Kristin hugged Alice and held her tight until she felt Alice pull away. “Sure.”
“Jeez, Kristin,” Ian said. “You trying to steal her from me?”
“No more than you would try to steal Olivia from me,” Kristin said as she stared at Olivia, but Olivia smiled, threw her arms around Ian and kissed him on the cheek, then winked at Kristin.
For a moment Kristin thought she saw Ian’s face colour, but he brought a glass of water to his lips and hid behind it, so she couldn’t be sure.
“Don't worry, Alice,” Olivia said. “He’s not my type. But you however...”
Alice laughed. “Can I get on with my story?”
“Nobody’s stealing anybody here,” Ian said as he rubbed his shoulder against Olivia’s. “Go on, Alice. Tell us. I haven't heard the details either.”
“I didn't think it was a big deal.” Alice looked around and lowered her voice. “You think it’s okay to talk about him?”
“Like yeah,” Olivia said. “We want to know everything. So go on. Tell us...”
Alice leaned into the table, closer to Ian and Olivia. “He was a nobody. Just a gofer on set that nobody paid much attention to. His English wasn’t great, but as he’d grown up in Denmark, he spoke Danish. That meant I had to translate sometimes. Although looking back, he might have used that as an excuse to chat me up. I was nice to him, but towards the end, one girl said he had felt her up. But nothing came of it, she didn't make a formal complaint and just avoided him. Then...”
The waitress arrived with the champagne and flutes. She wrapped the bottle in a cloth and opened it with a loud pop. Kristin noticed other people glance towards the sound and wondered what they thought. Then she chided herself for caring what others thought. What’s wrong with me today? But no answer came to her as the waitress filled the glasses.
The four of them clinked glasses and Alice continued. “Last summer, there was a big wrap up party on Exhibition Street, around the corner from the Provence. Everyone was there, including Samir. The drinks were free, so we weren’t holding back. There was lots of the usual stuff, people snogging, running to the bathroom for coke, getting drunk, you know, a typical wrap party. I hung out with a few who weren’t doing coke. I knew who to avoid, and people didn't dare try anything with me. Except...” She took a sip of champagne and sighed.
“Samir, right?” Olivia asked.
Alice nodded. “I was tipsy, and I don't remember everything word for word. He was waiting for me near the loo. Kinda pounced on me and tried to kiss me. It brought back too much. Too like, you know...” She looked down at the table for a moment. “Anyway, I was sick of men hassling me, and because I had a few drinks, I skipped the nice girl part and told him to eff off instead. A little out of character for me, I know. However, I’d had enough... enough harassment, and I felt safe. I felt I could make a stand as I wasn't alone. But he persisted. So, I pushed him away and shouted at him. Can’t remember what I said, but others heard and came over. Then I slapped him. I think it’s called bitch slapping. Called him a loser and a creep. He said he was sorry. Kept saying he loved me.” She paused and drank from her glass. “I might have said racist stuff too. Not proud of that, but I’d lost it. Truth was I got frightened. The memories, I guess.” She shook head then continued before Kristin could cut in, “I got someone to bring me to a taxi after that. Dee Stansfield, I think. A few days later, I heard the guys were rough with him and chased him off. Weeks later, he sent a card to the studio for me. He apologised in it, and I felt guilty. Didn’t hear from him again until yesterday. Maybe that’s why I said hello to him. Guilt.”
“No way, Alice,” Kristin said. “No guilt. Not for any man. Especially after...”
“Er, hello?” Ian waved his hand at her. “We’re not all bad.”
“Sorry, Ian. I don't mean you.”
Olivia put her hand on Alice’s again. “You don't think he went back there for revenge, do you?”
“No,” Alice said. “Why wait until yesterday?”
Olivia frowned. “The festival, right? He came on to you at the summer festival last year. He could have been radicalised since, and when he went looking for a suitable target, he remembered his humiliation and chose this year’s festival?”
“Good point, Olivia,” Ian said. “I like it.”
Kristin watched Olivia take her hand off Alice’s and then squeeze Ian’s arm with a contented looking smile. Kristin pretended she hadn't noticed. “I think you’re right too,” she said. “But Alice, did you tell this to the police?”
“Not the detail. They annoyed me. But it doesn't matter does it? They knew about the party. I suppose people rang them when they heard, you know, people who had been at the wrap party. The police know he messed with me. I told them that and they accused me of being a drinker. Anyway, I’m sick of talking about him. He’s history now.”
Kristin took a deep breath and raised her glass. “Let’s drink to that.”
They clinked again and Olivia stood. “Excuse me. Gotta go to the ladies.”
Kristin watched Olivia make a show of adjusting her short skirt and saw Ian’s eyes following her long bare legs and swinging hips until she turned the corner.
When Olivia returned and they’d given the food order, Kristin prompted Alice to tell them about the new show. “Come on, Alice. It’s why we’re here.”
“It’s with FMP Film and TV Productions. They’re making a new drama series based around a news channel
