The Perfect Christmas (2 page)

No doubt Maggie would have them on a plane in a heartbeat and Zoe would be whisked away to the land of pints and pubs, and Maggie would spend the entire trip practicing her cockney accent.

Zoe had so much work to do this Christmas. There were new clients with careers that needed careful guidance, existing clients who needed her advice in all areas of their life, and there was her busy office to keep running. A trip to London wasn’t something she had time for but Maggie was hard to say no to and, sometimes, friendship came before work.

If she was honest with herself, she had to admit she had avoided Maggie as much as Maggie had avoided the world for the past few months.

Being the manager of both Will and Maggie had the potential to create a conflict of interest and, with a separation on the cards, she had tried to stay out of the whole matter.

But Maggie needed her and she couldn’t bear the thought of her spending Christmas alone in their huge house.

For years Zoe had indulged Maggie and her whims. Not because she was her biggest client, a well-loved movie star who commanded millions of dollars per picture, but because she’d saved her from the worst experience in her life and, for that, she would always be grateful.

‘We’re all sorted,’ Maggie exclaimed in her worst Eliza Doolittle accent, ‘We’re going to Ol’ Blighty.’

‘I’m not going anywhere if you talk like that, you sound deranged,’ Zoe said, putting her feet on the coffee table.

‘Spoilsport,’ said Maggie cheerfully. ‘We leave tomorrow, first class. I’ve booked us a suite at The Dorchester.’

‘Jesus, you don’t give a woman much notice,’ said Zoe, thinking of everything she would have to pack for the cold weather, and the work she would have to load onto her laptop to make sure she was ready to return to the office up to date and ahead of the rest.

‘If you don’t remember it, you can buy it there,’ said Maggie with a sweep of her arms, ‘It’s London, the best city in the world to shop at Christmas time.’

***

The trip to London was the best thing she had ever thought of, she decided as she and Zoe boarded the plane. Will and Elliot had left by the time she returned from Zoe’s house, her presents for them both were still in the shopping bags by the Christmas tree.

The hurt was somewhat eased by the first-class lounge, she told Zoe as she sipped her glass of Dom Pérignon.

‘I’m going to enjoy this little vacation,’ she said, raising her glass. ‘I’ve worked hard and I’m going to do it in style. This whole week is on me, Zo, and don’t even think of arguing. I’m not the second highest-paid actress in the world right now for nothing.’

‘I’m not even going to argue with you,’ said Zoe, laughing as she clinked glasses with Maggie.

‘You know,’ Maggie whispered leaning forward, ‘I like being rich.’

Zoe snorted champagne and started to laugh and cough simultaneously.

‘I’m serious. I’ve been poor, actually, what’s below poor? Well, I’ve been that and now I’m not, and it’s a much better place to be.’

Zoe nodded with mutual understanding. ‘As Grammy used to say, “Being poor ain’t never did nobody any favours”.’

Zoe’s phone rang and she picked it up and looked at the screen.

‘I thought you were on holiday,’ complained Maggie.

‘I am, as soon as the plane takes off,’ said Zoe as she answered the call and immediately launched into negotiations about a film deal.

Maggie sat back and sipped her champagne, taking in the luxurious lounge. She recognized a few faces but they ignored her, as she did them. Celebrity and wealth gave you a little privacy, at least in a place like the first-class lounge; nearly everyone wanted to be left alone and to enjoy the experience.

Zoe finished her call and pulled her laptop from her tote bag.

‘Are you serious?’ asked Maggie, eyeing the laptop as though it was the enemy.

‘One email, I promise,’ said Zoe as she opened the lid and then started rapid-fire typing.

‘Excuse me, Ms Hall, Ms Greene, your flight is now boarding,’ said an attendant who was as well groomed as any supermodel Maggie had ever seen.

‘Let’s hustle, Miss Worky Workalot,’ Maggie said as she drained the champagne and picked up her handbag.

Zoe snapped the lid shut and sighed. ‘I’ll finish it on the plane,’ she said as she followed Maggie and the stewardess to the boarding area and then onto the plane.

Flying was something Maggie adored. She loved the order and the little meal trays and the opportunity to watch films or TV shows she would never otherwise indulge in. But flying first class was something else again.

‘Your suite is here,’ said the stewardess. ‘And yours is across the aisle,’ she gestured to Zoe.

Maggie clapped her hands and passed her coat to the stewardess. ‘Do you mind hanging this up for me?’

The stewardess nodded politely.

