Three Thousand Miles To You,(Three Thousand Miles, Series, Book #1)

by Longford, Deila

  "Yes that’s fine would you like some tea with that?”

  “Yes please that’s great.”

  “Okay Miss, your order will be with you shortly.” As I put down the phone there is a knock at the door.

  "Dad just a minute" No one answers just another knock.

  “Okay I’m coming.” I open the door expecting to see my dad. Instead, I see a bellman with a huge bouquet of white roses.

  “Miss Hart?”

  “Yes that’s me.” I say in a quiet voice.

  “These are for you.”

  “Who are they from?”

  “I have no idea I just deliver.” The bellman says with an annoyed look as if he gets that question a lot.

  “There is a card.”

  I take the flowers from the guy and sit them on the table in the middle of the room. I slip the card out from the slot and read what says. "Enjoy" I sigh.

  “No luck?” The bellman asks.

  “No nothing.”

  “Okay bye Miss."

  The bellman says and walks away as I close the door behind him. I wonder about the flowers, who could send me these? Surely my dad would not, nor Julian and there is no one else I know in this city what a mystery. By 11am I am all dressed have had my breakfast and I am ready for the day ahead. I make sure I have my purse with money and my hotel key. I head out and onto the lobby and start for my dad’s room. I let myself in and see that there is no one around. As I turn, I see a little pink note stuck onto the mirror in the doorway.

  "Lanna I have a meeting I will be a while so don’t wait for me, go out and have fun but please be safe, see you in the evening."

  Okay I think what to do today? I walk down the streets of London and I feel like I belong here. I feel like this is my home and that if all my family and friends where here I really could not see myself going back to the USA. I decide to go to the London eye today, instead of taking a cab I go on the big red London tour bus. It stops at all the sights and that way I can choose what I want to visit. I climb the stairs of the bus and find a seat up the front. I cannot say that I have ever been on a bus before and the ones in New York are nothing like the friendly and calmness of this one. I look out over the city and I cannot help but think what Adrian Black makes of all this. If he is one, of those people, that does not give a rat’s ass about anything other than himself. Possibly, he is kind and loves the city he lives in. I wonder if he has been to all these points of the city and I wonder what he thinks of them. On the other hand, maybe he is just like every New Yorker I know who cannot understand the appeal of the city. Maybe he lives here because he has to not out of choice. Maybe he wishes he could go away and never come back. There are so many possibilities running round in my head about him I can’t seem to figure him out which is really annoying as usually I am such a good judge of character but as for him I am completely lost for words.

  I see my stop and there is the London eye. I get off the bus and make my way up to the entrance. Wow its huge is my first thought as I look up at the wonder. I pay my fare and climb into one of the capsules. There are a few other people on board, a woman and two little kids an older couple and red haired girl around the age of sixteen with her mom I am guessing. There are also a few young boys and a girl around my age with blonde hair hanging down her back. There is free space next to her so I go over and stand by her. As I gaze out at the city below, I turn my head I see the girl staring, so I look to her and give her a little smile she smiles back and says.

  "It’s amazing isn’t it?"

  “Yes” I say.

  “It really is.”

  “You are an American?”

  “Yes guilty.” I say, she gives a little smirk.

  “Where about in the U-S are you from?”

  “New York.”

  “Wow, I have always wanted to go to New York it has always been a dream of mine.”

  “That’s funny my dream has always been to come to London.” The girl smiles and says, “I’m Jessica.”

  “Alanna” I say.

  “Nice to meet you” The girl says.

  ”Are you here by yourself?”

  “I’m in town with my dad and his business partner, but I’m sightseeing by myself my dad has meetings all day.”

  “That’s a shame.”

  “No its fine, I’m used to it.”

  “Yes but no one wants to be alone in a strange city surely?”

  “I do wish I had my friend here.”

  “How has your time been so far?”

  “It’s been amazing, except last night was kind of strange.”

  “Really what happened to you?” The girl asks and I do not know what it is but the people here. They are just so nice and I feel like I can openly talk to them about anything. The cab driver, the bartender last night, and now this girl, its shocked me as it’s something I would never do back home, but here I feel like it’s the only thing to do. I am so comfortable with it am I a different person over here? I fill the girl in on what happened last night and she does not seem so shocked. In fact, I think she understands I feel as if she maybe has been through the same thing. “This bloke what was his name?”

  “Adrian Black.” I say and a sudden flash of his face flashes through my head.

  “I see.” Jessica says looking down at the floor.

  “Do you know him?” I ask.

  “No one really knows him.”

  “But you have heard of him then?”

  “Everyone in London has heard of him.”

  “What’s the story with him?” I ask, trying not to push the subject.

  “I met him a few months ago, I was waitressing at an event he was at and like everyone else I was mesmerized by his looks.”

  “Yeah tell me about it.” I say with a little smile.

  “Anyway to cut a long story short he came over to me and asked me to go for dinner with him and of course I said yes.”

  “So you dated him?” I ask.

