10
Sky High
The elevator doors opened out onto the fourteenth floor and they were immediately greeted by two men, both immaculately dressed in black suits, standing in the reception area.
Two women dressed in smart black trousers and backless halter neck tops stood behind an Italian marble front desk, which matched the rest of the foyer.
“Hey, Kuch, how you doing?” one of the men moved forward and shook Kuch’s hand.
“Great, man. glad it’s Sunday.” Kuch shook the other man’s hand. The women acknowledged Rosa and Nicole warmly.
“They’re all in there waiting – your usual table.”
“Thanks guys, see you later.”
The suited man who’d spoken to them opened up the heavy double door and Dani followed Kuch, Nicole and Rosa in.
Dani stood for a second, taking in her surroundings, her senses spiked.
The sound of the music pounded out its intoxicating beat and the lights were an array of ultra violet blues.
Dani could feel the music vibrating through her whole body, but that wasn’t what had her almost dumbstruck.
The club was huge, filling the top two floors of a fourteen story office block in the town centre.
It was set out on many levels and was predominantly white, which showcased the lighting perfectly.
The walls and the ceiling, predominantly made of glass, unveiled a picturesque panorama of the city.
Dani stared up – the sky was in full view, giving the illusion it was open air.
Definitely living up to the name, she thought.
Kuch made his way through the mass of people, to where the rest of his colleagues were already seated on sumptuous white leather couches. Most of them had made it. As Dani took in her surroundings, Kuch caught her expression and grinned. He leaned in to speak to her.
“Stick with us and you’ll wonder what you ever saw in that asshole. We’re gonna change your life.” He planted a smacking kiss on her cheek and Dani screwed her face up, embarrassed. “Come on, what you drinking?”
“What are you having?”
“I don’t drink. Well, rarely.”
“You’re kidding? A barman who doesn’t drink?” Dani couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice.
“Yeah I know. Hey, I just don’t need it. I’m high on life – can’t you tell?” he joked, gesturing to himself with a sweep of his hand.
Dani smiled widely. He was really trying to distract her from any troubled thoughts. She realised he was obviously in on the ‘getting Dani to forget the ex’ scheme. “I’ll have a tequila, straight – gold if they have it.”
Kuch nodded and placed the order with the waitress who was standing near him, then Dani had a thought and she clasped Kuch’s arm. “Shit, I’m driving. I’d better not.”
“I’ll take you home. Leave your car at La Casa and pick it up tomorrow.”
Dani twisted her mouth as she contemplated the idea.
“Lighten up. Let your hair down. Come on,” he coaxed and Dani smirked as he winked at her, then she nodded.
Jerome stood looking down from one of the private bars.
He had a bird’s-eye view of the club and was scanning the area when he spotted Kuch, Nicole, Rosa and Dani approach the staff table.
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the glass and chrome railing, narrowing his eyes as he tried to focus.
The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.
Dani’s shirt looked familiar – he was positive that Kuch had been wearing it earlier.
He felt himself stiffen. He knew Kuch was a terrible flirt.
In fact, that was one of the reasons he’d been taken on at La Casa – that, his mad skills as a barman, his genuine friendliness and his disarming good looks.
But the idea of him making moves on Dani made Jerome disturbingly uncomfortable.
As Jerome straightened up, he watched Kuch give Dani a hard kiss on her cheek, then after a moment he spoke to the waitress.
Jerome clenched his teeth. Shit! He really had no right to get riled.
He tried to think logically. Of course Dani was going to get hit on.
But he knew it was bothering him a lot more than it had reason to.
He paced towards the stairs that led to the lower level where the staff table was, and walked towards them.
“This place is unbelievable.” Dani spoke into Nicole’s ear. “Do you come here a lot, then?”
Nicole nodded. “Nearly every Sunday night.”
“Really? That explains the great service, then.”
Nicole smiled wryly and twisted her mouth. “Yeah, that and the fact my cousin’s the owner.”
“Wow! Yeah, that’d do it,” chuckled Dani.
“Talk of the devil and he shall appear.” Nicole motioned to whoever was walking up behind Dani.
Dani pivoted around to see who Nicole was beaming at.
Her heart stopped as her eyes narrowed in on Jerome as he strode steadily through the crowd.
Holy shit! The lights flashed across him and Dani couldn’t quite see if he was looking at them or not, but regardless, for a couple of seconds, she stood stock-still and openly gaped at him as he moved fluidly towards them.
Dragging her gaze away, she turned to Nicole. “This is Jerome’s club?”
Nicole nodded, grinning at Dani’s obvious surprise.
