Page 2 of The Christmas Invitation

‘She hates being called Felicity, Daddy! Come on, Fliss, I’ll show you my bedroom. You’re in the room across the hall,’ Tara said, running up the large, sweeping staircase, two steps at a time.

Fliss’s eyes followed Tara, and she noticed a figure peeking through the top of the banister. Was that Tara’s brother, Bill? When he caught her looking, his eyes narrowed, and his scowl deepened before he darted out of sight just as Tara reached the top of the stairs.

Fliss looked to Lord and Lady Oliver. ‘Off you go, Fliss,’ Lord Oliver said encouragingly. Lady Oliver smiled too, but Fliss caught a look flutter across her face which she didn’t understand.

Years later she would have recognised that look as one of dread.

Part One

Chapter 1

New York

December, present day

The studio lights beamed down on Fliss Courtney as she leaned forwards in her seat, ready to pose the killer question. She was interviewing Bradley Cooper and she had the audience – and Bradley – in the palm of her hand. She could feel the crackle of electricity, that buzz in the air when everything comes together perfectly.

‘And what can you tell us about the rumours that you’re secretly engaged?’ she asked, her blue eyes dancing as she heard the gasp in the room that she had dared to ask the question.

Bradley didn’t miss a beat. He grinned lazily, displaying the charm that had won him adoration worldwide. ‘All I can say is … I’m a very happy man right now.’

Cheers and whoops erupted from the studio audience, who were all excited to be taking part in the festive special recording of Friday Night with Fliss. The set was decorated for Christmas, with a beautifully trimmed tree behind Fliss and a fake fireplace hung with stockings, on either side of which she and Bradley were seated in leather armchairs. Behind them, the enormous glass windows which looked out over New York were frosted inside with fake snow, the lights from the Empire State Building twinkling in the distance.

‘Great job, Fliss,’ she heard in her earpiece. ‘Wrap it up.’

‘What’s that I hear?’ She hammed it up. ‘Oh, just the sound of millions of hearts breaking right across the globe.’

Bradley shrugged, as if to imply it wasn’t his fault that he was so handsome, and Fliss knew his non-denial would make headlines when the show aired tomorrow night.

‘Ladies and gentleman, Mr Bradley Cooper!’ Fliss announced, rising to her feet and joining in the applause as the movie star basked in the spotlight. Fliss, in her red velvet trouser-suit, her bob perfectly tousled and her make-up immaculate, looked like a woman at the top of her game – which is exactly what she was. At forty-five years old, she was the lead presenter on Friday Night with Fliss, one of the highest-rated talk shows in the US, on which she was also an executive producer. Not content with her stellar television career, Fliss had spawned a veritable empire with her own production company that was behind not only her eponymous talk show but a number of Hollywood blockbusters. She had founded a charity that raised thousands of dollars each year for underprivileged children, and spearheaded a book club that could catapult authors onto the bestsellers lists purely from being given her seal of approval. Fliss had come a long way since her days growing up by the seaside in England, and she didn’t take a single moment of this crazy ride for granted.

‘And we have one more surprise for you all,’ Fliss said, beaming at the cameras, as introduction music began to play softly in the background. ‘Think of it as a Christmas gift from me to you …’ She watched the excitement in the studio audience’s eyes break into wild cheers as Ariana Grande walked on in a cute, sexy Santa outfit, comprising a fake fur-trimmed mini skirt and bustier, along with her trademark high ponytail and cat-eye make-up, a tiny Santa hat perched on a hairband on top of her head. Microphone in hand, Ariana began to purr her way through a seductive version of ‘Santa Baby’.

When it came to the second verse, a production assistant ran on and handed Bradley a microphone. The audience went wild as Bradley joined in, the two of them harmonising beautifully as Bradley’s gruff vocals and Ariana’s soaring soprano melded together. As the song drew to a close, Bradley beckoned Fliss over and she sashayed across in her silver glitter heels to join them, Bradley throwing his arm over her shoulders, Ariana’s hand around her waist as fake snow began to fall in the studio.

It was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments that Fliss had had throughout her life when it was hard for her to believe that she was standing here, right now, presenting her eponymous show, sandwiched between two of the most famous people on the planet. Fliss was well-liked within the industry – she worked hard and didn’t believe her own hype and with the celebrity guests she was relaxed and charming, her dry English humour making her a real favourite of the A-listers.

She felt unexpectedly emotional as this series wrapped. Fliss had worked so hard for so long, achieving all of her professional dreams. But her life hadn’t always been like this. She wondered what her younger self would have made of her current situation, the teenage Fliss who had lost her mother and been parted from her adored father as she left for boarding school in the Oxfordshire countryside, thrown into a whole new world where she didn’t belong. No one would have guessed at the heartache behind Fliss’s radiant smile.

‘Everything OK, Fliss?’ came a voice in her earpiece, bringing her back to the moment. ‘Let’s start the closing monologue now.’

Fliss focused on the autocue, but the words came from her heart. ‘Merry Christmas, everyone. As this season of Friday Night with Fliss draws to a close, I want to wish all of you the very best for the festive season, and for the year ahead. I know this time of year can be hard for people, but remember that it’s always worth wishing for a better tomorrow. If you’re lucky enough to have your loved ones around you, hold them tight …’ Fliss’s voice began to wobble and she felt surprisingly choked up, the words resonating. She needed to take a deep breath and keep it light. ‘… And buy them a fabulous present, right, Ariana?’

‘Right. Diamonds and champagne are always a good idea,’ agreed Ariana with a giggle, as a fresh round of snow fell from the ceiling and Bradley and Ariana burst into one final chorus of ‘Santa Baby’.

‘And that’s a wrap on season nineteen,’ said the voice in Fliss’s ear.

‘Great job, team,’ Fliss congratulated everyone, as the studio audience began to file out and a sound technician rushed across to take off her microphone. She hugged Bradley and Ariana, thanking them profusely. Some A-listers could be full of themselves, but these guys were humble and professional, and Fliss felt lucky that she could consider them friends.

As Bradley and Ariana went back to their dressing rooms, there were high fives and cheering amongst the crew, all hyped up on adrenaline.

‘Ross, you smashed it!’ Fliss grinned, as she passed one of the camera operators, brushing the fake snow from his shoulders. ‘Same time, same place, next year, Jennie?’ she laughed with the production designer.

Friday Night with Fliss was a blend of interviews, comedy skits and music performances from the hottest acts around. Over the course of her career Fliss had met everyone from politicians to Hollywood actors, opera singers to social media influencers, but she treated everyone the same, whether it was the celebrity guests or the lowliest runner, and it was part of her formula for success. She was well-liked, respected and popular, and the ratings for this latest season had been their highest ever.

‘Nicole!’ she exclaimed, as she spotted the floor manager walking towards her. They had worked together for many years now, and Nicole was one of Fliss’s favourite crew members. ‘Are you coming to the wrap party? It seems like ages since we’ve caught up.’

‘I can’t, I’m afraid. I need to catch a plane to Oklahoma.’ Nicole rolled her eyes. ‘We’re spending the holidays with Bob’s family.’