Wags To Riches, page 10
“That’s right. I go out with Michael, midfield player for Grandmere” she says as she looks me up and down appraisingly.
“Yes I’ve been told” I reply coolly, slightly taken aback by the unannounced inspection.
“Well he is the best player on the team” Nicola says with a twinkly little laugh.
I smile. “Well, in your opinion he is” I say. “I would beg to differ, but then I’m biased”.
“Where did you meet Adam?” she asks suddenly.
“In the supermarket” I reply, and thank the bartender who has just passed me two glasses of champagne.
Nicola raises an eyebrow and her lip curls slightly into almost a kind of snarl. “Oh how sweet!” she says. “I could tell that about you – just by looking at you!”
“How do you mean?” I ask warily, my heart starting to pound.
“Well – you obviously – how can I put this – eat very well” she says smiling a glacial smile at me. “But then we can’t all be naturally slim can we?” She gives another twinkly little laugh.
My hands clenched tightly around the stem of the glasses I’m holding. I can’t believe what Nicola had just said! “Sorry?” I say.
“Oh no offence darling” Nicola says lightly “I appreciate for some girls it can be very hard to lose weight. I do sympathise”.
“Really?” I say and smile. I’m fighting the urge to throw the champagne in her face. What a cow! Don’t start with the Auden – I’m not having it. “Well, weight can be lost” I say sweetly, “but style is something you’re born with. You’ve either got it or...” and I look Nicola up and down just as she had done me a moment ago “you haven’t” and walk off trembling with rage. How dare she? Naturally slim my arse! You mean she never bloody eats and I’m normal. Cheeky cow! I’m not fat!
I make my way over to where Adam has found us a table and put the glasses down with such force that some of the champagne slops over the sides. “Sorry” I say shortly.
“It’s fine” Adam says hastily, looking concerned. “What’s the matter? You look really pissed off!”
“Oh I just met your wonderful ex at the bar that’s all,” I say sitting down.
“Why – what’s she said?” Adam asks.
“Oh she basically called me fat” I say angrily and Adams eyes widen. “And she also demanded to know where you and I had met – not that it’s any of her business whatsoever!” I add and tell Adam what Nicola said. “And do you want to hear what I said to her?” I say and take a large gulp of champagne. I tell Adam and he bursts out laughing.
“Good for you Gail!” he says grinning. “You tell her!”
“I will!” I say and laugh. I don’t know why I’m getting so worked up actually. She’s only jealous because her boyfriend – let’s be frank - is a bit of a dog.
We finish our champagne just as the DJ puts on Perry Como’s Papa Loves Mambo and Adam stands up. “Come on Gail” he says, reaching for my hand, “Let’s go and have a dance”. He leads me back on to the dance floor that is now absolutely packed with famous people and I feel really nervous – what if they all laugh at my dancing? It’s different when you are in a club and you don’t know anyone. I try dancing in a very subtle and understated way for a few seconds, still holding Adam’s hand and Adam leans in towards me.
“Gail – what are you doing?” he asks.
“I’m trying to dance elegantly,” I mumble. “I don’t want to show myself up in front of all these famous people”.
“Oh stuff that – come on - give it some hip wiggle!” Adam says and holding my hands, steps backwards, wriggling his hips in a really exaggerated manner and I laugh as Sheena and Terry who are dancing nearby, look on in interest.
“How many have you had laddie?” Terry shouts as he spins a surprised Sheena round enthusiastically
“Not as many as you Terry evidently!” Sheena says dryly and Adam laughs heartily.
“See Gail – Terry’s not bothered is he? Come on Gail – let yourself go!” Adam says to me. Oh sod it – why not? Who gives a shit what people think anyway? Fuelled with Dutch courage from the champagne, Adam and me end up doing some kind of improvised salsa/samba routine, wriggling and giggling along with the music and having a really good laugh. And nobody is bothered about my dancing - everyone is too busy dancing and having a good time themselves! Across the dance floor I can see Gina dancing with Tim who is seriously getting down – stamping his feet and waving his arms round like some kind of bull fighter. Gina catches my eye, nods at Tim and then rolls her eyes grinning. I grin back while secretly thanking my lucky stars that I’m not dancing with Tim.
