Tease by Immodesty Blaize Page A

charidee, darling.’
    ‘Oh cheer up! It’s good to see you, lookin’ gorgeous as always.’ Kat slapped Tiger’s bum heartily.
    Once outside in the street, Tiger came over all faint and staggered across the road to the dining tables outside the posh hotel opposite. A waiter recognised her immediately and descended on her with the champagne menu and a little bow. Needing to calm her nerves she ordered a glass of Krug and dialled for Blue as she fanned her face with the menu.
    ‘Dahhhhhling, I’m fluffing up your little poodle tail a treat!’ came the drawl down the phone. Tiger was silent, trying to get the words out.
    ‘Tiger? You there?’ Blue sounded worried.
    ‘C-c-c …’
    ‘Tiger, calm, darling, it’s okay. What’s happened?’
    ‘S-s-s …’ Tiger thumped the table in frustration. Tears pricked her eyes. She was not going to cry under any circumstances. Survivors don’t cry, she reminded herself as she hastily scrabbled in her bag and put her shades on.
    ‘Breathe, darling, it’s okay,’ soothed Blue.
    ‘I’m s-stopping this thing with Rex.’ Tiger hurried the words out.
    ‘What? But – you’ve hardly started! He’s all you’ve talked about for the last three months! I thought as soon as the Savoy was done you guys were on and were going to spend some quality time together? He’s absolutely besotted with you too! I’ve never seen him like it!’
    ‘I knoooow!’ she wailed plaintively. ‘I just c-c-c …’
    ‘What’s he done? The slimy bitch, I’ll kill him. Shall I come over? Where are you?’
    ‘No! No, it’s okay, it’s not Rex’s fault for once. Look I’ll explain everything later. C-can you get a Rolex over to him at the Hunter Gatherers’ office please? And a card, it needs a card. Just put erm …’
    ‘The Rolex? Woh. Tiger, are you sure about this?’ Blue asked, half laughing.
    ‘Yes. Just put, “I love” … no, put, “It was fun. Back to business?” ’
    ‘Er – are you absolutely sure?’
    ‘Yes.’ Tiger snivelled daintily, composing herself. ‘And put a little pawprint underneath.’
    ‘If you say so,’ replied Blue, sounding sceptical.
    ‘Thank you. I appreciate it. By the way we have to be at this gig at six, and you need to load in costumes. God, I need tonight like a hole in the head. How am I supposed to go on and smile and be fabulous when all I want to do is lock myself in my bedroom and have a cry to Roy Orbison songs while wearing Rex’s aftershave? I really need a hug.’
    ‘Come home, darling. I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll get you in showroom condition for tonight, don’t worry.’
    Tiger snapped her phone shut and, realising an excited crowd was gathering around her taking photos with their cameras, dived inside the hotel to wait miserably for her Krug.
    ‘Yeah! Amazing, darling!’ squealed Blue, draping a gold silk dressing gown about Tiger’s bare shoulders, as he escorted her to the dressing room. ‘Lewis, did you see that actress in the audience start to take her clothes off too! Ooh, and did you see that chat-show host Bentley Berry down there too? You shoulda seen his face, classic! I bet he mentions it on his show next week!’
    ‘Okay calm down,’ said Lewis, closing the door of the dressing room and ushering Tiger to her seat. ‘That was great. The audience are still going nuts, the client was giving me the thumbs up from across the room. I’ll have to go and see her in a minute.’
    ‘Oh the whole thing was fantastic!’ gushed Blue. ‘Did you see Georgia sliding down the banister, camp as Christmas!’
    ‘Now, Tiger, the client wants you to join the celebrity guests and the charity CEO for a glass of champagne.’
    ‘I don’t think I can manage it tonight, Lewis,’ she replied softly, starting to pack up her make-up caddy, ‘I’ve already done my photocall with them anyway. I’ll just tell Vladimir to be ready for half an hour’s time, I’ll be packed by then.’
    ‘Hrmph. That’s not what we