With her packing finished Tasha threw on a pair of pyjamas and climbed into bed where she willed herself to sleep, but her attempts were futile she realised when at half past one she received a text from Jim and was still wide awake.
Chapter 37
Tasha had finally fallen asleep when she heard Lucy return with Ryan. Within twenty minutes heavy breathing, panting and groaning could be heard all around her. Maybe she should think of getting a place of her own.
It was about half past four before she fell asleep and as a consequence woke up startled at half past ten.
“Bollocks!” She realised she now only had an hour and a half to be at the hotel.
It seems it had been a very good idea to have packed the previous night. She quickly got up, showered and did her hair before throwing on jeans, trainers and a t-shirt. She would change at the hotel, after all, she knew what sneakers were not for. She called for a mini-cab and by half past eleven she was on her way.
Arriving at the hotel, Tasha felt very out of place in her casual wear that got several disapproving glances from staff and guests. There was quite a queue at the desk by the time she checked in.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asked, already looking at Tasha with disapproval, contempt, or disgust. She wasn’t sure which.
“I have a reservation.”
A whispered chorus of huffs and tuts sounded behind her. She turned and many of them seemed to be sneering. What was their problem? Was it really down to the jeans and trainers? She had a Prada bag, a genuine one, what more did they want? She turned back to the receptionist who was querying Tasha’s claim.
“Here? You have a reservation here?” she asked with a frown that suggested she couldn’t quite believe that could be the case.
“Yes, here. Let me get you the reservation details my boyfriend’s P.A. emailed to me.”
Tasha handed over the folded sheet of paper.
“Name?”
“Natasha Winters, but it’s probably in my boyfriend’s name, James Maybury.” She could feel her agitation rising along with her own embarrassment.
“I have your details here and you are in the Presidential suite, Miss Winters.” The receptionist smiled now, briefly.
There were fresh mutterings from the queue.
“Is Mr Maybury with you?”
“No, his flight from L.A. doesn’t land until noon,” she explained. “But if I could check-in please.”
“We need a credit card for security Miss, so if you would rather wait for Mr Maybury...”
“No need,” snapped Tasha and handed over Jim’s Amex card.
The receptionist summoned someone to take Tasha’s luggage and escort her to her suite.
Once in the suite the young man who had carried her luggage loitered for what seemed like an eternity until she suddenly realised that he was waiting for a tip. With only ten and twenty pound notes, which did seem a lot to Tasha, she dithered a little then handed him the smaller of the two notes and with a smile he left.
Tasha hung her clothes in the huge wardrobe, but left her Prada bag packed. Then, she went to explore the huge suite that was like a proper flat, a luxury one. There was a kitchen, lounge, dining room, two bedrooms, one with an en-suite, a ‘family’ bathroom, a wet bar and an office. The decoration and furniture was very ornate and luxurious; lots of golds and deep reds, velvet, gilt frames, heavy drapes, chandeliers and everything appeared to be thick and padded, the chairs, sofas and beds. It was very nice and quite similar to the suite Jim had stayed in when they had been in New York.
She investigated the huge en-suite bathroom with a sunken, oval shaped, marble bath and was more than big enough for two. It even had a TV screen at one end. There were twin sinks, a toilet and a walk-in shower with a wet room floor. The shower head was as big as a dinner plate and there were buttons and lights all over the control panel. This really was a different world, a world she had never known, one she was unsure she’d ever get used to.
Glancing down at her jeans and trainers Tasha decided it was time to get changed, but what should she wear? She looked up at the clock and saw that it was half past twelve when her phone beeped.