  “Not really when we got to dinner everything started off fine. He poured me wine and we talked, he started to ask me about my life and what my values were unsure of what he was going on about I asked him to explain what he meant by that he began to smile and said.”

  “Jessica I need to know, could you ever love someone who was bad? Someone who maybe came from the wrong side of things, caught a little offguard I said,”

  “It all depends on the person I guess.”

  “Yes but do you think that person could be me?”

  “Unsure of what he was getting at and especially on a first date I looked at him and said.”

  "Maybe"

  “Tell me Jessica, have you had a boyfriend before?”

  “Yes I have.”

  “May I ask how many?”

  “Around three,”

  “I see,”

  “He said looking down at the floor.”

  “Jessica it’s been a lovely night and I really enjoyed getting to know you, but I don’t think we will ever be anything, I think it’s time I took you home now.”

  “And without hesitation, he walked me to his car, when we arrived back at my house he drove away and I have never heard from him since.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “There is nothing to say he is just a strange bloke who I think knows exactly what he is looking for and I was just not it.”

  “I guess there really is more to him than there seems?”

  “Yes without a doubt, I feel the bloke has issues deep ones at that. Another thing that is weird he only goes out with girls that have blonde hair.”

  “Really”

  “He is in the local papers all the time here and never will you see him with a dark haired girl.” The ride comes full circle and I say to Jessica.

  “Do you fancy going for a coffee?”

  “Absolutely I was just going to say.”

  We walk along the cold street and stumble upon a little cafe with union jacks all-round the windows.

  “In her
e okay?” Jessica asks,

  “Yes fine” I reply, we order two lattes and take our seats.

  “I just have to run to loo I won’t be sec.”

  “Sure.”

  As I wait for Jessica to return I look round, the little cafe it is crowded with students sitting on their laptops and ipads no doubt studying. I cannot help but think about all the new information I have about Adrian Black. I cannot help but wonder what he is all about and what his story is, if I only knew.

  Eight

  I lay on my bed reflecting on the day’s events. I cannot help but feel obsessed with it all. I yearn for the city of London; I never in a million years would have expected to be as bonded with a city as I am. As for Jessica, I really feel like I have made a friend for life. We have already exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. We have even made plans to meet up tomorrow for a spot of shopping. It is now 10.30pm and I grab my phone and have a quick look through my emails. I see one that jumps straight out at me. I have an email from Marco, shocked by this as I have never had an email from him before and I do not even know how he has my email address. Therefore, with anticipation I open his email to read,

  Alanna look what you are missing

  I open the link in the email and its goes directly on to his Facebook, where he is standing on a beach with a brown-haired woman at each side of him, douche bag I think to myself, I start to compose a message back to him,

  Hi, Marco looks like you are having fun, but please remember to pay your friends -they look like they need the cash maybe to buy themselves some class and anyway darling look what you are missing. I send him a picture of me and Jessica on the London eye I finish my email by saying,

  Marco all jokes aside I hope you are having, nice time, and happy New Year.

  I hit send and go back to my inbox. I have so many emails and so many people wondering why I am out of town, as if it is a big deal. I quickly type out a message and hit multiple people’s names so I can answer them all at once. There, job done hopefully the vultures of New York will stay quiet for few days more. I put my phone on the side table next to the bed I get under the covers and start to fall asleep.

  Where am I? I am in a huge dark room filled with candles and slow soft music playing. There are paintings on the wall of some old aristocrats and a single table in the middle of the large room. A waiter takes my hand and leads me to the seat; he sits me down and pours me a glass of champagne. I turn around and there he is the same man I saw the other night at the gala. He is standing there in a dark blue suit his eyes almost alight. He sits down opposite me and I gaze towards him. He takes his glass holds it up to me and with a single movement, we clink the glasses together he whispers softly.

  "To us”, and that was the first night I dreamt about Adrian Black.

  I awake to the sound of Big Ben echoing through the city. I sit up on the bed and stare out at the walls within my room. I am reminded of the dream I had last night did I really dream about Adrian Black? Was it just one of those dreams where you think you know what you have dreamt but really, it was something completely different? My mind just spins round thinking of him. I reach over and grab my phone to check for any emails but there is none. Unaware I open up my internet browser on my phone I quickly type in Google and I think that maybe there is more information about him on the internet. I type in his name and hit search. Many Adrian Black’s pop onto the screen, from a doctor to an actor, but then finally, Adrian Black businessperson. That must be him; I open up the page and wait for my phone to load. Finally, it opens and right there in black and white I see him, with a dark navy pin stripped suit on his hair the same way as the other night, his eyes almost glowing, and his mouth broad and strong. I scroll down the page but all I see is stuff about business, his generous donations to the local orphanage. That came as quite a shock I never expected him to be the type to donate to charity. KNOCK! I jump off the bed and run to the door. As I open, I see another bellman, this time an older shorter fatter one than yesterday.

  “Miss Hart?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have a delivery for you.”

  This time it is not white roses but red and pink ones a huge bouquet much larger than the ones that came yesterday.

  “Sir, are you sure these are for me?” I ask,

  “Yes miss they are for you.”

