The Perfect Retreat Page 0,99

seen them in other movies. You watch movies I assume?’

Kitty nodded; she watched movies all the time. She had seen every film in the local DVD shop and then some more. When you don’t read you have to find something to do with your time, she reasoned.

‘I could try but I don’t think I would be much help,’ she said.

‘Let’s go,’ said Harold, and he stood up.

‘Now?’

‘Cannes is in May, m’dear. We must get a wriggle on.’

‘Harry, it’s November,’ she said.

‘I know! No time at all.’

Kitty followed him up the stairs to his ivory tower.

Surprisingly, it was an open-plan space. The walls were knocked out to reveal a bed opulently covered in cushions and throws, but the soft furnishings were the only decoration in the room.

There was a huge screen and a number of computers and smaller screens. Soundproof walls were covered in linen and a small bathroom, discreetly screened, finished everything off.

‘It’s quite bare compared to downstairs,’ said Kitty.

‘I like my work to be the art,’ said Harold pompously, and Kitty hid her smile from him. He was her benevolent landlord, after all.

She felt nervous to watch Ivo on the screen; it had been weeks since she had seen or heard from him. She scoured the social pages for pictures of him, but there was nothing anywhere. She didn’t ask Merritt about him; there would be no way Merritt would know anything about him. He was stuck with his head in the soil, too busy worrying about some fancy art auction.

Kitty had no expectations of the auction’s outcome, but Merritt clearly did, she thought.

Harold pressed a few buttons and a countdown came onto the screen.

Harold turned to her. ‘Do you know much about the story?’ he asked.

‘Sort of. Willow’s character is sad about her husband dying and tries to bring back his ghost, and then Ivo turns up and she thinks he’s her husband reincarnated. But Ivo just wants to marry her and send her off to the mental ward?’

‘Pretty good,’ said Harold smiling.

He pressed play and Kitty sat back. ‘Oh, Middlemist looks wonderful,’ she said, smiling at her beautiful home on the screen.

She jolted when she first saw Ivo, but as it continued she became more involved with the story and less with his presence. Occasionally she would ask Harold to stop and ask questions or make comments, but mostly she just watched. When the ball scene came on, Kitty hid behind her hands when she saw herself on screen. Harold stopped the film. ‘Does this scene make sense? I’ve had to play with this edit a bit.’

Kitty shook her head. ‘Fine, why? Did I do something wrong?’ she asked.

‘No, no – not at all. It’s just that young Ivo couldn’t keep his eyes off you,’ he laughed.

‘What? Really?’ asked Kitty, trying to remember that night.

Harold flicked to another screen. ‘These are the outtakes,’ he said, and he pressed play. Kitty watched as the extras and the actors milled about. She saw herself talking to Willow and Merritt; taking a drink; the whole time Ivo was across the room, his eyes following her at every turn. Kitty felt her stomach flip as she saw herself so oblivious to his lust and admiration.

‘He is madly in love with you, you know,’ said Harold, matter-of-factly.

Kitty looked down. ‘He betrayed me,’ she said quietly.

‘Did he sleep with someone else?’ asked Harold, leaning back on his Herman Miller chair.

‘No,’ answered Kitty, ‘not that I know of.’

‘Did he treat you badly? Hurt you?’

‘Not really,’ said Kitty, and then she burst into tears and told Harold the whole story of her secret coming to light, Willow’s treatment of her, and the end of Merritt and Willow’s union.

‘He’s to blame for everything,’ said Kitty.

‘Really?’ asked Harold gently.

‘Sort of. Some of it,’ admitted Kitty, letting the emotional noose on Ivo’s neck relax, just a little.

‘So, would you be here now with me if you hadn’t had the run-in with Willow?’

‘Probably not,’ said Kitty, looking down.

‘Things have a way of working out, Kitty. Be here now and learn from me and Lavender, and then see what comes. I have a feeling you and Ivo will work it all out.’

Kitty said nothing. She disagreed. Ivo had all but dis-appeared anyway, she thought.

She watched the rough cut of the film and was transported into Harold’s world. At times she forgot she was watching her former boss and lover in her childhood home.

‘The film’s really good,’ she said when it came to an end.

‘Do you really think so?’ asked Harold

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