Unexpected Romance - 5 Romantic Short Stories (5 page)

"I love London on a Sunday morning," Greg declared as he walked hand in hand with his sweet heart.

Cristina squeezed his hand. "Really? So do I. Funny that. So, where are you taking me on this fine morning good Sir?"

"There's a great coffee shop just down this street. I think you'll like it. I went on a date there once. Did I ever tell you about that?"

"No, I don't think you did tell me. Tell me right now or I'm taking the next train home," Cristina teased.

Greg felt her warm hand in his and looked Cristina in the eye before continuing. "I met this girl on a dating site. Funny thing is I could hardly make out her photo but her profile made her sound like just the kind of girl I like so I thought, what the heck, lets give it a try. Then I met her, and I was blown away. She was a stunning English rose. She dressed well, walked like a model and spoke well. She was everything I'd ever wanted in a woman."

"She sounds amazing. I'll have to meet her someday," Cristina joked. "So, when did you know you were in love?"

"I knew the moment she turned her head. When I called out her name, the way she turned her head and the way her long blonde hair swept past her collar. That was it. I was hooked."

"Sounds serious. What are you going to do?" Cristina giggled.

"I'm going to take her for coffee and tell her how much I missed her. I really have missed you so much Cristina. I never phoned because I didn't think it was fair on you. But I couldn't even imagine being with another woman. It was crazy and I was slowly going out of my mind. I 'd keep meeting women at work functions and often they'd want to arrange a date but I just couldn't. I felt like I'd be cheating on you. It just didn't make any sense. I was like half a person after we went our separate ways."

Cristina nodded. "We're two of a kind. I was the same. I didn't know what to do without you. If what we had didn't work it seemed pointless to go and meet someone else. It's funny how things work out. We might never have talked again if it hadn't been for my love consultant, as I call her, the one and only Sally."

"Thank you Sally. We'll have to make her the guest of honor at our wedding," Greg looked at the surprise in Cristina's wide eyes and knelt down on one knee outside the coffee shop. He took a small box from his coat pocket and opened it to show a huge diamond ring.

With a slight quiver in his voice he asked, "Cristina, make me the happiest man in London by marrying me. Will you marry me?"

Cristina put her hand to her mouth, took a deep breath and looked down at the engagement ring, looked Greg in the eyes, felt tears in her eyes, and said the words she thought she'd never get to say: "Yes Greg, of course I'll marry you."

Linda sat back in her office chair admiring the new painting on the wall opposite. She loved the bright turquoise colors of the sea and the rich deep blue sky set against the white of the beach house. Wearing her cream suit, at 40, she looked every inch the part of the successful and beautiful young executive and she made sure her office looked just as good. She heard Karen walking past her office and called out. "Karen, just a quick one, block all calls from George Preston."

"Ok, will do, Linda. I'll add him to the long list of unacceptable men," her P.A. joked, "I'll squeeze him in at the bottom."

Linda glared at her from her desk. "I met him yesterday evening in the champagne lounge. He's another heir to a family estate. The usual, a wealthy vagrant with no work ethic. When I asked him what he does for a living he just changed the subject, as that type always do. He seemed to be more interested in discussing fine wines and the state of play in Argentina's polo circuit. What a sad, pathetic and boring man."

"Is he good looking?"

Linda played with her gold necklace. "Yes, he is actually. He's an older guy, around 52 I'd say, he has long dark brown hair, blue eyes and a strong chin. And his dress sense is spot on, he was wearing a beautiful tailored dark navy suit with a crisp white silk shirt. Very fetching. I don't trust myself with men like him, his good looks might make me lose control. Anyway, you know me, I've no time for the idle rich, outside of work that is."

"Yes, I know that. You didn't become the most renowned property diva in Chelsea by avoiding rich clients. What was it The Times said about you? "Linda Black is the estate agent of choice for high net work individuals seeking to invest in the most prestigious locations in London. Her client list reads like a who is who of the international business world. Not only that, the elegant brunette is one of the most eligible single women in London." What they didn't mention of course is your love life or lack of one, eh?" Karen digged.

