Authors: Helena Smith
‘Maybe I should do what my Mum has done’ My response from this comment was Ash rolling about the floor laughing. My Mum had moved to California to live with a surf dude, and be a kind of hippy. Jesus... even my Mum could pull better than me.
‘Bell, you are not exactly the hippy type and shack up with a surf dude like Jez! I swear if I saw you in tie die I would faint.’
‘Okay.... okay’. She was so right, it definitely was not me!
‘Where are you off to next week?’
‘Well next week I am a lucky girl... I am off to Monaco. I have been put on a team at work to help organise our European ABM. So I have to suss out the hotel. Shouldn’t be too bad.’
‘Well you deserve it, so make sure you pack your glad rags. Don’t you dare sit in your room having room service. Promise me, that you will go to the restaurant.’
I nodded in agreement. She knows me too well. I have too often sat in my room at night and had room service. There is nothing worse then being in a restaurant in a hotel, alone. You always ended up feeling paranoid that people were staring at you. She was right though. It was high time to start making some changes.
CHAPTER 3
I walked into my bedroom in the Hotel De Paris, Monte Carlo. Wow. This hotel is stunning. The service on reception was amazing. Damn, even the lift was special. I have been lucky enough to be booked into a one bedroom suite. I walked around and reflected how the other half live. I have a balcony with the most stunning view. A basket of fresh fruit on the table in my lounge. I ran into the bathroom and squealed at the sight of the bath. I can not wait to get in there. But for now, it will have to wait. I need to get the work laptop out and start my report. I also need to get my paperwork out and have a meeting with the Events manager.
Later that evening, I run the bath and I go to sit on the balcony for 10 minutes. Devouring a large glass of wine and lapping up the view. The warm air is delicious. I get into the bath and even the aroma of the bubble bath is delicious. I suit this lifestyle! After lounging in the bubbles for 10 minutes my promise to Ash was prompted by the grumble in my stomach. I was starving, but I was not allowed to order room service. Oh she would never know. But, then and again, she knew me well enough. She had even made me pack one of my ‘posh’ dresses and a pair of spanx, so I couldn’t make an excuse to get out of it.
What the hell, the wine had given me an air of confidence. I got out of the bath, and quickly applied some make up. This hotel was too posh for me not to. Actually, I would go as far as to say..... they were not ready to see my face nude. There might very well be an exodus. I make sure I put my spanx on, and slipped on my black ‘posh’ dress along with my favourite leopard print heels. I sprayed some perfume, and looked in the mirror. I decided that I actually looked reasonable. In fact my inner goddess was stood there, hands on hip nodding frantically in approval.
I decide to go and dine in the ‘Grill’ restaurant, as it has a beautiful sea view. The other restaurants would leave me feeling awkward. The waiter kindly seated me in the window, and knew it was a table for one without me having to make a declaration yet again that I was single......phew. It means that I can sit throughout my meal and focus on watching the sea throughout and not notice the odd glances from romantic couples at the singleton.
To make the process as quick and as pain free as possible, I ask the waiter to choose a nice glass of white wine for me, and he recommended the sea bass for mains. I said that this would be perfect. Thankfully, he is quick with the wine. I keep my eyes firmly fixed on the sea. It looks amazing out there. The sun was setting, with the most beautiful orange glow. The colour was reflecting on the waves. I love the sea so much, but I have such a bad fear of sharks. I even swam with sharks once to try and overcome my fear. Ridiculous now when I think about it. It makes me smile though.
I take another sip of my delicious wine. Thank god for expenses. It was delicious and the price tag will no doubt reflect this. Am I brave enough to glance around the restaurant. I take a deep breath, and casually glance around the restaurant. Shock horror, there are several loved up affluent couples. The women giggling at their men. I can even see one very young beautiful woman playfully moving her foot under the table along the guy’s leg. He was definitely not going to complain. I would say he is late fifties or early sixties, a pot belly to prove he has been living the good life. He knows he will be getting lucky tonight. But who am I to judge? At the end of the day, they are both clearly happy with their end of the deal.
Then I remember my childhood sweetheart. We dated for about a year. We were only 16 at the time. I had gone through school, and had a crush on him for 6 years. At the school leaving party, he marched up to me and kissed me. An awkward 16 year old kiss that made my stomach do back flips and my legs wobble like jelly. Chris Robson was my heart throb. After that we were inseparable. I loved him with all my heart. He had always wanted to join the army though, and I knew it was his heart’s desire. The day he was accepted and signed up was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. I told him that he was to follow his dream, and maybe one day fate will bring us together. I had to do this, as I knew I would worry too much everyday that he was away and I was too young for that. He cried and so did I. I was broken hearted for years. If I am honest, he was my first and only love.
Another sip of my delicious white wine, and I admit I can not wait now to finish my dinner, go upstairs and sit on my balcony to feel that breeze again. I feel like I am being watched, and my automatic reaction was to look around the room. But all the couples were very much engrossed with each other. I look at my table, even that’s gorgeous. With its crisp white linen, simple yet elegant with a beautiful centre piece. As I glance up, I can see a man staring right at me. Oh my god, I turn my head and immediately look outside. Oh my god, I am 33 years old and I feel uncomfortable with a grown man looking at me. My inner goddess is screaming at me ‘Look back you coward!’ I take another sip of my wine, and casually try to look up without looking suspicious.