Maggie leaned into her and whispered conspiratorially, ‘You know, I always get so excited when I fly first, I never, ever take it for granted. When I was a kid, I really wanted your job; it’s so glamorous.’

The stewardess beamed, ‘I’m more than happy to swap jobs now,’ she giggled as she went to hang up Maggie’s coat.

‘God, everyone loves you,’ Zoe said as she sank into her chair.

‘Except Will,’ said Maggie, a cloud coming over her.

Zoe looked up from the computer. ‘None of that, you told me you were going to enjoy yourself.’

Maggie nodded as she accepted a glass of champagne from a silver tray that a steward was offering. ‘Yes, you’re right, excuse my moment of attending my pity party for one, I’m back now,’ she said firmly.

‘Good,’ said Zoe, taking a glass for herself and raising it to Maggie.

‘To London.’

‘To London,’ said Maggie in return, absolutely determined to enjoy herself.

***

The terminal at Heathrow was manic and Maggie felt overwhelmed at the sight of so many people and the paparazzi training their lenses on her.

‘I thought we might have avoided this,’ muttered Maggie as she pushed her luggage on a trolley and considered putting on her sunglasses to stop being blinded by the camera flashes.

‘Fat chance,’ said Zoe. ‘Sadly, I think the media here are more relentless than the ones back home. The airline staff tip off the media as to who is on their flights.’

‘Bastards!’ hissed Maggie.

The yelling and questions came at her like bullets.

‘Why aren’t you spending Christmas with Will?’

‘Have you left Will?’

‘Are you having an affair?’

‘Are you and Zoe lesbians?’

Maggie started to laugh as they got to the waiting car, sent from the hotel, and she and Zoe slipped inside onto the leather seats.

‘If I was a lesbian, I’d totally buy you a drink,’ she said to Zoe.

‘And if I was a lesbian, I’d dump your sorry ass, I don’t date actresses,’ quipped Zoe.

As the car pulled away, leaving the flashing cameras in the distance, Maggie leaned back on her seat.

‘That was stressful,’ she sighed.

Zoe was flicking through her phone, then typing furiously.

‘Don’t worry, Victoria Beckham or the Jolie-Pitts will land and you’ll be all but forgotten.’

‘Gee, thanks,’ said Maggie half-jokingly as Zoe typed and swiped and sighed at whatever was on her screen.

Maggie watched her for a while. ‘You’re a shit life partner, you’re married to your work, not me,’ she said jokingly.

Zoe shrugged, ‘This is why I’m alone, there isn’t a man in LA who can keep up or put up with my pace.’

Maggie nodded. ‘I hear you.’

The car drove into the city centre and Maggie watched the evening lights start to flicker on, the Christmas lights twinkling and people hurrying home from work in the encroaching darkness.

‘God, I love this city,’ she said to herself. Maggie had spent some time in London, usually on a press junket and once filming, but never just for her own pleasure.

Driving over the Westminster Bridge, Big Ben struck six and Maggie thought she might cry with happiness.

‘Now all I need is Peter and the Darling children to fly over us and I will be in heaven,’ she said as she turned to Zoe.

But Zoe was now on the phone and Maggie tried very hard not to be upset.

‘You’re missing it,’ she hissed to Zoe, who waved her hand at her as though she was a fly.

Maggie ignored her and went back to looking at the passing entertainment. So many different people, all looking like they had something to go home to, and Maggie put her hand up against the cold glass of the window.

What did she have to return to after this trip? she wondered.

The car pulled up in front of the hotel and the driver jumped from it as a valet opened the door.

‘Welcome to The Dorchester,’ he said with a polite smile.

‘Hi,’ said Maggie as she shivered in her thin coat. ‘God, it’s freezing! Is it going to snow?’ she asked him.

‘There is snow predicted,’ he said and Maggie grabbed Zoe’s arm.

‘Snow, did you hear that? Snow is predicted.’

‘You hate the snow,’ said Zoe, shaking her head.

‘I hate American snow, I love British snow,’ corrected Maggie, as she stepped inside the hotel.

A young brunette woman in a neat navy suit was smiling at them, her hands clasped in front of her.

‘Good evening, I’m Holly. I’m your personal concierge while you stay with us,’ she said.

Maggie picked up just a hint of nerves in the pretty girl’s voice. ‘Holly? What a perfect Christmas name,’ she said. ‘I’m Maggie and this is Zoe.’

The girl smiled. This time she was clearly less nervous, Maggie noted.

