‘You’ve become a total recluse,’ Jenny complained. ‘We’re going to that new club tonight and I simply won’t take no for an answer. You’re coming too and you’re going to enjoy a good night.’
‘Oh, I don’t think so. I’m not in the mood.’
‘Well, tough. It’s partly for work. We’re supposed to seek out the rich and famous at one of the hottest new nightspots. Penelope has suggested a joint piece from us and wants something by tomorrow afternoon. She’s not best pleased with you, young woman after your failure to secure a tennis story. Says you’re going off lately. So, you see, I’m solely responsible for salvaging your career.’
Amanda sighed and nodded and they arranged to meet outside the club at ten-thirty.
‘I think I’m getting too old for all these late nights.’
‘See? Like I said. Fun’s gone out of your life. You’re not in love or anything stupid are you?’
‘Of course not,’ she lied. Love must be the only explanation for the way she was feeling. If it hadn’t been extremely dangerous, she would have liked to carry a picture of Sacha with her at all times but he would be too easily recognised and that could lead to too many questions.
She did her best to join in with the others at the nightclub. She spotted one or two people who might fit in with the article they were supposed to write. She even went over to a young footballer and his latest girlfriend and asked if she might take a photo of them. He had been in the newspapers lately following a signing to a major club. Amanda knew that he was single and that she would not be starting some scandal by her picture.
‘Oh, go on, love,’ urged the young girl. ‘I’d like to be seen in a mag with you. The others would be dead jealous.’ She draped herself over her escort who looked suitably relaxed about the relationship and Amanda took several shots with the digital camera. For these casual trips, digital cameras were quite adequate, as spontaneous photographs were much better than contrived photo shoots with the professional photographers hanging around.
‘Good little cameras those,’ the footballer muttered. ‘At least you had the decency to ask first. Thanks.’
‘And your companion’s name? Just for the record,’ she asked.
‘Tell ’er then love,’ he suggested, as if he didn’t know.
‘Er, Chanterelle.’
‘I see. Thanks.’ She refrained from asking why the girl, or her parents, had picked the name of a type of mushroom. Evidently, it sounded reasonably glamorous to her ears. Amanda made a note of the names and moved away with a smile. The evening wore on and finally, she suggested to Jenny that they probably had enough material for a short article.
‘You are truly no fun any more, Amanda Jayne Derry. Have you had a personality transplant? Either that or I go back to my theory—you’re in love.’
‘I’m not even sure what love is.’
‘The sort of reaction you’re currently displaying. Mind somewhere else, distracted, clearly thinking of someone else. Jump like mad when the phone rings . . . you get the picture.’
‘So, maybe I am. Just don’t have anyone close to be in love with. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going home.’ She fought her way through the heaving mass of gyrating bodies and couldn’t wait to get some fresh air. In love? Me, she thought. No chance.
Her mobile rang and she jumped. Who on earth could be calling at this time of night? Could it be . . . ? The screen displayed International.
The night was warm and she drew to one side of the pavement, crowded with club goers even at this late hour.
‘Hello?’ she murmured, hoping it was him.
‘Hello, Amanda. I was missing you.’
‘It’s the middle of the night,’ she said weakly. Her knees were shaking. In fact, most of her was shaking.
‘I’m sorry. Did I wake you? I don’t think so. I can hear noises . . .’
‘No. I was working. I’m just going home now.’
‘What time is it?’
‘One o’clock.’
‘What sort of shop keeps you working till one o’clock? I am puzzled.’ The way he said the word ‘puzzled’ was just so incredibly sexy. She smiled.
‘I’ve been missing you too. Silly isn’t it?’
‘But still, you will not come to join me in America? Not even to see me?’
‘Oh, Sacha. I can’t. Truly I can’t.’
‘Then I simply have to come back to London to be with you.’
‘Really?’ The delight sounded in her voice. ‘But how can you? I can’t let you abandon your career for me.’
