Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series)

by Ashley, Sarah Elizabeth

  I sit with my back against the door, sobbing. Eventually I haul myself up and check my puffy, red face in the mirror. The mascara I put on only an hour ago is running down my face, it’ll have to be done again. I tidy the kitchen first, then go upstairs and wash my face, reapply my makeup and set off for Reid’s. I really don’t feel like driving today, although James has left the Audi here. I feel sad and don’t want to make myself feel any worse by getting wound up by the stupid London traffic, so I choose to walk a little way until I find a cab for the rest of the journey.

  Chapter 16

  By lunch time my day has, so far, gone to plan. I’ve interviewed the potential drivers and telephoned the agency. I’ve offered the position to Archie, he’s in his fifties and is only just out of work due to the family he has been working for going back to their home country. He hasn’t said a lot about them other than that, and I liked the fact that he appears to be loyal to them, even though he’s not working for them any longer. He’s a great deal of experience, having worked for several households up and down the country, although mainly in London, which results in an impressive CV that includes several years working for Her Majesty in the forces. He was a little vague over what he actually did, but for me the important thing is that it appears he knows his way around just fine and is happy with the hours that we’ve discussed.

  He was delighted to learn that when he’s not driving me through the terrible London traffic he’ll be ferrying hotel guests who have selected this new personal touch that I’ve decided we should introduce. Anyway, Archie has accepted the position, and as he has already worked for the agency I’m using, his checks are complete and he will start tomorrow, I can’t wait.

  I spend the few minutes I have free talking with Michelle. She tells me that it’s common knowledge amongst the staff that James is staying at my home and she has not heard any negative comments, although deep down I wouldn’t expect her to say anything else other than that.

  The team meeting comes and goes. I’m introduced to one or two staff that I haven’t met before and leave feeling that I have a really good strong team working at Reid’s. They’re a great bunch and I don’t think there’s a single person that gives me any cause for concern.

  Looking at my watch, I’m aware that I’ve only an hour before the first lady is due to meet me about the housekeeping role. I find James and tell him that I’m off home and that I’ll see him later.

  “Any ideas about where we can go this evening?” I ask brightly. “I still want to go and throw myself around a dance floor somewhere!”

  He laughs at me. “You’re really serious about this?”

  I frown. “Yes, I am. I haven’t had a proper night out, or at least one that hasn’t been stuffy, for years. I’m deadly serious.”

  “I’ll sort something. We’ll eat out too?” he suggests.

  “Where?” I ask. I’m feeling excited that I’m going out this evening, to dance!

  “It’s a surprise. Leave it with me, Alex, I’ll sort it.” He busies himself at his desk. “Need to get along with this if I’m leaving early,” he reminds me.

  I pout. “No fair!” I must sound rebellious.

  I get a stern look from the Bossman. “Perhaps not, but if you want me to finish early I need to get it done. And with regard to tonight, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it? Now, go and meet your ladies, sort a housekeeper, get yourself glammed up and leave tonight with me!” He’s taking control again.

  I turn and walk towards the front of the hotel. As I walk away I turn back and see James watching me, smiling. He flaps me away with his hand. “Go!”

  “I’ll phone you when I’ve met the ladies – make sure you save some energy for dancing!” I call back to him. I smile as I turn to leave for home, leaving him laughing as I do. I think he’s a little stunned that I really do want to do this clubbing and dancing thing. To tell the truth, so am I, I think it’s just a bit of a mid-life thing coupled with catching up on things that I never did as a young woman.

  My afternoon passes quickly and I’m so pleased to have met Muriel amongst the potential housekeepers that came along to see me this afternoon. I explain to each of the ladies that come along that I have little experience with having someone to work at home for me. In fact, I’ve little experience with anyone working for me but particularly those that are there to support me at home. Muriel was the only one of all the ladies who smiled sweetly, reassured me and offered some guidance as to how this should all work; she reminded me a bit of my mum and I liked that. She asked me what I wanted and we agreed that she will work each morning, Monday to Friday, to keep the house clean and tidy and see to the laundry, including the ironing, a chore which I don’t particularly like, the iron frightens me somewhat, it’s a job I have to do when there’s nobody else around, nobody that could pick up that domestic device when I’m using it.

