First published in Great Britain 2018

by Egmont UK Limited

The Yellow Building, 1 Nicholas Road, London W11 4AN

Text copyright © 2018 Katy Birchall

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

First e-book edition 2018

ISBN 978 1 4052 8651 0

Ebook ISBN 978 1 7803 1787 8

www.egmont.co.uk

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library

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For Sam, Luke and Lily

CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

PROLOGUE

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Back series promotional page

1

THE DAILY POST

TEENAGE

HEIRESS IN

SHOCK HANDBAG

SCANDAL!

By Nancy Rose

I’ve met celebrities with colossal egos before. But it is not every day that I, Nancy Rose, Daily Post columnist, am WRESTLED TO THE GROUND by a celebrity, before being assaulted by her FEROCIOUS SAUSAGE DOG. And all for a one-of-a-kind handbag. But I can EXCLUSIVELY REVEAL that yesterday evening Felicity Royale and her dog Fritz did just that.

Attending fashion designer Lewis Blume’s launch for his new collection, I innocently reached for a handbag on display, a one-off with silhouettes of dachshunds across the front. How lovely, I thought as I admired the stitching. I love dogs and all animals. I’m so pleased I often donate to animal charities.

Before you read on, please be aware that what happened next may DISTRESS READERS.

In a completely unprovoked attack, I was TACKLED to the ground by none other than the teenage heiress to Hotel Royale, who insisted that the bag was hers!

Sending shockwaves through the other guests, Miss Royale’s WILD dachshund then ATTEMPTED TO BITE ME as the heiress continued to claw the bag from my hands.

Although the main incident was missed by the cameras, footage of Miss Royale then being ESCORTED OUT BY SECURITY is currently circulating online.

I would like to assure my fans that I am recovering well and, to those who were already aware of the incident, thank you for all your kind messages of support.

For my full reaction, check out today’s YouTube vlog at NancyRose and don’t forget to subscribe for all the juiciest celeb gossip and daily dramas!

My life is over.

I had decided never to emerge from underneath my duvet again, and my plan was working perfectly until my mum came barging into my room – which STILL doesn’t have a lock on it, despite all my requests, because Mum seems to think she has the right to just barrel on in and invade my privacy whenever she likes.

‘Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic?’ she said with a sigh, yanking the duvet off me.

Fritz, my dachshund, immediately hopped down from the bed, where he’d been snoozing comfortably next to me, and began pawing at her leg until she scooped him up in her arms and tickled his belly.

You know, considering I feed him every day, I’d expect a little more loyalty.

‘I am NOT being dramatic,’ I huffed, narrowing my eyes at the traitorous Fritz and pulling the duvet back over myself. ‘But while you’re here, can you pass me a pen and paper? I need to write up my last will and testament. If you bring me breakfast in bed, I promise to leave you my extensive collection of moisturisers. And I know Grace has her eye on those so you’d better act fast.’

Mum rolled her eyes and put Fritz down into his basket. ‘It is not that bad.’

‘It is EXACTLY that bad,’ I whined, ducking my head back under the duvet and curling up into a ball beneath it. ‘It is MORTIFYING. My life is ruined. No one will want to be my friend. I’ll be exiled from society just like that Romeo guy in that Shakespeare play.’

‘When did you read Romeo and Juliet ?’ Mum asked, sounding impressed and a little bit too surprised for my liking.

‘That is not important right now!’ I declared, in my most superior tone.

I also decided to brush over the fact that I hadn’t exactly read the play, but I was totally listening when my best friend Grace was talking about it with her brother Olly the other day.

Well, half listening. I got distracted a few minutes into their debate by a video on my phone of all these jumping goats.

They really were very funny.

‘Mum,’ I said, bringing the conversation back to the practical issues at hand. ‘We should consider moving country. I’ve had a look online, and there are some very tempting options. Did you know that New Zealand is home to the world’s most diverse penguin population? I know, right? Sounds like a cool place to live, if you ask me.’

‘Flick, we’re not moving to New Zealand and you’re not writing your will. Instead, you can talk me through what happened last night. That is, if you’re ready to talk about the incident.’

‘I will NEVER be ready to talk about it. And anyway, you already know what happened. It’s EVERYWHERE online.’

‘I know Nancy Rose’s version of what happened, but I’m more interested in yours.’

‘What’s the point?’ I groaned. ‘No one is going to believe me.’

‘I’ll believe you.’

I peered over the top of the duvet suspiciously.

‘Fine,’ I said with another world-weary sigh, and then I launched into EXACTLY what happened, no exaggerations . . .

The famous designer Lewis Blume had invited Fritz and me to the launch of his new handbag collection. Only people who had been living under a rock in the Outer Hebrides wouldn’t have heard that we were very special guests of Lewis’s because one of the pieces in his new collection just so happens to be The Fritz – a handbag inspired by my amazing, trendsetting dachshund.

Which should come as no surprise because Fritz is a total superstar these days. His Instagram is off the charts, and he’s way more in demand than all those French bulldogs wearing hats and stuff. Fritz was voted the most stylish dog by Tatler AND he’s even getting his very own calendar next year.

So, when we got the call saying he was Lewis Blume’s latest muse, I was like, DUH, of course he is.

And I made sure he looked his very best for the launch, in his favourite Ralph Lauren tuxedo complete with silk polka-dot pocket square, and his new collar, specially designed by British supermodel and dog-lover David Gandy, who delivered it personally to Fritz last week.

To be honest, Fritz may have looked good and his bag was AMAZING, but I was kind of bored at the launch because, even though I was surrounded by cool celebrities, I hardly knew anyone there. My pop-star friend, Skylar Chase, was selfishly still in LA and my vlogger pal, Ethan Duke, had to go to some stupid teen awards instead. So I stood looking around, and that’s when I saw her. Nancy Rose. Standing by The Fritz handbag. Rubbing her hands together and reaching out for it with her talon-like nails, crying, ‘Mwahahahaha, this bag SHALL BE MINE! FOREVER MI—’

‘Ahem.’

‘What?’ I exclaimed, cut off in mid flow.

‘I thought you said no exaggerations.’

