Loving Alex (5 page)

“No, I think Katie’s parents are coming to pick her up,
they’re away but come home before the girls, I’ll have Anna to myself.” I run
my fingers through my still damp hair, raking it as best as I can. “We’ll need to
get on and sort her an apartment out for when she goes to uni., I thought we’d
head off to Birmingham for a day next week. You up for coming with us?” I look
up, yawning.

“I can do. It’s years since I’ve been to Brum. Quite
cosmopolitan now isn’t it?” He shuffles some papers and picks up a pen, half
concentrating on his work and half looking at me.

“Parts of it. We can look at some apartments and have some
lunch.” I yawn again, feeling so very tired on the verge of sleep.

“Sounds like a plan.” He concentrates on his work, not
looking up.

I sit in his comfy bashed leather chair and doze as he
works. I don’t know how he does this, travelling this morning, working this
afternoon and still working this evening and through the night, barring one or
two pleasant pauses of course. I wish I had his energy. I close my eyes and
must sleep for a little while, not deeply, I’m conscious of the constant
tapping of his keyboard and papers being shuffled.

I’m roused from my sleep by the
activity outside in the staff corridor and the early August morning sunshine
spilling through the window of James’ office.

“Morning sleepy head.” He looks at me, smiling. He’s either
worked through the night or been awake for a little while.

“Morning yourself. What’s the time?” My voice is croaky as I
stretch, uncurling myself from the chair.

He looks at his watch, “Seven”, he stands and walks towards
his kettle, turning it on “tea?” He asks.

“Umm, please. I’m hungry too!” I announce, placing my hand
on my stomach. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so hungry for ages, the grinding
hunger pains telling me that I need to eat.

“Alex Drake claiming to be hungry! That has
got
to be
a first! There’s plenty of strawberries.” He points towards the Tesco bag
sitting on his other leather chair.

“I need something more than strawberries. Shall I send for
some pastries? You want some too?”

He nods as move towards his desk and lift his telephone from
its cradle to call for room service, which always struck me as a little odd,
room service in an office.

“So Bossman, what’s the plan for today?” I move towards him,
wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his back as he makes
tea.

“Not much, here for a little while then Marcus will step in
until Robbie starts back on his night shifts.” He turns towards me whilst
waiting for the kettle to boil, kissing to top of my head. I really do feel so
loved and protected. I’m so very happy, as long as the bastard leaves me alone.

“We need to get your job advertised, so that you can start
your new one!” I smile, looking up at him.

He looks at me, dubiously, “Umm. You’re not pushing me
Blossom, are you?”

“No.” I’m defensive. “Well, sort of I suppose. I told you
before, I’m not indecisive, once I’ve made my mind up about something I go for
it, well most of the time anyway.”

The pastries arrive and I grab one, plonking myself back
down in my chair with the tea that My James has just handed to me. “I’m
starving!”

He smiles at me as he returns to his side of his desk,
whilst he breaks off manageable pieces of his pain au chocolat I’ve already
gobbled one down and have started on another. He looks at me, wide eyed and
with disbelief.

“Tell me I’ve not hooked up with a cave woman! You really
were hungry! What’d you eat last night?”

“Weight Watchers curry.” I mumble through a mouthful of
delicious French pastry and chocolate.

“Weight Watchers! Why are you buying Weight Watchers?
There’s nothing of you as it is?” He looks confused as to why I would be buying
Weight Watchers foods. “Please make sure you eat properly Alex, please.”

“It was in the freezer and I needed to eat.” I shove another
piece of pastry into my mouth. I’m famished.

As we sit in silence simply enjoying each other’s company I
am aware that the hotel is coming to life, the staff corridor outside James’
office sounds busy, the early morning comings and goings as the staff go about
their duties.

“Are you going home?” He asks.

“I think so. I’ll get Archie to drop me. I could do with seeing
Muriel and I thought I might go shopping, you know - on my own. If I take Anna
the trip invariable ends up about her! I need to talk to Shauna as well, just
to make sure that there are no hiccups with the divorce, it’s all a bit too
quiet.” I’m sure my tone turns to one of worry and concern. It really is a
little bit too quiet as far as my divorce is concerned.

“Okay.” He takes a deep drink of his coffee, “Well, I’m
handing over to Marcus at four. Shall we go and eat with Roberto and Gia?”

