Celebrity Shopper Read Online Free Page A

mother–daughter relationship was growing much closer than either of them could ever have expected.
    They really liked each other. They got on. They enjoyed the same things and shared the same goals. Svetlana felt as if she had learned so much from her fearsomely independent daughter. Before meeting Elena, Svetlana had thought the best way to have plenty of money and security for herself and her children was to marry a rich man (she had done this four times now). Now, she was quietly impressed with Elena’s many enterprising money-making ideas. But this latest one, this was the biggest and definitely the best.
    This time Svetlana was jumping in with both expensively shod feet and as much cash as she could lay her beautifully manicured hands on.
    ‘Ya,’ Svetlana said into the tiny little silver phone again, ‘my daughter and I will be personally in charge and we will make this work. Ya, is slightly risky. But these are risky times. No? Igor always say only losers avoid failing.’
    Svetlana listened carefully to the reply to her pitch, then she clicked the phone off in frustration.
    ‘He say “no”,’ she informed her daughter. ‘Tcha!’ she exclaimed, pacing the small, expensively decorated office several times in her high heels.
    Even at home, Svetlana liked to dress up. Maybe, because of her previous full-time husband-keeping job, Svetlana liked to dress up especially at home, whereas Elenawas at her desk in sober clothes because this was work and, when she was working, she liked to look professional.
    Elena did not stop to hold an inquest about the failed phone call, she merely looked at the list on her desk, pointed to the fifth name down and said: ‘Next.’
    ‘Oh, I don’t know about him … I don’t like him,’ Svetlana whined as her eyes fell on the name. ‘I don’t think this will work …’
    ‘Mama,’ Elena said, the word coming as easily as if she’d been calling Svetlana this all her life, ‘we need another thirteen thousand pounds. That’s all. We have sixty-two thousand in the bank already. Once we have this money we can press go. We can start up this whole wonderful business. So phone! Someone on this list will say yes. You are so good at getting wealthy men to say yes,’ she flattered her mother, ‘that is why I give you this job, because I know you are going to win! Now get on the phone.’
    Just as Svetlana opened her phone once again, it began to ring.
    ‘Ah, it’s Annah!’ Svetlana said enthusiastically, spotting the caller display. ‘Maybe she have more work for me on the television.’
    Elena rolled her eyes: ‘Another three-hundred-and-fifty-pound appearance fee, no? We not raise big capital like this!’
    ‘Annah!’ Svetlana gushed, ignoring Elena’s remark, ‘Annah, how is your show and when can I next be on it?’
    Annie was delighted to tell her that Tamsin wanted to film a Svetlana slot just as soon as Svetlana was available.
    ‘Ya! I know just what we do next: we call it “Raising capital for girls”. Now, do you have some money you’d like to invest in my new business?’
    ‘What?’ was Annie’s surprised response to this. She had heard nothing of Svetlana’s latest business plans.
    ‘No I forget, you never have money, you have always spent it all,’ Svetlana said next.
    Ow! Annie couldn’t help thinking. This was a little harsh coming from a woman who had relied on men as her sole method of support.
    ‘What’s your new business idea?’ Annie asked.
    ‘Elena and I are going to set up a fashion label,’ Svetlana explained. ‘Just dresses. We hire a designer to make two or three classic styles every season in beautiful material. Dresses to look good on every woman, Annah. Dresses you can put on and wear with anything: diamonds and heels or boots and denim jacket. Life is so busy, women want something beautiful but easy. Oh and you throw in washing machine when dirty – Elena’s idea.’
    ‘Wow.’ Annie was impressed. Svetlana had great taste;