Stage-fright
had seized her, that’s all. This apprehension was borne from self-doubt
nurtured by a culture of hopelessness and low expectation. Nancy didn’t deserve
to be in this shoot. She was an imposter, they would all see. The cameras would
record her cheap cocktail dress and her plastic shoes. That’s Nancy, that is,
she works at LossLess Insurance at the Parkway Industrial Estate. What is she
doing next to Vincent Jonas? What right does she have to enter that limo? She’s
a sneak; she’s a cheat and a fraud.
Defiance
propelled her forwards anyway. Bex or Cora would be here if not Nancy. Nancy’s
mother, her neighbour or her boyfriend’s sister would be here if not Nancy.
With that, she stepped onto the kerb. She smiled, gave a little wave and
maintained her tenuous link with Vince via the lower joint of her small finger.
The maw got bigger but her gut had begun to uncoil itself.
She
relaxed her finger and his dropped easily from hers. She raised her right foot
and lowered herself into the limo. The acoustics within immediately deadened
the noise of the crowd. Tinted glass rendered the flashes green. Pine and
polished leather vanquished the former odour of fag smoke, booze and wet
overcoats. Every muscle immediately undid itself. What had she been so freaked
out about earlier? She was in here; they were out there. She emitted a small sigh
and stretched her legs. Warm air caressed her ankles. Her legs hadn’t failed
her. She hadn’t given way to gum or dog poop or whatever; her face hadn’t
betrayed a grimace or a stupid frown. The amble had gone to plan – or so she
believed. The shoot was now done. The pap can now do their part.
Vince
followed her in. The seat remained steady as he took his place beside her. An
odd concoction of pride and misgiving forbade her from glancing aside. In a formal
manner, she pulled her skirt over her knees until the fabric possessed the
tension of a drum. The air grew awkwardly still. She remembered Leon’s words:
you are not to speak to Mr. Jonas unless he asks you a question. At least the
onus of breaking the ice had been taken from her. Leon closed the door with a
soft thud. The cab fell silent. And that’s when the urge to glance aside got
the better of her.
Vince
was staring ahead. His eyelids weighed with disdain, rendering his eyes narrow
and his mouth taut. Nancy understood he would prefer this compartment to
himself. For a stupid moment, she wished desperately to impress him. She massaged
her skirt against her fingers in abashment. The car pitched as Leon got in. A
moment later, the engine purred into life. The floor reverberated in a soft
rumble. Jazz funk started up on the stereo.
‘Where
to, Nancy?’ Leon asked.
Nancy
had already decided not to allow Glebe Hollow near Bedworth to escape her lips.
‘Oh, just drop me at Broadgate in Coventry.’
‘Broadgate?’
‘It’s
not far from the Godiva statue.’
Leon
chuckled at this. ‘Oh, yeah, I know that one, the naked lady on the horse. Sure
thing, Nancy.’