  On two days each week she will also prepare an evening meal for me or me and James. I don’t want to let this task go completely as I enjoy cooking very much, but Muriel has said that if ever I need to change the arrangement I just have to let her know. She really is lovely and I got along so well with her, I told her there and then I would be offering her the position and I’ve let the agency know. They hope to have background checks completed in the next 24 hours or so and Muriel will start as soon as these have been done, although based on our meeting this afternoon, I would be happy for her to start straightaway!

  I spend the rest of the afternoon preening myself for my evening on the tiles with James. I bathe in my favourite coconut bubbles, wash my hair and style it nicely, taking the time to use some new heated rollers that I’ve got. I feel like a teenager, I’m behaving like Anna does when she’s getting herself ready to go out: nail painting, hair doing… I look down at my bald sex. There’s a little re-growth, well, that will have to stay because as soon as it’s long enough I will go and be waxed.

  Once I’ve finished primping and preening I relax with a magazine and a cup of tea. My thoughts move to Anna, who will be collecting her results tomorrow and also to Lewis, the bastard. I really need to speak with my solicitor again and let her know what’s happened. Just because he’s laid up in hospital, surely that doesn’t mean that the divorce proceedings will stop! The amount I’m paying for all of this, they should be able to go to his bedside to do whatever they need to do!

  Time marches on and it’s soon eight o’clock. I send James a text:

  Will u still b hme for 9?

  He must be in his office as the reply is more or less instant:

  Just leaving now. C U in thirty. Are you ready?

  I reply:

  More or less. Waiting 4 U! XX

  He replies quickly again:

  On way!

  Great. I go to my room and faff with the clothes I’ve put out to wear this evening. I’ve put out a little black dress by Alexander Wang, a simple and understated sleeveless knee-length dress on which the only detail is the keyhole neckline. It really is simple but fits perfectly and looks great on. I believe that every girl should have a simple black dress in their wardrobe, something that I’ve always done in the past, but my old black dress, which is still with Lewis, was not as luxurious as this one, but still looked good. I’ve teamed this up with a lovely pair of glittery Lucy Choi four-inch pumps and matching clutch. I expect I’ll stagger in the heels, but so what, I’ll just have to hold onto James for support.

  I pull out a beautiful black bra and thong that Anna helped me choose. The silk is almost translucent, and the set is trimmed with a little lacy detail. I put these on. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I rummage through my handbag and take out what I’ll need for this evening, my best lipstick and a handbag atomizer with my favourite Signorina by Salvatore Ferragamo. I find my diary and flick through. Since I had my new smart phone I haven’t really used my diary. I turn to today. Of course, there’s nothing written in it, but I flick through the pages. As I turn to the very front I realize with a little shock th
at I haven’t noted my last period, which should have been at the end of July, a couple of weeks ago. Hold on, did I have a period at the end of July? Shit, no!

  With not having any sort of sexual relations, not even with my husband, I haven’t taken the pill for years, never had the need and foolishly just didn’t even think about it. Oh hell! What am I going to do? I’m forty-two, for heaven’s sake. Don’t panic! I tell myself, can’t do anything about it now, wait until tomorrow, get a test and see where we go from there. I know that stress can do all sorts to the human body, including stopping periods. Maybe it’s the menopause? Yes, that’s what it’ll be.

  A little bit confused, I finish my makeup and take my heated rollers out as I hear James arrive. “Hello, Alex!” he calls upstairs.

  “I’m up here!” I shout back.

  I hear him go to the kitchen and then he appears at the bedroom door a minute or two later with a large glass of orange juice. “Thought you might like a drink before we go.” He hands me the glass; his other hand is behind his back.

  “Umm, thanks.” I take the glass from him. “What have you got behind your back?” I nod towards his back.

