Page 60 of Who’s That Girl?

‘Go on,’ says Larry Thompson.

‘Old.’

‘Old?’ Up until this point Cindy has been petting Foo-Foo and drinking wine, but at the word she visibly recoils. Like a vampire that’s just caught a whiff of garlic.

Larry Thompson narrows his eyes and fixes me with a stern look. ‘But I was told it was the best,’ he says, his voice thick with disapproval.

‘Well, it depends what your idea of “best” is,’ I say hastily. ‘The demographic that you’re appealing to wants to know that you’re not just the best, you’re also cutting edge.’

He seems to perk up a little at the words ‘cutting edge’.

‘You’re not just a world-famous cosmetic dentist,’ I continue, flattering his ego by dumping compliments left, right and centre. ‘Choosing the Star Smile brand is not just a medical procedure, it’s a lifestyle choice.’

He’s nodding now, the corners of his mouth turned upwards.

‘And most people don’t want to spend thousands at the dentist. The British don’t like dentists; we have a phobia of them.’

Larry Thompson gives a slight shudder. ‘I’ve noticed.’

‘Going to the dentist is not something that’s at the top of our list, but if you can make it into something appealing, something sought-after …’

‘Such as?’

‘Well, think of having a Star Smile as being like having the latest designer handbag, or a pair of shoes, or a new car. Then you’re on to a winner.’

‘A winner,’ repeats Cindy approvingly from across the table. ‘We all want to be winners in life, don’t we? It’s like when you and I were in Vegas, honey—’

‘So what are you saying?’ asks Larry, ignoring her and fixing me with his steely gaze.

‘That I think you should be based in a more fashionable location,’ I say truthfully. I’m in danger of offending him by disagreeing with his earlier choices, but hell, this is what he’s paying me for. ‘That you need a young, hip address. Somewhere celebrities are happy to be seen photographed, rather than to be seen trying to disguise themselves as they scuttle out of doctors’ offices in Harley Street.’

‘Hmm, yes, I think you might be right.’ Larry nods thought-fully. Suddenly galvanised, he whips out his iPhone and punches something in. ‘I’ll get on to my locations people right away.’

Brilliant, I think, with a beat of pleasure. I feel like giving myself a pat on the back. This meeting couldn’t have gone any better.

‘So are you thinking of visiting anywhere else while you’re in London?’ I ask, turning to Cindy. I feel a bit sorry for her as she’s been left out of the conversation. But then again, she seems perfectly happy, I note, watching as she beckons the waiter over to refill her glass.

‘Well, we did talk about Paris …’ she says brightly.

‘Oh, yes, you can go on the Eurostar. Now we’ve got the high-speed link it takes less than two and a half hours.’

‘But then I said to Larry, “Why bother? We saw the Eiffel Tower in Vegas.”’

I look at her blankly. ‘Sorry, did you just say Vegas?’

‘Yes, on the Strip!’ She frowns, as if I’m a bit stupid. ‘They have heaps of cities there: Paris, New York, Venice … We went on a gondola. It was awesome.’ She takes a slurp of her drink. ‘You should go.’

‘Erm … yes, maybe I will,’ I reply.

‘OK, shall we order?’ suggests Larry Thompson.

‘Yes, let’s,’ I say hastily, and picking up my menu, I dive behind it.

Chapter Nineteen

By the time I get home it’s almost gone ten. I dump my bags in the hallway and kick off my stilettos. My feet are killing me. Padding barefoot into the living room, I flop on to the sofa and flick on the TV. I’ll just watch a few minutes before making a start on the paperwork I brought home from the office, I tell myself, stretching out across the cushions and letting out a huge yawn.

God, I’m exhausted. I hardly slept at all last night. Or the night before that, for that matter. I was up half the night looking at photos. Speaking of which … I glance across at the albums still strewn across the rug and the piles of loose photos lying scattered all around. I didn’t have time to tidy them up this morning, as I was in a rush as usual, but I’d better do it now, before the cleaner comes tomorrow.