We have a great time dancing and I could dance with Adam all night, but there comes a time when no matter how many glasses of champagne you have, you just cannot ignore the pain in your feet anymore. It’s just after ten o’clock and I’ve hit that time. The soles of my feet feel like they are bloody fire and I’ve got to take these shoes off. “Adam” I say, leaning in towards him, “Much as I love these shoes, I’ve got to go and take them off – they’re killing me. If you wait for me near the bar, I won’t be long – I’ll just need to nip upstairs to my room and get my other shoes”.
“Oh okay” Adam says and we make our way across the dance floor, where I leave Adam and I wind my way through the little tables and chairs to the exit. I walk down the corridor past a couple hand in hand and laughing, towards the lift in the foyer. I get in and there’s a sudden silence when the lift door closes. As the lift moves upwards, I think about Nicola and what she’d said and I smile to myself. At least I gave as good as I got. Alex will be very proud of me when I tell her.
The lift doors open and I hobble painfully down the corridor to my suite. As I open the door, I can see the city at night through the window and it looks amazing. I’ve got to go on the balcony and have a look, but first I must take these shoes off. I quickly unfasten the straps which have become over the course of the day, more and more like cheese wire and kick the shoes off. God that’s better. I can feel my feet heave a sigh of relief and I pad across the floor barefooted to the balcony.
Wow. What a view! It’s like one of those pictures you used to be able to buy from Athena. I can see lots of skyscrapers lit with little golden blocks of light and to the left, tiny car headlights moving on a distant road. Suddenly I hear a knock at the door. Who’s that? I wonder. I go to open the door and find Adam leaning casually against the doorframe, holding a bottle of champagne in one hand and two crystal champagne flutes in the other. His tie’s gone, his collar is undone, he’s barefooted as well and his hair looks even more delightfully funky and dishevelled than it did earlier. He looks gorgeous. “Hello” I say and grin at him.
“Hello. Thought you might like a glass of champagne,” he says, raising an eyebrow enquiringly.
“Oooh - how nice!” I say. “Won’t you come in?” I ask and Adam walks inside.
“See you took your shoes off too then?” I say as I close the door.
“Oh yes,” Adam says, “My shoes were starting to pinch too. I’m happiest in football boots,” he replies as he puts the champagne and the glasses down on the table.
“You’ve got really nice feet” I remark as I step outside to stand on the balcony to look at the view again and Adam smiles. I know it’s a weird thing to compliment someone on, but some blokes have got horrible feet. “Isn’t the view fantastic?” I call, turning back to face Adam who is busy opening the champagne.
Adam walks over to the balcony door with the glasses and looks me up and down. “It certainly is” he replies. “Quite sensational I’d say”.
“You are full of shit Adam Finchley, do you know that?” I say laughing.
“I know – but you love it!” Adam replies smiling as he walks up to me and hands me a glass of champagne. I laugh and thank him for the champagne. I didn’t realise how cold it was out here actually. I’m freezing!
“Are you cold?” Adam asks, noticing me shiver, “Here – have my jacket” and slips off his jacket and puts it round my shoulders.
“Thanks” I say gratefully and Adam smiles at me. We stand and look at the view for a while, drinking our champagne. “This is so great Adam” I say. “I’ve had such a good time today!”
“Good” Adam says, “I have too – I’m glad you’re here Gail” he says and moves closer towards me. We look at each other and suddenly we are kissing each other furiously. I’m so overwhelmed – I want him so much. Somehow, we get back into the room and we break apart briefly - I put the glasses on the coffee table and Adam closes the balcony door and quickly pulls the curtains across the windows, before taking me into his arms again. His hands move lightly over my back and I pull him even closer to me. He unzips my dress as I unbutton his shirt and trousers as quickly as possible and we lie on the bed kissing passionately and suddenly we are naked. “God - I want you” Adam whispers in between kisses.
