Page 71 of Gold Diggers

‘What, like a concierge?’ asked Summer, taking the drink Tasha offered.

‘Of sorts,’ smiled Tasha a little patronizingly.

Summer looked over at Ricardo sitting squashed in a booth with Rachel on one side, Becki on the other. She noticed that Ricardo had his hand right at the top of Becki’s thigh, her short skirt having ridden up so that Summer could almost see her knickers. Summer felt her cheeks flush, feeling stupid.

‘Dita is a madam?’ she said, realizing she sounded like a prude.

‘Easy tiger,’ laughed Tasha. Discreetly she opened a pill box, tipped a small pyramid of coke onto the back of her hand and snorted it. She shook her head, ponytail swishing in the air.

‘Dita isn’t a madam, silly. But she kind of helps Ricardo. I mean, when you’re that successful and rich, you don’t have time to sort out a social life, do you? Think about it.’

‘Well, he found the time to ask me to dinner,’ replied Summer moodily.

‘You’re upset about tonight, aren’t you?’ said T

asha, offering her the pill box. Summer shook her head. She was feeling light-headed enough, drinking on an empty stomach.

‘What did you think tonight was going to be? Hearts and flowers and some candlelit dinner for two?’

Tasha rested her hand on Summer’s knee. ‘I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t mean it to sound that way. Ric obviously likes you, but tonight he wanted to party a little bit. He’s probably had a really hard day. But listen. Stick with him, yeah? He’s so much fun, and so generous. He’s offered to pay for this fashion design course I’ve been desperate to do.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Becki says she heard that if you become one of his favourite girls, he’ll pay for your flat, car, holidays everything. It must be true. At Easter we all went to his chalet in Courcheve which was mental.’

Summer didn’t want to be involved with anything mental. In fact she had made up her mind to leave, but she felt in a very awkward position. Ricardo was Molly’s friend, after all; she didn’t want to embarrass her mother. Just then, Ricardo came over to her, motioning Tasha out of the way.

‘Drink up, Summer,’ he said, handing her a cocktail. ‘What about another glass?’

She sipped the drink politely, but Ricardo noticed Summer’s reluctant expression. ‘I can see the look on your face and I completely agree with you. It’s dull, here. Dull, dull, dull.’ He clapped his hands together and Rachel, Becki and Tasha, plus a couple of other girls Summer hadn’t noticed before, all stood up, ready to leave.

‘Actually Ricardo, I’ve had a fun evening, but I think it’s time I got going,’ said Summer as they walked towards the entrance.

Ricardo wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her out to the pavement. ‘Come on, honey,’ he urged. ‘The house is only five minutes’ drive away. I have some great cognac.’ He moved closer towards her, out of earshot of the other girls, his manner becoming reassuringly more serious. ‘Don’t you think I wanted a nice dinner tonight, too? I was really looking forward to good food, good conversation, but what can I do when friends come round to the house?’ He looked round at the girls and shrugged. ‘Next time I’m going to tell Dita that she must send them all home.’

Summer wasn’t sure if he was blatantly lying or if he genuinely believed this to be the truth. Like hell Dita will send them all home. She is the one that invites them in the first place.

‘I’m really sorry, Ric, but I must go,’ she stressed as the Bentley had pulled up at the kerb and Samuel had come round to open the rear door.

‘Five minutes,’ smiled Ricardo. There was something unsettling about Ricardo, but somehow that made him more attractive. She knew she was a little tipsy, but she felt powerless to resist. Summer doubted that anyone ever said no to Ricardo unless he wanted them to.

She got into the back seat, telling herself she would stay twenty minutes and then request that Samuel take her home.

‘You don’t like clubs.’ It wasn’t a question.

She smiled weakly. ‘I think I’ve just had enough of them.’

‘Not like your mother. Now she can party.’

When Ricardo mentioned Molly, there was a definite tone of affection. ‘How about next week, we’ll do something quiet, yes? I’m sorry again for tonight,’ he said, resting his hand lightly on hers. ‘Sometimes you just need to let your hair down, have a few drinks, see some friends. I thought that would be okay with you too, but I was thoughtless.’

‘Let your hair down, that’s what Tasha said you wanted.’

‘She’s knows me well, that one. She’s an old friend. A very talented designer.’

They pulled up outside the house. A couple of lights were on; Summer wondered if Dita was still up. In fact she wondered whether Dita actually lived there. The taxi pulled up simultaneously and five girls piled out, laughing and shouting.

‘Hey, come with us!’ said Tasha, grabbing Summer by the hand and pulling her inside the house, following the other girls up a marble staircase in a clatter of heels to an enormous bathroom

Peering inside, Summer was startled to see that the girls were all in various states of undress. Rachel was in just her bra and knickers and was turning on the jacuzzi, so the sound of gushing water echoed round the room.

‘Ricardo, do you mind if we use the sauna?’ shouted Becki, running in wrapped in a teeny white fluffy robe.