Page 40 of Meet Me at Sunset

Stephanie and Catherine arrived at the palacio, stepping out of the limo Camille had arranged for them. The sun was high overhead, reflecting off the dazzling white walls of the building, and the palm trees either side of the entrance rippled gently in the light breeze.

‘Ready?’ Catherine asked with a smile.

‘As I’ll ever be,’ Stephanie responded. She hadn’t told Catherine about the situation with Lucas – she’d already burdened her with enough of her problems, and besides, today Catherine would be the star of the show and Stephanie didn’t want anything to detract from that.

She pasted on a smile and the two women walked up the steps and through the arched doorway, into the lobby where a bank of photographers and journalists were waiting to greet the new arrivals.

Stephanie felt wretched inside, though she looked a million dollars, and she turned and posed, trying her best not to react to the intrusive questions from the press.

‘Stephanie, is it true you walked off the set of Fields of Barley ?’

‘Have you been hiding in Mallorca this whole time?’

‘Steph, what would you say to the rumours that you’re difficult to work with?’

‘Ignore them,’ Catherine murmured, not letting her dazzling smile slip for a moment as she reassured Stephanie. ‘Thanks, guys, that’s enough for today,’ she purred, putting a hand on the small of Stephanie’s back and steering her away from the press pack.

‘Thank you,’ Stephanie said gratefully.

‘Hold your head high and keep smiling,’ Catherine told her. ‘They’re looking for a reaction – don’t give them one. Now, duty calls. I’ll see you later, darling.’ Catherine squeezed her arm reassuringly, then melted away into the crowd, heading backstage to prepare for the show.

Left alone, Stephanie felt a moment’s uncertainty, but then she remembered Catherine’s advice, lifting her chin and marching boldly towards the Sunset Room.

There was a real buzz in the atmosphere, a sense of excitement now that a gaggle of A-listers had descended on the sleepy town of Belleza.

Stephanie almost felt resentful that the place which had become her sanctuary had been invaded in this way.

Catherine had given her a place to rest and recuperate, to take stock of all the crazy things that had happened to her over the past couple of years, but Stephanie knew that soon it would be time to head back to real life.

She heard another round of yelling from the photographers, and turned to see who had arrived.

Her heart lurched, and she almost tripped in the vertiginous heels she was wearing.

It was Lucas, hand-in-hand with Elle, who was practically wrapped around him and beaming from ear to ear as the camera bulbs flashed.

Stephanie wanted to flee but she couldn’t seem to move, her feet glued to the floor, unable to take her eyes off the unfolding scene.

Lucas looked so handsome, his dark hair artfully tousled, his scar only serving to highlight how attractive he was.

Stephanie thought how unfair it was that just yesterday they’d been in one another’s arms without a care in the world, excited to see what the future held.

Now he was having a baby with his ex-girlfriend, and Stephanie didn’t know if he wanted to see her again – or, indeed, if she wanted to be with him and be part of his complicated situation.

Her gaze flickered to Elle beside him, tall and leggy and beautiful, her incredible figure showing no trace of a baby bump yet, but she was undoubtedly glowing as she held onto Lucas’s hand tightly, gazing up at him adoringly.

Life wasn’t fair, Stephanie thought bitterly.

Even if she and Lucas somehow worked it out and decided to give their fledgling relationship a chance, Elle and the baby would always be part of their lives.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Lucas looked around, his gaze finding her immediately in the crush of people.

His expression was full of warmth and regret and sadness, but then Elle tugged on his hand, leaning across to whisper something in his ear and Lucas turned to her, giving her his undivided attention.

Stephanie swallowed, exhaling deeply, before remembering Catherine’s words once again. She smiled brightly, enthusiastically greeting the famous faces she’d met earlier that week at the yacht party, as she made her way to her front-row seat.

Elle’s fingers were laced through Lucas’s, and she was holding his hand so tightly that it was almost painful as she sashayed through to the Sunset Room, throwing a smug look to the security guard.

