Page 48 of Shout Out To My Ex

Brandy. She’s tall and slim and impossibly pretty – essentially, a female version of Leo, only her hair is the same glossy brown that Leo’s used to be.

‘I’m Brandy, Leo’s sister,’ she adds when I don’t answer her right away.

‘Sorry! Hello, I’m Elle.’ She looks at me oddly and I realise what I’ve said. ‘And you knew that already,’ I say with a shake of my head. ‘Anyway, nice to meet you.’

‘You too! Leo tells me you used to date – when he was living in England.’ What may seem to her as a casual remark is yet another punch to my gut.

‘Um, yes,’ I manage, right as Leo says, ‘Brandy.’ He exchanges a look with her, the kind that says, ‘Behave, little sis.’ I know that look because Cassie uses it on me from time to time. Brandy presses her lips together in a suppressed smile.

‘So…’ she says, beaming at me brightly, ‘have you been to Paris before?’

‘Er, yes,’ I say, feigning excitement. I’m still reeling from ‘used to date’. That’s one way to describe spending every waking hour together –andmost nights. ‘Not as often as I’d like – work is pretty intense,’ I add, trying to hold up my side of the conversation. Based on tonight, I’d say a doorknob has better conversational skills than I do.

‘I’m sorry I missed your show,’ she says. ‘I only got in last night. But Leo wouldn’t stop raving about it.’

‘Really?’ This both surprises and delights me, but when I glance at Leo, he’s looking at the floor, shaking his head in embarrassment. So much for reining in his sister; she seems hellbent on embarrassing him, or at least clueless she’s doing it. It’s quite sweet how his cheeks are flushing.

I want to hear more – and to share with him what I loved about his show – but then he says, ‘Please excuse me,’ and turns away to speak to Cassie and Poppy.

No, talk to me!

It takes a significant amount of willpower not to go after him, but it would be impolite to abandon Brandy.AndI’d be admitting – to myself, as well as everyone in earshot – that he’d affected me.Affectsme.

This party was supposed to be the crowning event of the most extraordinary week in my career. But so far, I’ve bumbled my way through a conversation with two of my idols and now I’ve allowed my ex-boyfriend to crawl back under my skin.

Gah!

15

ELLE

‘That’s on me,’ says Brandy, drawing my attention back to her. ‘I seem to have developed a superhero-like ability to embarrass my brother.’

‘Or should that be supervillain?’ I ask.

‘Hah! Totally,’ she says with a laugh. ‘Oh, you’re dry too.’ She signals to a passing waiter and in moments, we’re both holding full flutes of champagne. ‘To you and a successful collection,’ she says, toasting me.

Okay, it isn’t so bad being left to chat with Brandy.

‘Thank you, that’s very kind, especially as you didn’t get to see it.’

‘Oh, wait! Leo sent me this.’ She takes her phone out of her clutch to show me a photo of my finale outfit. ‘Love!’ she says. ‘I am totally ordering this. Oh, and this!’ She swipes and holds up her phone again. ‘This would be perfect for board meetings. Really kick-ass but totally feminine, you know.’

‘You think so? That’s exactly what I was aiming for.’

‘Well, you nailed it. It can be tricky being only one of two women in the room –andthe youngest – even being the CEO.’ She’s aCEO? I do a quick calculation, realising she’s onlytwenty-seven. Impressive. ‘Wearing this, however,’ she says, ‘I’d feel like I reallybelongedat the head of the table.’

AndI might be falling for Brandy.

‘That’s… that’s very kind of you to say. You know, you can spend months, even a year, conceptualising a collection then seeing it through to fruition. It’s brilliant hearing that it resonates how you hoped it would.’

‘For sure.’

‘So, what didyouthink of your brother’s show?’ I ask.

‘Oh, it was amazing. I mean, I knew Leo was talented—’ She leans close. ‘Sorry, I know I’m supposed to be calling him Lorenzo when we’re in public, but it’s so hard to get used to.’

‘I can imagine. For me too. Do you happen to know why the change?’ She looks uncomfortable and I worry I’ve overstepped. ‘Never mind, you don’t?—’

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