Chapter 2

London

Langman got out of the plane nervously and waited for Shirley to come out as well. She kept complaining about all the horror he was putting her through and he kept assuring himself that it was the pregnancy hormones that were making her so bitchy…but she made it so damn hard.

‘Is this it? This is what you subjected me to so much travel for?’ Shirley snorted.

‘Yes, love. This is England.’ They began the walk to the arrival section of Heathrow.he hadn’t subjected her to the journey. She had announced that she needed a break as well and was going with him.

‘Hmph.’ She snorted.

‘You don’t like it?’

‘I expected something more exotic. I thought you said you were getting a much deserved leave? Aren’t we meant to be going on a Caribbean cruise or something?’ Langman grimaced. He didn’t want to tell her that he had been called here on business and she taunted him about his job so much that he’d lied that he’d gotten a well-deserved promotion and holiday.

‘I want a wheel chair. I can’t keep walking about with your kid causing all this havoc inside my body.’ She saddened. ‘My poor body. To think it was once so very beautiful.’

Langman wanted to cough.

Shirley had a sweet face, which made it amazing to think that she could be so annoying, and long legs, but calling any part of her body beautiful was dragging it a bit too far.

‘Have you seen what you have done, Langman? Anyway, I’m certain that your new position will pay for a post labor liposuction.’ She stared at their luggage.

‘So, where to now?’

Langman had to fight the urge to slap her with every fiber of his being. What sort of infuriating woman was this?

‘Waiting for an airport taxi. What else?’

Shirley snorted. She was beginning to do much of those. ‘Well this isn’t much of a vacation then…I expected a little more, Langman. Something like a private rented car or something of the sort.’ She sighed as if she was the world’s most longsuffering woman. ‘I guess you’d do better during our honey moon.’

Langman’s hand froze midair just as he was about to hail a taxi.

‘Honeymoon? Who said anything of the sort?’ she was trouble enough as she was. He really couldn’t see himself getting stuck to her for life.

Shirley’s eyes widened. ‘Aren’t you gonna do the noble thing, Langman? I’m having your goddamn baby!’

Langman took a deep breath.

This too shall pass, he told himself over and over again. Shirley was like this every day, he suddenly noticed. Her aggravations worsened during PMS and now, she was full blown insane. Langman managed to hail a taxi.

‘Where to, mate?’ the taxi driver was chewing gum and had loud music blasting from his radio.

No, his iPhone which was connected to his radio, Langman decided on second thought.

‘Mayfair.’ Langman replied.

The guy nodded and came out to help them pack their luggage into the trunk. Shirley wailed about her waist until Langman pushed her into the car in irritation.

The taxi guy laughed. ‘Nice weather today, isn’t it? Where are you and the missus coming from?’

‘Los Angeles.’ Langman drew out. His throbbing headache had returned.

‘Oh…American folk, aint ya? My mother’s step father-in-law was half American. On his father’s side.’ Langman looked in the rearview mirror to check if the taxi driver was smirking or joking.

He wasn’t.

‘So what are you fine folk doing here so close to winter? It gets really cold in these parts and since the missus is in the family way…well, I just wonder.’

‘It’s a well-deserved vacation.’ Shirley chirped obviously happy that the taxi driver had taken note of her ‘distress.’

‘Langman got it this period and so we had no choice but to head out here.’

‘Fine lady you must be then, love, to travel all this distance and keep your man company.’ The taxi guy commented.

Shirley nodded vigorously and Langman was a little worried that her head was going to fall right off.

‘So…’ the guy shifted the gear and Langman felt a little uncomfortable. It was odd getting used to the fact that in Britain, they drove on the opposite side. ‘What hotels do you have in mind?’

Langman gasped. The office had reserved a hotel for him somewhere near Mayfair but he’d unfortunately lost the paper.

‘Just a sec…’ he hunted for it in his briefcase while Shirley started humming an irritating tune that made Langman want to throw her out the window. After a while he paused and tried to regain his composure.

‘Honey, could you please stop.’ He said in his very sweetest voice.

‘Stop what?’ she asked innocently.

Langman breathed deeply. ‘The humming.’