“I’d love that, assuming you’re still awake after this
incredibly long shift!” I look up at him, I’m worried at the length of time
he’s been here, in any other circumstance, any other employment this would be
against the law. “I was also thinking, and it’s only a thought, that I should
ask Ramiro to come and stay with us for a few days - before Anna goes off to
uni. I think she’d love to meet her
real
Grandad and I’d love to spend
some more time with him, but we’ll need Roberto to talk for us, or Gia.” I set
out my thoughts, what I’d planned in my head, I wash the pastry down with some
of my tea my knees to my chest as I stay sat in the big leather chair.

“I think it’s a lovely idea, I really do! You going to get
yourself off now?” He walks around to me.

“You trying to get rid of me? Archie should be here
shouldn’t he, to run me home?” I start to unravel myself again, placing the
side plate on the tray and finishing my tea before brushing the crumbs off me
and generally straightening myself out.

“I’ll take you, they can do without me for an hour – come on
Blossom, get your stuff.”

I pick my bag up as he takes my hand and we walk out of his
office. We walk along the dim corridor passing various staff as we head towards
the stairs, all greet us with a smile and a “good morning” until we pass Lola,
she looks angry, not herself. She grunts at us as she marches past almost
pushing me out of the way.

We stop dead in our tracks, “Wait there,” James says to me
as he walks after her, I can see from his body language and the length of his
strides that he’s really not impressed at all.

“Lola, stop there right now!” He shouts along the corridor.

She stops and turns towards him, hands on her hips and face
screwed up. Yes, this is how I expect most teenagers to be at some point, thank
God that my Anna has never been as horrid as this, I am so lucky. We’ve had our
ups and downs and from time to time she’s been awkward but never like this.
Surely Lola should have passed this stage of growing up, this
me against the
world
stage!

I listen to James as he gives her a dressing down.

“What’s up with you Lola, only a couple of weeks ago Mrs.
Drake was saying what an impeccable attitude and manners you have, now you’re
barging past her, practically pushing her out of the way, and that bloody face –
change it before you go downstairs! You understand me!” I watch as he waves a
finger in front of her face. “You
do not
bring an attitude like that to
work. If you’ve got boyfriend problems, or whatever this is, you leave it at
the door. Understood?” His voice is firm, slightly raised but he doesn’t shout.

She nods at him.

“I said understood Lola – YES or NO?” James repeats firming,
not happy with a nodded reply.

“Yes
Mr. Aconi.
” She has a sarcastic tone as she
replies.

He backs away a step, his shoulders appear to be flaring
out, facing up to the sullen teenager stood before him. “Cut the tone Lola.
Change the face and get yourself down to the restaurant or Go Home – your
choice but I
do not
want to see
that
face and
that
attitude downstairs, you can apologise to Mrs. Drake as well. Go on,
now!”

She looks at me, her face still like thunder and shuffles
her way towards me, lowering her head as she moves along the corridor, her
unkempt hair needs sorting before she goes anywhere near the public area. She
lifts her head slightly and I’m drawn to those pale blue eyes, they’re so
familiar. I banish the thought, of course they are, I’ve met Lola many times.

“Sorry for barging past.” She huffs in a typical teenager
fashion.

“Okay Lola, go on and get yourself ready for work.” I employ
my motherly tone. She’s had one telling off, she doesn’t need another.

She doesn’t acknowledge me, just turns and heads off towards
the staff room.

James catches me up and holds my hand, when we’re out of ear
shot of any staff I ask him about Lola. “How old is she? She must be eighteen
at the most!”

“I can’t remember. It’ll be in her file.” He dismissive just
holds on to my hand tightly, leading the way.

“Well, she seems very young. I hope that Marcus can handle
her, if she has an outburst like that with him, I think he might cry! Or sack
her on the spot.” I muse.

“He’ll do something, I’m pretty sure. You’ve seen him in
action!” He laughs as we continue our walk through the hotel hand in hand.

We head through the foyer, past the orangery and pool that
we had
fun
in last night and out to the car park.

“I wonder if that couple will say anything.” I whisper as we
walk past the pool.

“So what if they do? You own it, you can do what you want
with it and anyway they were pissed, probably won’t remember a bloody thing!”

We reach his Audi and climb in. He starts the powerful
engine which rumbles to life and pulls out of the car park and onto the London
streets. It’s busy, but not as bad as it will be in an hour or two. He
navigates the rat runs and back streets with ease and we’re soon outside my
home. The home I feel uncomfortable in, not scared and not so bad that I don’t
want to be here just, well unsettled I suppose, I don’t feel like it’s my own.
It’s the sort of house that if I was looking to buy as a prospective purchaser
I would be saying, “
I really like the house, really, really like it but it
just doesn’t feel right.”