Outwardly, Lucas was smiling and pleasant to everyone he saw, but inwardly he was in turmoil. It felt as though his life had been turned upside down, as though everything had been put in a bag and shaken up and he had no control any more.

When he’d arrived at the palacio, Elle was already there, waiting for him.

It looked like she’d been one of the first to arrive.

Camille had been furious at Lucas’s request to put her on the guest list, and had outright refused at first. He’d had to beg, insisting that there was a good reason, and that he’d explain everything later.

Fortunately, his mother seemed too distracted – presumably by all the preparations – to put up too much of a fight.

Lucas wanted to talk to Elle, but they hadn’t had a moment alone so far.

Instead, she’d paraded him round like a prize-winning racehorse, unwilling to let him out of her sight.

She looked drop-dead gorgeous, Lucas had to give her that, in a Camille Andre pink tweed mini dress with oversized gold buttons, which had been a present from Camille last Christmas.

But he realized now that he no longer loved her.

Their relationship should have been over a long time ago, and she’d been right to end it.

Lucas was determined not to run from his responsibilities, though, and if he’d fathered a child, he wanted to be there for them, to play a positive role in their life.

The prospect of fatherhood brought up all kinds of emotions linked to the death of his own father, and the way Andre had been alternately distant then spoiling him materially. Lucas vowed to do better.

He didn’t know how this situation would play out, but he would stand by Elle and be the best father he could.

But he hoped – perhaps selfishly – that he could work things out with Stephanie.

He was really falling for her, and had dared to think of a future with her, but she’d looked so disappointed and regretful when he’d seen her moments ago, he couldn’t imagine how they could make it work now.

He’d try to convey his feelings in that one quick glance, but he knew exactly what the scene must look like to Stephanie, with Elle hanging off him, showing him off like a trophy.

‘Elle, can we talk?’ he suggested, as they moved from the chaos of the Sunset Room, where the show was about to take place, to the mayhem of backstage. ‘We must be able to find a quiet spot somewhere around here.’

‘Not now, Lucas,’ Elle admonished him, as she looked around to see who else was there, her wide blue eyes lighting up as she spotted famous models and influential journalists.

‘Just five minutes. I really think we need to discuss …’ He broke off as he saw his mother and Nicolas coming towards them through the crowd.

His gut lurched. Whilst Camille had agreed to let Elle attend, it was wisest to keep the two of them apart.

And he knew that at some point he needed to speak to his mother about what had happened at the restaurant – the fact that it had been closed down and Paulo seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth.

She was an investor, so he needed to tell her, but he wanted to wait until after the show.

Plus, he was hoping that by then he’d have located Paulo and everything would be resolved.

He didn’t want to bother her with that right now.

It wasn’t unusual for Camille to be anxious before a show, but right now she seemed more stressed than he’d ever seen her.

‘Everything OK?’ he asked, trying to keep his tone light, as he air-kissed her on both cheeks and shook hands with Nicolas.

‘Not exactly,’ Camille said tightly. She and Nicolas exchanged glances as Lucas wondered what was going on.

His mother stepped closer, keeping her voice as low as she could with all the noise in the background.

‘It’s been a challenging morning. We can catch up tomorrow, but everything’s going wrong right now.

Katerina has called in sick, the one who was supposed to be wearing the skintight bodice, so we’re having to change the entire running order. ’

‘I can do it,’ Elle suggested.

Camille turned to her as though noticing her for the first time. She exhaled sharply and shook her head. ‘No, Elle. I’ve had quite enough drama for today without you getting involved.’

‘No drama, I promise,’ Elle said, as Lucas stared at her in surprise. It was as though she was a different person, polite and demure, standing tall and elegant. ‘Camille, you know that I’ve always wanted to model for Camille Andre. Why would I do anything to jeopardize that?’

To Lucas’s surprise, his mother seemed to be genuinely considering it.

‘You know that I can do this, Camille. I’m a professional model – it’s my job – and that bodice will fit me perfectly. I understand that you may not like me, but surely you can put that aside for the sake of the show. What choice do you have?’

‘She’s right,’ Nicolas said to Camille. ‘Why not give her a chance?’