‘What it’s disturbing you? I mean, this is a very popular song I’m humming, a beloved classic. Don’t you know the song, sir?’ she looked in the rearview mirror.

The driver shrugged, obviously sensing the tension.

‘It just sounds…’

‘Sounds what, Langman?’ her eyes dared him to make a nasty comment. He was surprised how badly he wanted to oblige.

‘Never mind. Hum yourself out.’ He resumed his search.

Shirley continued her humming, staring out the window as she did. ‘Better find that hotel fast. We’re passing many good ones.’ She added.

‘Found it.’ Langman said relieved. ‘Davenport Hostels. Do you know it?’ he paused after reading the hostel part. Surely the company hadn’t ordered him a hostel accommodation.

Shirley’s eyes were boring into his head and Langman tried not to meet her gaze. ‘Hostel?’ she echoed.

‘Sure.’ The taxi chap said gaily, trying to brighten the mood. ‘It’s the best hostel around anyway. Not far from Mayfair at all.’ He smiled.

‘Langman, answer me! Do you expect me to sleep in a fucking dormitory? In my condition?’

‘It isn’t as bad as you’re making it seem, Shirley. It will make us feel young again. You know, like high school…’

‘I’m too shocked to even say anything.’ Shirley readjusted herself several times. ‘How could you book a fucking dormitory? Is this how you plan to spend your stupid vacation? And to think I applied for a leave so I’ll accompany you…’

Langman snorted. So much for her saying she was too shocked to speak. Langman wanted to yell back. That he didn’t do the booking. It was the company.

‘I didn’t ask you to come. You brought yourself. Deal with it and stop being a nagging ninny! For God’s sake, Shirley I try my best!’ he exploded.

There was a long awkward silence and some minutes later, the taxi man cleared his throat which had become unusually dry.

‘Davenport Hostels.’ He muttered, stopping the car and eager to get rid of this people as soon as possible. And to think that he thought his wife was a nag. Julia was a saint compared to Miss. Prissy here. Suddenly, he felt overwhelming pity for Langman.

‘That would be £12.75 mate.’ He said. Langman counted some money and gave the man and then stood waiting for him to get the change.

Shirley waddled towards him. ‘For Pete’s sake! It’s been a long day I need to rest. My ankles are swollen sore!’

‘I’m tired too, Shirley. I’m waiting for the kind man to give me my change.’ Langman stressed through clenched teeth.

‘You would know how I felt if you were in my condition.’

Langman said nothing. He received his money and smiled at the taxi driver. Picking up two bags, he headed for the reception.

‘Langman! What the hell? Who’s gonna carry these other boxes?’

‘Be sensible, Shirley. It’s just two little bags. You can manage…’

Shirley’s eyes narrowed. ‘Do you want me to miscarry this baby? Do you even want this baby?’

Langman stopped and looked up to heaven. If there was a God, this was the time to strike thunder on that sorry excuse of a woman.

‘If you just wait outside then I’ll go and get help.’

‘Fine! And if you come out and find that I’ve been run over by a car or kidnapped, or stabbed to death, that’s fine too!’ Shirley yelled and crossed her arms.

The headache that had been torturing Langman deepened to a migraine.

Chapter 1

France, Paris.

Saoirse Montez waited for the bus to take her to the shopping mall. She fiddled with her blackberry and checked Facebook over a hundred times. Utterly bored and with nothing left to do, she sat down on the bench by the bus stop and pugged in her earphones. When you’re gone by Avril Lavigne was playing, and Saoirse found herself singing along with the tune. She closed her eyes and sang with all of her being. It felt so good singing like this. The morning was a sunny one and although the weather was chilly, welcoming December, birds were still managing to chirp and the wind blew trees in a soothing manner.

Saoirse was unaware of all the notes she was hitting.

‘When you’re gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you’re gone the face I’ve grown to love is missing too…’

A limousine she hadn’t noticed pulled up then.

She paused her iPod, a little worried.

The dark windows slid down and there she saw the most elegant looking gentleman. Was that a prince? She wondered. No man of normal class could afford such an expensive looking suit.

When he made his way out, she concluded that he must be a movie star. He looked an awful lot like George Clooney…if possible, he was slightly more handsome. His dark hair was greying at the temples and there were little wrinkles at the side of his eyes.

