Soul Mates. The Beginning.

by Christine Wood

  “Dad, Dad, Dad why can’t I go with Luis, he can take me shopping, please Dad?”

  “No, you go with security or you don’t go at all, Luis isn’t in until tomorrow and Mum isn’t well enough to take you. Go with Carmen and Dora, your cousin’s need dresses too, isn’t that what you girls do shop?”

  “No, Daddy we don’t all dress shop, some of us study.” I know I’m on a losing battle. It should be fun losing them for a while, I go and grab my fruit loop cousins, after my patented pout doesn’t work, and we head out to the mall, the one at Caesars Palace is about the best and they have The Cheesecake Factory, for pizza and of course cheesecake. That should please Tanner, my protector and nursemaid. She notes what I eat, tells my Dad if I have skipped a meal, or take too long in the toilets. They are just making sure I don’t slip back down the slippery pole besides I do like their cheesecake.

  “Izzy what are you getting off Uncle Hugh?” Carmen asks.

  “I’m getting a pony or rather I got a pony. She’s a Mexican Azteca, that dear Dora is a breed of horse, she’s a mix of an Andalusian, American Quarter Horse and Mexican Criollo, she’s a beautiful solid dark brown mare who I have called Chocolate, oh she’s so pretty, she’s here at the stables for now, but is going to be being shipped back home to Spain.” Carmen does the fake yawn action with her hand over the mouth. She doesn’t share mine and Dora’s love of horses.

  “You and your horses, how many is this now?” Dora is as excited as I am and hangs of every word.

  “I have four she makes five, and she’s so, so pretty, she’s from a rodeo horse dealer and boy the mare is pretty too, I am going to breed them in Spain and introduce the breed over there, so I need a couple more and I will be set.”

  “So, you aren’t going into hotels then?” Carmen asks in a shocked tone of voice.

  “God no, I want to be an architect and breed horses in the spare time I have, Dad has finally admitted to himself none of us want to follow in his footsteps. Luis and I help out when we can but, I’m happier waiting tables and changing beds, Luis likes front of house.”

  “Nahah, Luis likes seeing the pretty ladies he can date.” We all know what Luis likes. We head for food first and grab a pizza, umm extra cheese, extra peppers, peppered ground steak and pineapple, so shoot me I know what I like, sweet and hot, and all on top of a barbeque sauce thin crust base. Tanner takes note and orders for me along with hers, she is the best protection officer I’ve had in a long time, and doesn’t crowd me, so perhaps I will give her an easy ride today and just do a runner the once?

  I wait for the pizza and people watch as they rush by. Funny how people rush push and fly around the place, like they are two seconds away from missing out on the next big thing, or have just a small amount of time to live, and need to grab as much as they can in the time they have allotted.

  “Bella, you are dreaming again, the pizza’s here, oh look a cowboy, he’s kinda hot?” Dora looks into the crowded walk way.

  “Yeah, and so is the waiter look Izzy your type blond and good looking.”

  “Stop it Carmen, she doesn’t date. Uncle Hugh and Luis don’t let her, isn’t that so Tanner?”

  “Yes Ma’am, besides Miss Humphries has better things to do with her time, like her horses and her studies.” She winks and I return the smile. She knows me well.

  “Cameron was hanging around you again I note?” Carmen gives me the look. “He’s a letch Izzy, keep away from him.” Dora looks concerned.

  “I know what he is Carmen, I know what he’s after and I’m not that dumb, believe it or not I have two perfectly good eyes of my own. Besides Tanner will drop him in a heartbeat if he comes as close as he did last night, isn’t that right Tanner?”

  “That’s right Ma’am, besides Bedford warned him to not come near you after I pulled him away. I think he knows you’re off limits.”

  “Erg, he’s way too old for you he’s Luis age, isn’t he?” Dora eats the last of her pizza as the desserts are brought to the table,

  “Umm, I think so, and as you said he is way too old and a slimy sleaze ball, even if I did like older men? He is so not my type, and yeah the cowboy is kinda cute for an older guy, besides he looked really familiar, I guess he is cute Izzy.” I look at the guy walking by and I’m not so sure? I decide on reflection that all cowboys do look the same.

