Poison in the Water

by Marissa de Luna

  Alex leaned forward and kissed her lips, and she felt a tingle as she usually did. This was the reason she chose as to why she could never say ‘no’ him. His brilliant blue eyes looking longingly at her were enough to sway her, even when she was at her most determined. Perhaps this was true love – the kind of love she read about. As Alex pulled the room key out of his wallet a business card fell on the floor. Celeste bent down to pick it up.

  ‘You have got to be kidding me?’ She dropped her shopping bags.

  ‘What?’ Alex’s eyes followed hers towards the business card.

  ‘Is this a card for Asian Escorts?’ she said, picking it up.

  Alex laughed. ‘Yep.’

  ‘Why would you have this?’

  ‘You can’t think that I would…’

  ‘What do you expect me to think?’ Her face reddened.

  ‘The dinner I had last night with Mr Lau, who I might add is our biggest client in Hong Kong, gave me the card. Thought he was doing me a favour.’

  ‘And you didn’t think to tell him you had a girlfriend. You just slipped it in your wallet. Did you use it last night? You didn’t come back to the hotel till gone midnight. Our first night in Hong Kong and I was left on my own.’

  ‘We’re not having this conversation.’ Alex shook his head as he opened the door to their suite and walked inside.

  Celeste followed with her shopping bags. ‘Why not?’

  ‘What time did I get back to the hotel yesterday?’

  ‘I just said, around midnight.’

  ‘And that gave me time for a five course meal and a visit from an escort?’

  ‘Maybe it wasn’t five courses. What else are you keeping from me?’ She put her bags down and took off her coat.

  ‘You don’t trust me?’

  ‘You had this in your pocket, not me. Don’t turn this on me.’ She waved the card in front of him. The shiny red lettering of Asian Escorts embossed on the card sent a shiver down her spine.

  ‘Why would I beg you to come away with me if I wanted to use escorts? I’ve been to Hong Kong before without you.’

  ‘And God knows what you got up to then.’

  Alex walked over to Celeste. He took the card from her and ripped it up throwing the pieces onto the floor. Instinctively, she wanted to tidy them up but she was learning not to bother. A month ago Alex had hired a cleaner for their little mews. ‘We can afford it,’ he said and he was right. He, of course, paid for it. She had felt guilty at first and had only recently told her mother about it in hushed tones like she had committed a crime. Alicia had told her not to be so silly. But then Alicia had had staff around her from when she was in nappies. There would be a cleaner here too. After all, they were in a hotel. Why should she bother to pick up the pieces of paper?

  ‘You know what it’s like doing business in the East.’

  She looked up from the ripped business card to Alex.

  ‘I told Mr Lau that I had a girlfriend, to which he responded that he had many girlfriends. I then had to put it in my wallet as a sign of respect. I didn’t want to offend him.’ Alex put his arms around her.

  She pursed her lips and tilted her head. ‘I suppose,’ she said, her shoulders dropping.

  Alex smiled. ‘You’re terribly sexy when you’re angry.’ She tried to supress a smile, but she couldn’t.

  ‘That conversation couldn’t have happened at a worse time though.’ Alex said, looking behind her.

  Celeste turned around. She hadn’t noticed the bottle of Krug on ice and two champagne flutes. Rose petals had been scattered by the base of the cooler. She turned back to face Alex.

  ‘For you,’ he said, with those blue eyes and cheeky grin that made her melt.

  She released herself from his grip, walked over to the panoramic window and looked past the multitude of skyscrapers towards Kowloon and Victoria harbour. The evening’s Symphony of Lights was coming to an end.

  ‘An apology for leaving you alone on your first night.’

  Celeste made a face, feeling a little guilty. ‘Sorry, I snapped. It was a bit of a shock to see that fall out of your wallet.’

