‘Miss Gallagher. What an unexpected surprise,’ he stated once he was away from the noise of the rotors. ‘Is there anything we can help you with?’
Another man, the company secretary and her father’s chief confidant and trouble shooter, got in the elevator with them. The rest of the men waited for the elevator to return.
‘If you could organise a limousine for me to be taken to Knightsbridge that would be splendid.’
‘Of course, not a problem Miss Gallagher. Anything else?’
‘No, that’s all.’
The secretary still had not said anything which was typical of the quiet man, quietness that hid a highly intelligent mind and a person who would organise the movement of mountains if it meant that it pleased Mr. Gallagher. Company directors came and went, but James had always remained at her father’s side. Sally turned to address him knowing that if she did not he would not instigate a conversation with her. Perhaps one of the most eligible bachelors in London, Sally knew that not only was he quiet, he also was painfully shy around women in social situations.
‘James, how are you?’
‘I’m fine thank you Sally.’ He leaned forward and hugged her and she offered him her cheek. ‘And how is the big boss?’ Only James would ever consider referring to her father in such a casual manner.
‘He’s fine. Busy. Have you not spoken to him today?’
‘Yes, this morning. He’s here in a couple of days. A meeting with some Japanese clients.’
‘I bet he’s looking forward to that like a hole in the head!’
‘Quite Sally, quite. The elevator had stopped. ‘Please, Sally, would you accompany me to my office? Unfortunately, I believe the limousines are out at the moment taking some other clients to Heathrow and other such errands. If I had known I would have kept one aside for you. I’ll order one for you from my office.’
The other man in the elevator stayed in it and went further down the building to his office while Sally and James made their way to his corner office that overlooked St. Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London. On approaching the office, his secretary rose from her desk upon seeing who the visitor was.
‘Cynthia, some tea please, and order a limousine straight away for Miss Gallagher who wishes to be taken to 22 Knightsbridge. Sorry, how presumptuous of me. I presume you’ll be going to your hairdressers Sally?’
‘Yes, thank you James.’
‘22 it is then.’
‘Certainly James,’ replied his secretary.
He then led Sally into his office and offered her a seat. They chatted for a little while until his secretary brought through the tea and a selection of biscuits. After these were consumed, Cynthia called through to his office that the limousine was ready. James escorted Sally to the enormous marble lobby of the building and wished her well.
‘I don’t imagine I’ll see you until your birthday ball darling, so until then, take care. I’m in a meeting for the rest of the day, but if you require anything, the smallest thing, ensure that you contact Cynthia and she will come and find me.’
‘It is okay James, I’ll be fine. Thank you for the tea and the transport.’
‘Not at all. You take care and see you soon.’ She offered her cheek again and then left the building and entered the limousine with the chauffeur closing the door behind her.
They crossed London quite quickly due to the roads not being too congested because of the time of day. The limousine soon pulled up outside 22 Knightsbridge, Sally’s hairdressers. The chauffeur opened the door again for her and as she exited the car a few passers-by stopped to see if it was anyone famous and when disappointed they carried on walking.
Sally did not find it necessary to tell the chauffeur to wait knowing he would anyway, so she proceeded into the hairdressers which was actually more beauty salon than hairdressers. While her hair colour was being changed from black to blonde, she also had a pedicure and a manicure. She was in there for about two hours before she paid. As this salon was one of the best in London it cost Sally over five hundred pounds.
Leaving the salon, not giving the cost of her beauty treatment another thought, she got back into the limousine and was driven quickly back her father’s office block. The security guard stood when he saw her coming up the steps and pressed the button to call the lift for her. Sally did not thank him; instead she pressed the button that took her to the roof of the building, back to the helicopter. Such a journey was a common occurrence, once every couple of weeks and frequent hair colour changes, expertly done, were one of her appearance trademarks.
The flight back home went as smoothly as her outward journey, and now later that week as she looked at herself in the mirror, she was impressed with the quality of the colouring. Taking a step back she admired herself in the full length mirror and she just knew that David’s jaw would be on the floor when he saw her, but she had to get there first and because of the stupid maid she was now leaving later than expected.
She raced through the house, down the stairs and through the front doors to the waiting Mini that someone had brought round for her from the garages. Sally jumped into the car and sped off along the driveway to her date’s house.
*
‘Erm, David, you look very nice, but I don’t think slippers are in vogue at the moment?’
When she had pulled up outside his house he had come down the driveway to the driver’s window and she noticed that on his feet was a pair of slippers.
‘You’ll have to come in. She’s hidden one of my shoes.’
‘What do you mean? Who has?’
‘My gran. Remember, I told you, she’s a nightmare! She won’t give it me back until she meets you.’
Sally laughed. ‘I told you not to tell her!’
‘I didn’t! But I’m a mechanic Sally. I’m a man who wears dirty overalls and who is covered in grease and oil all the time. She can therefore quite easily spot when I’m going out with someone.’
‘Okay.’ Sally turned off the engine and got out of the car. ‘Bless her! You should be flattered that she shows interest.’