‘I’m not exaggerating, Mother. ’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re telling me that Nancy Rose was standing in front of The Fritz handbag, cackling and yelling, “This bag shall be mine!” in the middle of a launch?’

‘OK, FINE, that was a slight exaggeration.’ I sighed. ‘Can I continue with the story now?’

‘Please do.’

ANYWAY, that’s when I saw her. Nancy Rose. Standing by The Fritz handbag. Rubbing her hands together and then reaching out for it with her talon-like nails. And while she might not have cried, ‘Mwahahahaha, this bag SHALL BE MINE! FOREVER MINE!’, she did flutter her eyelashes at Lewis Blume, who happened to be standing nearby, and said something along the lines of, ‘This exact bag would be perfect for an event I’m attending tomorrow.’

Which may sound innocent, but there was no way I was going to let Nancy Rose take that bag for a stupid event she’s attending for the following reasons:

1. That bag on display was a ONE-OFF piece, with a special embroidered message to Fritz on the inside.

2. If anyone was going to be photographed FIRST holding that handbag, it was going to be FRITZ, who inspired it in the first place.

3. And if it was perhaps a little too big for Fritz to carry, then it was going to be ME.

4. And if it wasn’t me, then maybe the Queen or Beyoncé or someone.

5. Whoever it was, it was NOT going to be gossip-columnist Nancy Rose who has, in the past, said some very mean things on her stupid vlog about my very good friend Skylar Chase.

Holding Fritz, I casually sauntered over to where Nancy Rose was standing next to the bag, and I forced myself to be open-minded about her, even though I overheard her telling someone nearby that she thinks animals (thus including beautiful innocent sausage dogs like Fritz) are VERMIN and when she has taken over 10 Downing Street with her evil plan, she’s going to destroy all —

‘Ahem.’

‘WHAT?’ I demanded, throwing a pillow at Mum as she attempted to hide a smile.

‘The exaggerating thing,’ she explained. ‘You’re doing it again.’

‘You know what, Mum, you’re really obstructing my whole vibe.’

‘Go from the bit where you walk up to Nancy Rose,’ she said, ‘and no embellishments this time.’

‘You have no flair for good storytelling,’ I said, sighing.

SO, I walked up to Nancy Rose, with Fritz under my arm, and she was talking to someone about boring, non-evil, standard stuff, blah blah blah.

‘Flick Royale,’ she said as she noticed me, offering me her hand to shake. ‘I don’t think we’ve ever met. I’m Nancy Rose. I was just admiring this handbag – inspired by your dog, I believe.’

‘I overheard,’ I replied through gritted teeth, but shook her hand very politely because I have IMPECCABLE manners.

‘I was actually hoping to borrow it for this event I’m going to tomorrow. It’s for a dog charity and I —’

‘Actually, I was hoping to have it for an event FRITZ is going to tomorrow,’ I said quickly. ‘But Fritz is very glad you like it.’

‘Excuse me?’

And that’s when she smiled at me, this really fake smile through her bright red lipstick as though she had stumbled upon something juicy for her column.

‘I said Fritz is very glad you like it.’

‘Before that, you said you would be using the bag tomorrow? Forgive me, but isn’t that up to the designer?’ she said, tilting her head as though talking to a baby. ‘Lewis often lends me first-off-the-line items for his collection, so that I can display them on my vlog, and I wouldn’t bother showing any item that has already been photographed on someone else. I don’t do sloppy seconds.’ She sniffed. ‘Especially after . . . a dog.’

Fritz growled.

‘Fritz’s bag will be available for anyone to buy, it’s just that this particular handbag here on display was made especially for him because of the inscription,’ I explained, patiently. ‘I can show you if you —’

‘I don’t know if you know, Felicity, but my vlog is really very popular, so the things designers lend me get a lot of views and I doubt Lewis will want to miss that opportunity.’ She paused before doing that thin-lipped smile again. ‘Tell me, Flick, does Lewis Blume give you items for your vlog?’

Then she picked up the handbag and let it hang daintily from her wrist, as though modelling it to the room.

Which is when I kind of exploded. Because that comment about the vlog may have sounded fine to an innocent bystander BUT it was in fact a very pointed thing to say, because Nancy Rose knows full well that my vlog, launched earlier this year, hasn’t exactly had the attention I hoped it would.

So, I did what anyone would do in that situation and I snatched the handbag from her and put it on my own wrist. Where it belongs. Next to Fritz.

And you know what? She snatched it right back from me. Which was VERY childish.

I obviously had to reach out and grab the handle to take it back again.

Next thing I knew, I was having a tug of war with Nancy Rose over The Fritz handbag and everyone was staring and gasping, and Fritz started barking because he didn’t want her to ruin his special handbag with her pointy talons, AND THEN Nancy Rose LET GO of her side of the handle, causing her to go flying backwards.

Seriously, hasn’t she ever played tug of war before?

That’s how she ended up on the floor. It was her own stupid fault for not holding on to the bag properly. I did NOT tackle her. And Fritz didn’t go anywhere near her. He would never bite anyone.

Which is exactly what I told the security man, Jeremy, as he led me out of the party. And Jeremy nodded along and offered me a Fruit Pastille while I waited for my driver, which I politely declined because I had no idea how long the packet had been in his pocket and it looked a bit squished.

But still, it was a nice thing for him to do and you could tell he was totally on my side.

I paused to take a deep breath.

‘I see.’ Mum nodded.

‘That is the full story. Mum, we have to leave the country,’ I pleaded, burying my face in my pillow. ‘Thanks to Nancy Rose’s version of what happened last night, everyone is saying mean things about me.’

‘Not everyone. Prince Gustav Xavier III tweeted this morning, saying that you are a very nice young lady with exceptional selfie-stick skills and he can’t imagine that a word of her story is true.’

‘Wait.’ I poked my head out the duvet. ‘Prince Gustav is on Twitter now? I thought he was still getting to grips with Instagram.’

I remembered all too well the painful incident of having to watch the European socialite prince attempt to use my selfie stick for his first Instagram post (which I’d witnessed from inside his wardrobe, because I was trying to steal the selfie stick back from him . . . but that’s another story). Thankfully, since then he’s started dating Skylar Chase and not only has the wardrobe incident been forgotten but also he’s got better at taking photos. He’s even been experimenting with filters.

