“Morning,” I say to the chappie standing at the front of the restaurant. “No Marcus today?”
“It’s his day off. How can I help?” He’s a pleasant young man, very well turned out, but then with Marcus in charge I wouldn’t expect anything else.
“Anna and I will be taking breakfast this morning…” I look at his name badge, “…Mark. So table for two, please… On second thoughts, make that three, just in case James joins us.”
“Follow me, Madam.” He picks up a couple of the leatherbound menus and guides me to a table in the centre of the room.
“Do you have a table around the edge?” I ask. I hate sitting in the middle.
“Yes, if that’s what you prefer,” he says.
I point to an empty table that’s laid and ready to be used. “What about that one?”
“Of course.”
I sit and browse the breakfast menu whilst waiting for Anna, and possibly James, although I’m not sure if he’s going to join us.
I’m not approached straightaway by the waiting staff, something that Mark must notice too. He returns to the table. “May I arrange for some tea or coffee whilst you wait?”
“Please – tea, Assam, would be great. I don’t believe we’ve actually been introduced.” I offer him my hand. “I’m Alex Drake.”
“Mrs Drake, as in the hotel’s…?”
“Owner, that’s right.” I finish his sentence for him.
“Well, it’s good to meet you. I wondered when I’d get to meet you, at least I can put a face to the name now. I’ll arrange for your tea.” He walks away with a little smile and a spring in his step.
I sit, pondering the extensive breakfast menu when Anna arrives. She bends down and gives me a peck on the cheek. “Morning, Mum. How’re you feeling today? Better?”
“I’m fine, Anna, much better. Nothing that… Yes, I feel great, thank you.” And I do, a little sore between the legs, but it’s a nice sort of sore. Gosh, I think I’m starting to become wet just thinking about yesterday afternoon, Lordy!
“Nothing that what, Mum?” she asks.
Oh hell, I think, engage brain, Alex, loose lips on the rampage again.
“Nothing, ignore me.” Change of subject needed, incredibly quickly. “What time does Katie get here?”
“Ten forty-five. James is still okay to pick her up?” she asks.
“He said he was. I thought he may have met us for breakfast. If he doesn’t appear by the time we’ve finished I’ll give him a call.”
Anna glances over the menu. “What you having?”
“I fancy the Haddock Monte Carlo, sounds lovely. You know, I haven’t had haddock for breakfast for years, your gran used to do it for your granddad some weekends, when I was little. I always used to pinch a bit off his plate.” I’m drawn back to the time of innocence, before I knew who I really was and before I met the charming young Lewis who would sweep me off my feet, steal me from my family home, undergo some kind of metamorphosis and transform into a bastard.
“Sounds good, but I’ll probably have a big lunch with Katie, sooo I think I’ll just have a plain omelette, if they can do that for me – there’s nothing particularly plain on this menu!” she says as she continues to read the extensive breakfast menu.
“I’m sure that Joseph’s team can organise that.”
“Joseph?” Anna questions.
“Umm, he’s the executive chef, in charge in the kitchen,” I explain.
“Executive chef? Exactly what does an executive chef do that a regular chef doesn’t?” she mutters.
“Unsure, maybe we should ask him when he’s not busy!”
We laugh. This is very pleasant, I feel quite at home here and contemplate what will happen when Anna leaves me alone in that big house. If Maggie rented the Chelsea home out, where did she live? Now that’s something I need to find out. I wonder if James knows? There are so many questions that I still don’t have answers to. I don’t even know where Maggie is laid to rest, and as for my birth father, well, that’s a mystery. And where did the money come from to start off with?
Lola approaches us. “Morning, Mrs Drake, Miss Drake.” She remembers our names, can’t be that much of an airhead. “Are you ready to order?”
“Please, Lola. I’ll have the Haddock Monte Carlo and Anna would like a plain omelette, if that can be arranged.”
“A good choice with the Haddock. I’ll check on the omelette, shouldn’t be a problem.” She jots the order down.
“Mark took my order for tea when I first arrived. Can you hurry that along?” I ask, I’m parched.
