Chapter 34
LAILA
‘Joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie!’ Gabriel kissed me softly on the lips.
I rubbed my eyes then opened them slowly.
God, he really was so beautiful. Surely it should be illegal to look that good this early in the morning.
Not that I was complaining. Being woken up by an attractive man had to be one of the best ways to start the day.
‘That means happy birthday, right?’ I said.
‘Oui. You know a lot more French than you think!’ He flashed me an encouraging smile and my stomach flip-flopped. And I knew that was nothing to do with being hungry.
‘Merci, Monsieur!’ I grinned. ‘What time is it?’
‘Half past eight. I have organised breakfast for you on the patio. You can come whenever you are ready.’
‘Breakfast and an orgasm? That sounds like an offer I can’t refuse!’ I chuckled.
‘I am afraid that I have turned you into a nymphomaniac,’ Gabriel laughed.
‘Yep. When I came to Paris, I was an innocent single mum, then you corrupted me with your class-A dick. I thought Gabriel was supposed to be an angelic name?’
‘In case you have not already realised, there is nothing angelic about the things I enjoying doing with you,’ he growled and his eyes darkened with desire.
I was so tempted to pull him on top of me, but we could do that later. As stunning as this resort was, today we wanted to leave and explore more of the surroundings.
‘Yes, and I love it! Hopefully you’ll do more filthy things to me tonight. For now though, let’s have breakfast.’
When I stepped out of the bedroom, my jaw dropped. The hallway, living room and patio had been decorated with dozens of colourful birthday balloons and banners.
As well as a ‘Happy 41st Birthday’ balloon, there was also a ‘Happy 40th!’ one too. Then I spotted a personalised one that said ‘Joyeux Anniversaire Laila!’
‘When did you organise all of this?’ I asked, still trying to take in the attention to detail with the decorations.
‘I ordered the balloons a few days ago. You did not celebrate your birthday properly last year, so today is a double celebration of your fortieth and your forty-first. I put everything up when you were sleeping. Come. This is just the beginning.’
He was right. Laid out on the patio was a breakfast banquet fit for royalty.
The scent of fresh bread, buttery pastries and rich coffee hit me straightaway. There were baskets of croissants and pains au chocolat, baguettes, fresh fruit platters, a charcuterie and cheese board, plus a selection of fresh fruit juices.
‘Wow. This is a spread and a half! When are the other hundred guests joining us?’ I laughed.
‘We need to replenish your energy levels after last night and a queen deserves a breakfast fit for royalty on her special day. The restaurant can also make us pancakes, eggs or whatever you want. I wanted to wait to ask what you would like to eat before I ordered anything so it would not get cold.’
‘Merci beaucoup.’ I stood in front of Gabriel and wrapped my arms around his waist. ‘Honestly, I really appreciate this. It’s not even nine in the morning yet, and this is already the best birthday ever.’
‘De rien.’ He kissed me. ‘So what would you like? French toast? Pancakes? Eggs?’
‘Surprise me!’ I said, still struggling to take in the fact that I was sitting on a gorgeous patio with sea views and an epic breakfast that’d been organised by an incredible man. It still felt like a dream.
In the end, I ate a lot more than I thought.
Everything just tasted so good. Just like I’d noticed in Paris, the bread and pastries here were delicious.
I didn’t know whether they used different flour, butter or culinary magic, but the Love Hotel chefs knew how to make food that tasted like it was made by gastronomic angels.
It was going to be so hard to go back to eating supermarket croissants when I returned to London.
After my shower, I looked in the mirror.
My cheeks looked flushed and my skin had some kind of magical glow to it.
I remember reading an article years ago that said that sex increases the blood flow to the skin which gives you a glow that’s better than using an expensive make-up highlighter and I’d scoffed because that had never happened to me.
But today, I totally agreed. My skin looked… radiant. Who needed facials? A few orgasms from my hot Frenchman had worked wonders.
I dropped my towel to the floor and stared at the full-length mirror.
I ran my hands over my stomach and thighs.
Yeah, of course the cellulite and stretch marks were still there, but that was normal.
And actually, my skin was really soft, my thighs weren’t as flabby as I’d thought and my backside looked pretty good.
My boobs weren’t as perky as in my twenties, obviously, but they were still in pretty decent shape and judging by the way Gabriel was licking and sucking on them yesterday, he didn’t have a problem with them either.
Yeah, I said to myself as I did a little twirl in front of the mirror.
Not bad for forty-one.
Not bad at all.
After grabbing my phone, I looked at the photos I’d downloaded from the Love Passport folder link the hotel had provided and scrolled to the ones taken by the I Love You Wall. Gabriel was right. I did have a nice smile. And I looked good. Happy.
