Page 44 of The Dance Deception
A flash of sadness hits me then, that it’s yet another relationship that won’t go anywhere. Even if it isn’t real.But at least I know in advance this time. There won’t be any nasty surprises.
‘Sofiya’s got something else for us,’ Aleksis says, interrupting my thoughts. ‘It’s a dinner reservation at The May Fair hotel for eight p.m. this evening.’
‘Stella told me there are always photographers outside and she’s promised to run something on you if they get some good pictures,’ Sofiya explains. ‘It’s her way of saying thank you to me for giving her an exclusive.’
‘That’s doable,’ I nod, playing it cool to disguise my trepidation about our plan really getting underway. There’ll be just enough time for me to nip home after rehearsals then get back into central London for the meal.
‘I’ve arranged for my friend Dan to be there, too,’ Sofiya confesses. ‘So he can discreetly take some pictures of his own inside the restaurant. I’ll send them on to Stella, so she has everything she needs for her story. All you have to do is look like a couple. It’ll be good practice for tomorrow.’
Tomorrow is when the show’s camera crew will be filming our video clip for Saturday night’sFire on the Dance Floor. And not only will they be capturing the usual footage of us practising in the studio, they’ll also be accompanying us on a night out that the producers have arranged, so they’ve got enough material to fill up the show now there are fewer dancers left in the competition.
Aleksis and I have got lucky and will be doing a rotation in a private capsule on the London Eye, complete with champagne. It shouldn’t be too hard to make that look romantic.
‘We’d better crack on, then,’ Aleksis says, and Sofiya wishes us luck.
‘And remember to enjoy yourselves,’ she says with a smile.
Chapter 24
Lucy is still at work when I get back to the flat, but I know where she keeps her styling irons so I manage to twist some volume into my hair. I go for neutral colours with my eye make-up, with lashings of mascara, and I team my favourite jeans with a low-cut lace-trim cami and a black tailored jacket.
‘Not bad for a thirty-minute turnaround,’ I tell my reflection in the mirror as I top it off with bold red lipstick.
Aleksis has suggested meeting in a bar close to The May Fair a bit before eight, so we can arrive there together. I don’t know why I’m so fidgety on the Tube journey there, but I can’t stop rubbing my hands together, twiddling my hair, tugging my sleeves down over my hands then pushing them back up again. Yes, it’s a weird situation, but I’m sure, between the two of us, we can make it a pleasant evening.
At least I no longer feel like I need to hide my face out in public. So much has happened since those photos werepublished that it really is starting to feel like old news. And if it feels like that to me, despite the turmoil it put me through, it must feel like ancient history to anyone else.
If I do catch anyone staring at me for longer than is polite, with that curious look in their eye, I just smile right at them – and they either smile back reflexively or quickly look away in embarrassment.
I spot Aleksis at the bar as soon as I walk through the door and I’m glad to see he’s also opted for jeans. Imagine if he’d gone full suit on me and I’d underdressed. He’s matched his with a navy T-shirt and I have to admit he looks good. He reminds me of the catalogue models I used to swoon over as a teenager. I can’t help grinning as I walk over, a nervous flutter in my stomach.
He stands up and kisses both my cheeks, then pulls out the chair beside him.
‘Do you think we need to kiss properly?’ I whisper. ‘In case anyone’s watching?’
He tilts my chin round so I’m facing the rest of the bar. Not a single person is glancing in our direction.
‘I think we’re good,’ he says with a grin. ‘What can I get you?’
He hands me the menu.
‘An espresso martini please.’
‘The same for me,’ he tells the barman and we both watch as our drinks are prepared.
‘Don’t you feel at all nervous?’ I ask. He certainly doesn’t look it.
‘I don’t think we’ll struggle to fool anyone this evening. When people see a man and a woman out together,having dinner, they automatically assume they’re a couple. It’s what everyone does.’
I must look doubtful because he adds, ‘I am going to make it look convincing though, don’t worry. I can switch it on when I need to.’
‘Speaking of which, should we get a photo of us here up on Instagram?’ I ask.
‘We should definitely do that,’ he agrees, and I’m glad to have something to do with my hands.
Aleksis uploads the picture with the caption, ‘Cocktails with my favourite @katewareing.’
After that we drink up quickly because it’s time for our next stop, so I leave the bar feeling slightly tipsy. There are only two photographers outside The May Fair as we approach and they both look pretty bored – they’re both slouching against the wall and scrolling through their phones. There must not be many celebrity guests expected this evening, which seems to be confirmed when they get disproportionately excited to see us walking towards the entrance.