  ‘Hong Kong business men may stop pressuring me to use escorts and visit strip bars if I had someone permanent in my life.’ Alex walked over to her. He popped the cork on the bottle of champagne and filled the glasses, passing Celeste one. ‘Celeste Broady, believe it or not, I knew I loved you the minute I saw you. Even after a long and tiring flight, heaving around a backpack which weighed more than you, you took my breath away.’ Alex pushed a lock of her black hair behind her ear. ‘You’re exactly what your name suggests – heavenly. Without you my life’s incomplete. Now...’ he said, putting his glass down. Bending on one knee, he took a small black velvet box out from his pocket. ‘Marry me.’

  *

  Celeste looked at the diamond solitaire sitting proudly on her left hand. She estimated it at two carats at least. The stone was perfect, just like Alex. She fiddled with it so it caught the light. Her eyes followed the reflection on the curtains.

  She looked over at Alex, sleeping next to her. The light was dim, dinner had just been served, and most of the other passengers in their cabin were preparing to sleep. Celeste pressed the button on her armrest as she adjusted her seat into a bed. Immediately an air hostess was at her side with a small bottle of mineral water asking her if she would need anything else before she turned in.

  She politely declined. The flight out to Hong Kong, business class, had been a luxury. She had never before flown in such style. Not having to queue at immigration or having to wait long for her luggage. She couldn’t help but think of her trip to Morocco earlier this year. She had taken the flight to make a quick visit to the trims market looking for a new buckle for the ‘Cross’ bag Maryanne was designing. For the short three-hour flight she had been jammed between a grubby man who didn’t quite fit in his seat and the world’s loudest snorer. Alex had laughed at her. ‘You went on business, surely they should send you business class,’ he had said. But they had not. She should have known then that Cross had been in financial trouble, but she didn’t think of it. She had just ignored it, not knowing any better. She took a deep breath. The nice thing about flying business class was that it was so quiet. No children crying for their mothers, no uneasy shifting or people straining to watch a movie on a single screen. Celeste lay down and pulled on her eye mask.

  She couldn’t sleep. Fidgeting in her seat for a few minutes, she eventually pulled off the mask and found her diary. She looked at the days ahead filled with meetings with various suppliers and designers and shook her head. Giddy with champagne and the thought of being Mrs Renshaw, she knew she was the luckiest woman alive. But yesterday Alex had asked her another question, which had swiftly brought her back to reality. And Celeste Broady had no idea how to answer it.

  15

  Barnet, North London

  ‘The proposal was a shock?’

  ‘Yes and no.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘Alex always got what he wanted. I suppose that’s what attracted me to him. One time he wanted pistachio ice cream. But it was gone one in the morning and most of the ice cream shops in London were closed. We drove to Leicester Square and not a single store had any, so Alex telephoned the Maître D’ of his favourite restaurant, which, of course, was closed. But they opened up just so he could get two scoops of pistachio ice cream. It was annoying as hell at the time. I said to Alex, “It’s only dessert. Don’t cause that man any bother.” But I learned it wasn’t the ice cream. It was the principle of the matter for Alex – and he tipped him handsomely for his efforts. Alex wanted people to go out of their way for him, to remind them that he mattered.’

  ‘That didn’t really answer my question.’

  ‘I’m getting there. When Bill came on the scene, Alex felt a little threatened I guess. It forced his hand. I was to be his and his alone – I didn’t know at the time it was the reason he proposed, but I see it now. Like the ice cr
eam, Alex was just making a point.’

  Elaine nodded. ‘Okay, you’re referring to Alex’s best friend, Bill?’

  Celeste eyed Elaine. Was she really trying to help? She had got more out of her in the last forty-five minutes than anyone else had in the past year. She wondered if, like others, Elaine thought she had a problem. Her mind started to drift. If Elaine talked, it could cause her problems. It wasn’t as if she needed anyone paying closer attention to her, especially not now.

  ‘Celeste?’

  ‘Yes. Alex’s best friend, Bill. It’s funny they were so similar, Bill and Alex. Bill had the same confidence, which attracted the women. He was slightly shorter than Alex, but not by much. They both loved champagne, whiskey, fast cars, and as I later found out, yachts. But unlike Alex, Bill could laugh at himself. He loved doing accents and impressions. When I first met him I honestly thought he spoke like a West Country farmer. He kept the accent up for the first forty minutes over dinner. I didn’t understand what everyone else at the table found so funny! He liked to make people laugh even if they were laughing at him. Alex didn’t mind people laughing with him, never at him though.