Linda shook her head. "It's not easy finding a good man these days. Since I smashed my way though the 40 barrier last month I've resigned myself to the fact that maybe it just won't happen. And I'm ok with that, sort of. You know I've tried. Over the last 8 years as my trusty assistant you've seen the ups and mostly downs of my dating life. All in all it's not exactly been a ball, has it?

"The funny thing is, everything else in my life is great. I love my business, I have a great bunch of friends, I have a loving and supportive family back in Cornwall and I want for nothing. Except, the one. I know this might sound cynical and even jaded but I'm starting to think it's true, that, all men are the same, they all have a one track mind, you can't really trust any of them."

"Oh, come on Linda, That's a little overboard, don't you think? I've never been happier since I met Mike, we've been happily married now for 7 years . He's everything I was looking for in a man. And it's true, I did despair before I met him that I'd ever find someone that would suit me. But I was never cynical like you've become recently. I've not said this before Linda so take this the right way, as your friend, I'm telling you, it's your attitude that is the problem not the male population. You're scaring off the good ones and attracting the cynical ones, two peas in a pod, and all that."

Linda raised her voice. "Cynical? Me? Oh come on Karen, I'm the most positive person you could meet on the King's Road. You know that."

Karen held her ground and raised her voice in response. "Yes, you are, with one exception, when it comes to men you're not, not at all. You talk about them as if they're the source of every problem of humanity. I don't remember the last time you had something good to say about any of the guys you dated."

"Well there's a reason for that, they were all either rich and lazy or lazy and rich, either way, none of them had any drive. They bored me to tears."

"Linda, that's exactly what I've been saying."

Linda shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "I really don't know what you're talking about today. Sounds like a load of mumbo jumbo to me. Actually, now that I think about it, I've decided, no more dating for the next six months. I deserve a break. And anyway, I've far too much to do. My social calendar is full. Next month in particular is jammed.

"At last I'm going to visit Vienna to attend the Spring concert series. I've been wanting to go there for years. It'll be fabulous. Just me, three full days of world class music and of course the art galleries. I can't wait."

Karen frowned. "Why are you going on your own?"

"Everyone is too busy with their partners to get away. I was hoping to steal a few of the girls and elope but when it came to making the booking not one of them would drag themselves away from their man."

"Linda, are all of your friends in long term relationships?"

"Yes, all of them. Except for Jo of course but she doesn't count because she will never find a man that can meet her exacting standards." Linda sneered.

"Hmm, sounds like someone I know," Karen joked.

"That's low, even for you. I'm not at all like Jo. And you know it." Linda barked.

"Ok then, let's look at the similarities and lets see if you're right. You're both 40, very attractive, highly successful, leading lights in your field and you both have not had a stable long term relationship for years, and for the same reason.

"Don't forget. I talked to Jo about this not so long ago, that night when she poured her heart out to me. She talks about men exactly the way you do. In fact, she even uses some of the same exact phrases to describe "the enemy"."

"You're joking, right? You must be. I'm really not that bad."

Karen paused for effect and continued. "Jo and you both think you're not at all cynical, you two call it having high standards. The problem is that since no man can ever meet those ridiculously high standards it causes you both to be overly critical of every potential mate you meet."

Linda bowed her head and sniffed, tears filled her eyes and she sighed. "You know me better than I know myself sometimes. I've never admitted this to anyone before but I know I can trust you. I've been flying on empty the last few years. It's like I've become a victim of my own success. On the surface it looks great. I've got my shiny new Bentley parked outside, my designer clothes, my shoe collection and the big house to keep all my stuff but there's more to it than meets the eye.

