Trading Up by Candace Bushnell Read Free Book Online

slightly, pushing out her chest and arching her back, so that her breasts were more prominently displayed. She tilted her head back a bit and closed her eyes, breathing in the night air and knowing as she did so that she was creating the impression of a lovely young woman who was lost in thought.
    But in reality, her mind was awhirl. It was, she decided, already a thrillingly successful evening for her: There was that long and promising conversation with Rupert Jackson, and then Mimi had introduced her to the new editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, who hinted that she might use Janey for a cover. In all her years as a model, Janey had never rated the cover of a magazine, and she marveled at the capriciousness of life, about how, when one good thing happened to you, other good things seemed to follow.
    And then there was Mimi herself. Janey wondered why she’d mistrusted her for so many years—like most people, Mimi was perfectly nice once you got to know her. It crossed Janey’s mind that perhaps the fault had been on her side—maybe Mimi had simply suspected that Janey didn’t like her . But that was the wonderful thing about New York: Years of bad blood could be wiped out with a single gesture of friendliness, the unspoken understanding being that no one ever need acknowledge the previously awkward relationship.
    She took a sip of champagne, and stared out over the ocean. Separating herself from the crowd was an old party trick of hers, and one that she used deliberately to allow an interested man to approach without fear. Keeping her gaze on the ocean, she wondered idly what sort of fish she would hook, when suddenly, she heard a familiar and not entirely welcome voice cry out, “Well, if it isn’t Janey Wilcox. In the flesh.” It was Bill Westacott, the screenwriter.
    “Jesus, Janey,” he said, coming toward her. “I can hardly walk down the street in New York without seeing your goddamned picture somewhere. What the hell is going on?”
    This should have been gratifying, but coming from Bill it was merely exasperating, reminding her of the many times in the past when Bill had annoyed her. Tak-18947_ch01.qxd 4/14/03 11:22 PM Page 27
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    ing on his subtly snide tone, she said, “Bill! What are you doing here?” as if she were surprised at his being invited, and he said, “Why shouldn’t I be here?” Janey gave a superior laugh, and said, “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be here, I’m just surprised, that’s all.” Moving closer and lowering her voice, she said, “I thought you didn’t like Mimi Kilroy.” Bill refused to take the bait. “Come on, Janey,” he said. “I may have had some issues with her over the years, but Mimi is one of my oldest friends.”
    “Oh yes,” Janey said, giving him a sarcastic smile. “I forgot.”
    “And I seem to recall that you’re the one who has a problem with her,” Bill continued heedlessly. “ ‘She’s ugly and old, and I can’t believe people still pay attention to her,’ were, I believe, your exact words.”
    Janey took a step away. “I never said that,” she hissed, trying to take refuge behind a potted fruit tree. Why was it always like this with Bill? Somehow, he always managed to spin the conversation around so that everything was her fault, and it wasn’t fair.
    “You did say it,” he said. “But I’m not going to hold it against you. I’ve lived in New York long enough to understand how these things work. Now you’re the belle of the ball—why shouldn’t you be Mimi Kilroy’s new best friend?”
    “I’m hardly her best friend,” Janey said with annoyance.
    “You will be,” Bill said casually. “You never miss an opportunity to get ahead.” And fixing her with a piercing look, he added, “And Mimi never misses an opportunity to seduce the latest star . . .”
    “Oh please, Bill,” Janey said, the note of disgust in her voice conveying the impression that she wasn’t going to dignify this with