“Not a problem, I’ll sort it for you.” She frowns. Her customer service skills certainly seem spot on, although she looks harassed today. I hope that Mark isn’t giving her a hard time, she’s a lovely girl and I would hate to see her move on just because Marcus and Mark are being too demanding. She’s well turned out, polite, and from what I can see, she’s also very efficient.
Anna and I sit with our tea and chat about what she has planned for herself and Katie today.
“We’re going clubbing tonight,” she tells me with a huge smile. “I can’t wait, I sorted out what I’m wearing. Can I borrow that divine new top you bought yesterday, the one with the silver sparkles running through it?” She’s so excited about her night out with Katie.
“It’ll be too big for you, sweetheart, all my tops are a size fourteen. You’re a six! You can try it on, or you can pop and get one for yourself. I take it you and Katie will be going shopping today?” I don’t know why I ask her that, because I know they will be.
“Yes, but not for long, we need to rest and prepare for tonight.” I can see the cogs of her mind working – she’s fiddling with her cutlery, her head whirring, planning her evening on the tiles.
“Have you got your identification with you? Just in case you need to prove your age anywhere. Make sure your phone’s fully charged and for heaven’s sake don’t take your cards with you, just take cash and please, please, please be careful. Where are you going to? Do you want me to arrange for you to go to Henry’s, the place that I co-own?” I rapid-fire questions at her. I need to be sure that she’ll be safe: going clubbing in London and going to the local pub in the village that she grew up in are two totally different beasts. In the wrong company, Anna and Katie will be eaten alive and here’s me offering to arrange for her to go to Henry’s when I have no idea what sort of place it is.
“You could do. I had a look at that on the web, it’s got a VIP area. Can we go in there? And we will be careful, Mum, you worry too much,” she insists.
I know I worry unnecessarily, but I’ve reason to: my beautiful young daughter and her friend let loose in London on their own – at night, too! “I take it Katie’s parents know that you’re planning on doing this. She has told them?” I frown at Anna. I hope Katie’s parents know and approve, I would hate to have to break the news that their daughter has been injured whilst in my care, despite the fact that legally they’re both adults!
I look up and see Lola walking with two plates, in our direction. “Breakfast’s here,” I mutter to Anna.
“The Haddock Monte Carlo,” she says. “Mrs Drake, that was for you, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Lola, that looks delicious.” I glance at the beautifully presented breakfast.
“And a plain omelette for Miss Drake.”
She places the omelette down in front of Anna.
“It’s Anna, please. I don’t like being called Miss Drake!” Anna huffs.
Lola looks so serious. “Oh, I don’t think Mark would like me to call you Anna, I’m sorry.”
“Nonsense.” I look at Lola. “If Anna wants to be addressed as Anna, then that’s what she will be called, and if Mark or Marcus has a problem with that, please tell either one of them to speak to me personally and I’ll put them right.”
“Thank you, Mrs Drake. I’ve more tea here for you, too.” She moves quickly and returns with a tray and a fresh pot of tea, more milk and more sugar. Once placed on
the table she more or less bows and moves away backwards. What is it with the bowing and the restaurant staff? “Enjoy your breakfast.” She turns and walks over to several tables that have been vacated and need clearing.
We eat in silence, the food is delicious. I glance up and see James coming through the archway. He has a word with Mark as he walks past the lectern and nods at one or two of the waiting staff as he approaches us.
“Morning, Alex, Anna. Sorry I didn’t make it back last night, but I’m here now. What time do I need to pick your friend up from Euston? More to the point, you have told her that I’ll be collecting her in the R8, and that’s at your house!” A matter of logistics that I don’t think any of us had thought of.
“Ten forty-five, and oh!” I say. “Well, you and Anna can take a cab back to Chelsea and collect the car. If Anna’s staying here tonight she’ll need to collect some things from home anyway, won’t you, sweetheart?” I have another sudden rush of confidence, assertiveness.
Anna looks up from her food to James. “You don’t mind, do you? I can stuff some things in a bag and you can drop me back here before you go and pick Katie up?”