Zoe smiled and shook the girl’s hand. ‘Can you get me a cord adaptor for my laptop?’

‘Of course,’ said Holly and Maggie felt like punching Zoe in the arm.

Holly gestured to a bellboy who had their luggage on a rack in the blink of an eye.

‘Let me take you to your room,’ she said as she led them to a private elevator. ‘What are your plans while you’re in London?’ She pressed a button and swiped the security screen with a tag attached to the inside of her jacket.

‘Shopping, shopping, maybe some sightseeing. I don’t know, what should we do?’ asked Maggie.

‘So this trip is just for pleasure, no business?’ asked Holly.

‘Just pleasure,’ said Maggie firmly and glared at Zoe, who rolled her eyes in retort.

‘Then I can suggest some activities for you,’ said Holly, ‘And I can make all the arrangements.’

‘That sounds fantastic,’ said Maggie as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the suite.

Even Zoe was silent as she took in the elegant surroundings of the room. The plush rugs, the wingbacked chairs, draped curtains, flower-filled vases on almost every surface…

‘We have taken the liberty of upgrading you both, since it’s Christmas and you’re VIP guests.’

‘Thank you!’ said Maggie and Zoe simultaneously.

‘Have you plans for dinner?’ asked Holly. ‘Would you like me to make some recommendations for local restaurants? Or I could organize you some room service? Or make you a reservation at one of the restaurants downstairs?’

Maggie looked at Zoe. ‘I’m hungry, are you? Shall we go downstairs?’

Zoe nodded, ‘Yes, I need a steak and a glass of red.’

‘Let me organize that for you, then I can unpack your luggage if you wish,’ Holly offered.

‘I wish,’ said Zoe. ‘Thank you, that would be great.’

***

Less than ten minutes later, the women were ensconced in a small booth in a corner of The Grill.

Zoe was already nursing a lovely glass of Shiraz and Maggie was having a vodka, lime and soda.

‘Okay, I have to admit, sitting here while our things are being unpacked is very civilized,’ said Zoe.

‘It’s a funny job for a young girl to have, isn’t it?’ Maggie ran her finger around the condensation of the glass.

Zoe shrugged. ‘You mean Holly? I don’t know, maybe she plans to work her way up and become a personal assistant to a royal or something. I’m sure Kate Middleton doesn’t unpack her own bags.’

‘Maybe,’ said Maggie, as she watched the people in the restaurant engrossed in conversation. Well-dressed men and women entered, their faces flushed red from the cold, taking off expensive coats and gloves and ordering decadent meals and bottles of wine.

The hum of conversation and laughter tickled the back of Maggie’s neck. ‘Isn’t it all so gorgeous?’ she asked as she smiled at Zoe.

Zoe laughed. ‘Of course it’s gorgeous. You’re in one of the best hotels in London, watching beautiful people without a care in the world. What’s not gorgeous about that?’

‘Bah humbug,’ said Maggie, as a waiter came to their table.

‘Good evening, have you decided on the menu?’ he asked.

Maggie hadn’t, but handed it back to him.

‘A green salad, some balsamic on the side please,’ she said.

Zoe handed him her menu. ‘Steak, medium rare, fries and a salad,’ she said.

‘I’m jealous,’ said Maggie.

‘Then eat,’ said Zoe, ‘I thought you were going to enjoy everything London has to offer.’

‘Yes, but then it will take weeks to get off London’s offerings in spin classes and juice cleanses.’

Maggie sighed. Being thin wasn’t something that just happened, it required work and discipline and saying no to delicious things like fries and red wine.

They chatted amiably over their meals, Maggie managing to only steal a few fries from Zoe’s plate.

As they wandered back to their suite, they saw Holly behind the front desk, talking to a man in a suit.

‘She’s blushing when she talks to him,’ whispered Maggie.

‘Maybe they’re having an office romance,’ said Zoe, glancing at them and then back to her phone.

‘He’s cute,’ said Maggie as she pulled Zoe by the arm over to the desk.

‘What are you doing?’ whispered Zoe.

But Maggie wasn’t listening.

‘Holly, I just wanted to mention how delicious dinner was and thank you for organizing the table so quickly.’ Maggie leaned on the front desk and put her hand out to the man.

‘Hi, I’m Maggie Hall,’ she said and read his name badge. ‘Jack Frost? You’re the manager? You’re kidding, right?’ she started to laugh as he took her hand.

‘No I’m afraid not, it’s my name,’ he said politely, but Maggie saw a twinkle of humour in his eyes.