‘What’s everyone drinking?’ I ask, standing up. ‘It’s my round.’
‘Jasmine, you are sweet,’ grins Steve. ‘There’s a tab! These are most definitely on expenses.’
‘Oooh,’ I reply, eyes lighting up. I’d been wondering why everyone was throwing back champagne like it’s the end of days. ‘In that case I might just bring over a bottle?’
‘That’s the spirit!’ Cheers Sally.
‘Righto,’ I nod, pottering off while wondering where the heckrightocame from.
Propping up the bar with two glasses of champagne already bubbling through my system has definitely given me a confidence boost. I’ve ordered the most inexpensive bottle on the menu, because I didn’t want to take the piss, and now I’m doing some people watching. This place is dripping with glamour. Imagine being the type of person who just comes here for a drink? So fancy!
‘Buonosera.’
Expensive aftershave fills my nose and I turn round to see Prince Alessandro The Great, or whatever his actual royal title is, standing next to me.
‘Oh hello,’ I say with a little bow of the head.
‘I spotted you were alone so I came to see how you were getting along.’
‘I’m getting along just fine thank you sir.’
Sir?
‘Call me Alessandro or Al,’ he says with an easy smile.
Alaugh escapes from my lips. ‘God, sorry,’ I say, scratching my forehead. ‘I’m just, well, I have never spoken to a real live prince before.’
‘Please, there’s no need to be concerned, you are quite charming. And I’m not really a proper prince, we haven’t had a sovereign for many years now. My family is noble, that’s all.’
Noble still sounds pretty bloody posh to me.
‘Righto.’ Can somebody just please stop me from speaking?
‘This is your first time in Italy?’ he asks, undoing the top button of his white shirt while I try very hard not to tear the rest of the buttons off with my teeth.
‘I, um. . . Yes! First time in Italy. You are so unbelievably beautiful.’ NOOOOOO. Just style it out. ‘Yourcountryis so beautiful, I mean. I’m dying to get out and take some photos.’
‘So what is stopping you?’
Right, okay, this is better. We’re back on safe ground. Stop telling Alessandro you think he is fit and just calm the eff down.
I clear my throat. ‘The filming schedule’s already tight and Violet and I work on blog content whenever she has time off. Also I’m not great at map-reading and I don’t think I should be unleashed for any solo photography exploits.’
Alessandro laughs. ‘But you must find time to take some photos of my country!’
‘I’d like that. I’m trying to get together some personal photographs when I can.’
‘For your own website?’
‘Well, I don’t have my own website right now. It’s something I need to work on, if only I had the. . .’
‘Time?’
‘Exactly,’I say, feeling like I’m stuck on repeat. I’d love to get some time for myself while I’m here. Those pictures from Cannes gave me such a buzz and I just know that getting out of my comfort zone could produce something really exciting here, too. Not to mention all the other things getting out of my comfort zone is meant to be helping me with right now.Stop stalling, start doing.
I’d like some lovely snaps of Italy for my own portfolio.
I’d like a hot Italian guide to show me the ropes.