I put my hands on my hips and did a sassy pose, then whispered, ‘I love me.’ Then I remembered Gabriel mentioning that Lizzo ‘Soulmate’ song.
Once I’d found the playlist Gabriel made, I brought up the track then turned up the volume. When it got to the chorus, I looked in the mirror, smiled at myself as I repeated the words ‘damn, she the one’ and ‘yeah, I’m in love’.
I felt like a bit of a self-centred idiot in the beginning, but by the end of the song, I was fully into it.
‘Hell, yeah!’ I cried out. ‘I’m not perfect, but I’m a good person. I deserve happiness. I deserve good things. I deserve love. I… I love myself!’ This time I didn’t whisper. I said it loud and proud.
Warmth flooded my chest. I felt good. Better than I had in years. And it was all thanks to Gabriel.
He’d helped me to realise that I was worthy. That I deserved to think of myself and put myself first. Not in a selfish way, but in a way where I wasn’t always sacrificing my own needs. This was healthy.
I was going to continue this positivity and declare that I loved myself in the mirror every day until it became as natural as breathing.
I literally floated out of the bathroom, then asked Gabriel to give me a clue about where we’d be going so that I’d know what to wear. He told me it didn’t matter, so I opted for a plain blue dress I’d found at the charity shop in town.
Now that I was in the French Riviera, a place renowned for glamour and style, my clothes felt really out of place, but I had to make do.
‘You look beautiful as always,’ Gabriel said as I scrutinised myself in the mirror.
‘It’s not exactly C?te d’Azur chic, but it’s the best I have,’ I said, trying to stay positive.
‘Come.’ Gabriel took my hand. ‘We should go.’
As we walked to reception, I inhaled the beautiful sea air and admired the grounds as a gardener trimmed a hedge.
‘Should we book a taxi or a driver?’
‘Laila.’ Gabriel stopped and looked at me. ‘You do not need to worry about a single thing today. Let me take care of you.’
‘Oh. Okay!’ I smiled.
We continued walking for a couple of minutes and as we approached reception, I spotted a shiny black Ferrari parked up.
‘Here we are,’ Gabriel said as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a key fob.
‘Wait, what?’ My eyes widened like saucers. ‘We’re going in this?’
‘Oui.’
‘Did the hotel organise this?’ I frowned.
We didn’t have many customers with Ferraris at the car insurance firm I worked at, but you didn’t need to be an expert to know that this must cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Even to hire it would be a pretty penny.
‘Non. I did.’
‘But how? It must’ve cost you a fortune! I can’t let you waste this kind of money on hiring a car just for me.’
‘It is not a waste. You deserve this. And do not worry about the money. I did not pay to hire it.’ His voice trailed off and he avoided my gaze.
‘Then how did you get it?’ I knew I should just accept it and be happy, but I meant what I said.
I didn’t want him getting in to debt for me.
‘You don’t need to do fancy things to impress me.
I’d honestly be happy just sitting on the beach with some sandwiches.
Being together is the most important thing. ’
A huge smile spread across Gabriel’s face.
‘I can tell that you really mean that.’ He stroked my face and smiled again.
‘Course I do. Maybe if we take it back now, you can get a refund or something.’
‘I told you, I did not hire it. It is…’ He paused again. ‘It is nothing for you to worry about.’
‘Oh…’ I nodded. ‘You borrowed it from Nico, didn’t you!’ I slapped my forehead, realising it was obvious. ‘I forgot that you have rich friends. Seeing as he’s a billionaire, I suppose he has more cars than he can count, so he wouldn’t miss one for a day.’
‘He… Oui, Nico does have an impressive collection of cars.’
‘Well, it was nice of him to lend this to us. Can we call him later so I can say thank you?’
‘It is not necessary. Come. We should go.’
He opened the door for me and once I’d slid onto the fancy leather seat, I pinched myself. Seriously, this was so far away from my life in London I might as well be in outer space.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘Yeah!’
The roar of the engine made me jump. That sounded powerful.
Gabriel sped off and adrenaline shot through me. As we raced along the roads, I felt like I was living in an action film.
This was fancy as fuck.
‘Shall we take the roof down?’ he asked.
‘Go on then!’
He pressed a button and a few seconds later, the roof was tucked behind us. As the wind rippled through my braids and I took in the stunning sea views around me, I grinned.
Before I even realised it, I lifted my arms up in the air excitedly.
‘This is amazing!’ I shouted. ‘I feel like Thelma or Louise!’