  “Eat up, we have dresses to buy and nails to be done. Did you get the horse crap from under your nails Izzy?”

  “I don’t have horse crap under my nails Carmen.” I however do inspect them, and she’s right and I sigh, they do look rough.

  “Do so, so does Dora.” I laugh as Dora and I compare our nails, then we finish the meal with strawberry shortcake cheesecake and vanilla ice cream.

  “Umm I’m too full to move, have my dress brought to me Tanner?”

  “No Ma’am, they have it ready for you and don’t think of running there’s a code two. Someone is following you, so please stay calm, you know Miss Dora will only scream and panic. Thomson and Mayer are on their way, please Bella stay here and drink your drink and stay calm.” I stay calm, code two means he’s been watching me for a while, looks suspicious and has got too close to me, damn it will this never end?

  Tanner says the other two are on their way, and to keep calm I laugh, joke and help them finish their desserts. The other security arrives and keep their distance. Tanner speaks into her sleeve, and they grab the man following me with the greatest of ease, all this because a mad woman took me from my pram when I was a baby? I came to no harm the poor woman had just lost her baby she saw me in the sun outside a shop that Mum was inside of shopping for fruit. The woman simply took me to the shade, as she didn’t want me burning, apparently. She handed me straight over to mum, crying that she was sorry but I was in danger from the sun, and after that it was lock down and it got worse as the years rolled by, as I was and still am, referred to as the daughter of Hugh Humphries and heiress to the multi-million-dollar hotel empire in the papers. Dad gets a lot of kidnapping threats after each article has appeared in print or on line. So as a consequence I didn’t like my photograph taken, or to appear in papers, so to get a shot of me is apparently worth money to the papers!

  “Thank you, do we have to go home now?”

  “No, Bedford is taking him to one side and the others are coming back, your dad is happy for you to continue, if you keep by me?” I agree.

  “Come on then let’s get the dresses first.” I am sticking close to Tanner, which surprises her too. We try on our dresses in BCBG Max Azria, an unusual sounding name for a shop, which was what drew me in, I’d chosen a handful of dresses on-line and they were holding the for me and once I get them I head to the changing rooms. Tanner has given her nod of approval for all six but the one I will wear is a little shall I say a little older than I should be wearing, but the girls say I look cool, yeah that damn word again, but even I am pleasantly surprised how grown up the gown I have chosen makes me look. It’s a strapless peplum dress in red, with my dark skin and hair, it looks lovely and though my eyes denote perhaps I should go for green, I opt for the red? This dress I love, and get giddy knowing it’s in the bag, literally.

  “God, that’s so unfair, how come you get the looks, the hair and the body, whilst Dora and I have to share the Mareo genes, and you get the lot, why can’t we look like Aunty Maria, instead of our dads?” Both of my mum’s brothers, Uncle Enzo and Uncle Luis look like a fatter Tony Soprano, but Spanish and not Italian, and Uncle Enzo even does the bad impression of him too, poor girls, their dads are so funny and love to embarrass them.

  “Some girls have all the luck I guess? I’m sorry.”

  “It’s wasted on you, what do horses care if you look like a supermodel or not, as long as you brush them and feed them?” Carmen moans again.

  “Sorry, I guess it could be worse I could be like Rachel and be all blonde and boobs?”

  “Nahah, she’s all blonde, boob and bitchiness, she has all the B’s covered.” My co
usins like me, are not a lover of my half-sister Rachel. Sharing our father is all we have in common, because she looks like a mini replica of her mum, whilst I look like Mum and Gran. I am very peasant looking, according to her and her mum. I once shouted back, ‘better a peasant than hooker’, though at the time I didn’t know what a hooker was, but ouch, she slapped me so hard that day and my head throbbed. I got my revenge though, as my ant farm got loose in her bed that night, oops, thousands of poor ants died for the cause that night and for my misdemeanour, I was grounded for a week, with no horses. It was worth not seeing them because she went home, and I got Dad to myself for the rest of the holiday.