  “Close your eyes, Alex,” he orders.

  “Why?”

  “Just close your eyes!” He’s stern.

  I close my eyes slowly and as I do I feel his hands brush my neck and there’s something cold, a chain. I’m aware that James has walked around me and is fastening what I think is a necklace at the back of my neck. He brushes his fingers across my collarbone and then guides me to my dressing table. “Keep your eyes closed,” he reminds me. He steers me in front of my dressing table stool. “Sit,” he commands, and helps me.

  I’m sat with my eyes closed in front of my dressing table. “Open,” he says. I open my eyes and gasp. Around my neck is the most beautiful diamond heart pendant on a silver chain.

  I press my hand to the pendant. “It’s beautiful, James, absolutely, I love it.”

  He brushes his fingers across my collarbone. “Just like its owner,” he murmurs.

  I stand and hug him tightly, looking up into those dark pools. I’ll never come to terms with how handsome My James is.

  He backs away. “You look lovely,” he says, running a finger over the top of my bra. “I like this, very much.”

  I stand to face him and kiss him gently on the cheek. “Your hair’s different,” he says.

  “Rollers,” I say, pointing to the Babyliss set on the floor.

  “I like this too.” He runs his fingers through my now bouncy hair and kisses me again, then he pulls away quickly. “I need to shower before we go.”

  “Oh.” I sulk, looking at him as he walks away to the en-suite.

  “What’s the matter?” He smiles. Of course, he knows full well what the matter is.

  “Nothing, you just get along with your shower, just leave me here all hot and bothered. I don’t care!” I turn away, pretending to be indifferent.

  He ignores me. He quickly gets showered, shaved and dressed. He’s wearing some really well-cut black trousers and a steel grey open-neck shirt – now that’s different from his normal white. He looks great, but then he looks fantastic in whatever he wears. He’s messed with his hair, everything about him looks stunning.

  “You ready?” he asks.

  “We are going to eat as well, aren’t we?” I ask, my stomach telling me it’s starving.

  “Yes, I’ve told you, it’s all sorted. I arranged for the car to pick us up and collect us too, he’ll be here any minute.”

  “The car? You’re indulging me, then?” I smile.

  He winks at me and gives me that killer smile. “Oh yes, lady, I certainly intend to show you a good time!”

  I pick up my shoes and bag and make my way downstairs, feeling like a million dollars. James follows behind me. He goes through to the living room and glances out of the window. “Car’s here!” he calls.

  I slip my shoes on and half walk, half wobble, meeting him in the hall. He looks at me strangely. “Going to manage in those?”

  I huff at him.

  We’re soon in the car. I’ve no idea who he’s arranged to drive as Archie doesn’t start until tomorrow. “This is very nice,” I whisper to him.

  The driver opens the door and I slide into the roomy car. James follows and sits beside me. The driver shuts our door and once behind the wheel he turns to James. “No changes to the plan, sir?” he asks.

  “No. None at all.” James looks at me, laughing.

  “Right you are, sir, madam.” We pull away from the kerb.

  “Where are we going?” I look at James.

  “Wait and see… It’s a surprise.” He puts his arm around me and presses a hidden button discreetly. A screen slides up behind the driver and we’re on our own, I can see out of the windows but I have no doubt that no-one is able to see in through the tinted glass. James fumbles with the sound system. “I thought I’d start the evening off with some music.” He leans back into his seat as Little Mix’s Change Your Life filters through the speakers.

  As we move along I recognise some of the buildings and street names that we pass, places that I see on my way into some parts of London and on the way to Reid’s, but we’re soon passing places that I don’t recognise.

  “Where are you taking me?” I ask again.

  He taps the end of my nose. “Wait and see!”