‘He must be building his brand.’ Mum shrugged.

‘You know, Mum, I was considering apologising to Nancy Rose. I woke up this morning feeling a bit guilty about the way I acted.’ I pursed my lips. ‘But then I saw her vlog and now I’m NEVER apologising.’

‘Yes, I don’t exactly agree with how she’s gone about things, but —’

‘There was a fleeting moment when I thought that this whole thing might boost my vlog’s popularity. Any publicity is good publicity kind of thing. But do you know what?’

Mum looked at me blankly. ‘What?’

‘I checked my subscribers this morning and the numbers have gone DOWN.’

Mum didn’t exactly look distressed by this new information. She’d never wanted me to have a vlog. She had banned me ages ago from having a YouTube channel until Cal, the son of her most trusted employee, head concierge Matthew, and someone I had known since we were little, had persuaded her it would be a good thing for me to do.

I don’t know why she trusts Cal’s word over mine. Although he is quite smart and he never gets into trouble at school, whereas I’ve already had detention twice this term: once for stealthily answering my phone in assembly (it was Sky calling from LA, what was I meant to do? Ignore her? She’s won a Grammy. You do NOT ignore people who have won Grammys); and the second for missing an entire maths lesson because Grace spilled ketchup on my purse and I had to pop home to the hotel and ask Amy in housekeeping how I could get it out before it stained. Which, if you ask me, is a perfectly good reason to miss out on a few sums but whatever.

Still, I’m just as responsible as Cal. I proved it too last term when Mum grounded me FOREVER after I hid in Prince Gustav’s wardrobe in his hotel room. And then she grounded me again because I sneaked out one night with Sky to attend a fashion show when I was supposed to be doing my homework. That was the end of my social life for a while. Stuck here in the hotel, I spent the whole time helping everyone out, tagging along with all the different teams and learning the ropes, which was all excellent research for my vlog.

But it turns out it’s not that easy to gain followers on YouTube and now, thanks to Nancy Rose, everyone thinks I’m awful. There’s no chance people will want to hear a word I have to say.

‘How many hits has her vlog about me got now?’ I asked Mum. ‘You can refresh the page on my laptop.’

Mum turned to my desk, on which my laptop was sitting already open on Nancy Rose’s YouTube channel. She leaned over and clicked the refresh button.

‘Well?’ I sniffed, watching her. ‘How many?’

She examined the screen and then straightened, looking shocked.

‘Uh . . .’ She hesitated, before shutting my laptop firmly. ‘It doesn’t say.’

I groaned and slumped back on to my pillows. Mum was a terrible liar.

‘Flick, don’t let this get you down. We do, however, need to have a serious talk about your behaviour at the launch, but we can leave that until later.’

‘Can’t wait.’

‘And don’t worry about Nancy Rose’s silly vlog. By this evening, everyone will have forgotten about it.’

By the evening, the ‘silly vlog’ had gone viral and a mass of paparazzi had gathered outside the hotel.

I know this sounds crazy, but I think I actually prefer it when I’m wrong and Mum is right.

Flick, are you OK?

I keep trying to call

Sorry, Grace, I’m kind of in hiding today

I completely understand

That vlog is so mean! Clearly just lies. Cal, Olly and I all agree that Nancy Rose is the WORST. Is there anything we can do?

Nothing. Thanks, though

You want us to come over and cheer you up? We don’t have to talk about what happened

I’d rather be on my own for now.

I’ll see you guys at school.

Thanks for being the best friend ever, though

BTW, I’ve come up with a plan

A plan? For what?

It’s genius

What are you talking about? What plan?

A plan to take down Nancy Rose.

Want to hear it?

Um. OK

We lure her to a deserted warehouse

That’s a creepy start

We wait in the shadows for her to arrive

Getting weirder

And then when we’ve got her right where we want her . . .

I regret asking about this plan

WE THROW WATER BALLOONS AT HER MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Wait. THAT’S IT?! Water balloons?

That’s your genius plan?

I know, right! It’s so great. It’s got it all: mystery, suspense, a climactic water balloon attack! What do you think?

Uh . . . how long have you been working on this plan?

Since I saw the video, so six hours ago!

I’ve done a tactical breakdown diagram of everyone’s positions and everything. Why?

Grace, you won a school award for academic achievement

Yeah?

You’re top of every single class.

You’re the brightest person I know

??

And you’ve spent six hours coming up with a plan . . . to throw water balloons

What’s your point??

Never mind. I’ll call tomorrow

I’ll keep working on the genius plan.

What are your thoughts on Super Soakers?

Is that making things too complicated??

Night Grace xxx

By the time I got to school on Monday, I was ready for the day to be over. I never should have left my bed but Mum forced me to get up, giving me an unwelcome lecture at the same time all about proving to the haters that I’m not afraid of them.

Firstly, when did Mum start thinking she could pull off phrases like ‘the haters’ and secondly, I am one hundred per cent afraid of them.

‘Chin up,’ she said as I bade Fritz goodbye and we got in our private lift from our flat on the fifteenth floor. She pushed the button for reception. ‘Don’t let Nancy Rose win.’

‘Her video has now gone viral and she’s even uploaded a second one to talk about her “brush with death” at my hands,’ I said with a sigh. ‘I think she’s already won, Mum.’

The doors pinged open and we stepped out into the main lobby. Even though I’ve lived at Hotel Royale all my life, I never get tired of the view when the lift doors open on to reception. My great-great-grandfather, who founded the hotel yonks ago, wanted it to be the grandest hotel in the world, so he made sure it had all these big columns and sparkling chandeliers and marble floors, then he shoved a load of gold leafing all over the plush wallpaper just in case it wasn’t obvious that this place was super posh. I like to think that my great-great-grandfather was a total drama queen who kept saying things like, ‘More gold, people, give me more gold !’

In my head for some reason he also has a French accent.

‘Good morning,’ Matthew said cheerily, shooting me a big grin as he came out from behind reception. ‘And how are we today?’

‘I hate my life.’

‘Excellent! Ready to smash that Monday morning!’

