‘Yeah, but then every time anyone does anything crazy, I’ll be this cultural touchstone for “bitches be crazy”,’ Ali argued. ‘They’ll mention me as the “disgraced blogger” and use whatever new scandal is going down to dredge up my humiliation. All those #BumpUpdates are out there forever.’
‘What makes you think it’ll be different if you speak up? It could just be giving them more ammo.’
‘Well, at least I’ll have had the chance to tell my side of the story. I’ll get to own the narrative.’ She was parroting Amy Donoghue nearly word for word as she handed over change for the toll bridge.
‘Why don’t you try Durty Aul’ Town and that way you have options?’ Liv suggested.
She had a point, Ali thought dolefully. Goddamn.
‘I really don’t want to have to see Stephan. I threw his Viagra at him in front of the whole set last time I was there. It was literally the day Sam nutted this baby into me so I can’t even blame pregnancy hormones.’
Liv laughed grimly, then stopped abruptly.
‘Stephan doesn’t know that, though. You could blame the hormones with him?’
‘I should probably downplay the pregnancy, though, if I really want that job back. I’m not sure if a pregnant production assistant is that attractive an option. Soon I’ll be even less agile.’
‘True,’ Liv agreed. ‘You look cute now but give it another few months and you’ll be crowning in the middle of his set.’
‘Thank you. I’ll be attempting to keep that to myself.’
‘Haha, not sure you’ll have much of a choice. Remember, Nella delivered in the living room and, let me tell you, it was visceral.’
Chapter 13
‘I’m back and hard at it on Durty Aul’ Town, Shell-Belles! Here’s my dressing room.’ Shelly switched to the front camera to take in the rails of Imelda’s clothes, her supply of sparkling water, the bouquet on her dressing table that was replenished every week and the bowl of fresh fruit on the coffee table.
‘In today’s scene,’ she continued, switching the camera around so her face filled the phone screen once more, ‘Imelda and her mam are having a row over the lingerie parties Imelda’s been throwing because half the women in Maura’s bridge club are scandalised and the other half are mad for it – another gritty storyline for me.’ She winked and made a funny face, then added a filter and hit Share.
She flicked through her script, doing a last-minute run-through of her cues, then checked the time. Where was Amy? They were supposed to meet well ahead of her call time. She opened the dressing room door and started at the sight of Amy standing right there with Ali Jones.
‘Ah, Shelly! Just on my way in to you.’ Amy was blasé as per usual.
‘You were not.’ Shelly sulked, noting Ali squirm a little.
‘Sorry, Shelly,’ Ali piped up. ‘It was me. We collided out here and she’s just trying to talk me out of asking for my old job back.’
‘Oh really?’ Shelly softened immediately. She still felt protective towards Ali. She’d gone to Stephan on Ali’s behalf after they had met in the hospital, but he had been characteristically dickish and she hadn’t had the heart to mention it to Ali. Perhaps with Ali standing right in front of him, he would come around. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Way better physically, thank god.’
The poor thing. Shelly gave her a hug, their bumps momentarily pressed together.
‘Waah.’ Ali laughed. ‘That was intimate!’
‘Great shot, gals. Insta loves some bump-on-bump action.’ Amy turned her phone around to show Shelly and Ali the snap she’d just taken. God, trust Amy. Shelly grinned in spite of herself.
‘You might share it after Ali makes her public statement, Shelly?’
‘You’re like an Insta-momager, Amy.’ Ali giggled. ‘Never not ON!’
‘Get in here, Amy. Ali, come say hi before you go, yeah? Good luck with Stephan.’ She blew her a kiss and Ali ambled on.
Amy shut the door behind her, holding up her phone where Shelly’s stories were playing.
‘Great stories this morning but watch your angles: ninety degrees is fine for some twenty-something in absolute mint condition but in your mid-thirties it’s got to be a forty-five-degrees minimum. Now, I’ve been doing some major research and I think you’re actually way ahead of the curve with this single-mum angle.’
Shelly didn’t even bother correcting her on her cynical wording – single-mum angle! – as if she’d taken a wrecking ball to her life for something fresh for the ’gram.
‘We’re gonna play this smart. I think honesty is about to have a major comeback on Insta – I mean the right kind of honesty, obviously – and you and Ali Jones can ride this wave.’ She spun her tablet around to show Shelly some infographics she’d put together.
‘So, will you be continuing on with Ali?’ Shelly couldn’t help but feel a little territorial, especially now that keeping the house after divorcing Dan was riding on her Insta income.
‘No, Ali’s pretty sure this post I’ve negotiated for her comeback is a one-off. I’m not a good fit there anyway. If she does stick with the Insta thing, she’s much more on the grittier side of things, which suits her. I think she’s got real potential to be a great no-bullshit voice on the scene. She’s good on camera.’
‘Yeah, she was all right. From what I tuned into, she was funny about her and Sam. Plus, it’d be crazy to waste that following. What’s she up to now?’
‘Three hundred and twenty.’
‘What!!! Three hundred and twenty thousand once she accepts all the follow requests?’
‘Yep, notoriety sells. I keep telling her to capitalise, but she’s all hung up on that Sam guy and I don’t think she really knows what she wants out of any of this, except for Notions.ie to stop publishing their think-pieces. Beyond that I think she just wants to take care of the baby. Right, more importantly … SHELLY. What is the plan?’
Shelly sat in front of the dressing table mirror and filled her in about the pressure to bring in some money.
‘I’m ready to work. But with @__________ still lurking in my DMs, I just don’t want to bring Georgie into too much Insta stuff. Plus, she’s not a baby anymore and she’s becoming more self-aware.’
‘OK, brill. Well, I know you’ve been looking at the gender-reveal party offer with the booze company but I’m positive if you let me put it out to tender, I can come back with a more attractive package.’
‘Yes. Fine.’ Shelly checked the time. Ruairí would be along any minute to bring her to set. She started to gather her script and water bottle. ‘But I think we should aim to do it quite close to the due date for maximum impact.’
‘Yep, not a prob, boss. There’s also the question of the birth.’ Amy stood with one brow cocked.
‘Is there?’ Shelly narrowed her eyes.
‘Well, it is a … unique marketing opportunity for the right brand,’ Amy said plainly.
A tentative knock on the door interrupted them. ‘Ms Devine?’ called Ruairí nervously.