He was gorgeous, Saoirse conceded, which was a little difficult to admit since she was just 18 years old and he looked well over 45.

He smiled easily. ‘Hello.’ He extended his hand. Saoirse battled over the urge to accept his handshake or keep her own counsel. Those eyes were so mesmerizing however, that she found herself extending her hand as well. ‘What’s your name, sweetheart?’

Saoirse looked uneasy. She turned left and right to make sure he didn’t have a mob of kidnappers lurking about somewhere. There was no reason to kidnap her anyway.

Her father was a butcher and her mother was a housewife who got pregnant at least every other year.

‘Saoirse…Saoirse Montez.’ She swallowed.

He sat down beside her. ‘I’m Edmond Carroll.’ He smiled again. ‘Do you know you have the most beautiful voice, Saoirse? And dare I say the most beautiful face to boot.’

Saoirse was blushing deeply at this point. No one had ever heard her sing. It was just something she did when she was sad or lonely.

Just then, the long awaited bus passed and Saoirse stood up and begun to run after it. ‘Wait!’ she yelled.

Edmond called after her. ‘Saoirse…if you would stay a while and talk with me I’ll be happy to give you a ride to wherever you wish.’

That was too tempting to pass off.

A free ride! And in a limo. Who in their right mind would turn that down?

Edmond smiled at she shuffled her feet back to the bus stop bench.

‘So what do you do, Saoirse? Are you in college?’

‘I just finished high school. I haven’t been able to go to college because my parents can’t afford it.’ She didn’t know why she was telling him her personal problems. He was a stranger, but his eyes were so damn mesmerizing. They were so blue that it was as if they were washing up her soul and cleansing her of all her troubles.

Edmond nodded encouragingly. ‘That must be really sad, my dear. How does it make you feel? Are all your friends off to college?’

Saoirse nodded. ‘It doesn’t make me feel too bad though. I never got the grades anyway.’ She fiddled with her blackberry again.

Edmond nodded again empathetically. ‘If it helps some, I was really rubbish in high school. No college would take me either.’

Saoirse eyes widened. Him? As sophisticated and accomplished as he was?

‘So how did you get so rich?’ she asked and then thought better of her question. Maybe she was being rude to the elegant gentleman.

Edmond took her hands and rubbed them between his larger ones. ‘Sweetheart, everything isn’t about academics you know.’ He inched closer. ‘I had your kind of gift.’

Saoirse drew her eyebrows together. ‘Gift?’

‘Yes. I was born to be a performer. I could sing, dance, act…heck, who needs a degree when they can do all that, aye?’

Saoirse perked up. ‘But…how did you start out? Isn’t it difficult to get recognized media attention?’

Edmond let go of her hands and slouched against the bench. ‘That’s why you are in luck my darling. I wasn’t as lucky as you are, you see. I didn’t find any agencies that wanted to represent me because they felt I was too amateur. I had to start my own agency and represent myself. It was a really long and strenuous process. But you…well. You have me…if you’ll have me, that is.’ His smile was so charming. ‘Will you have me, darling Saoirse?’

Saoirse wasn’t sure what he meant. Was he some pedophile? Suddenly, she became aware of how silly and careless she was being having this conversation with this man.

‘Erm…I need to get going.’ Her voice was barely a whisper. She stood up abruptly.

Edmond’s eyes narrowed. ‘What’s wrong?’

Saoirse looked uneasy. ‘I don’t know you. I should…since you’re a top shot performer, but I’m sorry I don’t.’

Edmond stood up with a sigh. ‘I may have come across as…’ he hunted for a word in vain. ‘Look Saoirse, I’m not that kind of man. ‘I heard you sing and I honestly believe that you are a talented young woman who would make it in the performing industry. I just want to be your agent, that’s all.’ He rose his hands up in a gesture of peace and surrender.

‘I should talk this through with ma mere and pere.’

Edmond nodded. ‘Absolutely, my darling. How old are you…’ his voice trailed off.

‘Eighteen.’

‘Figured as much. You’re an adult, darling. If this is something you want, you can get it with or without their approval. Here is my card.’