He winked at Mum. ‘Christine, Audrey was looking for you. She wants to run through your 9 a.m. meeting notes.’

I don’t know how Matthew is so jolly all the time. As head concierge, he has to talk to every guest and be super nice to them, even if they’re mean or grumpy, and he has to sort out all their yawn-inducing problems. Plus, he heads up the hotel’s booking system, which is the most boring spreadsheet in the world and he’s been doing it for YEARS. Last year, I was in charge of the spreadsheet for just one day and I was bored out of my mind. Somehow, he thinks he has the best job in the world.

‘I could never work anywhere but Hotel Royale,’ he once said to me with this twinkle in his eye. ‘It is magical.’

Which, you know, is sweet and everything, but I also kind of threw up in my mouth.

‘Thank you, Matthew,’ Mum said. ‘Is Audrey in her office?’

‘I’m here!’

Audrey’s voice echoed through reception accompanied by the familiar sound of her unbelievably high stilettos clacking across the marble floor. I know I should be amazed by how organised and important she is, being general manager of the hotel, but I genuinely think I’m more impressed by Audrey’s ability to walk around in those stilettos. I actually saw her run in them once, when she was ‘late’ for an important appointment and I swear, she looked just like those giraffes galloping through the plains on David Attenborough documentaries. Also, Audrey is NEVER late to anything but she always thinks she is, which means when she takes me anywhere we’re always a hundred years early.

When I mentioned her giraffe-gallop, though, she didn’t look very impressed. Whatever – they’re elegant creatures. Better than the comparison she made about me that time I borrowed some roses from reception and put them in my room for a party (because technically the hotel is MY house so by default they’re MY flowers). Audrey gave me this funny look when she found out and said I reminded her a bit of Edmund from the Narnia books. I googled him and that is NOT a compliment. He betrays his family for some Turkish delight, which is the worst.

I mean, what kind of moron chooses gross Turkish delight? If you’re going to go to all that trouble betraying people, at least let it be for something good, like cola bottles or a Dip Dab.

‘Are you available for a quick chat before our meeting, Christine?’ Audrey said, juggling some files in her arms.

‘I’m just going to put Flick in a car to school and then we can —’

‘Mum, I can walk to school.’

‘Not with them you can’t,’ she said firmly, nodding towards the crowd of photographers and journalists milling around outside the front steps.

Seriously, how do I have all this attention and yet NO ONE IS SUBSCRIBING TO MY VLOG?

Matthew organised a driver to pick me up from the side entrance, but the reporters weren’t fooled. Thanks to the constant flow of celebrities and high-profile guests staying at the Royale all year round, the paparazzi know the hotel layout pretty well and they’ve learned all our tricks. Some of them were covering the side entrance and as soon as I stepped out into the street towards the car, we were bombarded with questions and camera lenses.

‘Flick, why did you attack Nancy Rose?’

‘Do you have any comments about the incident?’

‘Flick, how do you feel about her comment this morning that you aren’t worthy of being the heiress to Hotel Royale?’

‘Flick, do you consider yourself a diva?’

‘Flick, did you attack Nancy Rose for attention?’

‘Would you describe yourself as a wild child?’

Mum slammed the door firmly behind me as I scrambled into the back seat and the driver, Peter, put his foot down. I let out a long sigh and buried my head in my hands as we pulled away. When I looked up I could see Peter glancing at me with concern in the rear-view mirror. Sky once told me never to listen to the questions and rumours that the reporters yell at you; she said they’re just looking for a reaction they can play on. But one question was still ringing through my ears as we arrived at the school gates.

‘Flick, how do you feel about her comment this morning that you aren’t worthy of being the heiress to Hotel Royale? ’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ Cal said, after I found him waiting by my locker with Grace and Olly, and had filled them all in about Nancy Rose’s new declaration. ‘Of course you’re worthy of being the heiress to Hotel Royale.’

‘What does that even mean anyway?’ Olly added, rolling his eyes.

‘It means that respected heiresses shouldn’t be horrible brats and attack journalists. Not that I did,’ I replied, opening my locker.

I yelped as all my books came exploding out at me, scattering across the floor.

‘When are you going to tidy your locker?’ Olly laughed as the three of them bent down to help me pick everything up. ‘This happens every day.’

‘This does not happen every day,’ I protested. Olly and Cal shared a smirk as Grace helped me battle my books back into my locker and slam the door shut before they could fall out again.

Since the events of last term, I’d been hanging out with Grace, her brother Olly, and Cal a lot more and we’d become a sort of oddball friendship group. I’d only got to know Grace and Olly last year, but Cal I’d known forever. We used to be best friends when we were little and got into loads of trouble around the hotel, but then he turned into a big nerd who always wore headphones round his neck like they were an accessory and only talked about things like books and Star Trek, so, in his words, I had swiftly ‘dropped him like a hot potato’.

Which is such a nerd way to put it. No one uses the phrase ‘hot potato’ any more.

Anyway, the three of them were very low maintenance compared to Ella, who I had a big fall out with last term.

It was nice having friends who weren’t using you for popularity points or free backstage passes. The more I thought about it, the less I could remember why Ella and I had been friends in the first place. It’s not like we ever had real fun or laughed together until our stomachs ached (this happens with Grace on an almost daily basis. Her teacher impressions are second to none). Ella had loved complaining about everything, making snide remarks about other people in our year, and only really cared about looking like she was having fun rather than actually having any. We spent our whole time making sure everyone knew we were the elite of the school.

Then, last term, she saw me waiting tables at the hotel and spread all these rumours about me, saying that I had been lying all the time about hanging out with celebrities and being best friends with Skylar Chase.

Which was only partly true. Technically I had told a couple of white lies about the people I’d hung out with at the hotel BUT becoming friends with Sky was a hundred per cent true. Anyway, Grace told her off for saying mean things about me to everyone and then Grace’s brother Olly broke up with Ella because she wasn’t being very nice and also because she kept pulling out his arm hair when she fawned all over him.

Ella totally blames me for both those things and never talks to me now. I tried to make amends at Christmas, before the start of the new term, but she wasn’t interested. She takes every chance she can to throw me a dirty look and then say something under her breath to whichever one of her adoring minions is standing next to her. You’d think she’d cut me some slack considering the number of outfits I’ve let her borrow over the years.

