Chapter 16 #2
“But.” She raises a brow. “You’re worried because working with Royce. I get it. Huge move.” She nods, and I find myself nodding back. “But I can put you more with the team and the new guy.”
“New guy?” I scrunch my nose and furrow my brow.
“You didn’t hear it from me, but Cowan Pierce is taking Kai’s seat.”
My eyes widen. “Shit, that’s who Creed was having a meeting with a few nights back.”
Nora nods.
“Well, I never…” My voice fades to silence, and I feel bad for Kai. This is what I mean, nothing is guaranteed, nothing is promised.
“Anyway, back to what I was saying.” She sits up and flays her hands around. “I can put you with the new guy. You’ll only see Royce on race weekend and even then, you won’t have much to do with him.”
I shrug. I have no idea what to do.
“It’s not just Royce…” It’s now or never.
“What do you mean?” Her furrowed brows etch into her pretty face.
“Creed and I kissed…”
“What?” she whisper shouts and reaches for her margarita, her head bobbing towards mine for me to drink. I take a mouthful the same time she does.
“Yeah.” I run my hand around the back of my neck and give it a squeeze.
“Fuck,” she mutters into her drink, and I nod again.
“And then.” I flick my eyes up to her and her mouth drops open.
“And then what?” She sits up tall. “Did you have sex with him!?” Her tone is high pitched, and I wince.
“No, but…”
“Spit it out, Ana?s!”
“It almost happened, I mean, that’s where it was leading until he stopped it… It’s for the best, I suppose. But I spent the week sulking because he never said bye, just snuck out.”
“Shit.” She shakes her head. “What a creep.”
Twisting my lips, I tilt my head towards my shoulder.
“So, yeah… it’s going to be awkward.”
“Fuck ‘em,” she says loudly, placing her glass back down. “Honestly, Clemmie, fuck ‘em. Their loss at the end of the day. Don’t let two smelly boys hold you back. I can work it that you see them bare minimum. I’ll put you with the engineers and the new driver. Be amicable, but don’t be any more than that.
Don’t let them make you not take the job…
I know you love it here and you love what you do, but you also loved being in the world of Formula One.
Please don’t throw it away because of what happened between both the Lexingtons.
” I see the way she is fighting off her smile.
“Stop it.” I roll my lips to stop my own smile.
“Come on, say yes… No more missing out on the race weekends, because, baby, you’re going to be up front and central.”
I mull over her words, fingers drumming on my thigh as my margarita hovers.
“Plus, the best part...”
“What?” I whisper, my throat constricted.
“You get to work with me.” She flutters her lashes and a bubble of a laugh slips from me.
“No, seriously, that… yes, but also, it’s your foot in the door.
New jobs are always coming up in this job space.
You never know, you could go for a PR job.
Don’t let this dream shimmer away… Be brave Ana?s, for once in your life, grab it.
Please,” she practically begs and I inhale deeply.
“Fine.” Excitement bubbles deep inside of me.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I laugh as she lurches towards me and pulls me in for a cuddle, my drink spilling everywhere as she does.
“Welcome to Saint Onyx, baby,” she screeches.
Shit.
Rue meets us at the apartment so we can get ready together and have a couple glasses of the champagne that she brought with her.
Alexandré calls us a car, and we pile into the back.
Sure, we could walk, but I don’t feel like walking in heels.
I have been in wedges or flats for most of the holiday, so wearing heels feels weird to me.
The drive is only short, and Rue and Nora are talking amongst their selves.
I am doing a photo dump of the last few days here.
“Fancy the beach tomorrow?” I ask, turning my head to face my friends.
“Sure?” Rue says, and Nora nods in agreement.
“Few hours before Nora has to hop on the plane home.” She sighs. “I don’t want to go back.”
“See, it’s Monaco.” Rue hums. “It has this effect on everyone.”
“Would you go back home?” Nora asks and she shrugs.
“Maybe one day, but for now, I have no reason to. I love it here too much.”
“I get it,” Nora and I say in unison.
“Would you move here?” Rue looks at me, and a wistful smile plays on my lips.
“Maybe one day,” I mimic her words and settle back in my seat.
