Chapter Four Ella
Chapter Four
Ella
‘I need off this flight,’ Zola said, squeezing her hands together in anticipation.
I laughed. ‘Me too! Do we have the email with the details about where we’re staying? It’s somewhere near the Hudson, One Hudson Yards, I’m sure.’
‘Aw, who cares! Just get me off this plane and let me explore!’ Katy said, adding in her best Italian-American accent, ‘I need pizza!’
‘OK, ladies. Thank you for travelling with American Airlines. You will be first to disembark the flight today,’ a smiling air hostess said, as both my friends stormed past her towards the door.
‘Thanks,’ I said, laughing. ‘First time in New York.’ I nudged my head at them as they scrambled to get out the door, and she laughed back.
We headed through passport control, collected our luggage, made two trips to the overcrowded bathrooms and then we were finally ready to leave Newark airport.
‘The taxi rank is out this way.’ I pointed towards a sign above the busy terminal door.
Zola was already fanning her face as we tried to figure out the airport signposts; the September heat in New York was blazing compared to the drizzly Scottish weather we’d left behind.
‘Guys, look!’ Katy bellowed. ‘It’s our names!’
I glanced across to where she was pointing at a tall man in a black suit holding a sign that read: Miss Ella, Miss Zola and Miss Katy.
‘Oh my God!’ I screeched as we headed over to the driver. ‘Hi!’
‘Hey, girls. Need a ride to Hudson Yards?’ His smooth American accent made my stomach flip in excitement.
‘Yes, please! But tell me you have air conditioning in your car?’ Zola asked.
‘Why of course, ma’am. Let me take your case. I’m Leroy.’
Leroy took hold of Zola’s bright leopard-print case and headed out the door. We followed behind him, dodging between the chaos of travellers coming to and from the airport. After a few minutes, he stopped at a sleek black limousine.
‘This is us. You girls get settled and I’ll sort your bags.’
‘Thanks, Leroy,’ I replied, opening the car door.
‘You’re the best!’ Katy added, following behind me.
When Zola shut the door, we silent-screamed together in the back of the car.
I’d never been in a limo – well, apart from my eighteenth bitch bus, but it wasn’t like this.
This exuded class, with its mini fridge, dimmed lighting, plush black leather seats and tinted glass windows.
I couldn’t help but wonder how we’d gotten so lucky to be here, with all our expenses paid in such style.
Finally, Leroy took a seat behind the wheel and turned to us. ‘Y’all ready?’
‘We were born ready, Leroy!’ Katy replied cheesily, making my toes curl, and Leroy set off.
‘You always have to take it too far,’ Zola teased. ‘We were born ready!’ She mimicked Katy’s voice, and together we laughed hard in the back of the limo.
The journey continued, and as my friends experimented with every electrical device in the car, I rested my head against the window, enjoying the views as we passed through New Jersey’s industrial side, with its giant shipping containers and oil tankers.
I was working out the time difference back home and wondering what Philip would be up to.
It felt strange to have this vast exciting opportunity and not to be able to share it with him.
‘Guys, look!’ Katy gasped.
The road had curved, and suddenly out of nowhere the skyline appeared.
It was like something out of a dream – glass buildings so tall they were disappearing into the clouds.
The view grew sharper as we drove towards it, and the girls pointed and squealed at every iconic building they spotted.
It felt less like we were approaching a city and more like it was drawing us in.
Into the city, the chaos, the hustle, the opportunities.
Then darkness swallowed us as we glided through a long tunnel.
I clutched my friends’ hands as we huddled together, waiting for what was next.
And then the light appeared again – and the skyscrapers were everywhere, soaring above us.
People hurrying along the streets heading to work, tourists snapping photos of every street sign, lamp post and traffic light.
‘Wow,’ Zola whispered.
We drove along in awe as the sights of New York surrounded us. I was here, in America, with my two best friends. I felt a surge of emotion – maybe because of the jet lag, maybe because of Philip, or maybe because the energy of New York had immediately stolen my heart.
Leroy eventually pulled over at the front of an apartment block and turned around to us. ‘One Hudson Yards. Ladies,’ he said with a wink. ‘Signed, sealed and delivered.’
My jaw almost scraped the ground. We were at a mountain of glass teetering into the sky.
‘Our apartment is here?’ I asked. ‘In this building?’
Leroy laughed. ‘Yes, ma’am. Mr Jimmy owns the building. He likes his guests to travel and live comfortably.’