Oh dear god, he is staring right at me and not even remotely trying to disguise it. I look back at the sea. Oh I wish that sea would reach me right now and sweep me out. Maybe I slipped when I was putting on my lipstick and it’s really on my forehead which is why this guy is staring at me. Or maybe I have a giant bogie hanging out of my nose. He is not even giving me the chance to check in my portable mirror in my handbag. Or maybe, he is flirting. Could it be? There is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. I press my lips together and blush. Oh great.... I have to blush right now at this moment. Why is it that some of us are cursed with blushes. Why is it, at this point I have to start thinking about the most obscure thing I can think of.
Inner goddess, if you are in there right now, can you please help! I know, I have to steal myself and act confident.
Come on Bella, pretend your acting
, l
ook up and make eye contact
. I mean I am in my 30’s. A deep breath, I look up and yes he is looking at me, with the faint trace of a smile on his lips. I have to say... Oh la la....this guy is gorgeous. He is dressed in a casual suit with no tie and the first few buttons undone on his shirt. I smile back at him. The waiter interrupts our moment with my seabass. Oh no, now I have to eat while My Oh la la is staring at me. I decide that if I can’t see him, then he can’t possibly see me. So if I just stared at my plate and the sea, then he can’t see me can he?!
Halfway through my dinner, I risk a glance up to see him strolling out of the restaurant. He looks tall, well built and confident. But oh my..... he is walking out of the restaurant. That went well. I finished my delicious meal and wine, and savoured every mouth full. The waiter came over to ask if I would like anything else which I declined. I really wanted to get into my luxury bed, and read my new book. The waiter very discreetly said ‘The gentleman that was sat over there asked if you would like to join him after you have finished your meal, for a drink on the terrace with him. ‘
‘Thank you for the message. Good evening’. I grabbed my bag and headed straight for the ladies. Frantically calling Ash. Explaining my dilemma she gushes....
‘BELLA! Get your ass out there this instant. Or god help me, I will be furious with you. It is only a drink. Not full on sex. Get a grip. I love you, You will look amazing as always. I love you. Goodbye’.
I really dislike attention, but clearly a part of me must like a little bit of it. My inner goddess is strutting up and down the catwalk practising her walk. I take a deep sigh and try to stop myself from blushing.
Come on Bella, its a drink, nothing less, nothing more. Get a grip. It’s not as if you will ever see him again.
As I steel myself I head out to the terrace and immediately the warm breeze drifts gently past my skin. Leaning over the balcony on the terrace he is gazing at the view, and so am I. His behind is looking mighty fine! He spins around and looks at me. Oh my, his look is intense. I feel awkward all of a sudden and I know I flush the colour of red carpet. He is what I want on my dream list. He is around 6ft 2, dark hair, bright blue eyes, well built. Oh dear me...... I could watch him all day long and not get bored.
‘urm, Hi’ Oh dear god, why can I not speak to the opposite member of sex in a normal way. I wish I had some form of prowess.
‘Hello...I’m pleased you could take me up on my offer for a drink. Would you like a glass’. He indicates towards a bottle of champagne resting in a bucket of ice, with water dripping down the side of the bucket.
‘That would be lovely, thank you’. Oh I do hope that I am not shaking with nerves. I feel so out of my depth right now.
‘I hope you do not mind, that I asked you to join me. I noticed you at dinner and felt compelled to speak with you’.
Oh wow.... his accent is delicious but I can’t quite pinpoint it. What do I say??? Must think.......
‘What is your name?’ Oh Bella....... how original of you.
He smiles, and from his amazing lips...’My name is Robert, and you are?’ he sounds amused as he says this. I know I have blown this delicious encounter. Maybe he is ridiculing me. I need to get to grips and quickly.
‘Bella, my name is Bella’.
He hands me a glass of champagne, and I manage to take it from him without spilling it everywhere. ‘What a beautiful name Bella.’
He places his hand on the small of my back and whispers ‘Come’ indicating to stand on the terrace and admire the view. That touch, the heat of his hand on the small of my back. So inappropriate, and presumptuous! But.... it feels good. The sun is nearly put to bed by the blanket of darkness that is creeping over the sky.
‘To new encounters’ he raises his glass in toast. We clink glasses. ‘So may I ask what you are doing here in this beautiful part of the world Bella?’.
‘I have come to the hotel to assess the location for a work event.’
‘So you are here on your own?’ He arches his eyebrow in a quizzical look. Oh dear lord, what does he mean by this?
‘Yes’
‘Do you often travel alone Bella?’
‘For work yes, it comes with the territory.’ His line of questioning makes me feel uneasy. I try to redirect it back to him. ‘So what about you Robert? Why are you here?’
‘Ahhhh, we are similar Bella. I am here for work also’.
I nod and smile, taking another sip of this bubbly champagne. We start to talk about the different places we have travelled and joke about some of the terrible hotels we have had to endure. A light relief from what was starting to feel like the Spanish inquisition.
‘Oh Robert, I arrived late one night to a hotel that was in the middle of nowhere. It was like Faulty towers. You had to manhandle the lift door and manually pull it shut. Instead of pressing a button the receptionist informed me that I had to ‘punch the button’. I stifled my laugh and prayed that I would survive the journey to the 2nd floor. The corridors to the rooms were like a maze, each a different colour. I was so tired, but couldn’t stop giggling. Each room was a different number but in no sequence whatsoever! ‘