Blank Space

9

Once again, the red Mini rolls up to the gates of Woolworth Mansion. In the daylight, it looks a lot different. The lush grass on the lawn is freshly mown, and the autumn leaves have been raked into small piles. The long Georgian-style windows shimmer in the sun, looking like a palace.

"I don't need to wish you good luck." Karlie smiles. "It looks like you can handle things from here."

"I promise I'll meet you here as soon as I'm done. And I will maintain contact this time."

"You'd better." she winks. "Have a nice day, Mr O'Pry."

The Mini drives off and Sean makes his way up the familiar gravel path donning a polo shirt and shorts; Selena's recording device is firmly attachedto his belt. Taylor is already waiting for him in the porch, wearing a pretty pink skirt and crop-top, with a shawl draped over her shoulders.

"Just on time, Mr O'Pry." she beams.

"I brought these for you."

Sean presents her with a bouquet of red roses. Her heart stops for a moment, but her smile grows wider than ever.

"Thank you, my love! Roses are my favourite!" She accepts the bouquet and plants a kiss on his cheek. "Now come: Mendes has already laid out the food for us in the garden."

She takes his hand and leads him around the perimeter of the house, down the steps and onto an even bigger lawn, lined with tall hedges which tower over them. A chequered blanket is spread out on the grass, with a picnic basket surrounded by plates of sandwiches and various other snacks. Mendes's presentation was always on point.

"Come on, sit down!" she urges him. "I have something for you!"

He sits cross-legged on the picnic blanket as Taylor opens the basket.

"I read your article and it was fabulous! I never knew you were so tuned-in to fashion! I thought we might celebrate with this."

She retrieves a bottle of expensive-looking champagne from the basket and pops off the cork. "To Sean, and his long and prosperous high-flying career!"

Sean beams with pride and a little embarrassment as she fills up a glass for him. They toast their flutes before they start on the sandwiches.

"Where's Mendes today?" Sean asks out of politeness rather than genuine concern.

"Oh, he'll be inside somewhere, probably taking a well-earned break from doing the garden this morning. That boy works hard!"

"Is he the only person who works here?"

"Yes." Taylor says with a hit of sadness. "He's the only one I can rely on. He's been my most loyal servant from day one."

They continue to talk and dine together in the winter sun. Sean takes out his phone at random points to keep Karlie updated. Taylor clocks this and makes a comment.

"Who's that you're texting?"

"Oh, just my assistant." he answers honestly. "She's just asking what time I want her to pick me up."

"I see..."

"Not that I'm not having a good time of course!" Sean quickly adds.

"She's very pretty, your assistant. I saw her drop you off earlier. Lovely hair."

"Yeah, I guess." Sean shrugs.

"Anyway, I have something to ask of you..."

"Of course, what is it?"

"Do you know what day it is this Saturday?"

Sean searches her expression for answers but still comes up with nothing. "No, I'm afraid I don't."

"It's my birthday, silly!" she laughs. "I'm having a party here at the mansion, and I want you to be there! Can you make it?"

"Of course I'll be there! I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

The two exchange a kiss as they conclude their picnic. Once again, Taylor tries to convince him to stay for longer, but Sean insists that his work is a priority.

As the sunlight fades, she waves to him from the porch, clutching her shawl for warmth. He blows her a kiss from the bottom of the path, where Karlie's red Mini is waiting for him. He climbs inside with an infatuated grin on his face.

"Well, it looks like someone had a great time." Karlie snickers. "What did you get up to?"

"Oh, we just went for a picnic in the garden. She loved the flowers by the way, great idea."

"I knew she would." Karlie nods knowingly. "So, what info did you gather?"

Sean's cheery attitude turns to incoherent mumbling. Karlie groans and hits the steering wheel in frustration.

"For God's sake, Sean! Have you forgotten what this is all about? You're supposed to be getting the scoop on her ex-lovers! You might have been cast in a role, but you're still an undercover journalist! Or are you still in character after hours?"

"What are you implying, Karlie?" Sean retorts.

"Nothing." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Anyway, I have something to tell you. Something important."

Sean's frown turns from aggressive to anxious. He listens intently.

"Ok, so remember at the Victoria's Secret after-party, when I sent you to go and find Taylor? Well, I went to go and talk to some of the Victoria's Secret girls. Originally, I was trying to dig for more dirt on Taylor, but we got chatting about modelling, and they introduced me to one of their managers. She said I had a lot of potential and offered me an interview for NEXT Model Management here in New York. I applied for the job, attended the interview, and got accepted...I hope to start in the spring."

Sean stammers, almost lost for words. "Y-Your quitting? To become a model? You can't!"

"I'm sorry, Mr O'Pry. You've been a lovely boss and a great friend. But this is my dream, and I'm going to pursue it. Once we finish this story, of course. Let's make it the biggest story of 2014."

"I don't care about the story." he confesses. "I don't want to be part of this business unless you're by my side, supporting me. It was you that took me under your wing and taught me everything I know about the journalism industry, not the other way round. You helped me through this job when it got tough. Even when I was sure I was on the firing line, you somehow landed me this story. This is all thanks to you."

"Oh stop it, Mr O'Pry-"

"Karlie, you know it's true. I owe you my career. And no matter what you say, I haven't fallen for Taylor Swift. I don't love her, because there's only one woman in my life who matters. It's you, Karlie."

He leans across the handbrake to kiss her, but she stops him. "Don't do this, Sean. I'm leaving and that's that. The journalism industry rejected me, and threw me out like a garbage bag. The fashion industry is open and it's calling me. I'm gonna prove to those fat-cats that I am worth something in this world, and I'm gonna do it by becoming a supermodel with a net-worth of millions. I'm gonna have them begging me for an interview."

"And what about me?"

"Ha!" she scoffs. "Once you write this article and expose Taylor Swift for the psychotic boyfriend-killer she really is, you'll be the rocketed to the top of the food chain. You don't need to worry, Sean. You're gonna be fine."

In the first floor window of Woolworth Mansion, a silhouette spies them between the curtains. Mendes observes from the shadows as the red Mini reverses along the path and revs off down the street. He has witnessed the whole exchange, and is slowly piecing the puzzle together.