‘Jesus Christ,’ Zola snorted, scrambling to get out of the car for a better look.
‘Is Mr Jimmy single?’ Katy joked under her breath, taking it all in.
‘You girls get yourselves to the reception, and I’ll have the concierge bring up your bags,’ Leroy said, sensing our impatience.
‘Thanks, Leroy,’ Katy said.
Together, we headed into the apartment block, the doors opening for us as two men dressed in maroon suits stood by.
‘Welcome to Hudson Yards,’ they greeted us.
‘I will never get over how cool the accent is,’ Zola whispered as we approached the reception desk.
‘Zola, Katy and Ella, I’m guessing?’ the bubbly young receptionist said, handing us a small envelope. ‘You’re on the thirty-first floor. Here are your key cards. Someone will be on the desk twenty-four-seven if you need anything.’
‘Amazing, thank you,’ I replied.
‘Your elevator is just on the right,’ she added.
I turned to see Zola and Katy bumping into one another as they bolted towards it.
I followed, stepping inside and pressing the button for the thirty-first floor.
The doors closed over, and we all stared at one another in anticipation.
My stomach swooped as the elevator rose, climbing higher and higher.
I’d never been in a building with so many floors before.
‘How is this happening to us?’ I asked, completely at a loss for any other words.
‘Because we are badass bitches who deserve it?’ Zola tutted.
‘Yep, so we better be badass business bitches,’ I said. ‘I tweaked the pitch on the plane, and revamped the slideshow, so we have to go over everything tonight. Make sure it’s perfect for tomorrow.’
The lift pinged and Katy ran out as soon as the doors parted enough to let her through. I was expecting to step out into a corridor of identical doors; instead, our feet met the floor of a huge, immaculate apartment.
‘Wait, this lift is literally inside an apartment,’ Katy said. ‘Does that mean . . .’
‘This is our fucking gaff!’ I screeched.
Vast walls of white and gold marble filled the space. An open-plan kitchen and living room stretched across the floor, and light flooded in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, showcasing a stunning view of the Hudson River.
‘What the fuck!’ Zola’s jaw was still hanging wide.
‘I bags this as my room!’ Katy’s voice echoed as I followed her happy yelps of delight and found her bouncing on a huge bed. I turned the corner to find two more bedrooms.
‘I’ll take this one,’ I said, smiling as I took in the view of the skyline.
Everything seemed so perfect, almost like we were in a film.
I took out my phone and snapped a picture, then felt a stabbing pain of sadness, realising I couldn’t share this moment with the one person I wanted to.
I wondered if Philip had thought about reaching out, if he missed me.
Zola suddenly yelled out. ‘I got a walk-in wardrobe, bitches!’ she boasted, and we ran in to see.
Flabbergasted and exhausted but ecstatic, we slumped down on the floor of Zola’s pristine walk-in wardrobe.
‘Should we order in food and load up the PowerPoint for tomorrow?’ I suggested.
Zola nodded. ‘If we nail this pitch, God knows how many times we’ll get to come back to this place.’
Katy’s phone pinged from her back pocket and she lifted it out, smiling at the screen.
‘You guys don’t really need me for prep work, do you?’ Her voice was quiet and sweet, as if she was up to something.
‘We actually do, babe,’ Zola replied. ‘Why?’
‘Of course we do, Katy. We have a full pitch to get down,’ I added. ‘It’s lock-in time.’
‘Because I’ve kinda got a date. But, I mean, it would only be for a couple of hours. I swear I’ll be back and ready to do whatever work you want me to do tonight!’
Katy grinned widely, as Zola pushed her playfully.
‘We haven’t even got our luggage yet, and you’re seriously already thinking about your hole!’ I replied, giggling.
‘Look, I promise I’ll be back by eleven, ten even, but I’ll definitely be back with more than enough time to go over everything. Deal?’
Zola looked at me, trying hard not to smirk.
‘Ugh, fine!’ I moaned. ‘But seriously, don’t fuck up, Katy. This is such a big deal!’
‘Urgh, as if!’ She tutted. ‘But I can’t promise I won’t get fucked, because I’m young, free and single!
And I’m in New York City, baby!’ She lifted her top, flashing us her small, neat tits and jiggling them about till we were laughing and squealing so much we were soon hysterical in Zola’s luxurious walk-in wardrobe.