“I want you too”. Now. And then he is inside me. And I can’t think. All I can do is feel how good this feels. And time and everything, the whole world doesn’t matter. It’s so good. Then Adam lies still in my arms and we stay like that for some time. I smile up at the ceiling. Oh my God. That was amazing.
Adam moves to lie at my side. “You are gorgeous you know” he says smiling and kisses me gently.
“Thank you” I whisper smiling back. “So are you”.
“What do you say to a glass of champagne in bed?” he asks.
“Okay – that would be nice” I say and Adam gets out of bed to pour some out. I think I’d have said yes even if I didn’t fancy one, just so I could watch him walk across the room naked. He comes back and passes me both glasses so he can get back into bed and after he’s got back in, takes his glass from me and presses my free hand to his lips.
“I think I love you Miss Auden” he says softly and gives me a sexy smile.
My heart starts racing. “I think I might love you as well” I reply casually. In fact I know I do. He’s so nice and so gentlemanly.
And his arse is superb.
Chapter 11
When I wake up the next morning, I look over at Adam who is still asleep. He looks so gorgeous and peaceful. I’d love to snuggle up to him, but I can’t – I must go to the bathroom and sort my face out and my hair – I bet I look a right state. I carefully get out of bed so as not to wake him and pad over to the bathroom, click the light on and try not to shriek as Marilyn Manson after a particularly heavy night looks back at me out of the bathroom mirror. That’s what you get for not removing your makeup before going to bed. At least I took my lenses out - I forgot once, when I’d been out with Alex and could not understand for the life of me why my eyes ached liked hell until I put my glasses on and my vision was blurred. After I’ve washed my face and brushed my hair to remove the bird’s nest that’s planted itself on the back of my head, I climb back into bed. After a few moments looking at Adam and grinning inanely to myself, Adam opens his eyes and smiles sleepily at me. “Hello” I whisper, smiling back at him.
“Hello” he replies and wraps his arms around me. I could stay here forever.
“I’m just going to nip back to my suite Gail and get some clean clothes” Adam calls through the bathroom door. “I’ll take the key so I can let myself in”.
“Okay” I reply as I wash my hair in the lovely coconutty shampoo I’d got from the spa. It smells delicious, just like a Bounty bar – I’m not going to eat it though. I use the matching conditioner as well and then some shower gel, which is really nice and fruity. I sniff my arm after I’ve got out of the shower and I smell just like one of those fruit salad chews I used to buy when for 3p when I was little. I wrap myself in one of the big fluffy towels off the rail, wrap my hair up in another towel and then get dressed, putting on a pair of jeans, white slash necked jumper and my favourite glittery ballerina pumps which feel like absolute heaven after wearing my gold shoes all day yesterday. I’ve just started combing through my hair when the door opens and Adam comes in wearing a pair of jeans and a soft black jumper. “Right – I’ll just jump in the shower” he says, dropping his suit bag and designer overnight bag casually on a chair before pulling his jumper over his head.
“Okay” I say and Adam disappears into the bathroom. While he has a shower, I dry my hair, put my make up on and I’m just packing my bag when Adam wanders out of the bathroom with just a towel round his waist. He looks fabulous.
“Do you fancy some breakfast Gail?” he asks.
“Yes please” I say “Can’t you stay like that all day?”
Adam grins. “Well I could, but it might be a bit draughty driving home” he says laughing.
After he has got dressed, he phones room service and asks for breakfast to be sent upstairs. A short while later, there is a knock at the door and a voice calls ‘room service’. “Come in!” Adam shouts as he stands in front of the TV flicking through the channels and one of the waiters wheels in a huge trolley, covered in a thick white linen cloth and laden with food. “Thanks” Adam says, giving him a generous tip. I walk over to the trolley, my eyes widening. This looks amazing. There’s a big bowl of strawberries, toast, cereal, some pots of yoghurt and two jugs of fruit juice and milk. There was also a little pot of tea, which I am particularly pleased about.
“Is this okay Gail?” Adam asks as he starts lifting things off the trolley and putting them on the table.