‘The film where the two women drive off a cliff?’ Gabriel looked at me with a frown before turning his attention back to the road.
‘Yeah, but not like that. I meant the whole being in a convertible, feeling the wind, the adrenaline. I love it. Thank you!’
‘De rien.’
‘And you drive it so well. It’s like it isn’t your first time.’
‘I have driven it before,’ he confirmed.
‘Wow. Nico really is a good friend.’
‘We are almost here,’ Gabriel said.
Soon afterwards we arrived at Nice and Gabriel led me to a street called Rue Paradis.
‘Whoa,’ I said as I took in the fancy designer boutiques. ‘I’m guessing that Paradis means paradise in English, right?’
‘Oui. Why do you ask?’
‘Because the only way I could afford to buy anything from here would be if I was dreaming or a miracle happened and I woke up in paradise! I think this place is way out of my price range. Actually, who am I kidding? It’s not just these shops that are out of my price range.
It’s the hotel, this holiday, everything!
People who earn what I do don’t get to come to these places. ’
‘What if I said you did not have to work? That I would take care of you?’ Gabriel asked softly.
‘Come on.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘This isn’t the dark ages.
I’m an independent woman. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.
I don’t need to buy fancy clothes. And anyway, it wouldn’t feel right taking money from you – especially when you’re trying to get your app off the ground.
What did you say it was called again? I’d love to try it out. I’m sure it’s amazing!’
Just as Gabriel opened his mouth to speak, the phone rang.
‘Would you excuse me for one moment?’ he asked.
‘Course! Don’t worry about me. I’ll window shop.’
‘Ah, of course, I will leave you to lick the windows.’
‘Huh?’ I frowned.
‘In French, for window shopping we say faire du leche-vitrines, which translates as window licking in English!’ Gabriel chuckled.
‘No way!’ I laughed. ‘It’s pretty accurate though. Go on, you get your call. I’ve got plenty of windows to lick!’
I continued strolling down the street, thinking how lucky rich people were to be able to afford clothes as beautiful as this. Then again, I was sure that the vast majority worked hard to earn their millions so they deserved to enjoy their cash. I know I would if I was loaded.
‘Wow,’ I said out loud to myself as I stopped in front of a window and gawped at an orange silk dress.
‘Seen something that you like?’ Gabriel said as he came beside me then pushed his phone back in his pocket.
‘Yes. This dress is gorgeous!’ I pointed. ‘There’s no price though. Then again, as the saying goes, if you have to ask how much something is, you can’t afford it. Imagine being rich enough to just buy whatever you wanted. How the other half live, eh?’
‘You should try it on. It will suit you.’
‘Nah.’ I shook my head. ‘No point. I’d hate to try it on, love it then have to walk away, so better if I don’t.’
‘Laila.’ Gabriel placed his hands on my shoulders. ‘Try it on. Cassie sent me a list of shops and I am sure this was one where they get special prices. I will treat you.’
‘You’ve already done enough!’
‘Do you want to upset me?’ He crossed his arms.
‘Of course not, but…’
‘Then try it on!’
Reluctantly I went into the shop and when I tried on the dress, it fit like a glove. Like it was made for me.
But when I saw the price tag, my eyes flew so far out of my sockets, they could’ve landed back in London.
‘How is it?’ Gabriel asked from behind the door of the luxurious changing room.
‘Expensive,’ I replied.
‘Come out and let me see it.’
‘No, I can’t take it. Unless Cassie’s discount is 99 per cent off, there’s no way I can get this.’
‘Laila, let me see it,’ Gabriel growled.
I sighed, then reluctantly stepped out of the changing room.
When I did, Gabriel’s eyes bulged then darkened.
‘Oh là là, c’est tellement parfait!’ Gabriel beamed, before turning to face the sales assistant. ‘We will take it.’
‘But…’ I protested.
Gabriel fixed his gaze on me and his expression told me he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
I slid back into the changing room and put my old charity shop dress on. This couldn’t be more different than the silky material of the orange dress.
When I came out, Gabriel was thanking the shop assistant.
‘It is all taken care of. And do not say a single word. No mention of money or paying me back. Otherwise, I will be offended.’
‘Can I at least say thank you?’
‘You can.’ The corner of his mouth twitched.
‘Actually, do you think I can wear it now?’ I asked. ‘It is my birthday, after all.’
And let’s face it, when else would I get to wear something this stunning?
I returned to the changing room and slipped back into the dress.
It was amazing how one piece of material had the ability to transform my entire look.
I strutted out of the boutique, holding Gabriel’s hand, then slid back into the Ferrari looking and feeling like a million dollars.