MASTERMIND | Jamie Tartt

FORTY: MEN WRITTEN BY WOMEN

author's note: read 39 first!

It seemed ironic to Billie that the place where she learnt the true value of surrounding herself with supportive women was while working for a men's football team. Those same women who would go to great lengths in order to mention her name in a room full of opportunities.

It might have been her own portfolio and her brother's influence that secured her the GQ shoot with Leah Williamson at the start of the season, but it was Keeley Jones who had personally requested for Billie Kent to be the photographer for her very own Vanity Fair shoot.

"I can't believe it's happening," Keeley sighed with a delighted smile, "The whole idea of it has got me going like...gaaah!"

"And when I got the email I kept going...gaaah!" Billie added, reminded of how she had woken up at Jamie's house two mornings ago, opened her emails to see the shoot schedule. Jamie was delighted for her, littering her face with kisses before insisting on taking her for dinner that evening. 

"Oh stop, you getting all...gaaah is just getting in the way of what you deserve, both of you," Rebecca assured the two young women.

"Are you making fun of me with my...gaaah?" Keeley replied as Billie's feet rested in her lap, the young Kent woman scrolling through Pinterest as she created her moodboard for the photoshoot.

"Of course not," Rebecca insisted, "It's just, you went...gaaah, and I thought I can't improve on that, I'm just going to have to replicate it."

"Oh, thank you," Keeley grinned.

"I've thanked Keeley so many times, she keeps telling me to be quiet," Billie smiled, "Although she gladly received the bouquet of sunflowers I had delivered to her house."

"They're you as a flower, babe," Keeley reminded her, "Could hardly turn them down."

"And I won't ever stop thanking you for asking to me to be your photographer on a Vanity fucking Fair shoot," Billie replied with a smile of delight.

"Who else would I want?" Keeley grinned, kissing her best friend's cheek, "I can't believe me and my best girl are doing this together."

Rebecca's gaze flitted from the two young women to her open office door as Ted strolled in, "Bing-bong, you ding-dongs."

"Ted," Rebecca grinned.

"Yeah?"

"Guess who is going to be featured in Vanity Fair's business issue as a powerful woman on the rise," Rebecca remarked proudly.

"I finally got it? This is incredible!" Ted exclaimed.

"Ted," Rebecca interjected, "Not you, Keeley."

"Oh, that makes more sense," Ted nodded, "Hey, congrats, Keeley, that's gonna be a Vanity Fair to remember."

"Oh, it's just an honour to be mad fit and successful," Keeley smiled, "And guess who's shooting me?"

"I thought you had the whole gun license thing locked down over here," Ted frowned.

"No, who's doing the photography," Rebecca nodded towards Billie.

"Oh, hey congrats, Sporty Spice," Ted smiled, "You'll kill it...figuratively."

"Blaaah!" The three women exclaimed in unison.

"So, ladies, I'm here to both give and receive," Ted told the women as he handed Rebecca her biscuit box, "Dr Sharon's last day is tomorrow, and we're all chipping in to get her something special."

"What did you decide on?" Rebecca asked.

"An envelope of cash," Ted nodded succinctly, "You know, I figured she already has all our deep, dark secrets...kinda tough to top that with a scented candle, you know?"