Celebrity Shopper Read Online Free Page B

if she thought the dresses were good, they were bound to be good. Elena seemed to be developing an excellent business head.
    ‘How much are they going to cost?’ Annie asked, the business head of her own asking the important question now.
    ‘Just under two hundred pounds. Or two hundred and sixty if you want silk.’
    ‘This sounds like a really good idea … it could really work! What are you going to call the label?’
    ‘The Perfect Dress Company, because it will be!’ Svetlana told her.
    ‘I think you should put me in for …’ Annie wondered which of her many budgets she could get the money from. The handbag deal was going to go ahead, so in a few more weeks she would have some money in from that … but then, didn’t the builder want something upfront for materials? And shouldn’t she be saving in case … in case of the horrible possibility Tamsin had outlined.
    ‘Three thousand pounds,’ she decided.
    ‘Fantastic!’ Svetlana replied. ‘Sure you don’t want to be a bigger partner?’
    ‘Not yet. Maybe a bit further down the line,’ Annie replied.
    ‘Just as soon as we have all the capital raised, we are going to have the first dresses made up, then we launch in Paris – where else? – with the trade shows,’ Svetlana explained.
    ‘Aren’t those at the end of this month?’ Annie asked.
    ‘Ya. We need the money! I have to find another ten thousand pounds in the next two days. You really give us three thousand?’ Svetlana asked.
    ‘Yeah. Put me in. I owe you … But can’t you go to a bank?’ Annie wondered.
    ‘No. Elena say banks very, very bad. They not lend to anyone new and they want too much money back too soon. I find the money myself,’ Svetlana said with determination. ‘And when we launch, we do it in Paris and you come, Annah, you come with the camera and the TV programme and you show everyone what it is really like behind the scenes when you start a new fashion label.’
    Svetlana glanced over at her daughter. They hadn’t discussed this idea before, but it was a very good one. Think of all the free publicity and free marketing Annie’s show would give them. Plus Elena could phone loads of newspapers and magazines and explain that they should write about this exciting new dress label because it was about to appear on television. Elena gave her a smile of approval.
    At the other end of the line, Annie couldn’t help thinking this was a genius idea. Surely this was one of the big barnstormers required for the two final, crucial episodes of the series. And she would be in Paris … for the shows! She would finally get to take part in that whole fashion whirl,something she had always, always longed to do.
    Immediately she imagined herself at the glitzy parties, drinking champagne, rubbing shoulders with Dolce and Gabbana, getting an exclusive tour of the House of Chanel … It was years since she’d been to Paris and imagine being a fashion insider and sneaking a glimpse into the wonderful world …
    ‘Brilliant idea,’ she told Svetlana. ‘I’m going to call Tamsin right now.’

Chapter Four
     
    Ed’s at home wear:
     
    Old faded blue rugby shirt (St Vincent’s lost property box)
Old faded blue jeans (Levi’s)
Old faded blue socks (no idea)
Battered sheepskin slippers (Christmas, some time ago)
Plain leather-strapped watch (Timex)
Total est. cost: £65
     
    ‘OWEN! Have you got a nanosecond?’
     
    Ed had a schedule. He glanced at his watch and saw that he was running on time. That was good. Ever since he’d decided to take time off work to look after his babies, he’d found that the days ran much more smoothly if he stuck to the schedule.
    To be honest, maybe it was a hangover from his day job. Teaching was all about the schedule. You had to be at your lessons at exactly the right time. Bells went off regularly to inform you just where you were in the day. If he was honest about it, Ed would have to admit that he found bells and schedules quite comforting.
    Now