Polls Apart Read Online Free Page B

ceremony was being held.
    He had spent the first ten minutes staring at his notes until Anna could bear the silence no longer.
    “What’s the matter, Richard? You seem incredibly nervous.”
    “I just need tonight to go well, that’s all. We’re pretty damn sure Davis is going to the Palace tomorrow to call the election so all eyes are on us. This thing gets a big TV audience and it’s a tough one to judge. I don’t want to come across like a stuffed shirt, but then I’m not Russell Brand either.”
    “Well, that’s true.” Anna laughed, before adopting a more sympathetic approach. “Look, you’re incredibly good with people, Richard. That’s why you’re leading the Democrats, so just be yourself and act like you do when we’re hosting guests in our own home. Be open, friendly but respectful.”
    Richard finally looked up from the crumpled notepaper in his hands to give Anna his full attention.
    “Thank you, darling.” He touched her cheek softly. “I’m glad you’re by my side tonight. I’m hoping you’ll be able to do a lot more of this over the coming weeks, just until we’re through the campaign.”
    “I’ll try,” Anna said, gently patting Richard’s hand.
    He looked back down at his notes for a moment before folding them up and putting them in his pocket. “We had some good news today.”
    “That’s good, darling,” Anna replied vaguely as she turned her focus to polishing a tiny mark on the front of her stiletto with her finger.
    “Yes, Don Monteith, has publicly pledged his support to the SDP .”
    Anna quickly sat up again, her eyes wide with sudden interest.
    “Don Monteith the film director?”
    “Yes. Henry’s even lined him up to do a couple of appearances with me out on the road.”
    “Well that’s fantastic, darling. Perhaps I could help there?”
    “What do you mean?” Richard asked, feigning confusion whilst privately celebrating the obvious success of Ray’s plan.
    “I mean,” Anna gushed, “if I’m going to be out campaigning with you, then I should definitely help organise the appearances with Don Monteith because I understand his world and how he operates.”
    “Oh, so you will be campaigning with me?”
    “Of course I will, Richard. When have I ever said anything to the contrary?”
    Flashlights lit up the night sky as Richard and Anna slowly made their way along the red carpet, well-rehearsed grins fixed on their faces. The strobe effect of the camera flashes created a surreal world in which they were half-blinded and thrown into slow motion.
    Anna was used to photographers, but even she hadn’t encountered anything like this before. She beamed from the inside out as she realised she was finally tasting what world-class movie stars now took for granted. Suddenly another flashbulb lit up; this time in her head. This is it, she thought. This is the big time.
    Once inside, the studio throbbed with celebrities all clambering to be seen with the small and frightened group of award winners who were being treated to a glass of champagne to loosen them up before they were paraded in front of the cameras. As Richard made his way through the predominantly celebrity guests who were standing around the dining tables set out in front of the stage, he took care to hold Anna’s hand tightly. He was afraid that, if left to her own devices, she would stop and talk to every second “industry” person they passed. Along the way he overheard one busty actress he was sure he’d seen on a soap, eulogising about a previously unsung hero whom she “just adored”.
    Clutching the rather startled fifteen-year-old close to her chest – in what Richard noticed was quite a proprietary way – he overheard the actress telling a TV reporter: “I’m just so thrilled to be presenting an award to Jamie. He’s such an inspiration to us all in the way he fearlessly fought for a pensioner’s wallet.”
    One of the organisers stepped in to whisper something to the actress, which