‘OK?’ Spencer gasped. ‘Honey, this is divine. Everyone will love it.’
Olivia wasn’t entirely sure but she was so grateful to Spencer for trying to help. ‘You’re right!’ She put on her bravest face. ‘Divine.’ She flashed a smile and pretended the homewares aisle was the red carpet. She strutted down a few steps, paused, turned and strode back with not a single stumble.
The store assistant was staring again, so she gave him a little wave.
‘Great walking, sweetie, but what’s the pose?’ Spencer asked.
‘The pose?’ Olivia was focusing on getting the walk right. Now she had to do a pose, too?
‘Look,’ Spencer said, grabbing her shoulders and looking her right in the eye. ‘You are going to have to show off this fabulous dress, and you can’t just hope the photographers get a good shot of you – you have to make it happen!’ Spencer did three quick poses in a row: his head over his right shoulder, both hands on his hips with a pout, and one foot kicked up in the air. ‘Which one did you like best?’
‘Um . . .’ Olivia was a little overwhelmed.
‘You try.’ Spencer commanded.
Olivia put one hand on her hip, turned to the side and smiled wide.
‘Not bad, but turning hides my creation! How about this?’ Spencer put both hands behind his back, in an innocent pose, turned his face to one side and batted his eyelashes.
‘If I don’t have to do the eyelashes,’ Olivia said, ‘that works for me.’ She struck the pose and crossed one leg in front of the other.
‘Oooh, honey,’ Spencer purred. ‘Perfect. Now get out there and be fierce!’
‘Thank you for being wonderful.’ She air-kissed him and then caught herself. The Hollywood way was infectious! Olivia didn’t mind, as long as it didn’t get out of hand.
Now for the red carpet, Olivia thought. She knew she wouldn’t be there in time to walk down the red carpet with Jackson, but she thought maybe she could find Ivy or Mr Vega lurking around.
As she rushed past the cash registers she heard someone calling her name.
‘Olivia, over here!’ It was her bio-dad, looking every inch the 1940s movie star next to the glamorous Lillian. They had obviously been getting to know each other.
‘Oh no!’ Lillian had noticed her dress.
‘What happened?’ Mr Vega asked.
‘There was a spill.’ Olivia didn’t want to dwell on it. ‘It’s fixed now, and I’m ready to get out there and face the cameras.’ Olivia still thought no one was really going to be paying attention, so as long as she could get inside the cinema and watch the movie, her night would be complete.
‘That cut looks really striking,’ Lillian said. ‘I think it actually works.’
Olivia nodded.
‘Well, then,’ Mr Vega said, offering his arm. ‘As your sister seems to have already gone ahead, would you do me the honour of allowing me to escort you?’
Olivia grinned. ‘I would love to.’
Lillian beamed with approval. ‘You two look gorgeous. Now get out there and dazzle them! I’ll be right behind you.’
Olivia’s heart started to pump as her heels clicked across the parking lot towards the Picturedrome. Over the crowds that were surrounding the entrance, all with their backs to her, she could see bright spotlights and flashes. There was a huge cheer and Olivia guessed that it must be because Jackson or Jessica was making their appearance.
She took a quick glance at her reflection in a window as Mr Vega led her between a van and a sports car. Her diamond choker sparkled under the parking lot lights and her brown curls fluttered gently in the breeze. There wasn’t far to go now until they would be at the end of the carpet, making their appearance.
Now or never, she thought. The noises got louder and Olivia could hear people shouting out to Jessica to sign autographs.
‘We love you, Jessica!’ screamed a brown-haired girl.
Olivia wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or disappointed to follow Jessica – either way, the crowd wouldn’t be much interested in her. Jessica was in her element, greeting all her fans like they were long-lost friends.
A young man with a goatee hurried over.
‘Olivia Abbott plus one?’ he asked. She nodded. ‘Just a minute. Lillian, you can go whenever you want to.’
Lillian gave a knowing smile and mock-whispered, ‘That means no one cares when I go!’ She gave a little wave and said, ‘Good luck.’ She headed into the crowd and disappeared.
‘I guess this is it,’ Olivia said, but her father’s gaze was fixed on the retreating silhouette of Lillian.
‘What, honey? Oh, yes,’ he said, giving her arm a squeeze. He was watching the crowd again. ‘This is so exciting for you, Olivia. I’m so proud of you for following your dream and getting this part.’ He pulled her into a hug.
Olivia wished her adoptive parents could have been here, too, but she was only allowed two extra tickets to the red carpet, and they’d gone to Ivy and Mr Vega.
‘Thanks,’ she replied. Even though she couldn’t walk down the red carpet with Jackson, she was so happy to be able to do it with her biological dad. She couldn’t believe it had only been a few months since she’d found out who he was.
‘Olivia, you’re a go.’ Mr Goatee pushed them towards the red carpet and a team of security guards materialised and stood along the crowd, forming a path.
This was like the biggest pep rally of her life.
There were young girls and parents in the crowd, photographers and journalists. There were little strobe lights chasing up and down the sides of the carpet and music from the movie’s soundtrack played from big speakers. The sight of the red carpet laid out in front of her, leading up the steps into the cinema, gave her such a thrill that she didn’t even have to think about putting on her smile.
This is amazing, Olivia thought.
‘You look beautiful,’ Mr Vega whispered. He took the first step on to the carpet and Olivia followed. She relaxed her shoulders and lifted her chin. They were approaching the press area where all the photographers were lined up to catch the arrivals.
Everyone was staring and Olivia heard one man with a grey moustache ask, ‘Who is that?’
‘I don’t know,’ said the woman in a trench coat next to him.
Olivia caught sight of Sophia, elbowing her way to the front of the crowd of photographers. Sophia gave a little wave and then said to the woman, ‘That is Olivia Abbott, the next big thing.’ She started snapping away furiously with her camera.