We leave the car and walk up the few steps. I open the door and
deactivate the alarm walking straight through to the kitchen. As I reach my
island my mobile pings with a message, rummaging through my bag, my phone is at
the bottom as it always seems to be, I retrieve my phone and check the message.

“Muriel won’t be in today, apparently she’s ill!” I say.

“Is that a problem?” James asks as he fills the kettle.

“No, not really. She did a grand job last week, wouldn’t be
much for her to do anyway. Do you think I should call her?” Should I be the
concerned employer.

“If she’s still off tomorrow I would, you could do with
knowing how long she’s going to be out of action I suppose.” He mumbles as he
sorts two mugs.

He finishes making our tea and turns towards me pulling me
close and kissing me deeply, I put my arms around his neck and weave my fingers
through his curls, his lips are so soft. He pulls back, “You’re tea’s here.”

“Tease!” I snap, smiling.

He laughs as he passes me a mug, “So, when are you going
shopping?”

“Once you’ve gone I’ll shower and change and then I’ll head
off. When you get to Reid’s can you ask Archie to pick me up?” I pick my drink
up holding the warm mug in my hands, “Do you think Gia would like to come with
me?”

“I’m sure she would, ring her!”

“I’ll shower first, get myself ready.” I walk into the hallway
taking my tea with me.

“I could do with getting scrubbed up too!” He follows,
grabbing my hand and pulls me forwards through the hall towards the stairs. I
put my mug down on the hall table before it spills and follow behind him as he
all but drags me upstairs and to our room.

We shower together and as always, every time that James and
I make love I have to remind myself that this is real, in the short time we
have been together he has shown me more love, more care and attention than the
bastard
did
in the twenty-two years that we were together. I feel so
special, so wanted and it scares me, it scares me that it will end that this
is
just a fling. Why do I feel so insecure? Will these feelings ever pass?

“You really do mean the world to me Alex.” He says softly as
he holds me close.

“I wish that it will never end.” I whisper.

He takes my shoulders and pushes me back so that I’m at
arm’s length. “Why would it end Blossom?”

“I don’t know, it just seems so surreal – everything, you
know. Finding out about Maggie, meeting Ramiro, my new aunt and uncle and you!
I could never, ever have dreamed up anyone as kind and caring as you. You and
Lewis, you’re worlds, light years apart, so different. I don’t want it to end!”
I look down, I feel so emotional, the feelings course through me, feelings of
want, of trepidation of lust and confusion.

He pulls me to him, “It won’t Alex, I love you, you know
that.”

We stay wrapped in each other arms, “I love you too, so very
much!”

We both dry and dress, James in his usual white shirt with
double cuffs, black trousers and black Chelsea boots, it’s always the same but
the look is so elegant and clean, sexy too, he carries it off beautifully. I go
for the jeans that Anna doesn’t approve of and one of my new shirts, finished off
with my comfortable tan flat pumps.

“I’m off then Blossom. I’ll send Archie for you. You’re
going to call Gia?” James turns towards me as he leaves. God, he is
so
handsome.

“Umm, as soon as I find my bloody phone I’ll give her a
ring,” I look down rummaging through my bag, “I have to buy a new bag today I
can’t go on like this, it’s stupid.” I curse as everything comes out of my bag,
my purse, my old dairy, a packet of tissues, lipstick, atomiser, packet of
Polo’s –you name it, everything’s on top of the phone, which I eventually find
lurking at the bottom.

I quickly scroll down my contact list and locate Gia’s home
number. I know she won’t be at the bistro yet.

“Ask her to save us a table for tonight.” James says
drinking the remainder of his now cold coffee.

The call connects and is answered quickly by Roberto.

“Hi Roberto, its Alex.”

“Morning Alex, how are you? Did you and James have a good
trip back yesterday?” He asks. It seems like ages ago since we said good-bye to
him in Italy, him and Gia returning a few days before us.

“Absolutely great. I wanted to know if Gia would like to
come shopping. I’m going into town and would love the company, maybe some lunch
– my treat!” I ask.

“I’m sure she’d love to. Give me a second, I’ll call her.”

I hear Roberto call his wife to the telephone, asking her if
she wants to go shopping with her new niece, there’s some fumbling, she’s
clearly taking the phone off him.