“And he’s your cousin too?” even with the loud music, Nicole could hear the shock in her voice.
“Yes.” Nicole looked past Dani and grinned wider. “Hey.”
Dani shut her eyes for a moment in an attempt to calm herself. Then with consummate practice, she turned around, replacing her stunned expression with a gentle smile.
Jerome’s eyes darted to Dani, then refocused on Nicole. “Hi, you made it. Didn’t keep Kuch waiting too long, then?” he joked as he kissed Nicole’s cheek.
“Yeah. It’s busy.” Nicole looked around the club.
“Not as busy as last night.” Jerome then looked at Dani, his eyes raking over her as she stood awkwardly. “Hello.”
“Hi, it’s an amazing club.” Dani blinked up at him.
“Thanks.” Jerome’s eyes locked on Dani’s as she spoke.
“I didn’t realise Nicole was your cousin too.”
Jerome’s mouth softened into a small smile. “Yeah, on my dad’s side.”
“Carmen is Jerome’s cousin from his dad’s brother. I’m from his dad’s sister,” explained Nicole.
“Oh. Big family, then?” Dani dragged her eyes away from Jerome’s to look at Nicole.
She huffed, “Yeah, you could say that.”
The waitress came over and handed Nicole and Dani their drinks. Dani grasped hers, desperate to knock it back. Jerome’s close proximity was making her giddy; she could feel her heart thumping in her chest. “Cheers.” Dani turned to Nicole.
Nicole lifted her glass in reciprocation and clinked Dani’s glass.
Dani took a large gulp of her drink, relishing the warmth in her throat.
Nicole started to talk to Jerome about some family member and Dani glanced around the club, watching the hundreds of clubbers dancing, and felt herself involuntarily move to the beat.
The rest of the table were talking animatedly behind them.
Dani could hear their laughter and turned slightly to see.
Her eye caught sight of Rosa, who mouthed “are you okay?” and Dani nodded.
Jerome noted the exchange and narrowed his eyes as he refocused back on to Dani, wondering why Rosa was so concerned for her.
“Hey.”
Jerome turned to his right to see who had interrupted his thoughts. Peter stood next to him and Jerome flashed a smile. “You made it?” he looked genuinely pleased.
“Yeah. Well it’s Carmen’s birthday after all, and I managed to get Angie to come too.
” He motioned to the attractive woman stood next to him.
She must have been in her early forties, roughly the same height as Peter, with dark brown shoulder length hair.
She had petite features, making her look younger.
She smiled up at Jerome as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Nice surprise, Angie.”
“Yeah, well I haven’t seen everyone for a while.” She waved at the table and everyone acknowledged her. “I’ll just go say hi.” She started to walk over to the table, when Jerome said.
“Let me introduce you to our new member. Dani, this is Chef’s wife, Angie. Angie, this is Dani.”
“Oh, pleased to meet you. Peter told me about you. How are you settling in?” Angie shook Dani’s hand.
“Very well, thank you. Everyone’s been great.”
“Yeah, they are. Are you Italian too?”
“Er, no.” Dani’s brow creased as she replied.
“Oh, it’s just with your colouring… I just assumed.” Angie shook her head.
“Are you?” asked Dani.
“Yeah. I work with Cosimo, Jerome’s brother, the accountant.”
“Oh. You’re related, then?”
Angie laughed. “No, but I feel like I am.”
Dani grinned at Angie as she rolled her eyes.
“It was nice meeting you, Dani.”
“Likewise.”
Angie moved over to the table and started talking to everyone.
It was obvious she was well liked and it struck Dani that her reception was in complete contrast to Liz’s at La Casa.
The staff had been polite to her but then had pretty much ignored her.
Angie, on the other hand, was sitting with all the staff, comfortably socialising with them.
As they were all talking, the music stopped momentarily and the lights dimmed.
Then the first words of a song rung out which made the hair on Dani’s body stand on end.
The clubbers hushed to hear the lyrics, waiting for the final line of the refrain.
When the singer sang “I can change your life”, the lights brightened and began to move in time to the beat, as the dancing clubbers threw their hands in the air, shouting and singing along.
Dani stood for a moment, swept away by the energy pulsing through the whole club, and felt overwhelmed by the significance of the lyrics.
“Come on.” Kuch grabbed her elbow. She turned to look at him. “This song is for you. Change your mood.” Nicole beamed at him and he winked at her.
Rosa came up behind her with Pino. “Come on, Dani, let’s dance,” she coaxed.
“Far East Movement, girl. Gotta love them,” added Kuch.