Saoirse looked at it.

EDMOND CARROLL

BRITANNICA AGENCY

MAYFAIR

LONDON

+447 772841154

‘London?’ she queried.

‘Yes, I’m afraid. London was the only place I could find to start off my agency. It’s definitely a long way off for you but you are so very talented, Saoirse and I would hate to see that wonderful talent go to waste. So I’ve decided that if you agree, you will be funded by Britannica agency.’

‘What’s in all this for you, Mr. Carroll?’ all this was seemingly too good to be true.

‘Please, call me Edmond. I’m just trying to be a Good Samaritan. Now about that ride…are you still interested?’

Saoirse had so many questions. If he worked in London, what was he doing in Paris? How had he happened to pass by her bus stop in his limo just in time to hear her sing?

She gave him another wary look but he was too busy lightening his pipe.

Just who was Edmond Carroll?

‘An angel, I tell you!’ Avril Montez shrilled. She paused to put a hand behind her waist and her face crunched up in a little pain.

‘Are you okay?’ Saoirse’s father had been screaming on the top of his voice and had finally managed to work himself into a sweat. He didn’t want his daughter travelling off to some far away land to be a pop star. Heck, could she even sing? By the way, he had witnessed things like this before! His half-sister, Mercedes, had been whisked away at age fourteen to become a ‘model’ and he’d never seen her again. Rumors had it that she’d disappeared after a handsome gentleman had come and offered her so much promise.

Poor young Mercedes’ body had probably rotted away by now with no decent burial.

‘I know men like this. They own brothels far away and whisk little girls to become prostitutes!’

‘But pere, I’m not a little girl!’ Saoirse didn’t want to stamp her foot. Her father was still holding his butcher knife and that got her scared.

‘Come on, Yannis! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Let the girl have a life! Do you want her to die in this sorry excuse of a house you’ve provided her with? In Hollywood she has so much more promise!’ Avril said and then puffed slightly.

Saoirse was slightly worried that her mere was in labor.

‘Oh damn this one!’ Avril wailed. ‘It’s itching to get out.’

‘Well finally you’re admitting it! You’ve been in labor for the past 3 hours. If you would just be sensible and get into the truck so I can take you to the hospital…’

‘I can bear the pain, Yannis! This is my seventh pregnancy. I am an expert at this.’

Yannis rolled his eyes and dropped his knife abruptly on the working surface. Saoirse actually jumped with a little fear when he did that.

Avril’s face scrunched up again as another contraction washed over her. The underside of her gown was wet and the floor beneath her was wet as well. Saoirse had been well conscious during the birth of her last 4 siblings and she knew the signs. ‘Mere…please go to the hospital.’

‘Darlin, this is woman’s work and your mere is an expert at it. Don’t get all fiddled like your poor pere. Look here, Saoirse. I don’t want you wasting your life away like I did…’

Yannis coughed to let them know he was still there and he didn’t like where the conversation was headed. ‘Are you indeed trying to sell our little girl into slavery?’ he countered. ‘We have seven kids but Saoirse will always be special.’

‘Six kids, Yannis. And keep out of this. You’re supposed to be thinking up names for your seventh one.’

‘I don’t even know what sex it’s gonna be.’

‘It’s all good anyway.’ Avril fanned herself irritably. ‘Pick one for a boy and a girl. If it turns out to be either, you can save the other name for next time.’

Saoirse almost shrieked. There were going to be more babies?

The conviction came then. She really couldn’t continue living here.

Adrienne came out then with her thumb in her pink mouth. ‘shawose…what’s happnin?’ she asked with her little four year old babble.

‘Sweet pea, the baby is about to come.’ Saoirse offered. ‘Where are Jean-Paul, Garfield and Marie?’

Adrienne tried to think. ‘Paulie is hanging dresses and Garry is…sleeping. Marie is…’

Adrienne thought for quite a while but couldn’t find the word she needed and Saoirse stepped in.

‘That’s fine, Addie. I need you to get everyone here fast. I have something to say.’ She watched her pere move her mere into the truck and sighed. That would be the last time she was seeing any of them for a considerable while. A pity she couldn’t meet the poor little snicker they were expecting, but living in this family was an extreme mess.