  “I don’t suppose you know who sent them do you?”

  “No idea love but I think there is a card.”

  I take the flowers from the man and sit them down onto the table next to the other ones. I turn and when the man goes to close the door, I hear him say,

  “Maybe you have a secret admirer.”

  I let out a little giggle and the door closes with a slight bang. I reach into the flowers to lift out the card I notice a little Black box. I reach in, grab it, and carefully begin to open it to see a pair of diamond studded earrings. I lean back trying to take all this in. I open the card and the words again like yesterday simply say,

  “Enjoy.”

  I sit on the bed trying to wrap my head round this. Why would someone send me flowers and most of all why would they send expensive diamond earrings? I am very bewildered by this. I hear another knock at the door and this time I hear my dad say,

  “Lanna are you up yet.”

  I go over open the door and let my dad in.

  “Morning Dad.”

  “Yes morning to you to, what’s all this” He says looking at the flowers.

  “They came this morning I think it’s just a hotel thing.”

  “I never received any?” He says looking suspicious.

  “They maybe thought I’m here alone and wanted to be nice you know what hotels are like.”

  I give him a little smile and quickly change the subject.

  “What do you have on today?”

  “That’s actually what I came to talk to you about, the meetings yesterday didn’t go so well we had to cut them short. The main company we tried to sell our products to, backed out at the last minute. However there is another office in talks today and I’m afraid I have meetings again all day.”

  “I see.” I say little disappointed.

  “Lanna I’m very sorry but I really don’t have any time to take you to all your favorite places and I feel so guilty because I know this has been your dream ever since you were a little girl. I am not able to share these memories with you.”

  “Dad,” I say with a smile. “I understand really I do, it’s fine anyway I have met this girl and today we are going shopping so really I’m fine there is no need for all the guilt, I am having a wonderful time, really it couldn’t be better.”

  “I’m glad you are having fun and that’s great you have a friend here and someone to share this with.” I smile at him and he gently squeezes my hand he gets up and heads out of the room.

  I look out the window trying to assess the weather and what outfit to wear today. I go over to my suitcase and pull and pair of skinny jeans, a black and gold cashmere sweater and of course my Loubotins. I brush my teeth, wash my face apply a little blush and gloss, spray my hair with hairspray and check myself in the mirror. I am looking fine for day of shopping around Oxford Street. I grab my bag and head out the door. I wait in the cold busy street for Jessica; we agreed we would meet at my hotel then take a cab to the stores. After about ten minutes of waiting, I see Jessica walking to towards me. Her hair blonde is beautiful and flowing down her back. I must say she really is a pretty girl, with her little round face and pale white skin. She is wearing a pair of black jeans, a brown leather jacket with a red vest underneath and a pair of tired Converse tennis shoes. Not typically, the kind of outfit you would expect for a day shopping around Oxford Street. London’s most high end and luxury brand paradise. However, Jessica can really carry it off.

  “Hey,” she says as she walks over.

  “It’s freezing today.” I say wishing I had brought a jacket.

  “Really, this I warm for a December day.”

 
“I would hate to see it on a cold day then.” I say and with a little giggle and we start for the taxi rank.

  We arrive at Oxford Street and it is crowded and full of people. There are so many tourists. I look around, and to my horror, I do not see any stores I recognize, I look to Jessica and say.

  “Jessica, where are all the stores?”

  “Right here Alanna.” She says with smirk.

  “But where’s Harrods and Chanel, Dior, those kind of stores?”

  “I had no idea you were after the luxury brands, but Harrods is down the street, come on let’s go.”

  We enter Harrods and I really am in a state of shock, for my entire life all I ever wanted was to be in this store. When I was twelve, Daisy and I my (best friend at the time), used to go to Macys every Saturday and we would stay there all day, pretending we were in London and that we were swanning around Harrods. Waiting for our prince charming to come and sweep us off our feet. After and few months of that behavior, the store manager began to get annoyed and every time she seen us come in, she would send out the security guard and we would be told not to enter the store. However, here in Harrods it seems so different. As I look over to my right, I see two little boys playing on the floor with small wooden trains. On the other side there is a little red haired girl sitting on the back of rocking horse. What really strikes me is the shop assistants really do not seem to mind at all. After a long day of shopping, I have bought excessively too much stuff, a new handbag for my mom, a little white gold bracelet for Penelope, a big huge bottle of my dad’s favorite cologne - quarter the price of back home. For Sophie a white Swarovski hair clasp, when I saw it I just knew it would look great against the deep dark richness of Sophie's hair. I really could not ask Jessica to take me shopping and not get her anything. Therefore, I got her a little bottle of Chanel no 5. We are now sitting in a little coffee shop just outside of Harrods sipping away at our lattes and cupcakes,

  “I really can’t thank you enough Jessica.” I say.

  “No problem it’s been fun?”

  “Yes of course it has can’t you tell from the way I am smiling from ear to ear?”

  “It is a bit of a giveaway! What kind of events do have while you’re here in town?” Jessica asks looking a little shifty.