I wonder if she’s about to ask why I’m not wearing my apron. She doesn’t. Instead, she comes over to the table, standing right beside me.

“These arrived just now, from the photographer.”

She puts down a pile of photographs, fanning them out, and then spreads them a little further, so I can see them better.

“What are they?” Ella comes back, standing on the other side of me, gazing down at the images of me, wearing nothing other than the apron and my jeans, and I feel myself blush, not daring to look up at her.

“They’re the publicity stills for the show,” Ruby says. “We asked the photographer to print them out, as well as sending us the digital images, so we can show them around more easily.”

“They’re magnificent, aren’t they?” Kennedy’s positively gushing.

I can’t deny the photographer has done a fantastic job, although I’m not sure I like the idea of them being ‘shown around’. “They’re certainly atmospheric,” I say, unable to think of another way to describe them.

Kennedy smiles and then surprises me by looking straight at Ella. “Can we talk… privately?”

Ella frowns. “If you insist.”

“Perhaps through there?” Kennedy nods towards the side kitchen and the two of them walk away, leaving me alone with Ruby.

“What do you really think?” she says, glancing down at the pictures and then at me.

“I don’t feel entirely comfortable about them, if you want me to be honest.”

“I didn’t think you did.”

“Why? Does it show?” I look down at the pictures again, trying to discern any trace of discomfort in my face or body language.

“Not in the photographs. But I think you’ve made it pretty clear you don’t like the way you’re being presented.”

“That’s because I don’t.”

She smiles. “Look on the bright side… at least they’re tasteful.”

Other than the apron and its gaudy logo, she’s probably right. Things could have ended up far worse.

“What are they going to be used for? And don’t just say publicity. I got that much already.”

“All sorts of things. We’re running a social media campaign, and these will give it a real shot in the arm.”

“If you insist. Which ones are you going to use?”

“We’re gonna start off with the one where you’re holding the rolling pin.”

I nod my head, rifling through the photographs until I find one. I wonder what Ella’s going to make of this, and turn toward the side kitchen, to see she’s standing with her back against the work surface, while Kennedy’s talking. There’s something about Kennedy’s demeanour that draws my attention. She seems positively obsequious, and I frown, recalling her change of attitude to Ella yesterday, and how she didn’t bite when Ella argued with her.What’s that all about?

They come out a few minutes later, and Kennedy walks over, gathering up the photographs. “We’ll leave you to get on,” she says. “I’m sure you’ve got a lot to do.”

We have, there’s no denying that, and while I’d love to ask Ella what that conversation was about, I guess it’s none of my business. It was probably just something to do with work, and speaking of work… my lines are beckoning…

Chapter Six

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