Barbara left and Ellie glanced up at Alex. She tried to read the perplexed expression on his face, but came up blank.
‘It’s got a lot of potential,’ she said, then winced when she realised she sounded just like Barbara. Had she beenbrainwashed by bouncy Barb? Next, she’d be waxing lyrical over it being a bargain.
‘Yes, lots of potential… and charm,’ he said weakly.
Okay, time to get to the heart of the matter.‘Yes, especially if you like ye-olde-crumbling-down-embassy charm. In fact, we could negotiate keeping the bucket in bedroom seven. Nowthathas a lot of potential.’
He laughed, inhaling deeply and then letting out the air in one long sigh. ‘It’s horrible.’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘And… kind of overwhelming?’
‘Those huge rooms give me the heebie-jeebies. How many ambassadors jumped from balcony three? That’s what I want to know.’
‘Far too many. Right, let’s get out of here.’
To Barbara’s expectant face a moment later, Alex said, ‘It’s lovely, but too much of a project. I want to move in quickly and… Look, this is going to sound crazy, but anything above six bedrooms, for just me? Well, it’s just a bittoobig.’
Barbara barely blinked, instead nodding enthusiastically at every word. ‘Of course. That’s really great, Alex. You’ve really narrowed the search down for me. I’ll not bother taking you to the ones in Mayfair, and let’s cancel the viewings in Camden too. They also need a lot of work, or have too many bedrooms.’ She smiled as if pain-in-the-arse clients who didn’t know what they wanted were a regular occurrence, which, in her line of work, they probably were.
They all bundled back into Martin’s cab, Alex having insisted Barbara join them and leave her car behind, and offered Martin’s services to drive her back to pick it up.
‘Wonderful! Saves me finding places to park,’ she declared cheerfully, as she typed lightning-speed instructions to her office – presumably to tell the billionaires no one was comingto see their house today. Ellie wondered if Barbara was the most optimistic woman she’d ever met. ‘Next stop St Katharine Docks.’
Despite the usual choking London traffic, Martin made quick work of ducking and diving through the streets to the marina – black cabbies were worth their weight in gold, Ellie thought with a smile.
They stopped outside a huge redbrick Victorian warehouse, and Barbara was the first out. ‘This beautiful warehouse conversion has a four-bed penthouse with beautiful views over the marina. If you have a yacht, I can negotiate the docking costs. There’s a daytime porter, residential lift, and an underground car park with two allocated spaces. It’s close to the tube – if you wish – as well as all the high-end bars, shops and restaurants that are so abundant here.’
‘Andthere’s one less number on the price tag,’ whispered Ellie, tapping the brochure as they followed her into the building.
Alex’s blue eyes sparkled behind his glasses. ‘No need to sell my other properties after all.’
‘Wouldn’t want to burden yourself financially now, would we?’ she teased, and he gave a good-natured laugh.
‘Fair point. Thanks for reminding me of how much of a douche I sound sometimes.’
She smiled sweetly. ‘Any time, except, you’re such an adorable douche.’ She tried to add to the friendly banter by giving him a playful punch on the bicep. Her knuckles met with the formidable muscle of his arm and her body warmed in several places as she imagined how good those arms would feel wrapped around her.
It took her several minutes to get over it.
The inside of the penthouse was a wonderful mix of modern luxury and original features. Exposed brick walls, double-heightceilings, arched windows and doors that made the building light and airy. The master suite had a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite; the spare bedrooms were all double, if not triple, the size of her own bedroom at home.
The kitchen was stylish, with a large dining area to the side. The lounge had beautiful double doors out onto the first of two terraces, and it was the terraces that took her breath away. The one from the lounge came out into a lovely little seating area overlooking the shiny yachts in the marina, while the other faced out towards the city and river, and also had a hot tub and bar.
‘Well, it’s a real bachelor pad,’ said Ellie, nodding towards the hot tub, her mouth drying at the thought of Alex and his muscular arms relaxing after a long day. She tried to imagine herself beside him.
No, he’d have actresses and starlets beside him, not her. She’d probably be making margaritas at the bar.
‘With both terrace doors open, the breeze can run right through the apartment, creating that light and airy atmosphere you mentioned in your email,’ enthused Barbara.
Alex smirked at Ellie, unrepentant. ‘Sorry, I ripped off one of your wishlist points.’
It was one of the ways she’d described the flat she wanted. ‘Why not? I have excellent taste. I really like this one.’
Barbara was beaming at them like a proud mum. ‘I’ll give you a minute. See you at the front door when you’re ready.’
After she’d gone, Ellie said, ‘You could have some awesome parties here.’