It was all probably for the best.

She got out Edmond Carroll’s complimentary card and called him.

Prologue

‘Langman!’ Jane Greer yelled in her usual high pitched tone.

‘Yes, boss.’ Langman was a tired twenty eight year old man. He was tall and normal sized for a man his age but his face looked like that of a middle aged man. This was partly due to the fact that he had the boss from hell.

‘How is the Bridge project coming?’

Langman paused. Bridge project? He didn’t even recall that ever being on his agenda.

‘Erm…’ he begun cautiously. ‘I’ve been working on the Clause project of recent because Christmas is coming soon, so I thought…’

‘You thought?’ Jane’s hawk-like eyes narrowed. ‘Langman…I try to put in good words for you with Mr. Schmidt but at this rate you are really leaving me with no choice…many people would kill literally kill, for your job.’

‘I know, boss…’

‘You are lazy and you never do your work. How did you ever get hired into M&Z’s? Who is the fool who hired you? Tell me.’

Langman’s mouth fell open. He really thought he was doing his best. Why wasn’t this just coming across the way he felt?

Jane crossed her hands and stared intently at Langman, as if she had reached wit’s end with him.

‘What am I going to do with you?’ she said after a while. Langman watched her face drain from exhaustion and her eyes closed slowly. She was really exasperated with him.

He wringled his hands nervously.

‘If I may, boss…ma’am…’ he added as an afterthought. ‘May I have another chance? Just to prove myself. I am sure I can do this.’

Jane whined. ‘How many other chances do you need? I’d say you were a bloody cat with nine lives but even you have surpassed that amount of chances Langman.’ She groaned then. ‘What have I done to deserve such a P.A? All the other directors don’t work as hard as me and they get P.As who are reliable and smart.’

‘I can do this!’ Langman tried not to yell. He needed this job really badly. Recently, he’d begun thinking of settling down because his girlfriend of five years had fallen pregnant. It wasn’t something he’d seen coming at all. They’d had a romantic dinner to celebrate their fifth anniversary and things had gotten a little out of control.

Langman had forgotten to use protection and Shirley, his girlfriend, wasn’t on the pill because she’d always trusted Langman to be the responsible one.

Everyone wanted him to be the responsible one.

All the responsibility was beginning to hurt.

‘Fine. You’ve come across feisty and strong. That’s what I’m looking for in a P.A. I’m also looking for someone who isn’t an idiot. Mind you, Langman, I have tons of applications flooding in the post. If you let me down one more time, I’ll make sure it’s the last time.’ She warned.

Langman nodded and started arranging his table quickly, sorting out files under alphabetic headings while Jane looked on in mild but irritated amusement.

‘What are you doing, Langman?’ she asked quietly.

Langman stopped for a bit. ‘Erm…’

‘Are you trying to get sacked sooner rather than later? Damn it, you give me a bloody headache every single day! Look, I’m going to be looking at new P.As to replace you. If you do this job well…I may reconsider and retain you…but I guess that’s too much to hope for.’

‘I won’t let you down ma’am.’

‘Shut up, Langman. Let me finish. Schmidt has this new project in London. He’s recruiting different pop star wannabes from around the world and he’s going to make them superstars. Now Langman…’ she dropped her voice a notch. ‘This is top secret. Hell, I don’t know why I’m putting this in your care but I figured how much more can you screw things, eh? The press is not to be aware of this. No one should! If this works out, Schmidt can get more than half a billion bucks under his belt from being their manager.’ She slid him a brown envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL.

Langman thought a bit. He still didn’t know where he fit into this.

‘I completely understand, ma’am. What would you have me do?’ that seemed like a safe way to voice his uncertainty.

Jane just stared at him. ‘Really, Langman? Really? Do I look like your lecturer? Get your things ready for London in a fortnight.’ with that she walked out.

Langman looked from the envelope to Jane Greer frantically. He couldn’t leave for London now. Shirley was already 7 months along and she needed his support. Jane Greer would have his head for dinner if he didn’t go.

He rubbed his head and felt it throb uncontrollably.

The worry lines on his forehead deepened.