‘You don’t really listen to anything Nancy Rose says, do you?’ Cal asked. ‘She’s just annoyed with you because you attacked her. It will blow over and she’ll find someone else to torture.’

‘Just to reiterate, I did NOT attack her. She took Fritz’s bag and then I simply reminded her that it didn’t belong to her. She’s blown this whole thing out of proportion and made me sound like a diva. Which I’m absolutely not, as you know!’

I turned to the others for reassurance. None of them were looking me in the eye.

‘I’m not a diva,’ I said, in case they hadn’t heard the first time. ‘As you know. Right?’

‘Sure. Right.’ Olly nodded.

‘Absolutely not,’ Grace said.

‘So down to earth,’ Cal added seriously.

And then the three of them started sniggering. WHO ARE THESE TRAITORS I CALL MY FRIENDS?

‘Hey! I’m not a diva!’ I cried in exasperation.

‘Although up until recently you did have that diva strut going on.’ Cal grinned. ‘And there was that time you demanded the Hotel Royale chef make Fritz a three-tiered caked for his half birthday . . .’

‘I wanted Fritz to feel special!’ I protested. ‘And I did not demand it. I asked Chef Kian if he had time to —’

‘And the time she refused to walk to the shop, and made Peter drive her,’ Olly pointed out, nodding along with Cal.

‘OK, that is so NOT what happened. It was raining that day and Peter offered to drive me when he saw me setting off with all my bags and —’

‘Don’t forget the time she made us microwave her ice cream,’ Grace chimed in gleefully.

‘That ice cream was FREEZING!’ I crossed my arms grumpily. ‘I can’t believe this. I’m having the worst time because of Nancy Rose and now my own friends are attacking me for —’

Cal held up his hands, interrupting me. ‘Flick, calm down, we’re messing with you!’

‘Of course we know you’re not a diva!’ Grace giggled.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, someone bumped my shoulder from behind, making me stumble forwards into Cal who had to steady me. I turned round to see Ella smirking.

‘Sorry, Flick,’ she said, not sounding sorry at all. ‘Didn’t see you there.’

‘No problem,’ I said through gritted teeth.

‘I really enjoyed Nancy Rose’s new vlog.’

‘Move along, Ella,’ Olly said quickly, looking at her in disgust.

Ella blushed, the harsh words from her ex-boyfriend clearly stinging, but not enough for her to leave us alone.

‘I wasn’t surprised to hear about what happened between you and her,’ she continued smugly. ‘You should really learn how to control your fiery temper.’

‘I do NOT have a fiery temper,’ I snapped irritably.

Because I have auburn hair, I get teased a lot about being a hothead, which just makes me MORE of a hothead.

‘You see?’ She gasped, looking taken aback. ‘Here I am just trying to be nice and you’re throwing it back in my face! Just like with Nancy Rose. No wonder she’s calling you a diva. You’ve really changed.’

My cheeks flushed with anger and I felt Cal’s hand press gently on the back of my arm in warning. I could hear his voice in my head telling me not to rise to it.

‘I haven’t changed, Ella,’ I seethed. ‘I’ve just come to learn who my real friends are.’

‘Well, do they know who you really are?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I asked, glaring at her.

‘Hello, am I the only one who watched Nancy Rose’s vlog?’ she asked, with a baffled expression. ‘Flick attacked her over a handbag! Who does that?’

‘That is not what happened. I didn’t —’

‘No smoke without fire, Flick. And I’ve seen the footage of you being escorted out of the room by security, so you must have done something.’ She tossed her hair back before turning to Cal and saying, ‘Cal, I’m surprised that you in particular aren’t angrier at your friend. Don’t you want to be a journalist some day?’

‘Well, yeah,’ Cal mumbled, seeming stunned that she even knew who he was. ‘But that doesn’t mean —’

‘If Flick hadn’t let her temper get the better of her, maybe she would have thought twice about launching an attack on someone who would have been an amazing contact for you. Nancy Rose is one of the most famous journalists in the world.’

‘OK, for the LAST TIME, I did not attack —’

‘But then, I guess you are a really nice guy.’ She smiled sweetly at him, before giving me a pointed look. ‘Maybe that should be a little more appreciated by your friend Flick here.’

My jaw fell to the floor.

‘Anyway,’ she said smugly, ‘I had better go get my seat in assembly. Just remember, Flick, that your selfish behaviour reflects badly on everyone around you. Something to keep in mind.’

I could feel a strange kind of rage bubbling and twisting through my stomach as she turned on her heel and sauntered down the corridor.

On the way to assembly, it dawned on me what Ella was up to.

It was SO obvious. She couldn’t bear that Grace and Olly picked me over her last term, so now she was jumping on the Nancy Rose bandwagon, trying to make all my friends think I’m a terrible person and turn them against me!

It made perfect sense. She had been wanting to get back at me ever since our falling out last term and Nancy Rose had given her the perfect opportunity.

‘Think about it, Grace,’ I said under my breath as we made our way to assembly, the boys walking ahead of us. ‘Why else would she tell Cal that he was a nice guy?’

‘It was a bit strange,’ Grace agreed. ‘The last time she spoke to Cal it was to tell him that his hair reminded her of an erratically blow-dried poodle.’

‘She is out to get me and you HAVE to be on your guard to make sure that she doesn’t turn you against me with her snide remarks. It’s all part of her cunning plan.’

Grace laughed. ‘Don’t be silly, Flick! You know what Ella’s like, she just says stupid things. We know to ignore her. But I wouldn’t worry, I don’t think she’s concocted some genius plan to make all your friends dislike you.’

‘You don’t know Ella like I do,’ I huffed. ‘She can hold a grudge. Did I ever tell you about the time I drank her coconut water?’

‘Um, no?’

‘Boy, was that a drama.’ I sighed, recalling the incident. ‘I thought she wouldn’t mind if I drank her coconut water, but it turned out it wasn’t just any coconut water, it was special coconut water that her mum had had imported for her, and that was the last carton. To this day, I wish I had never touched it.’