Camille hesitated for a moment, before agreeing to the inevitable. ‘All right,’ she said quietly. ‘But any more histrionics …’

‘None, I promise!’ Elle was gleeful. ‘Thank you, Camille,’ she managed to say without a hint of sulkiness.

Lucas looked on in disbelief, wondering what he’d just witnessed. He was astonished that Elle had put herself forward, and even more astonished that his mother had agreed. As Elle was about to rush off towards the make-up chair, he placed a hand lightly on her arm.

‘But what about …?’ he trailed off.

‘What about what, Lucas?’ she said, a dangerous edge to her voice.

‘Your … condition, that tight bodice,’ he murmured, aware of his mother and Nicolas watching the conversation.

‘It’s fine,’ Elle replied dismissively, shaking off his hand. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

‘What do you mean?’ Camille asked, turning to her son. ‘Her condition ?’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Elle was almost pleading. ‘Forget about it, Lucas.’

‘Forget about it?’ Lucas was stunned. ‘What do you …? Maman , Elle’s pregnant.’

Camille’s mouth fell open in shock. She looked from Lucas to Elle in disbelief.

‘Yes, I am.’ Elle’s demeanour changed, as she smiled manically and wrapped her arms around Lucas. ‘We’re both ecstatic. So, given that you’re going to be my baby’s grandmother, I think you should point me in the direction of the runway, because we’re just wasting time here.’

It took Camille a moment to recover, then she shook her head.

‘No. Absolutely not. That bodice is like an extra skin, I don’t know what’s going on here, but this is one surprise too many today.

We’ll talk about this later. Nicolas, let’s go back to our original plan.

Anouk can double up on the first look, Livia on the second then—’

As they began to walk off together, a look of panic crossed Elle’s face. ‘Wait!’ she called out. ‘I didn’t mean it … Please let me do it, I’m not pregnant, I promise.’

Lucas and Camille looked at her in horror and confusion. ‘What?’

‘I’m not pregnant, OK? I lied. Now please just let me walk in the show, you can’t do it without me!’

Camille laughed in disbelief, as Lucas’s face was a mask of disbelief, betrayal and confusion flashing across his features.

‘Are you OK?’ Nicolas asked softly, coming across to him.

‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe she would … What are you saying, Elle?’

‘I’m sorry, OK, Lucas. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I must do the show today …’

‘You told me I was going to be a father.’ Lucas laughed hollowly. I took it seriously, I took you seriously. I’d even told …’ His head snapped up as he realized who he needed to speak to. ‘I need to find Stephanie.’

‘Stephanie? That’s a brilliant idea,’ Camille exclaimed. ‘Why didn’t I think of her before? She’d be perfect, Lucas. Where is she? Is she here?’

‘I didn’t mean … but yes, she’d be perfect. I’ll go find her,’ he said, suddenly desperate to see her. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can.’

‘Stephanie?’ Elle shrieked. ‘You’re going to put that troll in the show instead of me? She’s short and ugly and … You can’t! It should be me!’

She was raising her voice now and people were starting to stare. It felt to Lucas horribly like they were right back at the beach after the yacht party.

‘Call security,’ Camille said under her breath, as Nicolas signalled for two burly guards to come over and escort her away. Elle was determined not to go quietly, but right now they all had other things on their mind.

‘Lucas, find Stephanie, I need to get her into hair and make-up as quickly as possible,’ Camille instructed.

‘Camille, we need to start the show,’ Nicolas said urgently. ‘We’re fifteen minutes over, and people are getting restless.’

Camille nodded, searching the crowd for René, who was at her side in moments. ‘Tell everyone we’ll start in ten minutes, then get the models lined up for a final inspection.’

As René nodded and got to work, Camille exhaled and turned to Nicolas.

‘It’s all right,’ he assured her. ‘We’re almost there. Everything’s under control.’

Camille looked up at him, her almond eyes wide and uncertain. ‘But what if Isobel’s telling the truth?’ she asked him. ‘What if she didn’t send the notes, and the real threat is still out there?’