"I'm under constant pressure with mounting bills, salaries to pay and endless business functions to attend. As you know I never stop and I put on a brave face but inside I die a little every time I have to play the role. You know the one I mean - the happy powerful woman who has it all. They say it's lonely at the top. It is. Very lonely. Now I know why some people jump. At times it can seem like the only way out."

Karen piped up. "Don't worry Linda, it'll all work out. You're just over tired, you need a break, that's all. Even the super human need to let their hair down. You'll be in Vienna before you know it enjoying a well deserved break, it'll do you the world of good."

Linda took a deep breath and dried her eyes before replying. "You're right, as usual. It's not just that. When I talk about being lonely at the top I'm not just talking about at work. I'm alone in my life. Once I close the door after an evening with my friends, and they are truly wonderful friends, I'm alone. When I win an award or sign my latest big deal, I turn to share the moment, and, I'm alone. I really don't know how much more of this I can take.

"Sometimes I seriously think about selling this business and moving to the Caribbean. I could buy one of those beautiful old colonial houses and fix it up just the way I want it, I'd love to do that. I've worked out the numbers. I could comfortably retire and never work again. Money is no longer an issue. I know it sounds like a pipe dream but I could do it. There is nothing keeping me in London other than this daily slog. Maybe it's time for a change, a big change."

"You know what Linda? Whatever you decide to do I know one thing. You'll make a big success of it. I've no doubt about that. But, there's one thing I've always wondered about you. I need to ask. Why haven't you ever applied your approach at work to making your love life a success?"

"I don't quite get what you mean by that. Explain!"

"I mean at work you know exactly what you want yet you're flexible about how all the pieces of the jigsaw come together. When it comes to dating however I only ever hear you talk about what you don't want and you must have it your way or it's the highway, so to speak."

Linda laughed and stood up from her chair. "Hey, you're right. I am like that. That's funny I never noticed that about myself."

Linda sat by the fire in her cosy living room thinking over what Karen had said earlier about her man cynicism. After a second glass of champagne she started to accept that yes, she had become jaded over the years. But what caused it? She hadn't always been like that, surely.

Oh yes, it was after she split up from Richard. Everyone had said they were perfect together. And they were, only she had wanted more perfect. She though she could and should do better. Yes, Richard was everything she'd ever wanted. He was kind, sensitive, a great lover and a loyal partner but she always feared she would get bored with him. Why was that? What had caused her to worry about that? Of course, it was his military like obsession with routine, it used to drive her mad. He was up at the same time every morning, ate the same breakfast and so on. Funnily enough though outside of his functional routines he was always up to something new and interesting. He was a strange paradox in that sense.

What was it that Richard had said when she ended it? He said she was too inflexible when it came to love. He said you can't change people, it's a package deal, accept the good and ignore the little details that don't really matter.

Of course at the time I thought he was raving mad. I even told him it was a ridiculous thing to say. And with that, he had loaded up his car and driven off into the night. I've never seen or heard from him since. Although I did see him interviewed on BBC a few weeks ago. He just took his biotech company public on the stock market. He's done very well for himself. Not just in business. In the interview he was accompanied by his wife. My heart sank when I saw her. She is stunning, and get this, she is one of the top scientists in her field in the world. I felt like such an idiot after seeing that.

So what am I going to do now?

With a fresh glass of champagne to enjoy, Linda scrawled The One on a blank page of her daily journal. The same journal that was filled with the gory details of dating disasters.

Then she scribbled down the bare essentials. He must be tall, in great shape, well educated and well spoken. A self made man not a trust fund spoilt rich kid. He appreciates classical music and enjoys going to the opera. He loves art and travels to visit exhibits. He likes to relax by the sea and enjoys hot summers and sunny winters. Of course what he must have more than anything else is a loving nature.

Karen burst into Linda's office and shouted, "You got it Linda. I just heard back from Tom the P.A. to that Chinese steel billionaire. He confirmed they want you to handle the sale of Mayfair House, here's the fax with the listing details. The place is massive. You were right, it is the largest house in London's golden mile."