Shopping With the Enemy Read Online Free PDF Page B

six-foot-plus, stunning, black girl with the figure of an Olympic athlete. It was hard to stand in front of a mirror next to a woman like that and not look yourself over critically.
    Two years since the twins had been born and Annie was still considerably chunkier than she would have liked. Her blonde hair was at the unfortunate stage of growing out from short and she’d bundled it into a stubby ponytail at the back of her head, which looked OK from the front, but –
help
– comical from sideways on.
    Her skirt, top and shoes were … well, nice, nice enough, but they didn’t scream
fashion, happening, style setter, follow my lead!
the way she would really like them to.
    ‘Let’s face it, Paula,’ she wailed, ‘I thought it was fashion that was off this season, but maybe it’s me.’

Chapter Five
    London
    Ebeny is fashion:
    Creamy chiffon and lace blouse (D&G sale)
    Navy-blue velvet waistcoat (Camden market)
    Teeny denim cut-off shorts (Levi’s)
    Tights with skull print (Leg Avenue)
    Rubber-heeled purple boots (Camper)
    Enamelled flower necklace (New Look)
    Total est. cost: £210
    ANNIE PEERED OUT from backstage, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The live fashion event, in front of an audience of 5,000 and cameras, was almost over – just one more item to go.
    So far, she thought it had gone well. There had been a high street fashion show, with glammed-up models rocking the latest chain store looks. Then armed with a table full of samples, she had talked everyone through the latest lingerie fashions.
    Two teenagers had been let loose on a rail of clothes from Primark and now, as the final event, Annie was to do ‘the Ultimate Fashionista makeover’ live on an audience member.
    ‘Ready to go back out there?’
    At her elbow was Tamsin, the show’s producer, her ultimate boss and the woman who had made Annie the minor TV star she was today. Annie smiled as confidently as she could.
    ‘Live events wreck my nerves, darlin’, I’ll be sinking at least one bottle of fizz as soon as this is over.’
    ‘You’re great out there. Stop worrying.’
    ‘Do you think? I get the feeling the audience isn’t really livening up today.’
    ‘You’re doing fine,’ Tamsin assured her. ‘All set?’
    Annie nodded, but she felt her pores open despite the thick blanket of powder on her face and layers of antiperspirant all over her body. If all those people who longed to be on TV knew how nerve-churningly awful it could be, maybe they would reconsider.
    The music started up and, big smile set on her face, she walked out on to the set again.
    ‘Hello! Welcome back to my favourite part of the show: the Ultimate Fashionista makeover. Darlings, right behind me is a rail of the most fabulous clothes: silks, satins, cashmeres, labels to die for, prices that would kill you! But one lucky person here today is going to be dressed from head to toe in the ultimate outfit. Ready to play an elimination game so we can find our lucky winner?’
    There was loud applause.
    ‘Ladies, hands up if you are a size 12.’
    Annie looked out across the raised hands. Somewhere in the audience, she knew, Lana and Elena were watching but she hadn’t been able to locate them.
    ‘Keep your hands up if you’re over thirty-two but under thirty-seven.’
    The number of hands halved.
    ‘Keep your hands up if you’re blonde.’
    Again, the number lowered.
    ‘Keep your hands up if you have children … if you’re wearing something blue … if your name begins with any letter in the alphabet that comes after h.’
    There was only a scattering of hands left now.
    ‘OK … only keep your hands up if you’re not wearing heels.’
    A pause. The audience looked around and began to clap: only one hand was left in the air.
    ‘And we have our winner! Come on down!’
    As the audience clapped and whooped, the winner stood up, picked her way through the crowd, heading towards the stage. Blushing frantically, she was hooked up with a