  And Bill, he lived in the moment. He’d call us up and say he had booked tickets to Vegas on the spur of the moment. You know, that sort of thing. Whereas Alex planned everything, calculated everything – liked order in his life. I used to tease him that he knew exactly what pants he was going to wear a week before he wore them.’

  ‘Bill came between you and Alex?’

  ‘Bill had a wife – has a wife. There have been times when I thought Bill was going to leave her, but he hasn’t yet. Her name’s Angela and she’s stunning. I think she used to be a model. She has beautiful long blond hair and high cheekbones. Alex introduced me to Bill soon after we got back from travelling. Unlike Alex, Bill flirted with everyone. He turned on the charm with me, and even though I’d heard Alex’s stories about his friend being a womaniser I couldn’t help but be taken in by his charm. I would never cross the line with Bill – I loved Alex too much, but I played along, as you do. A little bit of healthy flirting never hurt anyone, or so I thought.

  ‘We were at an early summer garden party that year. Must have been in May. It was unusually hot. I was cooling down by the river at the bottom of the garden and Bill comes over to me. He starts telling me what a wonderful guy Alex is. Of course, I told him I already knew that. I was in love with Alex. I knew it then. I couldn’t do anything back then without thinking of Alex. A song would play and I would think, “Oh Alex would like this.” I would be out at lunch with the girls and think about his favourite dish. You know it’s love if you have someone on your mind twenty-four hours a day. At least for me, that meant love. I never thought of other boyfriends in the same way before.

  ‘Anyway, so I was talking to Bill about how amazing Alex is, and then he puts his arm around me, in a friendly way. I didn’t think for a minute that he was coming on to me, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to him in that moment. Before I knew it, Alex was at my side. He gave Bill a frosty look that said stay away, and I suppose I was flattered by the jealousy. A few nights later when Alex was out on a business dinner, Bill arrived at our door with the offer of taking me to a local Indian. I said yes. I texted Alex to let him know, but I guess I didn’t realise just how jealous he was. We had barely touched our chicken tikka, when Alex turned up at our table saying his dinner had been cut short. But it felt like a cover up. Alex wanted to make sure Bill wasn’t going to try anything on with me. That was the real Alex. He wanted me and that was that. Not long after that we went to Hong Kong and Alex proposed.’

  ‘He didn’t trust you?’

  ‘I thought that at first. I was a bit funny with him when he turned up at our dinner. But he clearly said that it was Bill he had trust issues with. Apparently, Bill’s wife had dated Alex when they were much younger – before Angela had started dating Bill. It wasn’t anything serious, but Alex said Bill was trying to get even with him about it. So I understood why he felt insecure. And hearing about what his mother went through with Warwick made his story even more believable. At that time Alex and Bill had the kind of relationship where they were best of friends, but somehow also fiercely in competition with one another. Asking me to marry him was just Alex sticking two fingers up to Bill.’

  ‘I can understand that, but I think you are putting yourself down.’

  ‘Am I?’

  ‘You said there was another decision Alex had asked you to make after his proposal.’

  ‘Yes, one that would change my life forever.’

  16

  11th October 2008

  Mayfair, London

  Rachel held her new clutch under her arm making sure Sophia got a good look at the jewelled beetle clasp. The Bottega Veneta bag had been a gift from William. Sophia stared for a moment. ‘You’ve been going out with Willy for, what, nearly a year now?’

  Rachel nodded.

  ‘Don’t worry. He wasn’t mine to keep.’

  Rachel frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘That nonsense between us has been over for a long time.’

  Rachel was silent. She hadn’t told Sophia that she and William had been dating, but she had tried to keep it quiet. It had been William’s idea and she was only too happy to go along with it. She knew just how catty girls at the club could be. Sophia was a prime example.