The car pulls outside the restaurant, and we thank the driver. I climb out first, Nora follows behind me, and Rue slips out the other side. The driver passes me his card and wishes us a good night. I say bye before we stand outside Chez Pierre.
Nora suggested a couple, but they were the ones I went to with Creed. Honestly, I didn’t want to revisit them tonight.
We’re greeted and seated pretty quickly, and the place is busy. It has a nice ambience, and I find myself taking more photos than I normally would.
The waiter recommends a delicious white wine, and I only have one glass.
I’m not about getting drunk again. I order the goat cheese and spinach salad to start, finishing off with the filet of sea bass and asparagus.
Once dinner was eaten, we move to the bar where we have a couple of margaritas.
I text the driver and arrange for him to pick us up at eleven and we agree to go back to the penthouse.
Rue is going to spend the night, make it a slumber party to see Nora off.
I’m sad that she’s leaving, but I know I’ll be following her shortly.
“Have you decided what you are going to do regarding the job offer?” Rue asks me, switching her margarita out for a cosmopolitan.
Nora gives me the side eye, a playful smirk on her face as she sips on her cocktail.
“I have.” I nod, licking the salt from my lips then taking another mouthful. “I’ve decided to take it.”
Rue places her cocktail down and claps her hand excitedly. “I am so happy for you, I really do think this is the right choice.” She tilts her head and gives me a small smile.
“Thank you,” I whisper because I can feel myself getting choked up.
“I can come and visit, make a holiday out of it. It gives me a chance to see the world, too.” She blinks through glassy eyes, and I know it may not make sense because I have only known her a short while, but my life is so much brighter since she came into it.
I can’t even begin to explain how she makes me feel.
It’s like I have always known her. I never get that awkwardness around her, never a moment of painful silence.
The only silence we know is comfortable.
“I’m really going to miss you. Monaco wouldn’t have been this amazing if I hadn’t stumbled into your book shop a few weeks ago.” My chin wobbles and the lump in my throat is burning.
Swiping a stray tear away, Rue pushes from her stool and wraps her arms around me, pulling me in for a hug. “Don’t cry, you’ll start me off,” she whispers.
My hands rub up and down her back. “This isn’t goodbye.” My voice trembles.
“No, babes.” She pulls back and smiles at me. “It’s just a see you later.” She winks.
“Oh man.” Nora sighs. “You guys have got me right in my feels.” She stands up and wraps her arms around the both of us.
Settled back at the penthouse, we’re in our pjs and all snuggled under a duvet whilst watching Pretty Woman.
“God, I love this film,” Rue admits, stuffing her hand into the pot of popcorn.
“Me too.” I sigh.
“Me three. Edward is one fine looking man.” Rue and I look at Nora.
“What? I may or may not like an older man.” She shrugs as she eats a mouthful of crisps.
“So does Ana?s,” Rue snipes and my mouth drops open.
“Not necessarily, it was just a moment of weakness, a blip… a little slip down what could have been an extremely slippery slope.”
“Creed is very hot though.” Rue throws another mouthful of popcorn into her mouth. “I’m not even hungry yet I can’t stop eating.” She shakes her head in disgust.
“Fuck it.” I shrug, grabbing my own handful. “And yes, Creed is hot. But too hot to touch. Not worth the risk or the fallout.”
“Why would there be fallout?” Rue asks, turning to look at me.
“Because he is Royce’s dad, and it would just get messy.” I sigh.
“Fuck Royce, he broke up with you. Whom you date is none of his concern.” Nora reaches for her water and takes a large gulp.
“Unless it’s his dad, and then it is his concern, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think so.” Nora shakes her head.
“Anyway, enough about Creed. What about you, Nora, have you met anyone recently? Rue, any men caught your eye here in Monaco?” I aim the questions away from me.
“Zilch,” Rue grumbles and Nora stares at me as if I should know the answer.
“I was only asking.” I aim my answer at her.
She rolls her eyes.
“Slim pickings.”
“Oh well, at least we’re all single.” I shrug and sip on my drink.
“Now we all just need to find billionaires.” Rue sighs.
“Let’s drink to that.” I hold my glass out for them all to clink.