He signals over to one of the waiting staff and says, “Coffee, please,” before returning to our conversation. “No problem, I can do that for you. We’ll need to be quick if I’ve got to get you back here and then get to Euston for ten forty-five. In fact—” he looks at his watch, “—we need to go now. Let me have a quick coffee and we’ll head off. You can text Katie from the cab, let her know to wait if I’m a few minutes late.”
Anna finishes her omelette and quickly drinks her tea. “I’ll just visit the loo before we go.” She dabs her mouth with her napkin and makes for the ladies.
“So, are you okay this morning?” James asks. He’s smiling, just slightly mischievously.
“I’m sore,” I whisper, and shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“Good, then I’ve done a good job!” He laughs. “Maybe we can fuck the soreness away today?”
“James…” I whisper, giggling, “someone may hear.”
“Nobody will hear, it’s too busy. So, what are you planning to do today, apart from trying to get rid of the soreness, which I can help with, of course. It’s my weekend off, so if you want me I’m here, for lots of things!” He winks at me, that gorgeous smile making me melt.
“I hadn’t really thought about what I’d like to do. Just relax, I suppose, I’m all shopped out. But – I tell you what I was thinking about.” I smile.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“I think I’m going to buy another car, a bigger one, and I’m also thinking about getting a driver, you know I hate driving around London. What do you think?” I share my thoughts.
“I don’t think it would be a bad idea, but are you going to get over your fear if you just push it to one side and let someone else drive you?” he asks, his question quite pertinent.
“No, but it would solve several problems. It would mean that I never have to worry about the driving, about the parking or about Anna wanting to go here and there on public transport at all hours. I just think it’s a good idea, it would be useful for the hotel too, to be able to offer a chauffeur service, don’t you think? It’s not as if we can’t afford it?” I add, pleading my case.
“It’s up to you, nothing to do with me really.” He holds his hands up.
“No, but I value your opinion. I’ve no-one else to discuss these things with, only Anna and, well, she’s a teenager after all, she doesn’t have the life experience that you and I have.” And it’s true, I don’t have anyone else to discuss things with and Anna, although she is my daughter and I love her dearly, she is really only just an adult.
“Arrange it then. I’ve got some recruitment agency numbers in my office. We can’t do anything until Monday, they’ll be closed today, but I know that they’ll be able to help with drivers and chauffeurs.” He takes a drink of his coffee. “Ring them, I’m sure you will have a driver by Friday!” he suggests.
I place my hand on top of his. “That’s settled then. I’ve thought a lot about it, about the R8 and about how I hate driving around this place. Anyway, I want you to sell your Vauxhall, you can have the Audi. Okay?”
“The Audi! You’re joking, that thing’s worth a small fortune!” I’m sure he nearly chokes at my suggestion.
“So, are you not worth it?” I place my napkin on the table and stand as Anna returns from the loo.
“I don’t know? Am I?” He starts to stand.
“Oh yes – very much so!” I tease, placing my hand on his cheek. “You’re worth much, much more,” I whisper. “Anyway, I’ll ring this agency on Monday. Today we’re going to buy another car. Will you come with me once you’ve dropped Katie back here?”
He looks surprised. “What are you going to buy?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I haven’t got a clue. A Jaguar? To be frank, I don’t care as long as it’s got seats in the back and can fit me, Anna and one or two others in. What would you buy?”
“You could have a Range Rover.” He looks towards Anna, who’s hurrying back from the ladies.
“Too big, and I don’t want a Chelsea Tractor, anyway!” I could never, ever understand the appeal of a Range Rover in town. They’re okay if you live where I used to live, in rural and semi-rural locations, but quite frankly I’ve always found them too big when placed in an inner-city environment.
“Okay, so not a four-wheel drive,” he relents, hands held up.
“Not likely,” Anna pipes up, “and anyway, there’s no mud in London, at least I’ve not seen any, and we don’t drag a horse around!”
“No, that’s a good point. How much mud have you seen in London? And the only horses in the city centre are either police or the Queen’s!” I back Anna up.