‘I am, in a way. I was hoping she’d be at bingo or something, but she cancelled it with her friends claiming that she was under the weather. Then I noticed that one of my shoes had gone, and well, she insists that she meets you. You look stunning by the way, but I’m pretty sure you had black hair the other day?’
‘I change it a lot. Do you like it?’
‘I love it. You look fabulous.’
‘So do you, very dashing, apart from the slippers of course!’
David laughed. ‘Come on then. Let’s get this over with!’
Surprising him, Sally took his hand as they walked up the drive and she noticed the face of an elderly lady peering at them through a window. David pushed open the front door and led her into the living room where his gran was stood.
‘Hi gran. This is Sally. Sally, this is my gran, Ethel.’
‘Nice to meet you Ethel,’ Sally said and she held out her hand.
‘My word young lady, you should be on the front cover of Vogue.’ She accepted Sally’s hand and did not leave go of it. ‘You are a lovely looking young lady.’
‘Thank you, Ethel. You look lovely too.’
‘Oh, don’t be silly, but thank you anyway. Sally eh?’
‘Yes, Sally.’
‘So Sally, why are you going out on a date with my sinner of a grandson?’
‘Gran! Please!’
‘Oh Ethel, I’m sure he’s not a sinner. He was very kind to me recently and he does look very dashing tonight doesn’t he?’
‘He scrubs up okay, but he’s still a sinner.’
Ethel still had hold of Sally’s hand as they contemplated David who looked like he was wishing for a hole to come and swallow him up.
‘Doesn’t go to church. Leaves his poor gran stood in the cold because he forgot to pick her up. A sinner he is.’
‘Gran! I forgot to pick you up once over a year ago and I’ve been to church eve
ry Sunday since the last one I missed over six months ago. Forgive and forget? Isn’t that a church teaching?’
‘See how he speaks to me darling? Bring back national service is all I can think of. That would whip sinners like my grandson into shape!’
‘Gran, please! Where’s my shoe so we can go?’
The elderly lady started to laugh which got louder and louder. ‘Your face! Your face! My word, my word!’ Her laughing got louder. ‘You’re here taking this lovely young lady out and I’m here calling you a sinner! Oh dear, where’s my inhaler? Your face!’
Sally started to laugh too, and as she did this it sent Ethel off into fresh bouts of laughter. She sat down on a chair, but still kept hold of Sally’s hand. She wiped her eyes with her other hand, wiping away the tears of mirth. ‘Your face, oh deary me. I damn well nearly wet myself!’
‘Grrraaan! Please!’
After a few more moments Ethel managed to get control of herself. ‘Oh deary me. Deary me. His face!’ She looked up at Sally. ‘Sorry darling, just my little joke.’
‘That’s quite alright. It was very funny!’
‘In all seriousness though, he may be a sinner…’
‘Gran!’
‘But he’s a lovely young man, looks after his gran he does.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it Ethel. He seems to be a lovely man to me too.’
‘Can we go now? Where’s my shoe?’
‘I’m not quite ready David. Ethel, I’m sure he was a lovely baby?’
‘Jeez Sally! Don’t add fuel to the fire! Let’s go!’
‘Funny and beautiful! I’m sure we’ll meet again; I have a good feeling about you. Your shoe is in the dog’s basket.’
‘In the dog’s basket?! Gran!’ David stormed out of the room and walked into the kitchen to retrieve his shoe.
‘I’m sorry Sally, but I couldn’t help winding him up. He’s been so nervous and edgy all day,’ Ethel laughed loudly again, ‘I just couldn’t resist!’
‘Well, I think you’ve done a grand job Ethel. I look forward to meeting you again.’
‘I’m sure you will.’
David stormed back in. ‘Can we go now?’
‘Yes, I’m ready now. Very nice to meet you. It’s okay, don’t stand up. See you again soon.’
Ethel now released her hand and said, ‘Definitely. I’ll look forward to it. And you,’ she pointed a crooked finger at David, ‘remember how you’ve been brought up, no sex before marriage!’
‘Gran! I don’t believe you!’ David’s patience had clearly snapped and he strode firmly across the room and pulled Sally towards the door. ‘Thanks gran, bye gran!’
‘Have a good night!’
As David hustled Sally out of the house all he could hear come from the living room were his gran’s wild cackles. Sally was desperately trying to keep her face straight.
‘Jesus Christ! She was on form tonight!’
‘Now, now David, don’t blaspheme you little sinner!’
David looked at her horrified and then Sally could no longer contain her mirth and burst out laughing. He looked at her even more horrified and then started to laugh himself. By the time they reached the car they were both suffering big bouts of hysteria and they were still both laughing and talking about his gran’s antics as they arrived at the restaurant.
At first David thought that Sally was making a mistake. He knew the restaurant only by reputation and would never contemplate coming here. ‘Erm, Sally, you know this place don’t you? It’s pretty top notch you know, expensive.’
‘Yeah, I know it. It’s okay. My treat remember?’
‘But…’
‘No buts. It’s fine. I’ve worked some overtime and I can afford to treat us both as a one off. Forget about the cost and enjoy yourself.’
