Free Letter from Paris by Thérèse Page A

don’t think you could run very far in those shoes.” She laughed, looking down at Samantha’s platform heels.
    Henry and India both stood up to greet Luella.
    “India, I am absolutely thrilled you liked the book,” Luella beamed.
    “I loved it,” she enthused. “Tod’s character has stayed with me. I can see him so clearly. I’m interested to know if any of it was based on your own life,” she added, hoping the question sounded spontaneous and not as prepared as it was.
    “No. My nephew. He’s been a vegetarian since he was a teenager, became a vegan after a while and then ran into all the ethical issues once he was at LIFT. He refused to use leather and in his attempt to be purist about it, he avoids even wool and silk. He’s broken new ground. He works with ethically sourced fabrics and with scientists. Of course, the actual story is fiction, but his real life experience was the inspiration.”
    “That’s so interesting. Isn’t Stella McCartney into all that too?” India asked.
    “Absolutely. Many of the new wave of designers are as well. What was your favorite ending?”
    “I picked the happy one of course.” India laughed. “I loved how everything was still possible with that one.”
    “I thought you would.” Luella smiled. “And so you know, that’s the one I picked too.”
    “Great. It really works. You feel like there’s a whole new beginning, that there may even be a sequel.”
    “Exactly.”
    “Right. So now let’s get on,” Henry said, handing them each a press pack. “This is incomplete but will get us started. The London Institute of Fashion and Technology will be partnering with the Fashion Institute in New York. We’re talking to the networks to get some televised coverage, although the revenue for the colleges will mostly come from the build-out: online subscriptions, YouTube, websites, standalones. We need to agree on percentages for the book sales. I have your agents working on that.”
    Henry rattled this off like a tobacco auctioneer. He may as well be speaking Swahili for all I understand, India thought, but she nodded sagely.
    “Who’s the main sponsor?” Luella asked over the top of her glasses.
    Henry leaned back in his chair and threw his arms behind his head. “ Beauty Without Cruelty will hopefully be in by the end of the week. I’ll keep you up to speed on that as soon as we know for sure.”
    “What do you need from me at this point, Henry?” Luella asked.
    “We need to set up some prerecorded interviews, usual thing. What was the inspiration behind writing the book, what was your own education like, are you a vegan, what’s the next book? Maybe India can suggest more questions for the online magazines. Get them in the bag early and they’re off your plate.”
    “Okay. I’ll fit around your schedule. Just let Margaret know. Margaret is my assistant…” Luella said, turning to India and lifting her purse from the table. “You’ll meet her when you come over to the house. She’s worked for me for years, and she’ll be able to fill you in more. See you soon.”
    “India,” Henry said, putting back the top on his roller pen and getting to his feet. “You might want to lead on how we can maximize the link with Otis College in LA. Stay behind and let’s talk about that in a minute.”
    India froze. Lead? She was having great difficulty following.
    “Thanks for popping by Lu,” Henry said, walking her toward the door, then sitting down again and facing India across the table.
    India shifted in her chair. She was sure he knew how magnetic he was. He was enjoying the effect he was having on her, wasn’t he? She fumbled around in her purse by way of distraction.
    “Lost something?” He grinned.
    “Er, no. Just checking,” she mumbled, sitting back straight and avoiding his eyes.
    “Okay. So now,” he continued “we need a couple of hosts for the show. I had been thinking Demi and Ashton a while back, but that obviously won’t work anymore.