  ‘Nothing ever stays under wraps here. You were here, weren’t you, when Amanda was caught with her knickers down with that good-for-nothing CEO of Greylings? Who, rumour has it, has just lost his job. Undoubtedly, it’s something fraudulent. Really, only one member saw the whole episode and they may as well have published it in the monthly newsletter.’ Sophia let out a low chuckle. ‘But listen, she wasn’t the first and she certainly won’t be the last. Ask Alicia the next time you see her, she isn’t even a member here, but this club has a reputation, ask anyone. Come, walk with me to the gardens. I need a ciggie.’ Sophia gently touched Rachel’s arm directing her towards the back of the club.

  They walked into the courtyard and stood under a patio heater whilst Sophia lit a cigarette. ‘Willy will never really belong to any one person.’

  Rachel shivered as she stood in the cold. She wanted to go back inside, but she was also desperate to know what Sophia had to say.

  ‘He’s a bit of a law unto himself. He’s had his way with most of the attractive women in here. And he tips well. The waiters are like his personal assistants. They’ll do anything to protect him.’

  ‘Does he need protecting?’

  ‘They’ve got his back. Whatever you do don’t ever cause a scene here involving Willy. They’ll kick you out. No question. He’s as thick as thieves with the management. Wouldn’t surprise me if he owned the place, or part of it. He has his fingers in a lot of pies and if he doesn’t own something, he certainly knows people who do.’

  ‘Why would I make a scene?’

  Sophia laughed a deep laugh, sending a shiver down Rachel’s spine. ‘When Willy has had enough of you, he’ll ignore you and reject your calls. You won’t be able to contact him again; he’ll see to that. He may even tell you some truths that will shock you to your core. Your little bubble will burst. Your emotions will be raw and unmanageable. The first time you see him again will be here, most probably, because you’ll come here every day hoping to catch him. When you do see him you’ll lash out and your membership will be terminated.’

  It was Rachel’s turn to laugh. Everyone at The Emerald Rooms was so dramatic, like they were in an episode of Desperate Housewives. ‘Don’t worry about me.’

  Sophia shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t worry about anyone too much, luvvie. But I’ve been there, remember. I know what its like.’

  ‘But you’re friends with him now. It couldn’t have been that bad.’

  ‘Maybe I didn’t fall for him that hard.’ Sophia winked, but Rachel noticed there was something behind her smile. ‘Pain? Hatred? Or just plain, old-fashion
ed jealousy? Rachel didn’t speak her mind. Instead she just nodded, eager to find out what else Sophia knew about William.

  When Rachel first started dating William she had been worried when he insisted on staying at a suite in The Emerald Rooms instead of taking her back to his place. Her friends joked that he had a wife and child at home, and she too had started to consider if there was any truth in that. Her mates certainly slept around with married men. Even, goodie-two-shoes Alicia had several tales of dating married men. Both her sister and her best friend, Bonnie, were at it. Bonnie was gorgeous. Could have anyone. Yet she had chosen a married man. Apparently you couldn’t be too picky these days. It was the noughties and de rigueur, or so she had been told – the norm of the fractured society they lived in.

  But then last night, after a couple of lines and two bottles of champagne, William had taken her to his apartment. Whilst he slept, she had walked around his home in a giddy state examining his possessions. Peeking though his wardrobes, she was relieved there were only men’s clothes on hangers and only men’s toiletries in the bathroom. It was a small apartment which could have just been his city bolt-hole, but Rachel didn’t care. There were no pictures of a wife or another woman. She had even checked the drawers of the big mahogany desk that stood in the centre of his office before she had crept back under the duvet to be with him.

  ‘When I was with him, and it wasn’t for long,’ Sophia said, ‘Willy used to travel quite a bit. He was always going off to some far-flung destination. I was just a good shag when he called into port.’ Sophia stubbed out her cigarette and lit another.

  ‘He does travel quite a bit,’ Rachel said, hesitantly. A week ago he had phoned her from Heathrow after a business trip. ‘I’ll be there in under an hour. Be ready,’ was all he had said.