“It looks great!” I say and help myself to some strawberries and toast while Adam chooses a yoghurt and pours out some cereal, “I’ve got people finishing some work on the house on Monday” he says as I lift the delicate white china teapot and pour myself some tea, “So I’ll need to go and check what they need to do – look through some plans and stuff - after I’ve dropped you off if that’s alright”.
“Sure no problem” I say, “I’ve got quite a few things to do myself today” I add, remembering with a sinking feeling the huge pile of ironing, the living room carpet that needs hoovering and the empty fridge.
“I’ll pick you up from work tomorrow night if you like” Adam goes on in between mouthfuls of cereal, “I’ll fix that shelf I broke and I’ll cook you dinner”.
“Oh that would be lovely!” I say pleasantly surprised. “Hang on though - should I be scared? Can you actually cook?” I ask, grinning.
“I like to think that I can,” Adam says laughing, “I shall prove it to you!”
“Okay – you do that!” I say, “Now I’m going to the supermarket anyway today, so is there anything in particular you want me to get?”
“Erm – I’ll just need some pasta, some veg and a bit of cheese and I’ll throw something together” Adam says, waving his hand airily.
“Okay” I say, “Can’t wait!” This should be good – I’ve never had a guy cook dinner for me before – I normally eat out on a date, so this should be interesting. Must remember to scrape that burnt pasta sauce off the hob today as well. I must cultivate my image as a domestic goddess.
After breakfast, we go downstairs to check out and there is a bag of goodies waiting for me and Adam. “What’s this?” I ask Adam as I open the drawstring bag. There are some travel size moisturisers and body lotions from the spa, along with a voucher for a manicure – I presume they’re for me - a key ring with a miniature solid silver Bentley on – I guess that’s for Adam and a bottle of champagne. Then I notice a card tied to the side of the bag and open it to read in swirly golden handwriting:
Dear Adam and Gail
Thank you for sharing our special day with us and hope
you like your goodies!
Love
Tim & Gina
“Isn’t that nice!” Adam says as he picks up the key ring.
“Isn’t it?” I say, “It is, it’s really kind”. I tuck the bag safely under my arm and after Adam has paid the bill – I couldn’t bring myself at first to look how much it was and then I had a little look and felt faint - we head for the car park. As Adam drives me home, I send a text message to Gina thanking her for inviting us to the wedding and for the lovely present and then I start trying to write one to Sharon.
“What do you think I should say?” I ask Adam.
Adam looks over at me. “Oh don’t bother, they’ll have made it up by now – as I say, they go off like this”.
“I know – but I just want to see if she’s all right” I say, tapping my phone against my teeth whilst I think what to say. Eventually I just put:
Hi Sharon – hope you are okay – how are you and Tony?
And a few minutes later, my phone beeps with a message from Sharon.
I’m fine thanks – me and Tony are fine as well – he is taking me to a posh hotel one night next week to make it up to me!
I read the message out to Adam who shakes his head and laughs. “See? I told you!” he says. “Knowing Sharon - she’ll make sure Tony pays heavily for any alleged indiscretions. Last time this happened he bought a new car!”
“Really? That’s one hell of an apology,” I reply, tucking my phone into my bag.
“It was one hell of a bloody row!” Adam says and I laugh. “That was the one I was telling you about last night” he continues. “They started screaming at each other in the club car park and ended up with Tony chasing Sharon in his Porsche which he subsequently crashed”.
“I thought you said Sharon got the new car?” I ask, puzzled.
“Oh yeah she did” Adam explains, “And Tony had to get one as well after going straight into some poor sods garden wall!”
“Bloody hell!” I say shocked. “Was he alright?”
“Yeah thankfully” Adam replies. “I tell you – nobody does things by half in this world I live in! Bet you wonder what you’re getting into don’t you?” he asks.
“Not really” I reply. “We don’t have to chase each other in porsches do we?” I ask smiling.
“No – not if you don’t want to. It’s not compulsory” Adam says grinning. “It’s just that some people in my world are a bit mad. You’ll fit in just fine” he adds and I gently smack him on the arm when I realise what he’s said. Cheeky sod.