“Cheers,” we all say in unison and snuggle down to watch the film.
It really is the perfect evening.
I’m the first to wake. Tiptoeing out my bedroom, I leave Rue and Nora still sleeping. I get the coffee pot on and start plating up the pastries.
Nora is next, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Morning.” She smiles at me, tiredness still lacing her voice.
“Sleep okay?” I ask as I twist and pop the fresh fruit on the breakfast bar, next to the pastries.
“Like a baby.” She hums, reaching for a blueberry and popping it into her mouth.
“Good. Coffee?” I turn and grab three mugs then pour some fresh orange juice.
“Please.” She nods, stretching up then checking her phone.
“When are you heading back home then?” she asks the burning question, and I shrug.
“No idea, I mean, it’ll have to be soon seeing as Zandvoort is the next race.”
“Ideally.”
“Then maybe hope on the flight next week? Or…” She shrugs her shoulders.
“Or what?”
“Come home with me this afternoon. Gives you a chance to get settled and over to head office.”
“It’s so soon,” I whisper, the reality of what I have agreed to do sinking in.
“I know, but you’ve got to come home at some point. And I think now might be the right time.”
“Right time for what?” Rue says as she walks towards us, one eye closed, the other squinting in our direction. Her blonde hair is messy, and she still has pillow creases in her face.
“Going back home.”
“Oh.” Rue’s little voice slips through the kitchen and my stomach knots.
“Yeah.” I hum as I push her a cup of coffee, passing one to Nora too.
“I suppose it makes sense for you to go home with Nora,” Rue says.
“That’s what I was saying before you woke up.” Nora nods as she takes a sip of her black coffee.
I pop the milk jug and sugar in the middle then place the plates down. Adding milk and one teaspoon of sugar, I stir my coffee and then take a mouthful.
“I can get you on my plane, no problem. It’s the Saint Onyx plane anyway, so it won’t be an issue.”
I nod because I am not sure what to say. I feel conflicted. I knew I needed to go home, but at the same time, I wasn’t quite ready to.
“At least you’ll be here for the race next year,” Rue says slightly hopeful.
“I suppose.” I nod, taking another mouthful of coffee. “You’re gonna come visit, right?”
“Right.” She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes like it normally does.
“Anyway, tuck in.” I wave my hand above the food then pass the plates out.
Once I have finished, I leave Rue and Nora in the kitchen as I start packing my bags. Nora was right. I may as well go home now and get settled instead of leaving it till last minute and then have to rush.
Folding my clothes and placing them in my case, I look out to the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the small town. The sunshine is tucked behind the clouds, the blue sky a mix of white and darker blue. Inhaling heavily, I continue packing up my room.
After a tearful goodbye, I pull Rue in for one last hug.
“Text me when you land,” she says softly, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“Promise.” I smile as I wrap my fingers around my suitcase and walk into the hallway. Nora is already by the lift and Rue follows me out.
Locking the penthouse, I move towards where Nora waits. Apprehension swirls in my stomach and I hate not knowing what I am going back to. Nora was right though; this was my foot in the door to make something more of myself.
We ride the lift in silence and once I am in the main lobby, I walk over to the front desk and hand over the key. They thank me and wish me safe travels.
Passing Alexandré, he tilts his hat and gives me a soft smile.
“Au revoir, Madam Ana?s.”
“Au revoir, Monsieur Alexandré.” He stands a little taller before walking us to the waiting car.
Rue stands on the steps, fresh tears pricking in her eyes and I can feel my own lump growing in my throat.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter as a tear rolls down my cheek and I pull her into my arms. “We will speak every day.”
“Of course we will.” She squeezes me extra tight.
Pushing away, I give her one last smile before her and Nora say their goodbyes. I climb into the car as the driver pops my suitcase into the boot and I snap a selfie of the tears that line my lids and post it. Saying goodbye never gets any easier, thank you Monaco for the amazing memories.
Sliding out the app, Nora slips in beside me and gives me a smile.
“Ready for your next adventure?” she asks me as the driver climbs in the car and starts the ignition.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I admit as the car rolls and Rue stands, waving us off into the distance.
I already miss her and Monaco.
It’ll forever have my heart.