  Tanner received a call about the man who was stalking me, everything was okay he was just a paparazzi out for the birthday girls photograph. We had our nails done, grabbed some shoes, and some racy underwear, which Daddy will kill me for buying, if Tanner tells him what I bought it. I live in hope that I’m allowed to grow up this year. I grab some jeans from Banana Rep, Guess and Gap, as we pass Yurman’s I’m dragged in to see the wish list, I agree that the bracelets they love, yes, they are nice, but yes way too expensive for little ole me.

  “What’s Luis getting you?” I shrug my shoulders.

  “I don’t know? Rachel sent me a spa day voucher, and a silver cross thing, it’s in lieu of her not coming, I think, but that was present enough, her not coming.” We all laugh and head towards Mak for makeup, because we have everything else in the multitude of bags and Daddy’s card has been battered today. My last stop is for a new pair of flats, as I have to do a stint in the dining room, and my other Mary Jane’s are on their last legs. I pick up a pair of plain black one’s and as the other two turn their noses up I laugh, the pair of them haven’t worked a day in their lives.

  “Dining room duty for breakfast Tanner, sorry you’re on minder duty.” She smiles and pays for the shoes for me. “Right let’s back home, we are just in time for dinner, then a bath and bed for me I’m up at stupid o’clock.”

  “Why do you have to work Izzy?”

  “Dad says I have to, and that’s good enough for me, besides I like it, it’s a fun thing to do, but I don’t think I’d like to do it all day every day. They work so hard, and besides Dad says it gives me an appreciation into how hard others have to work and makes me appreciate what I do get.” They laugh and get in the car, as we head home exhausted from the miles we have covered in the mall. We join Luis, Mum and Dad for dinner, and I am tired and need my bed.

  “Did you get everything Bella Pooh?”

  “Yes Lu-Lu-Bell, you’re here early. I did and I spent my allowance and way more too, I am so sorry Daddy.”

  “No you didn’t Bella, but you tried, and several dresses I see, as well as jeans and tee shirts.”

  “Umm I spend my life in jeans and I have the dresses in case I go somewhere nice. Dad did Bedford sort the man out following me?” A hushed silence fell around the table.

  “What, what happened Hugh, was my baby in any danger?” I should have stayed quite.

  “Mum, I was fine Tanner was right by me the whole trip, she wasn’t too keen on having to link my arm. The others came for him as soon as she saw him he was only armed with a camera.” I had sealed my own fate to not being allowed out again. Damn me and my mouth.

  “She is never a foot away from her protection dear, and I would never allow her to be in any type of danger.” I sighed, as the eating seemed to end.

  “Oh, I’ll tell you who is here, this will cheer you up, Chris.”

  “Christopher is here? Really, why did he not join us for dinner?” She asks and I listen in.

  “He had a meeting with his father, and from what I gather it didn’t go down too well.” I too remember Chris because he ruined my last party. Him, and Luis together and I wouldn’t have another after that, paff and I bet he’s here to ruin this one too?

  “Luis, have you seen much of him?”

  “Yes Mum, we meet for the odd weekend break, when our schedules allow, he’s mega rich business mogul and I’m a poor law intern.”

  “Now, now Luis he was never like that you know he wasn’t.”

  “He is fine from what I hear, he landed a big deal in Australia, he bought a mass of land which was full of iron ore and his newest one hit a rich seam of Copper, Zinc and Gold, it has made him one of Americas youngest billionaires.” I yawn all this money talk does my head in.

  “Eat up young lady, you have a big day tomorrow and the party planner wants your input in the morning, when they clear the dining room.” I yawn again.

  “Excuse me, I have to get to sleep, I’m up with the birds and need my sleep, excuse me, Mum, Dad, Luis?” I look again at the pretty dress and wonder if Daddy will approve? It’s too late now it’s bought. I get a bath and soak in the tub for three albums full of songs and I’m wrinkly and pink when I climb into my bed for the best night’s sleep ever.

  CHAPTER THREE:

  Estella, ma Bella:

  Waking up good and early, I change for work and help set up the dining room for breakfast and as I did, I sang a little and danced a lot. The room was ready well in time for the influx of diners eating, drinking and reading their morning papers, talking on their phones and living in a different world to me, their need to talk business seemed more urgent than feeding their bodies? I clear tables and take the empties through to be washed, working like one of the others. I think I’m helping, but two of the others say the new girl is crap, but I smile as they carry on bitching as I take out breakfast order after order, all without complaint.