‘I’ve had to drop out of the next tournament. I pulled a muscle and need to rest before Wimbledon. I can work on it over there just as easily as here.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. But it’s wonderful you can come back. I can’t wait to see you again.’
‘I’m pleased. Fredo is angry though.’
‘When will you get here?’
‘I hope to pick up a flight tomorrow.’
Jenny came out of the club with a couple of other girls.
‘Oh, hello. You’re still here,’ she said. ‘And on the phone again. I said you were in love. Hi, sexy,’ she called out, putting her face near the phone.
‘Go away,’ hissed Amanda. ‘This is private.’ She turned away from her friend. ‘Sorry. I’ll have to go. Call me again soon.’ She switched off the phone and laughed out loud. ‘You know Jen, I think you might have something there, but love is an awfully big word. One of the biggest I’ve ever heard of. But you might be right.’
CHAPTER FOUR
Two seemingly endless days later, Sacha phoned. ‘I’m just leaving the airport. Where shall we meet?’ Amanda’s heart practically stopped beating for a second or two. ‘I’ve had to take a taxi as there is so much luggage. I’m booked into a hotel near to the Wimbledon area. That’s the only place I know.’
‘Okay. How about we meet at the wine bar where we first met? Then we can decide what to do. Presumably, you will want to eat?’
‘Fine. Six-thirty suit you?’
‘Perfect.’ He rang off.
‘Who’s perfect?’ the ever curious Jen asked. ‘Oh, no, don’t tell me. Mystery Man’s returned.’
Unable to hide her smile, Amanda nodded. ‘I’m seeing him later. Heavens, I’ve got nothing to wear. Emergency shopping at lunch time.’
‘So where’s he taking you?’
‘Not sure. We’ll decide when we meet. I just need something to change into. There won’t be time to go home.’
‘I can’t come with you. I’ve got an interview with someone who’s just finished with one of the members of some awful pop group who keep seeming to crop up everywhere. Finishing with one of them sounds about the most sensible thing she could have done. I’ll pick up the requisite pack of tissues and brace myself to be sympathetic. “Oh, you poor thing. What plans do you have for the future?” You know the lines. Now, about this shopping. Do you want to go after work, if I’m back in time?’
‘No worries. I can still just about manage to choose a dress myself.’
Her morning’s work was finished in record time and she rushed down to the nearest stores to find something new for the evening ahead. He liked her in blue. In fact, he’d only seen her in blue on the two occasions they had met. It seemed impossible to think that it was only twice they had been out together. She felt as if she had known Sacha all her life. She picked out a simple trouser outfit in light green. A bargain in the sale and not blue this time. Her old bag and shoes would do. She didn’t really want the expense of new shoes as well. She floated on her personal cloud back to the office and found an angry Penelope waiting for her.
‘What’s this rubbish you’ve left on my desk? You always used to be one of my best girls but this is flat, uninspiring and . . . well, it simply won’t do. If you don’t buck up, you’ll be leaving us.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she mumbled. ‘I’ll check it through again and see if I can liven it up a bit.’
‘You’re slipping
Amanda. Lost your sparkle. Maybe you needed to take that break you asked for. Get your copy ready for the next issue by tomorrow afternoon and then you can take the next week off. Try to pull yourself together.’
‘Really?’ she gasped. ‘That would be fantastic.’ Perfect in every way, her mind was saying. She could spend more time with Sacha and not have to worry about keeping her secret or pretend to Jenny that there was nothing significant happening each day. ‘What about the usual four weeks’ notice you said I needed?’
‘I’m counting this as an emergency leave. Your concentration is all over the place. I can’t do with you like this. I want you back the following week bright and shiny and full of new energy.’
‘Thanks, Penelope. Thank you so much. And I really will try to make the piece better before I go this evening.’ Her grin was uncontrollable.
