The island was a glossy mix of blues and greens with picturesque views in every direction. I walked through the main square swinging my shopping bags and as the breeze billowed through my new dress, that delicious holiday feeling hit me for the first time since we’d set sail. No expectations and nothing to think about, other than enjoying a new place. The square was teeming with people. Tiny bars served sundowners and snacks, while artists sketched portraits in charcoal and ink, and people meandered past, occasionally stopping to watch. The spicy sizzle of peri peri chicken mingled with the sugary cinnamon of churros, making me hungry, and I couldn’t resist stopping for a quick glass of wine.
My phone pinged as I placed my order.
Heidi: What happened? Where are you staying? Have you booked a flight yet? When will you arrive? Keep me updated.
Completely hysterical as usual. Never one to underreact. I fired off a quick reply.
Me: Don’t worry, Heidi, I’m fine. Yes, Leo has booked us on the first flight to Madeira, so we’ll be there tomorrow. Wi-Fi is patchy but I’ll be in touch.
HIIT Girls Group Chat:
Sara: I’ve just been reading about your pitch, Kat – isn’t that Leo guy the one from Engelman?
Abi: Noooo? You’re not stuck on a boat with him are you?
Me: It is. I am. I know – can you believe it? He’s actually not that bad so far
Me: And he looks pretty good in his trunks
I watched the world go by for half an hour with a cold glass of Vinho Verde and a handful of stuffed olives and emptied my mind completely. The bar was in the corner of the square and shaded by a beautiful old church, with crumbling stone walls and a clock tower. When the chime sounded for quarter to five, I popped in to light a candle, then made my way to the Harbour Club. I could happily have stayed here for a week, a month, even; I just needed propping up on a sunbed with a stack of books and to throw my phone in the sea.
Fifteen
The exterior of the Harbour Club was grand enough, with its huge windows and elaborately painted tiles, but it was nothing compared to what greeted me inside. Sumptuously styled with modern art on the walls, grey marble floors and linen curtains blowing in the breeze, this place was next level. Well-groomed guests in designer sunglasses wandered past in clouds of expensive perfume and my imposter syndrome was in overdrive as the concierge welcomed me into the cool. I made a beeline for Leo, who was sat waiting in the lobby. He looked straight through me at first and it was only when I was stood in front of him waving that he did a double take.
‘Hey! Didn’t recognise you there for a second. Nice dress.’
‘Thanks. It’s my newAzorean ladylook,’ I said, with a chuckle. ‘Not my regular choice.’
‘Luck be a lady, eh?’ His eyes swept me up and down. ‘Suits you.’
I felt myself blush and rifled around in my bag, pretending to look for something, but all that was in there was dirty washing. ‘Shall we check in, then?’ I mumbled. ‘I’m desperate for a shower.’
‘All done,’ Leo said, handing me a key. ‘You’re directly above me, so keep the noise down please.’
‘I’ll do my best. You must need a lot of beauty sleep for that pretty face.’
‘You think I’ve got a pretty face?’
I blushed again. ‘No…’ I stammered. This dress was knocking me off kilter.
‘Charming. Well, can you bear to look at it over dinner tonight or have you had enough of me for one day? I totally understand if you’d rather order room service.’
‘Oh, yes, there’s an idea. I mean, no. I mean, it would be a shame not to eat in the restaurant, wouldn’t it?’Why was I getting so flustered?He wasn’t asking me out on a date, for goodness’ sake. We were just two colleagues, tworivalcolleagues, on a business trip who needed to eat. It waswork– and bloody hard work at that.
Leo looked confused. ‘You lost me with all those double negatives.’
I took a breath and spoke slowly and deliberately. ‘Yes. We should have dinner in the restaurant.’
‘Agreed. Separately? Or on a table for two?’
I rolled my eyes. He was infuriating. ‘Together is fine.’ I wasn’t used to being project-managed – usually it was me booking and paying for everything for Heidi and for the clients, and the team. And with men, now that I thought about it. Those half-hour dates didn’t schedule themselves.
‘It’s a date. I’ll see you on the roof terrace at eight.’
He sauntered off and left me panicking in reception. A date?Was it?I’d never been very fluent in ‘man’ language.Man-guage. I always took things the wrong way or laughed when they were trying to be serious. This was the problem with all my three-month relationships, I rarely got close enough to a guy to truly understand what he was on about and the more it continued, the less I bothered trying. What was the point?
I made my way up to Room 602 and nearly cried with joy when I walked inside. It was light and bright and HUGE. The balcony doors were already open, and a cool breeze rippled through the curtains. At last, some fresh air on my hot, sweaty forehead. I stripped off in the doorway and jumped straight in the shower, which was a full-on sensory experience, with wall jets and multicoloured lights, each one a different scent. Never had water felt so good. I wrapped myself in the fluffy bath towel and sat out on the balcony, watching the sun set, feeling snuggled and rested and like I’d been to a spa. It would have been rude not to crack open the complimentary half-bottle of Moët, and as I took my first sip I doubled down on that chilled-out holiday feeling: relaxed, excitable, and looking forward to a night out. I hadn’t realised how stiff and swollen my body had been feeling, and it was such a treat to know I could just stop and relax. I swapped my towel for a robe and slippers and spent a full hour luxuriating in my suite, lying against the stack of feather pillows with my champagne and staring out at the ocean. I’d pop down for some dinner, then come back up and jump in the Jacuzzi. This was the life.