  “Estella, can you please ask that gentleman over there if he wouldn’t mind taking his coffee in the reading room? We need to be getting the room ready, and he’s been nursing that cold coffee for a half an hour now and he’s in your section now.” I nod. The poor man should be allowed to go at his own pace they pay enough for the privilege. I clear the tables around him hoping he will get the hint, but he looks sad, why is he sad, I wonder has he been dumped? He’s kinda cute and as he stares into the coffee cup I accidently knock his arm I think I woke him. Shit, its Chris, I see him now and yeah, my friend is here and oh, he doesn’t recognise me, why?

  “Excuse me Sir, have you finished, my boss has asked could I please ask you to take your coffee and sit, if you will, in the reading room, so we can prep the room for tonight’s party? I will bring you the papers and a fresh coffee through, please say you’ll agree, please, please, please agree? Miss Brown there, is a little under pressure to make this party a success, it’s the first one her bosses daughter has agreed to have, and everyone wants it to be the best night of her life.” He looks at me, but does he recognising me?

  “Well, how can I refuse such an offer? I hope the daughter of your boss appreciates your planning, and Miss Brown doesn’t die of a heart attack trying to please her boss?” She is hyperventilating in the doorway with a paper bag as we speak, poor woman. Mum really has run her ragged.

  “Oh she is, she is very appreciative, and she’s looking forward to it, this is the first party she has allowed them to throw in a while, and her mum wants to make it extra special. Poor Isabella just wants a quite family dinner, but as always, her mum has other ideas, and figured her sixteen is a milestone birthday event, and unfortunately for Isabella, she watched three or four My Super Sweet Sixteenth on MTV for reference, so it’s all out of control, hence the planner reigning it all in. I hope she manages it or Isabella will do a runner otherwise?”

  Why am I speaking as though I am a third person, and more importantly, why did I not give him a hug and say hello Chris, come to ruin another party? Perhaps it’s because the girls I am working with don’t know I am the owner’s daughter and what the hell, they are ogling him. Please, you could have taken my table, but my section was the largest? I ignore them and carry on my third person play. Perhaps subconsciously I’m waiting for him to see me as his little Princess Isabella? No, what I am doing is waiting to see if Chris even recognises me at all.

  “Is this
Isabella a spoilt madam then, she sounds like it?” Oh, I must have made myself sound unappreciative, I’m not, but hell I could do without it all. I would be happy with a MacDonald’s happy meal and a rug set out in the park and eat them there, play football and toss a Frisbee with Luis and Dad, and eat ice-cream afterwards, but Mum seemed to need to show me off?

  “No, far from it, she’s her mum’s only daughter and Isabella loves her mum, so is only doing it for her, she’s a nice girl. Like I said, she’s shy and a book worm, horsey type kind of girl and she’s not into this at all. So, can I move your things Sir?”

  “Yes, sorry, and I will take another coffee in the reading room, and thank you.” His phone rang, he took the call away from the table, and he turned as he left and cancelled the coffee. He then asked me to join him for breakfast tomorrow morning, if I wasn’t doing anything. I smiled and agreed. He’d have forgotten he’d asked me in the morning.

  Chris.

  I am still tired, but have to get to a meeting across town and then get ready for the party. Damn this hotel has the prettiest waitresses. I stare at the one seeing to the table at the side of me, she is really nice looking, perhaps a little too young for me, but I can look and not touch. I listen as she speaks to the people, she’s so full of charm and not that false ‘Can-I-help-you-sir’ charm, which is so sickly sweet here. She smiles and dances almost, as she gathers orders and fetches and carries the plates, however I am served by a boy, who if he sniffs on more time, I will wipe his nose for him. As I said, I’m grumpy in the morning and I am until I have at least my third coffee.

  “I will have pancakes and syrup, bacon. Two soft boiled eggs, with toast and can I have the toast cut into strips for dunking? Can I have some fresh coffee too? Thank you.” He notes my order and disappears forgetting my coffee, so the pleasant girl fills my cup and goes on about seeing to her table.