The Editor walked away, wondering how being on the verge of dismissal could bring such delight to the girl. If she wasn’t so good, Amanda would have gone right away but Penelope felt in her bones that she had great potential and would allow her this one chance. She assumed it was some sort of crisis with a man, silly girl. Her career needed to come first at all times. She should realise it rapidly and get to grips with it.
Desperately trying to concentrate on the rejected piece of work, Amanda added, deleted and generally tidied up the article. Baby fashions did little for her but flicking through a collection of press pictures, she was able to put something together based on sightings of celebrities and their offspring. Talk about scraping the barrel, she thought and crossing her fingers that dear Penelope would like it.
By five o’clock she could scarcely sit still and finally gave up and went into the cloakroom to change. Fortunately, Jenny hadn’t returned so she was spared an interrogation. As they all spent a lot of time out of the office seeking stories, nobody checked on precise working hours so she was able to get away early and best of all, unnoticed by her colleagues.
Her knees were positively knocking by the time she arrived at the wine bar. She sat in the same window seat as before and ordered a mineral water. For the umpteenth time, she checked her hair and makeup in her little mirror. Suppose he didn’t feel the same way when he saw her again? Then, maybe they wouldn’t recognise each other. Then she caught a glimpse of him as he strode along the now crowded pavement. Her heart did a quick somersault. If anything, he was even more beautiful than she remembered. Could a man be beautiful? This one was, in her eyes at least.
‘Amanda. My darling Amanda. You came.’ He took her hands and almost lifted her off her chair. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. She forgot about being embarrassed as she revelled in seeing him again. He also had forgotten his paranoia about keeping himself out of the gossip columns. But luckily nobody noticed this young couple greeting each other so happily.
‘Sacha, it’s so good to see you.’ Breathless, she sat down again before her legs collapsed beneath her. He ordered wine for both of them and held her hand as they drank.
‘I have missed you so very much. Fredo has not forgiven me for leaving and threatens to abandon me for ever.’
‘But you can’t be without him. Isn’t this all a bit rash?’
‘I don’t care. He has gone back to France to work while I decided to come here. Besides, I have to nurse an injury. He’s organised it all for me. Fortunately, it’s my right shoulder and I am a left handed player. It affects my service of course, you know when I toss up the ball but it is not as bad as if it were my left arm. So, I have almost a week of freedom with just a small time commitment to have the physiotherapy each day.’
‘Fantastic. Really good news from me too, I’ve just been given next week off. Evidently I’m not . . .’ she paused. She needed to be careful what she said. ‘I’m not working as well as I should be. In need of a holiday my boss told me. Needless to say, I didn’t argue at all. Especially not when I knew you were going to be in London.’
‘I have an idea,’ Sacha said, a grin spreading across his face. He bit his bottom lip, looking thoughtful. ‘No, I’ll say nothing. Not yet. I’ll say it later. It’s a rather major idea actually. I just hope you will agree with me. Let’s go and find some dinner now. I’m starving.’ He emptied his glass and reached for her hand. ‘Come, let’s walk.’
‘What is it? What did you want to say? You’re just teasing me.’
‘Later. I’ll talk about it later.’
As they strolled through the evening crowds, he rested his arm on her shoulder. It felt good. She looked up at him and knew this was exactly where she most wanted to be. They ate dinner outside at one of the bistros, enjoying the warm evening. It was surprisingly warm for April.
‘So, what was your idea?’
‘I hope you will agree to it. Amanda, will you marry me? I have fallen in love with you and I know there will never be anyone else who can make me feel as you do.’
‘Marry you? Marry you?’ She gulped down the last of her wine, almost choking with the shock of his words. ‘Do you really mean it?’
‘Of course. I would never ask you something like this if I didn’t mean it.’
‘But we hardly know each other. We only met a few days ago. I mean, you know nothing about me. I’m just an ordinary girl, nothing special. You’re a rising star. You’ll always work hard to make your career a success.’
‘There is more to my idea. If you do agree to marry me, we can get married right away. While I am staying here in London. You also have a holiday so it’s all perfect. But we shall need to keep it a complete secret.’
