Knowing Me Knowing You by Mandy Baggot Read Free Book Online

impersonations of my mother, ’ Kate snapped.
    ‘ I just think it might be better if you didn’t have too much more that’s all, ’ Joel replied, taking hold of the glass as Kate tried to reach for it.
    ‘ Give me my drink back, ’ Kate ordered, gritting her teeth and fixing Joel with a hard stare.
    ‘ No . ’
    ‘ Give it to me! ’ Kate repeated and she made a lunge for the glass he was holding.
    Joel dodged out of the way and Kate fell forward for the second time that night and bashed her elbow hard on the bar.
    She hurriedly stood herself upright and straightened her dress, trying hard to hide any embarrassment.
    ‘ All we have to do is answer a few questions, it’s no big deal . I t’ll keep your client sweet and it will backfire on Miranda who obviously nominated you to make you feel uncomfortable, ’ Joel told her.
    ‘ She spends her life finding new ways to make me feel uncomfortable, ’ Kate mumbled in reply.
    ‘ So show her you don’t mind stepping into the breach and entering the contest - rise above her. ’
    ‘ There are bloody TV cameras out there! ’ Kate exclaimed still looking longingly at the drink Joel was shielding.
    ‘ I don’t see the problem, it ’ s one little quiz , you must have done quizzes before, ’ Joel replied.
    ‘ Yes, in pubs, with friends, about music and films, not about someone I’ve only just met! We know nothing about each other! How is that going to look?! ’ Kate shrieked, making other patrons of the bar turn in their direction.
    ‘ You’re overreacting . C ome on, we’re going back in, ’ Joel spoke, taking hold of Kate’s arm and leading her back towards the door of the function room.
    ‘ This is madness! And what sort of escort agency do you work for? You’re bullying me and you’re hurting my arm, ’ Kate hissed as Joel propelled her through the doors and back towards their table.
    ‘ It will be over in an hour or so, we’ll probably only be on stage for ten minutes . T hink how many brownie points this will earn you with Frank, ’ Joel whispered to her, smiling at Miranda as they approached.
    ‘ They said the questions were intimate. What side of the bed do you sleep on? What underwear do you prefer? ’ Kate asked .
    ‘ Kate, we don’t have to win, ’ Joel replied.
    ‘ No, but they have to believe we’re a couple, ’ Kate responded, putting an ‘everything’s fine with me’ smile on her face and pulling out her chair to rejoin the others at the table.
    If she got up on that stage and revealed to everyone in the room that she knew nothing about Joel she would look a complete idiot. And what the Hell was a racy question anyway? Was it did she like it on top? Or maybe where does she buy her bras? Either way Joel wouldn’t have a clue and she didn’t know the first thing about him either.
    ‘ There you are my girl, no time for sitting down I’m afraid, the producer is looking for you two . G ot to join the other couples backstage, it’s curtain up in a few minutes, ’ Frank spoke, stopping Kate before she had a chance to sit down.
    ‘ Ooo Kate, I’m so excited for you, the limelight is beckoning and we’ll all be watching. I t’s going to be perfect, ’ Miranda spoke, smiling falsely at her.
    Kate faked a smile back, her face aching, as Joel took her hand and led her in the direction of ‘backstage’.
     
     
    Behind the scenes there were couples chatting eagerly and excitedly amongst themselves and to each other. There were television crew wearing headphones and carrying clipboards all walking around looking busy. There was also a very rotund man, obviously wearing a toup é e , dressed in a silver suit. He was having powder put on his face by a woman wearing a make-up belt around her middle. There were lights and people shouting ‘sound check’ and holding their ear as they waved a hand in the air. And just in front of them was someone wandering around in a seven foot bird costume clutching a golden egg.
    ‘ This is a