She stopped the car in front of the restaurant and a parking valet came and opened Sally’s door. She got out of the car and then the man ran round and opened David’s door. David exited the car looking slightly bewildered and was even more bewildered when the valet got into the driver’s seat and drove the car away. ‘He’s just stolen your car.’
Sally laughed. ‘It’s okay. He’ll park it for me.’
Linking his arm they both walked towards the entrance. The maître d' had his head down reading the guest list and glanced up quickly as Sally and David approached his position. Then he looked again, and showed a face of surprise and then he placed a huge smile on his face. ‘Miss Gallagher! What an honoured surprise! I didn’t see your name on the guest list for this evening.’ David looked even more bewildered and was bordering upon being embarrassed that they had just walked into this most exclusive restaurant without having booked a table. He was on the brink of dragging Sally back out of the establishment until the maître d' said, ‘But I’m sure we can fit you in.’
He then clapped his hands and a waiter seemed to magically appear by his side. He muttered into the waiter’s ear and although David could not be sure, he was semi-certain that he heard the maître d' say, ‘Clear table one, now!’
The maître d' smiled at them both and tapped his pen until the waiter quickly returned and whispered something into his ear. ‘Miss Gallagher, your table is ready. Please, follow me.’
They followed him through the restaurant and numerous heads turned to see them. As David passed a table he overheard someone arguing with a waiter. ‘How dare you ask us to move in the middle of our meal! I booked this table months ago! It’s our anniversary! I’ve never been so insulted and I’ll make sure that we never come to this restaurant…’
David quickly moved away from this table and felt rather sorry for the waiter who was being berated. The maître d' took them right to the front of the restaurant, to the table in the middle of the restaurant right in front of the stage, a table that was swiftly being redressed. With a flourish the maître d' pulled out a chair and motioned for Sally to be seated. With an equal flourish he pulled out David’s chair. David quickly sat down, embarrassed that the other couple had been moved to make way for them.
‘Ma’am, to drink?’
‘A glass of white wine please Samuel.’
‘White wine Miss Gallagher? Could I tempt you with a bottle of champagne, on the house of course?’
‘Thank you Samuel. That would be fine.’
The maître d' signalled to one of the waiters who quickly scuttled off to get the champagne. ‘I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Lucy, one of my top waitresses, but I insist that if anything is not to your satisfaction then please let me know and I will correct it to the best of my ability.’
‘Thank you for your kind attention Samuel.’
‘A pleasure ma’am.’ Samuel gave a small bow and then quickly walked back to his position at the entrance.
David still looked bewildered. ‘Jeez Sally. That poor couple who were at this table. And a free bottle of champagne? How on earth did you pull this off?’
Sally was itching to tell him that her father owned the restaurant, but she resisted. ‘My dad used to work here as a manager. They still treat me well, but that maître d' especially likes me.’
‘You can tell!’
‘Yeah, I suppose you can.’
As Sally contemplated her date across the table, she was thinking that bringing David to this restaurant was perhaps not the best idea, not the best place to bring him if she wanted to be discreet about her wealth. Never mind. They were here now and she had to try and relax him.
The champagne quickly arrived and David noticed that it was a Bollinger, and even he knew that this was an expensive drink. The sommelier showed Sally the bottle and she nodded so he expertly popped the cork and poured a sample into her glass. She tried the sample and nodded again, so he filled up her and then David’s glass.
‘Cheers!’ Sally offered her glass across the table and David clinked his against it.
‘Bloody hell Sally, I feel a little out of my depth, Bollinger champagne!’
‘Enjoy, and relax. Imagine we’re
in McDonalds or somewhere. No difference you see? This restaurant is just like a McDonalds, it’s just somewhere to eat.’
‘Okay, but excuse me if I don’t agree with you!’
Sally laughed and passed him one of the menus. David quickly noticed that the cheapest starter was twenty pounds, and the most expensive main meal was one pound under a three figure cost. He equally quickly decided that he was glad that Sally was paying.
‘What do you fancy? I’m going for all three courses, starting with prawn cocktail and then the lobster. Have you ever tried lobster?’
David quickly noted that she had picked the meal that was one pound under one hundred pounds. ‘Erm, no, I fancied a steak. Bloody hell Sally, these prices! A steak is fifty pounds, and a fillet steak is sixty!’
‘Oh, the steaks are worth it, very good.’
‘Does it come with diamonds?!’
Sally laughed and shook her head. ‘No, it doesn’t. Pick whatever you want, it doesn’t matter tonight. It is our first date and after the weekend we had I think we deserve to splash-out a little.’
‘Yeah, I suppose we do. In that case I’ll have the garlic mushrooms followed with a sirloin steak.’
‘That’s fine.’
The waiter appeared at Sally’s side and she gave the order and then proceeded to try and relax her date. He responded well to her questions and she was surprised with his intelligence and views on the world. She gently savoured her glass of champagne as they talked, but she noticed that David was quaffing his quickly, which she did not mind as it would probably relax him.
Their starters came and went, as did their main courses, and they both declared that they were full and did not want a dessert. Sally asked for the bill and David caught a glance of it and shuddered as he realised it was three figures with the number two being the first figure. They had not been there long when they left and the performer was just starting her first song on the stage as they left the restaurant.
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