Page 74 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘Bang on,’ Cassie says with a chuckle. ‘He was definitely giving “cowboy stripper” vibes. And if you search for him on Google— Actually,’ she says, pointing to Nasrin’s tablet. ‘Do you mind? It might be easier to explain with that.’

Nas hands over the tablet, then looks at me and mouths, ‘What the…?’

I shrug. I’m as much in the dark as she is.

Cassie makes fast work of her search and holds up the tablet. On the screen are a dozen or so photos of Leo at various events, and in each photo, Leo’s outfit is… well, out there.

‘So, in these photos, he’s “Lorenzo”,’ she says, ‘up-and-coming shoe designer and new darling of the fashion world. And now that he’s become engaged to one of the world’s most famous women… Look what happens when I add “Franzia” to the search.’

She shows us the results and the screen isfilledwith photos of Leo and Franzia, and in most of them, Leo’s hand is raised to block his face from the camera.

‘Okay,’ says Nas, ‘but where are you?—’

‘Where am I going with this?’

‘Yeah.’

‘This’ – Cassie takes out her phone and taps on it, then holds it up – ‘is Leo working with Elle at Bliss Designs. I took it when he wasn’t looking.’ She scrolls to show us two more slightly blurry photos.

‘See what he’s wearing? Jeans, T-shirt – the basics. Elle calls it his “Californication” look, like in that American TV show.’

‘And that’s what he was wearing on the Eurostar,’ I say, thinking I might finally understand Cassie’s point.

‘Exactly, he was dressed like a normal person.’

‘So, he’s in disguise,’ I say. ‘When he’s dressed asLeo, it’s to disguise his public persona.’

‘And because of his relationship with Franzia – whatever that really is – the paps are clamouring over themselves to get his photo,’ says Nasrin.

‘Exactly,’ says Cassie.

‘So, to escape all that, he’s hiding in plain sight,’ I add.

Cassie grins. ‘Yes! I’m so glad you came to the same conclusion.’

I let this information sink in. Is it further proof that the engagement is a sham? Or would Leo shy away from the paparazzi regardless? He didn’t seementirelyat ease with all the notoriety, but then I’ve barely spent any time with him.

‘There’s something else,’ says Cassie mysteriously, and Nas and I lean in. ‘After Elle finally agreed to collaborate with Leo, he wasveryquick to invite himself to Bliss to work. I mean, he’sLorenzo, with this beautiful shop in Soho and a workroom above it, yet he’s insistent about coming to useverytime?’

‘That’s alittlestrange,’ I offer. ‘It could be that he’s trying to make amends to Elle – be respectful of her process… her space…’

‘Except that he made up a story about the workroom being under construction,’ she replies.

‘Wait, how do you know it’s a story?’ asks Nas.

‘Because I went there today while he was at Bliss, and I snuck upstairs to have a look.’

‘You did what?’ asks Nasrin.

‘I needed to know if I was imagining it, or if he was actually being cagey.’

‘And?’ I ask.

‘Fully kitted out.’

I sit back, tapping my nails on the table while I think. ‘So, he doesn’t want Elle there. Why?’

‘Maybe he’s trying to compartmentalise,’ Nasrin suggests.

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