Grace blinked at me. ‘What happened?’

‘She was so angry that she uninvited me from a sleepover at her house.’

‘She uninvited you from a sleepover because you drank her coconut water ?’ Grace looked stunned. ‘You’re joking, right?’

‘Sadly not,’ I said, as we took our seats in the main hall. ‘I had to ask Matthew if he could work his head concierge magic and track some down for me.’

‘And did he?’

‘You know his motto, Grace.’ I smiled. ‘Anything is possible at Hotel Royale. He managed to get a whole crate sent in. After I showed up at school with that for her, she bought me a new friendship bracelet.’

‘Wow.’ Grace nodded, looking impressed. ‘All that because of some coconut water.’

‘I’m telling you, Grace,’ I whispered, spotting Ella a few rows ahead chatting to some girls in the year above, ‘this morning was probably just the beginning. She’s probably talking about me right now to those girls. Probably telling them that I’m the worst person in the world and not to go anywhere near me.’

Grace and I both leaned forwards to try and listen in to her conversation.

‘I think,’ Grace began thoughtfully, ‘she’s actually talking about perfume.’

‘Of course! Don’t you get it?’ I hissed, shaking my head at Ella’s back. ‘Perfume is floral! Floral, like roses ! Like Nancy ROSE! She’s tapping into everybody’s subconscious, laying the groundwork so that everyone is thinking about it all the time!’

Grace gave me a strange look and opened her mouth to speak, but then the headmistress, Mrs Walker, arrived and the room descended into hush.

Mrs Walker began reading out the various notices but I couldn’t listen; I was too distracted by the back of Ella’s head. I kept thinking about what she’d said to Cal before assembly and every time I thought about it, I felt a new wave of anger.

She had always been jealous of me, even while we were friends. I remembered how pleased she was when she came for lunch at the hotel with her mum. She caught me serving guests their food because Timothy, one of our best waiters, was teaching me how everything in the dining room works. She had been so quick to spread rumours about me. And even now, when we hadn’t spoken for weeks, she was straight in there, jumping for joy at my public humiliation. Had she ever been my friend at all? Or had she always been lying in wait, secretly hoping that I would screw up? Ugh, I felt so betrayed!

Ella is SO Edmund with the Turkish delight.

I was so engrossed in Ella’s backstabbing that I didn’t hear Mrs Walker call out Cal’s name.

‘What’s Cal doing?’ I whispered to Grace as he stood up and went to the front of the hall.

‘You’ll see,’ she said with a smile.

Cal cleared his throat and he shuffled his feet nervously as the entire school waited for him to speak.

‘I would like to announce that we are launching a school newspaper, which will report on school news and events, as well as including interesting general features and competitions. Uh . . . we will be holding our first meeting after school today for anyone who would like to join the editorial team, and the first issue will be published at the end of term. Yeah. Thanks.’

He scuffled hurriedly back to his seat and Mrs Walker thanked him, emphasising that the newspaper would be an excellent opportunity for budding journalists and would look good on university and job applications.

‘Why didn’t he tell me?’ I asked Grace who gave him a thumbs up when he caught her eye.

‘You had a lot on your mind,’ she explained before adding proudly, ‘I’m going to be an investigative reporter.’

‘I thought you wanted to be a vet when you were older?’ I whispered in confusion.

‘It’s good to have a range of activities and interests on your applications. Veterinary courses are competitive; I have to stand out. It’s not all about grades.’

I sat back in my seat as Mrs Walker read out the rest of the notices, before dismissing everyone for the first lesson of the day. I didn’t get the chance to ask Cal about the whole newspaper thing, so I had to wait until lunchtime when we were sitting in our now-usual corner of the canteen.

Every room I’d walked into since the start of the day had descended into ripples of whispers, so I wasn’t exactly surprised that all the students in the canteen looked up as I came in and then watched me sit down.

‘Do they all seriously believe that I tackled Nancy Rose to the ground over a handbag?’ I sighed, glancing nervously around me.

‘I think it’s a good thing,’ Grace said cheerily.

‘How is it a good thing?’ I asked, baffled.

‘No one will mess with you now. I think most people are genuinely impressed that you took someone down.’

‘I did not take someone down,’ I groaned, lowering my fork and burying my head in my hands. ‘She tried to take the handbag from me.’

‘Technically, you took it from her first,’ Cal added.

I glared at him. ‘Whose side are you on?’

‘Always yours,’ he replied with a mischievous grin. ‘Even if you are a bit of a diva.’

‘Like Grace said, I think being escorted out of a handbag launch will do wonders for your street cred.’ Olly nodded, taking a sip of water. ‘No one will ever consider taking a dachshund handbag from you again.’

‘Let’s change the subject,’ I insisted, wishing I could go home and hide under my duvet again. ‘So, a school newspaper, huh, Cal? You should have said something.’

‘I felt you might not be too fond of journalists at the moment.’

‘Some journalists,’ I replied.

‘I can’t wait to get started on the paper,’ Olly said enthusiastically. ‘I’ve got some great ideas for the first issue.’

‘Wait a second . . .’ I looked from Olly to Cal and back to Olly again. ‘You’re involved in the newspaper too?’

‘Meet the brand-new political commentator and film critic.’ Olly smiled. ‘It’s an unusual combination, I know.’

‘Wow,’ I said. I knew Olly wanted to go into politics or be a lawyer, despite his musical talents, so it kind of made sense.

‘I’m hoping that having someone as popular as Olly on the team might boost the appeal of joining,’ Cal said knowingly. ‘When word gets out that you’re involved, the crowds will flock.’

‘Ew.’ Grace wrinkled her nose as her brother laughed off Cal’s comments.

Cal was probably right, though. Olly was one of the hottest boys in the school, with his long dark eyelashes and sharp cheekbones and everything. Sometimes, when we talk, I find it hard to concentrate on what he’s saying because his eyes are so pretty and I get all lost in them and then I realise that he’s asked me a question and is waiting for a reply. I usually have no idea what he’s asked me because I’ve been thinking about how intense his eyes are, and whether he uses an eyelash curler or if that can possibly be natural, so I panic and just have to nod and go, ‘YES,’ confidently, hoping for the best.