James holds his hands up again defensively, two girls onto him now! Does he know what he’s letting himself in for? “Okay, okay, you both win, no Range Rover. So how about a Bentley or maybe a Mercedes?” he asks.
“Lewis had a Mercedes once, one of the little ones – a C Class, I think?” I can’t remember. “It looked like a box on wheels anyway!”
“Could have been. There’s a C Class but I was thinking more along the lines of something bigger, maybe an S class.” He smiles.
“Oh, I’ve seen those. They’re nice, aren’t they?” I muse.
I really am terrible with cars, the Top Gear boys would have such fun with me, they’d probably see me as some sort of heathen, knowing as little as I do about cars. I can just imagine Jeremy Clarkson taking the mickey out of me: “And here comes Alex Drake, pootling along in her Audi R8, of course, it’s useless because she’s the most frightened driver in the wooorld!”
“Is there anything you need to do today?” I ask James.
“I’ve a couple of apartments lined up to view but no appointments set yet, and I need to move quickly,” he mutters.
“Why’s that?”
“’cause I was asked to leave last night, one of the reasons I didn’t make it back. Matey’s lady is expecting their first baby, lucky so and so.” He laughs. “He’s moved her in with him, no sofa, no spare bed available any more.” He sounds dejected.
“Oh James, I’m sorry. You can always stay at mine tonight. You know I’ve lots of spare rooms. Or here, there must be some rooms spare?” I suggest.
“If I could stay at yours, just until I get myself sorted, that would be excellent. You know I don’t like to stay here, I like to go home, when I’ve got one. Look, I need to get Anna home and her stuff collected, come back here and then off to Euston, we need to hurry.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be back here for you at eleven thirty-ish to drop Anna off before I pick Katie up.”
He winks at me and guides Anna to the front of the hotel. The doorman signals a cab for them and they’re gone. After yesterday’s incident I’m starting to feel safe again and I am in public, and whilst I have James’s reassurance that Lewis can’t get into the hotel w
ithout being seen, at the back of my mind the thought just seems to lurk there. Despite what he said about Lewis not being here, I just don’t feel comfortable walking around on my own, especially along the corridors, but maybe I’m just being paranoid? I need to be strong.
Whilst I wait for Anna to come back I take the opportunity to telephone Maggie’s – no, my business partner at Henry’s. I’ve never met the man but have spoken to him briefly on the phone. Looking up his number, I hit the call button. It goes straight to voicemail so I leave a message. Within minutes he calls me back.
“Hi Nial, how are you?” I can tell by the fuzzy connection that he’s probably driving.
“I’m fine, Alexandra. What can I do for you?” He sounds like a robot, the connection is terrible.
“My daughter and her friend want to go clubbing this evening, their first time out in London on their own, and I’d rather them be somewhere decent, somewhere that will at least look out for them at little bit – not babysit, just keep an eye open. Can you arrange that for me, please?”
“Of course, but when am I going to see you?” His voice crackles, he’s using a hands-free.
“Oh, I don’t know. I want to come along and meet you. We’ll have to set a date at some point. Listen, my daughter is Anna and her friend is Katie. They’re both eighteen but I worry about them, they’re not used to the big city. Anna asked me about the VIP area?”
“I’ll arrange it. They’ll have an excellent time. Tell Anna to ask for Clive when she arrives, he works on the covered VIP entrance. I’ll brief him, tell him who they are, he’ll make sure they’re looked after.”
“I’ll do that, and thank you, Nial, it really is appreciated. Thank you.” I’m so pleased that I’ve managed to arrange this for Anna and Katie.
The reception is terrible, I have to listen so carefully. “You’re welcome, Alexandra, and please let’s get together before too long!”
“Yes, we must, and please don’t call me Alexandra, it’s Alex, and thank you again.”
“Talk soon,” he says as I hang up.
As I wait, I look for Roger. He’s not there and I feel embarrassed talking to the other guy I’ve not yet been introduced to – Thomas, I think his name is – so I wander over to reception, taking the opportunity to confirm that the room Anna has will be available for her and Katie for the next few days.
Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series) Page 14