  He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close, placing his lips on mine, kissing me. The effect he has on me is always the same, I feel free and if I’m totally honest it doesn’t feel like it’s me here in the back of this luxurious car in the arms of this beautiful man. There are times when I’m grounded, when I know that the events of the last few weeks and months really have happened, that I have been given the route to move on to a better life and I know it’s true, it’s real, but then here, now as he kisses me, I find it hard to believe that I am worthy of all this. Surely it can’t last.

  He pulls away from me. “What are you thinking, Alex?”

  “That this can’t last, that it’s not real. Things like this don’t happen to people like me.” I look down, fiddling with my clutch bag.

  “What things, sweetheart?” He brushes his thumb over my lips. “What things don’t happen to you?”

  “None of it… This is the stuff of fairy tales, not people like me. Given away when I was born, kept as a domestic slave by him, used as a punch bag and worse by him, but now I’m sat in the back of this expensive ride with a stunningly handsome man. It’s just too surreal.” I feel overwhelmed, totally.

  He pulls me close and hugs me gently as the car slows and I feel us pull to a stop. “Don’t put yourself down. You deserve everything you have, and I mean everything. Now come on, snap out of it. You wanted a good night out and that’s what we’re doing!”

  The driver opens the door for us and we’re stood in front of a large glitzy-looking place with lots of smoky glass and stainless steel doors. I look around. There’s no neon signage that I would expect to see at a club, just the entrance with the large queue and a separate covered entrance, no name, nothing.

  Even though it’s quite early the queue’s long, but as we leave the car James puts his arm around me and directs me straight to the separate covered entrance where he talks to one of the doormen.

  We’re ushered straight through and he leads me to the rear of the place and to a roped-off area. As we walk through I can hear the thumping sounds of club music. Glancing to the right I can see the dance floor. It’s nowhere near full but there are several clubbers throwing their moves. They’re being joined all the time as new arrivals enter the club and those that have secured tables leave their drinks and join in with the growing mass. He chats again to another big, tough-looking guy dressed in a dark suit. He’s wearing dark glasses and an earpiece. The big guy moves the rope aside for us and we walk on through to this separate area, which is fitted with about ten separate booths. Each of the upholstered partitions is about five feet high
so that the guests in the next booth cannot see over when seated. I note that several of the booths are occupied. Some look like parties whilst others just have a couple or two, I suppose each one could seat maybe eight people at the most.

  A young woman approaches us. “Mr Aconi, your table is over here.” We follow her to one of the booths and I slide in across the cream leather; this place is truly luxurious. James slides in beside me. I can hear the thumping music from the main area, although I am sure it’s turned down a little in this part of the club. The young lady introduces herself as Cara and says that she’ll be looking after us this evening. She disappears for a few minutes but then returns with a bottle of Krug on ice and two crystal champagne glasses. She also has a crystal bowl of large ripe strawberries, which she places in the middle of the table. “You asked for these, Mr Aconi.” He nods as she places the ice bucket, glasses and strawberries on the table.

  Strawberries, again!

  As she pours the fizz she asks, “Would you like to see the menu now, or in a few minutes?”

  “You can bring it now. Leave it on the table while I take my lovely lady for a dance,” he says, looking at me with a wink.

  Once she disappears he picks a strawberry up and dips it in his drink. He offers it to me. “Strawberry?”

  I bite the juicy berry and try to catch the mixture of strawberry juice and champagne that runs down my chin, but he’s too quick, kissing the delicious mixture away first.

  “Like?” he asks.

  “It’s very nice. Can we dance now?” I ask eagerly.

  Taking my hand, he stands and leads me to the main area and to the throng of people who now occupy the dance floor. I wobble in my heels slightly as we secure a small area. It’s soon clear that James frequents this place regularly, or used to. He’s backslapped by several clubbers and receives kisses from a variety of women. The sounds of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky fill the area and I let myself go. I have no doubt that my 1980s moves look a little dated, but who cares? James looks stunning in his steel-grey shirt, his olive skin looking darker still as the lights pass over us and his moves looking much trendier than mine. He attracts a great deal of attention and I start to feel a little jealous. I’m relieved when the music changes and he leads me back to our booth.