This has led to many an awkward situation, like the time I accidentally agreed to be a backing singer with Grace at one of his band’s gigs.

Three minutes into the first rehearsal, he stopped the song, turned round to me with this amused expression and said, ‘I thought you said you could sing?’

Which is precisely why I did NOT leave my state-of-the-art speakers to Olly in my will that I wrote the other day after watching Nancy Rose’s vlog, despite him always whining on about how badly he wants the same ones. That will teach him for being so rude about my angelic vocals.

Instead, those beauties will be going to Bruce, Grace’s tortoise.

‘So, the team is looking strong so far,’ Cal continued. ‘We have Olly on culture, Grace as our lead investigative reporter and I will be heading up general features.’

‘And you’re the editor,’ Grace said, making Cal blush. ‘Kind of an important role.’

‘I’m hoping we’ll get some keen photographers too. Olly, doesn’t your friend Liam have a pretty cool camera?’

Before Olly could answer, I cleared my throat.

‘What about me?’

The three of them blinked back at me.

‘What about you?’ Cal asked, looking confused.

‘What’s my role?’

‘You . . . you want a role on the paper?’ Cal shared a confused glance with Olly. ‘You realise it would be extra work. You know, outside of school. You’d have to come up with ideas and stuff.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I said huffily, narrowing my eyes at him.

‘Nothing, nothing.’ Cal laughed, holding up his hands. ‘Don’t want to rile the Handbag Hooligan.’

‘I am NOT a Handbag Hooligan,’ I fumed, feeling my cheeks growing hot. ‘And for your information there are loads of ideas I can bring to your stupid newspaper. Loads.’

‘Like?’ He said, leaning back and folding his arms with a bemused expression.

Honestly, there is no one in the world who can wind me up and get under my skin like Cal Weston can. He loves doing it too, which makes it even MORE infuriating.

‘Like . . . well . . .’ My mind went blank. ‘I’ll . . . think of something, just you see.’

‘I look forward to hearing your pitch at the first meeting after school.’ Cal grinned. ‘See you there?’

‘Oh, you bet you will.’

Later on I kind of regretted my decision. I had exactly zero ideas to bring to the paper and I didn’t know how I could be of any help, either. Everyone else had their specific interests, and working on this paper would help their future career. My future career was already decided for me – running Hotel Royale – and the only other interest I could think of that I had was my dog and his, frankly, fabulous wardrobe.

So, I decided that I would just tell Cal that actually, he was right. I didn’t have anything to bring to his stupid newspaper. I had plenty of other pressing things to do with my very important time, thank you very much.

Like trying to convince the world that I wasn’t a Handbag Hooligan.

When the bell rang, I marched determinedly into the classroom where the newspaper meeting was being held and straight up to Cal who was standing by the board at the front.

‘Cal,’ I announced, before he could say anything. ‘I’m not here to help —’

‘Then why are you here?’ a bored voice asked from the corner of the room.

I turned round and my jaw dropped.

‘Meet the newest member of our team,’ Cal said, shooting a warning look as he gestured to Ella.

You have GOT to be kidding.

‘What was I supposed to do, tell her she couldn’t join because you don’t like her?’

‘YES!’

Cal rolled his eyes from the seat next to me as Peter brought the car to a halt at some traffic lights. Reporters had been gathering around the school since lunchtime, hoping to catch me on my way out, so Mum had made sure Peter was there to drive me back. Cal usually just mills about the hotel after school, waiting for his dad to finish work, so I selflessly offered him a lift to the Royale with me after the newspaper meeting, with absolutely no hidden agenda, just out of the kindness of my heart.

But if he didn’t agree to cut Ella from his newspaper team, then he could walk home.

‘That’s not how it works, Flick.’

‘She’s trying to make you all think I’m a horrible person! She’s never even spoken to you before and now suddenly she wants to be your best friend!’

‘She doesn’t want to be my best friend; she wants to do fashion pages for the paper. She’s trying to get an internship at a fashion magazine, so this would look good on her CV.’ Cal sighed. ‘She didn’t say anything about you in the meeting before you arrived.’

‘Cal, I’m telling you, I don’t trust her. Why else would she volunteer to work on your newspaper?’

‘I don’t know, Flick,’ Cal said, looking hurt. ‘Maybe she doesn’t have a secret plot and just maybe she thinks me launching a newspaper is actually a really good idea.’

‘You know I didn’t mean . . . Cal, I think the newspaper is a great idea. But I’m supposed to be your friend.’

Cal looked taken aback. ‘You are my friend.’

‘Not if Ella has anything to do with it! Didn’t you hear what she said this morning? According to her, I’m bad news for your future!’

Cal shook his head. ‘If you think that I would ever let someone like Ella make me think badly of you —’

‘She’s determined to show everyone that Nancy Rose is right about me.’ I looked down at my hands. ‘And you already think I’m a bit of a diva.’

‘Oh, come on,’ Cal said, sounding exasperated. ‘We were joking about that stuff ! We love that —’

‘I don’t understand why you’ve let her join your team. Now you’re going to be spending all your time with her.’

‘Flick, do you think that maybe you’re overreacting slightly?’ Cal raised his eyebrows. ‘Since Nancy Rose’s vlog went up, you’ve seen Ella twice and have decided that she’s out to get you.’

‘Because I know what she’s like. What about the coconut water?’

‘What?’ Cal looked baffled. ‘Why are you talking about coconut —’

Peter cleared his throat loudly. ‘Sorry to interrupt but we’re home.’

The car door suddenly swung open on my side and I looked up at Matthew and one of the doormen, who had both battled their way through the paparazzi and were waiting to guide us back up the main steps. While Cal was still undoing his seat belt, I thanked Peter in my most gracious, un-diva-like voice and then jumped out of the car and under the doorman’s protective arm before Cal could say anything else.

Fritz was waiting for me on one of the purple velvet chairs in the lobby. When he saw me come round the heavy swivel doors, he jumped down and scrabbled across the marble floor eagerly.

‘Hey, boy.’ I laughed, scooping him up in my arms and letting him lick my chin. ‘Are you ready for your next Instagram post?’

