Page 113 of Broken Beyond Repair

“Really?”

“Mm, he knew you were on to a good thing, even if you didn’t.”

“Oh, I knew all right,” Beatrice sighed. “I just couldn’t deal with it.”

“Shall I message him?” Sydney asked, eager to be the one to tell him.

“If you like.”

“How about, ‘I banged your mum last night — twice’?”

Beatrice nearly choked on a mouthful of smoked salmon sandwich.

“No? Okay, how about I send the photo?”

“Good idea.”

A message came straight back.

Does this mean?

Sure does.

K

Sydney stared at the phone, waiting for more. Had he mistyped?

“What does a K mean?” she asked, baffled.

“That means ‘okay’. It’s youth speak.”

“That wasn’t the level of enthusiasm I was hoping for.”

Beatrice smiled knowingly. “Welcome to parenthood.”

CHAPTER40

“Who’s up next?” the pre-ceremony presenter asked from the studio.

“Oh, it’s the one we’ve all been waiting for! It’s Beatrice Russell, and doesn’t she look fabulous, wearing a strapless, red Gucci dress with a risqué split leg? She’s recently become ambassador for the brand, so that comes as no surprise. And here comes her guest, is it… yes, they’re holding hands! This must be her girlfriend, Sydney MacKenzie, who she publicly came out for. Also her former PA, I understand,” he added with a little wink, “although her name is all over the autobiography Russell released before Christmas, so she was doing a little more than her job description, in more ways than one, it seems.

“They’re coming along the red carpet now. Wow, the cameras are going wild for them. Sydney’s looking elegant in a white suit. It looks like a Chanel to me. We’re going to go live now to Hayley. What’s happening down there?”

“Thanks, Tom… I’m here with Beatrice Russell and her girlfriend, Sydney MacKenzie. You’re both looking gorgeous this evening, ladies. I adore your hair, Beatrice,” Hayley said, gesturing toward her messy bun.

“Thank you,” Beatrice replied, smiling so hard her cheekbones were on the fringes of popping out of her skin.

“You’re in Gucci, I see. Hardly a surprise when you’re brand ambassador. Congratulations.”

“I’ve always been a huge supporter of the brand, so I’m deeply honoured,” Beatrice replied, pressing her hand to her chest.

“You’re up for Best Actress for a drama tonight. Your last nomination was forNancy. Viewers will no doubt be wondering if the role of Nancy helped you discover your real identity.”

“I’ve always known who I am. Nancy helped me come to terms with it, and this one here” — Beatrice kissed Sydney’s cheek, taking the crowd by surprise and sending them into a frenzy of cheers — “has helped me become who I am. It only took fifty-one years.”

“You seem to have made the hashtag #OutAndProud trend again. I believe we’re up to fifteen celebrities that have come out using the hashtag so far.”

“I have, and isn’t it wonderful?” Beatrice said, using her sexiest husky voice and narrowing her eyes alluringly at the camera.