Destination Chile. Katy Colins

right. Okay.’ He’d signed it already?

      Jerry handed me over a stack of papers that had been stapled together at the top. ‘It’s just your basic contract that covers things like insurance and some boring legal jargon.’ I must have hesitated before taking it. ‘Don’t worry, Anna has run through it with Ben who must be happy with it all. It’s all kosher. The reason we need to move quite quickly on all of this is that the filming is set to take place in the next few weeks. I only found out this morning that Channel 4 have let us know of an unexpected slot in their scheduling so everything has been bumped forward to give ourselves the best shot to fill it.’

      I smiled weakly and took the forms. I couldn’t believe that Ben had just signed it. But isn’t this what you wanted? I asked myself. You were the one who suggested taking Rahul up on his offer in the first place. Maybe Ben knew how excited you were and wanted to make you happy by showing you that he was on board with the idea? I tried to shush the prickling feeling that I was about to sign a contract without running through it with a fine-toothed comb.

      ‘Have you got a pen?’ I looked up at Jerry. He nodded and fumbled in one of the messy drawers for a fancy ballpoint pen that glided across the pages where I scrawled my signature.

      ‘Excellent.’ Jerry beamed and took the papers from me. ‘I’ll get these sent off to the legal department and ask them to forward you both a copy for your records and all that stuff.’ I nodded as he cleared his throat and leaned forward. ‘I know that you and Ben are going to have a wonderful time, be incredible contestants, and I have no doubt that the nation will warm to you and what you’re trying to achieve with your business.’

      ‘Thanks, I hope you’re right.’ I gave a light laugh. Forget about stressing that you didn’t get to fully read every line of that contract. Trust Ben and remember that both lovely Rahul and Jerry here just want to make a light-hearted show. I mean, it’s hardly going to be question time with Jeremy bloody Paxman, is it? I could have laughed about how sensitive I was being. We get a free holiday and get to promote our business. What could possibly go wrong?

      ‘So, Georgia, someone will be in touch regarding travel arrangements and what things you’ll need to bring with you et cetera, et cetera. You will need to keep the seventeenth free. Which I know is very soon, but like I said, everything has been shifted forward. Is this still going to be okay?’

      I mentally ran through my diary. January was set to be our quietest month, Conrad and Kelli were perfectly capable of being in charge for less than a fortnight, Jimmy and Shelley didn’t leave until next month and Marie still had three weeks left until her latest mini-me entered the world. ‘Yep, I can’t see there’s going to be any problems.’ I got to my feet as he suddenly seemed quite keen to get me out of the room.

      ‘Great, well it was so lovely to meet you and I’m sure we’ll see you again soon. We’re thrilled to have you both on board for what’s guaranteed to be a fun and memorable experience! I’m just jealous that I’ve not been asked to take part with my wife!’ He let out a deep laugh and then picked up the phone once more and asked for Dog Lover Dana to escort me back to the main room before shaking my hand again. ‘Good luck, Georgia!’

      I said goodbye and followed Dana who was chatting excitedly about the fantastic concept and how lucky we were to be involved. I half tuned out, feeling like I’d emerged from some strange comforting bubble, and now that I was back in the bedlam of the hipster courtyard I had this strange sinking feeling that I’d been way too hasty.

      It was all going to be fine, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it?

CHAPTER 7

       Inveterate (adj.) – Confirmed in a habit; habitual

      ‘Well, that was different,’ Ben said smiling, as he pulled out a pair of gloves from his coat pocket. We’d left the television studios and had managed to hail a black cab. Thankfully we had snuck out without getting Blaise-d once more. Please don’t let him be part of the actual filming, I said in silent prayer. Although nothing could put a dampener on travelling with Ben, it certainly would be a lot harder with Jazz Hands McJazz Face there.

      Ben seemed in a really great mood, whereas I felt a little confused and dazed by what had just happened in that room with calm Jerry and his kind eyes.

      ‘I was a little sceptical when you first mentioned this TV show thing, babe, but actually I’ve been thinking and I reckon it’s going to be great for the business.’

      ‘And us?’ I pouted.

      He laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. ‘Yeah, and us, of course. Although, I think we’re pretty spot on. They say you can’t beat perfection.’ He let out a bark of a laugh as I pretended to fake vomit. Although inside I felt like that too.

      ‘You did look over the contract properly?’ I asked for the third time since we’d left.

      He gave me a look. ‘Yes. I’ve told you, Georgia, we have nothing to worry about. It was just your basic agreement, like I’ve said. Trust me, it’s fine.’

      I nodded and told myself to do just that.

      ‘Where to, folks?’ the cabbie interrupted us as we pulled out of the courtyard.

      ‘We’re done earlier than I thought, so we’ve got a bit of time to kill before our train back,’ I said to Ben, glancing at the clock above the meter.

      Ben leant forward to speak to the driver. ‘Can you take us to Belvedere Crescent please, mate,’ he asked and squeezed my knee.

      ‘You’re the boss,’ the cabbie replied and turned right onto the busy London streets.

      ‘Where’s that?’

      ‘My dad’s place.’

      ‘Really?’ I blinked in surprise.

      ‘Yeah, you mentioned it earlier and I just thought maybe it is time you met him.’

      I self-consciously fidgeted with my dress and pulled at my tights that were bagging at my knees.

      ‘You look great.’ Ben planted a heavy kiss on my forehead. ‘It’s going to be very relaxed; you’ve got nothing to worry about.’

      ‘Oh okay. But maybe we could stop off on the way so I can pick up a bottle of wine or something? I don’t really want to walk in empty-handed…’

      ‘No,’ he interrupted sharply. ‘Sorry, I mean, let’s just go and see if he’s even in first,’ he said more softly.

      ‘Sure.’ I nodded and tried to stay cool, calm and collected. I settled back into my seat, enjoying the weight of Ben’s arm slung over my shoulder. Inside, I felt a fizz of excitement. We were going to get to travel together and I was about to learn loads about my boyfriend from his dad. I bet he was just like him, but older and well, more cockney! Today was shaping up to be a very good day indeed.

      However, as the journey continued and the buzzing centre of London faded away so did Ben’s good mood. It was as if this strange cloud had passed over him as we crossed the ring road. I remembered Marie once telling me about letting men go off into their man cave, something she’d read in Men Are From Mars, Women Are from Venus. That no good can come from women trying to get a man to talk when they so obviously want to be left alone to stew on whatever it is on their minds. Luckily the driver had the radio on loud so the gravelly tones of Rod Stewart filled this strangely uncomfortable silence.

      ‘You sure you want to do this? Have you called him? Maybe we should have met in a coffee shop? I could do with something to eat as it’s been ages since we had breakfast,’ I babbled ignoring Marie’s relationship advice. We turned off a main road and headed down what looked to be a much rougher part of town, judging by the graffiti-scrawled street signs and the stained mattresses piled near a high-rise block of flats.

      ‘It’ll be fine,’ he muttered, absently staring