I plonked him on top of reception and immediately got a telling off from Matthew as he came in, shielding Cal from the paparazzi.

‘You know Audrey’s rule, he’s not allowed up here,’ he scolded, tucking his hands under Fritz’s belly and passing him back to me. He quickly got out a dust cloth and began squeaking it across the surface. ‘No paw marks on reception please.’

I plopped Fritz back down on the floor and let him rush around reception back to the door to greet Cal.

‘Your son is being very irritating,’ I told Matthew, while he finished polishing the desk and then began to polish the gold buttons on his dark green uniform. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Matthew with a hair out of place.

‘You two had a scrap again, have you?’ He laughed.

‘Flick’s annoyed because she hasn’t got her way,’ Cal informed him, rolling his eyes and tickling Fritz behind the ears which made Fritz’s tongue loll out happily.

‘That’s not true! It’s the principle!’ I snapped. ‘You know how upset I am about what happened with Nancy Rose and now this just makes it all ten times worse!’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t take any notice, Flick,’ Matthew said, straightening his jacket. ‘Nobody bothers to read those lists anyway.’

Cal and I exchanged a confused glance.

‘What list?’

Matthew’s eyes grew wide. ‘Oh! Nothing! Sorry, I thought you were . . . talking about something else. Don’t mind me, carry on!’

‘We were talking about Ella joining the school newspaper,’ Cal said. ‘What were you talking about?’

‘Matthew, what list?’ I asked again.

‘I . . . maybe you should . . .’ he began, flustered, but was saved by Audrey emerging from her office, typing into her phone.

‘How was school?’ she asked brightly, spotting me and Cal. Then she noticed Matthew’s face. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘What’s this about a list?’ I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

‘Oh.’ Audrey put her phone down. ‘You haven’t seen it.’

‘Seen what?’ Cal asked.

‘It’s a load of rubbish,’ Audrey said, sighing. ‘So don’t get upset.’

‘Okaaaaay? Can someone PLEASE just tell me what’s going on?’ I insisted.

Audrey nodded and typed something into her phone before holding the screen up for me to see. It was a tweet sent by Nancy Rose about an hour earlier.

@NancyRose

BREAKING: @FlickRoyale DROPPED from ‘50 Heirs to Watch’ list due to be published tomorrow! Source close to heiress told me EXCLUSIVELY, ‘It’s time everyone knew the REAL Flick Royale.’

Audrey and Matthew watched me with expressions of concern as I read the tweet several times.

‘Are you OK?’ Audrey asked carefully as I handed her phone back.

‘They dropped me from the top fifty? But I’ve been forty-nine for years!’

‘You are number one in our eyes no matter what,’ Matthew said firmly. ‘And nobody even reads those—’

‘It’s been retweeted thousands of times,’ I said, feeling numb.

I took out my own phone and went on to Twitter, turning my notifications back on. After receiving nasty comments about the handbag vlog from plenty of strangers, I’d muted my social media for the day. I had completely missed all of this.

My phone immediately started vibrating as all the comments, retweets and likes came flowing in, thanks to Nancy Rose tagging me in her original tweet.

‘Block her,’ Cal instructed me sternly. ‘And don’t read anything else.’

‘Who gave her that quote? What “source” close to me?’ I shook my head. ‘What does that even mean, the “real” Flick Royale? It sounds like I’m pretending to be someone I’m not.’

‘She’ll have made all that nonsense up to get more clicks,’ Audrey said angrily. ‘No one you know would ever speak to Nancy Rose.’

‘Wait a minute,’ I said, switching from my notifications to my general newsfeed of people I follow. ‘Cal, look who just retweeted it.’

I held up my screen so that he could see. He didn’t say anything as I pointed at Ella’s name.

‘No one I know would ever speak to Nancy Rose, isn’t that what you just said, Audrey?’ I muttered, staring at Ella’s profile picture. ‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that.’

And then I walked away to the lift, leaving them all in silence.

Hey, are you ok???

OMG SKY! No, not ok. It’s so good to hear from you. Want to Skype?

I would love to but I’m just in the middle of a photo shoot. Isn’t it like 1am in London?

Couldn’t sleep. I got dropped from the 50 Heirs to Watch list

You were on that list?? Cool! Oh. Sorry. I mean, who cares about some weird list? Not me

This is all Nancy Rose’s fault

Did you really tackle her to the floor?

Can’t say I feel bad for her. She once likened my outfit to a ‘Christmas tree, if a dog had been left alone to tear it apart’.

I didn’t tackle her to the floor.

I wouldn’t even know HOW to tackle someone to the floor

She made the whole thing up then? Why?!

Well, I did take the handbag from her. But she stole it from Fritz first, so it was only fair

Sounds dramatic!

It was a little dramatic. Everyone hates me now

That’s not true

Yes, it is. How can I prove to everyone that I’m not a nasty diva person?

You don’t need to prove ANYTHING!

Your friends and family know the real you and that’s all that matters!

According to the 50 Heirs to Watch list, the ‘real me’ doesn’t deserve to be on it

You’re not REALLY upset about that list, are you? I get dropped from lists all the time. It doesn’t mean anything

That was the only list I was on! I was so proud to be number 49!

Can I do anything to make you feel better?

Leave LA and come to London?

Soon. You know it’s my new favourite place. Ah I gotta go, they want me to change into the Dior. Ignore the haters and ignore all of Nancy Rose’s tweets. You’re the BEST. Love ya xxx

Wait.

What do you mean ignore ALL of Nancy Rose’s tweets?!

She only tweeted one thing about me, right?!

I blocked her so I only saw that earlier tweet about the list!

What has she said now???

I’m going to look

No I shouldn’t

I shouldn’t look

Should I?

Why would I torture myself ?

I won’t look

Although, what if people are talking about it and I can’t defend myself because I don’t know what she’s tweeting?!

I’m going to look

I’m looking right now

DON’T TRY TO STOP ME

...

Oh god

This is not good

@NancyRose

Excited to be on the Morning Sunshine breakfast show tomorrow, revealing all about HANDBAG-GATE and an EXCLUSIVE story about Flick Royale’s previous ATTACK ON ROYALTY! #handbaggate

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