“Isobel, not now, okay? I know you’re upset withme for whatever reason but can you just do your job please?” He looked exasperated.
“Nope. Told you I am not working if you’re not. You are more than capable of booking a flight and a hotel.”
“Izzie...whatever!” Cursing his sister under his breath as he left the room, pulling his mobile out of his pocket, he dialled Janet’s number. She would sort it for him; she was putty in his hands usually.
“Hey, Jan, it’s Alex...” After a few minutes schmoozing his publicist he was back in his room throwing a few belongings in his carry on suitcase.
He stood in the doorway waiting for the car that his publicist had organised for him along with a flight and hotel, his arm around his mother’s shoulders. “I’m only going for a few days, maybe not even that long. Don’t look so sad, you have Cam and the kids to keep you busy. I promise I will be home before you know it.” Alex leaned down to kiss her cheek as the sleek black car pulled up before them. The driver exited the car, opening the passenger door for Alex before he loaded his luggage into the boot.
“Bye, son. Phone me when you land.” She blew a kiss to him as she stood watching the car head down the tree lined drive.
Alex just got to the hotel with enough time to check in and dump his bags before having to collect his hire car and find his own way to the television studio. Janet had offered to book him a driver for the few days he was away but he had declined, instead wanting to get behind the wheel himself. He liked to drive and he didn’t get the opportunity much these days to drive himself anywhere. The band was usually chauffeured to their destinations or they had a huge tour bus at their disposal.
He pulled into a parking space just before six thirty. All he had to do now was find out which floor he needed, which didn’t prove too hard once he had smiled politely for a photo and signed an autograph for the night security who sat behind the welcome desk. As the lift door closed he suddenly felt a little uneasy. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She hadn’tresponded to the gifts or the email. What had made him think turning up unannounced was the way forward? The lift door opened; there was no going back now. He might as well just ride out the storm. Poking his head out into the corridor he tried to get his bearings, walking towards the glass doors where the only light on the corridor shone through. As Alex opened the door he could hear her familiar voice as she talked on the phone. Striding towards her purposefully he took in the sight of her as she swayed side to side on her chair.
The woman sat beside her saw him first. With her face flushed crimson she nudged Grace as she nodded her head in Alex’s direction. “Visitor, Grace.”
Grace swung the chair around to face a now madly grinning Alex. “Holy shit! Sorry, Mr Benson...No, sorry can I call you back? Thanks, no, just a problem in the office I need to deal with.”
“Well, that was some greeting!” He stood before her with his arms crossed across his chest, his feet planted firmly apart. He was smirking at how flustered she had suddenly become.
“Wha...why...erm, why are you here? There is nothing in the diary that says you were scheduled in today.” Grace began madly flicking through pages in her desk diary; she didn’t trust the computer one.
Placing his hand on top of hers, he stopped her incessant searching. “I came to see you. You didn’t call me so I figured it was best to come and see you in person.” He spoke softly not wanting to unnerve her further. “You must be Sasha.” Alex held out his hand to greet the woman staring at him. Before he knew it she had leapt from her seat and hugged him, almost cutting off his air supply. “Okay...yeah. Hi, erm, do you think you could just loosen the grip a little? It’s kinda hard to breathe right now.”
Sasha released him instantly, lowering her eyes as she apologised for her inappropriateness. “So you made it in time. I thought you were just gonna call her, not show up!”
Grace spun around to face her friend, confused by her last statement. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you tell me? Wait a minute... did you call him?” Grace was furious now, sure this was the only explanation.
“No, she didn’t. I rang you a few days ago and Sasha just happened to let slip when would be the best time to catch you at work. It’s me you should be mad at. I did all the work, not her. Now about that dinner date, I have a table booked for seven thirty if you wanna grab your bag or whatever...”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I am at work. I don’t finish ‘til eight.” Her state of shock was passing, nowreplaced with anger at the audacity of the man who stood before her grinning like a schoolboy.
“Okay, I’ll ring the restaurant and change the time. No biggie, babe.” Pulling out his phone he began to scroll through the list of recently called numbers.
“Did you just call mebabe?Don’t bother ringing; I’m not free after work tonight.” She now stood with her arms firmly crossed over her chest in a very defensive stance. She wasn’t about to be a pushover no matter what.
“You’re kidding, right? I flew all the way up here to see you; I even booked into a hotel and everything. Please, let me take you to dinner.” Using his best puppy dog eyes he looked up at her through his long dark lashes.
Sasha shouldered her from behind. “You can’t not go if he flew up here especially, Grace! What’s wrong with you? It’s only dinner.”
Grace glanced between the two of them now. What was she supposed to do? He was mega famous and she had no idea why he was so interested in taking her to dinner. “I don’t have to do anything! You should have called first!” She turned to face the grinning idiot now.
“I did but you weren’t here. Oh, and I sent flowers, chocolates and emails, all of which you ignored.What’s a man gotta do to get a date these days? Look, I get it, I’m not stupid. You didn’t call, you’re not interested, but I did just fly up here to see you. The least you can do is let me take you to dinner, please. Then, if you want me to, I’ll leave you alone. Promise.”
She was lost for words. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go out for a meal with him, she just didn’t like being railroaded into it. Besides, she probably wouldn’t hear from him again after, so what the hell? “Dinner and then you will quit all this rubbish? Just dinner...but I really can’t leave ‘til eight.”
“Go. I’ll cover your shift. Go before she changes her mind again!” Sasha handed her coat over before almost shoving them towards the exit. Alex stood to the side, arms open wide gesturing for her to lead the way.
“I’m wearing jeans and flats!” Grace muttered in an unmasked tone. Hardly dressed appropriately for the sort of place she presumed he would frequent.
“So am I.” Alex didn’t even look at her, he just held out his hand for her to hold as he waited for the lift to arrive. Trying to hide her smile, she lowered her gaze to the floor as she took hold of his hand, entering the lift behind him.
As they entered the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, Grace came to an abrupt stop. “I thought we weregoing to dinner? You definitely said dinner.” Feeling more than a little uncomfortable as she took in the elegant surroundings, the beautiful ironworks that swept up the enormous staircase and the marble pillars that stood all around were truly breathtaking.
Alex chuckled. “I did say dinner. The restaurant is this way.” Tugging gently on the hand he had reclaimed as soon as she stepped out of the car, he guided her through the archway that led to The Pompadour restaurant. Grace began to fuss with her clothes, and ran her fingers through her hair trying desperately to make herself look a little more presentable. Damn him for not letting her change.
“Hi, I have a reservation. It’s Carter.”