‘You’re completely mad. But so am I. Yes, yes please. I’d love to marry you. And keeping it secret suits me very well. Oh Sacha, I love you too. So very much. Since we met, I have thought of you all of the time. You are always there, in my mind. This is why my work has become so poor. I can’t seem to concentrate on anything. My best friend has been teasing me all the time, saying I must be in love. Now I understand why. When exactly do you want us to have this secret wedding?’ He was looking puzzled.
‘I don’t really understand how selling magazines and papers can be damaged by your lack of attention.’ He frowned and she blushed, knowing it was now or never to make her confession. But she dared not ruin the moment so it became never. ‘Eh bien. Marriage? Now, of course. Right away. But my darling, can we get married so quickly? Is it possible? Are there not papers and things to be agreed?’
‘I think you have to get a special licence. I don’t know how quickly that can be done but I can find out.’
As she went into work the next day, she could barely speak to anyone. The excitement was filling her brain but still, she knew she must tell no one. It was one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do. She looked up information about licences on her computer and discovered to her disappointment that there had to be a proof of residence before a licence could be issued. She was all right and fulfilled all the requirements but from what she could make out, she thought Sacha had to stay in London for a week to qualify. She called Sacha and explained what they had to do. They arranged to meet at the registry office at lunchtime. It would be a week before they could have their licence. But this would be a week when they could be together and get to know each other a little more.
‘I don’t know how I shall wait,’ he told her.
‘I want us to wait. I always promised myself that I wasn’t going to be like all the others. I want to wait until we are married before anything, well anything happens. We can explore London. Make our plans. We have the rest of our lives to be married so what is one more week? But now, I must go back to work and finish everything before I leave this evening.’
‘And I have to go and see my physiotherapist. I’ll see you this evening.’
Amanda was bubbling over with excitement for the entire afternoon. She worked as hard as she could with a brain that was trying desperately to make long term plans for her own life. Somehow, she had to complete one more article before she could leave. It was after five before
she even lifted her head from her computer. Jenny had been staring at her most of the afternoon but had said nothing.
‘Okay. You’re going nowhere until you spill the beans. Something is going on in your tiny little mind and I intend to know what it is.’ Her friend stared back at her, wondering how she could say anything at all without telling her everything.
‘It’s Mr Mystery . . . He’s back in London, isn’t he?’
‘Yes, he’s back, just for a little while. And I’m off next week. Penelope decided I needed a break. I know I’ve been a bit scatty lately and evidently it shows in my work.’
‘You jammy old thing. How did you manage that one? You weren’t going to tell me were you? You were just going to slope off somewhere and leave me wondering. So where are you off to? Somewhere glamorous?’
‘Just seeing something of London. He doesn’t know it very well so I’m going to show him round. Art galleries. Go to the theatre. Visit the Tower. You know, all the sort of things the tourists flock here to see. Penelope thought I needed a break so that’s what I’m doing.’
‘Unlike Penelope to grant any holiday without a full inquisition. So, this is all getting a bit serious is it?’
‘I guess. Well, it’s early days. But it will be good to have the time to get to know him a bit more.’
‘Why don’t we all meet up for a drink one night? Then we get to see your Mr Mystery.’ Amanda shook her head.
‘Sorry, But no. Not this time. I promise you’ll meet him sometime soon.’
‘You’re really keeping this one close aren’t you? What’s so special about him?’ Amanda blushed slightly but would say nothing. ‘Okay, then what’s wrong with him? Two heads? Aged ninety?’
‘Nothing. Nothing at all. There’s nothing wrong with him. I’ll tell all when I’m good and ready.’
* * *
The week passed in a flash. They enjoyed being tourists and both felt very certain that this was the right thing for them both. Amanda pinched herself several times a day to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. She kept looking at him as if she couldn’t believe her luck. Again and again she asked herself, why me?
For the Sake of Love Page 4