Chapter 7
Alex just got to the hotel with enough time to check in and dump his bags before having to collect his hire car and find his own way to the television studio.
Janet had offered to book him a driver for the few days he was away but he had declined, instead wanting to get behind the wheel himself.
He liked to drive and he didn’t get the opportunity much these days to drive himself anywhere.
The band was usually chauffeured to their destinations or they had a huge tour bus at their disposal.
He pulled into a parking space just before six thirty.
All he had to do now was find out which floor he needed, which didn’t prove too hard once he had smiled politely for a photo and signed an autograph for the night security who sat behind the welcome desk.
As the lift door closed he suddenly felt a little uneasy.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She hadn’t responded to the gifts or the email.
What had made him think turning up unannounced was the way forward?
The lift door opened; there was no going back now.
He might as well just ride out the storm.
Poking his head out into the corridor he tried to get his bearings, walking towards the glass doors where the only light on the corridor shone through.
As Alex opened the door he could hear her familiar voice as she talked on the phone.
Striding towards her purposefully he took in the sight of her as she swayed side to side on her chair.
The woman sat beside her saw him first. With her face flushed crimson she nudged Grace as she nodded her head in Alex’s direction. “Visitor, Grace.”
Grace swung the chair around to face a now madly grinning Alex. “Holy shit! Sorry, Mr Benson...No, sorry can I call you back? Thanks, no, just a problem in the office I need to deal with.”
“Well, that was some greeting!” He stood before her with his arms crossed across his chest, his feet planted firmly apart. He was smirking at how flustered she had suddenly become.
“Wha...why...erm, why are you here? There is nothing in the diary that says you were scheduled in today.” Grace began madly flicking through pages in her desk diary; she didn’t trust the computer one.
Placing his hand on top of hers, he stopped her incessant searching.
“I came to see you. You didn’t call me so I figured it was best to come and see you in person.
” He spoke softly not wanting to unnerve her further.
“You must be Sasha.” Alex held out his hand to greet the woman staring at him.
Before he knew it she had leapt from her seat and hugged him, almost cutting off his air supply.
“Okay...yeah. Hi, erm, do you think you could just loosen the grip a little? It’s kinda hard to breathe right now. ”
Sasha released him instantly, lowering her eyes as she apologised for her inappropriateness. “So you made it in time. I thought you were just gonna call her, not show up!”
Grace spun around to face her friend, confused by her last statement. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you tell me? Wait a minute... did you call him?” Grace was furious now, sure this was the only explanation.
“No, she didn’t. I rang you a few days ago and Sasha just happened to let slip when would be the best time to catch you at work. It’s me you should be mad at. I did all the work, not her. Now about that dinner date, I have a table booked for seven thirty if you wanna grab your bag or whatever...”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I am at work. I don’t finish ‘til eight.” Her state of shock was passing, now replaced with anger at the audacity of the man who stood before her grinning like a schoolboy.
“Okay, I’ll ring the restaurant and change the time. No biggie, babe.” Pulling out his phone he began to scroll through the list of recently called numbers.
“Did you just call me babe? Don’t bother ringing; I’m not free after work tonight.” She now stood with her arms firmly crossed over her chest in a very defensive stance. She wasn’t about to be a pushover no matter what.
“You’re kidding, right? I flew all the way up here to see you; I even booked into a hotel and everything. Please, let me take you to dinner.” Using his best puppy dog eyes he looked up at her through his long dark lashes.
Sasha shouldered her from behind. “You can’t not go if he flew up here especially, Grace! What’s wrong with you? It’s only dinner.”
Grace glanced between the two of them now. What was she supposed to do? He was mega famous and she had no idea why he was so interested in taking her to dinner. “I don’t have to do anything! You should have called first!” She turned to face the grinning idiot now.
“I did but you weren’t here. Oh, and I sent flowers, chocolates and emails, all of which you ignored.
What’s a man gotta do to get a date these days?
Look, I get it, I’m not stupid. You didn’t call, you’re not interested, but I did just fly up here to see you.
The least you can do is let me take you to dinner, please.
Then, if you want me to, I’ll leave you alone. Promise.”
She was lost for words. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go out for a meal with him, she just didn’t like being railroaded into it.
Besides, she probably wouldn’t hear from him again after, so what the hell?
“Dinner and then you will quit all this rubbish? Just dinner...but I really can’t leave ‘til eight.”
“Go. I’ll cover your shift. Go before she changes her mind again!” Sasha handed her coat over before almost shoving them towards the exit. Alex stood to the side, arms open wide gesturing for her to lead the way.
“I’m wearing jeans and flats!” Grace muttered in an unmasked tone. Hardly dressed appropriately for the sort of place she presumed he would frequent.
“So am I.” Alex didn’t even look at her, he just held out his hand for her to hold as he waited for the lift to arrive. Trying to hide her smile, she lowered her gaze to the floor as she took hold of his hand, entering the lift behind him.
As they entered the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, Grace came to an abrupt stop.
“I thought we were going to dinner? You definitely said dinner.” Feeling more than a little uncomfortable as she took in the elegant surroundings, the beautiful ironworks that swept up the enormous staircase and the marble pillars that stood all around were truly breathtaking.
Alex chuckled. “I did say dinner. The restaurant is this way.” Tugging gently on the hand he had reclaimed as soon as she stepped out of the car, he guided her through the archway that led to The Pompadour restaurant.
Grace began to fuss with her clothes, and ran her fingers through her hair trying desperately to make herself look a little more presentable. Damn him for not letting her change.
“Hi, I have a reservation. It’s Carter.”
The ma?tre d nodded his head in acknowledgement before signalling for someone to show them to their table. Alex bent down to whisper in Grace’s ear. “Stop fidgeting. You look fine.”
She knew he was lying. The only reason he hadn’t let her stop off at home was because he was sure she would bolt inside, lock the door and refuse to come out again. He was probably right. It didn’t help that she now felt grossly out of place and underdressed for such a grand place.
The waiter led them to a small table through another archway overlooking the castle.
After pushing in her chair for her, he handed them both a menu.
Alex asked the sommelier for his recommendation before deciding on which wine to order.
Grace sat there in stunned silence, pretending to study the menu; half of the stuff on it she had never eaten before.
Who the hell ate rabbit these days? And what the hell was foie gras exactly?
Sensing her unease, Alex felt a little stupid for trying to impress her to this extent.
This wasn’t the sort of place he normally went for but he was going out on a limb here, desperate for the night to go well.
“I don’t know about you but I thought I might have the scallops to start with and then the venison. You’re not a veggie are you?”
Grace laughed. “No, definitely carnivore but I think I may have the scallops and the sea bass if that’s okay with you?” She was sure she had read somewhere that you weren’t supposed to have fish for your starter and main course, but there was no way she would have eaten the veal or the venison.
“Why wouldn’t it be okay? Order what you like.
To be honest I’m not sure I’d like the other stuff on offer really.
” Grace was astounded at his admission; he must have got the chance to sample this stuff daily.
“What? I have simple tastes. They don’t serve this stuff on tour.
It’s usually pasta or meat of some description cooked in huge batches.
There are a lot of us to feed. I prefer my mum’s Sunday roast, actually. ”
It was true he had very simple tastes. Not only food but in most things in life. His parents had instilled good old fashioned values in him and they had stuck. He would never pick something purely for cost of because it was the done thing.
“Then why are we sitting in a posh restaurant in an equally posh hotel? There is a perfectly good Italian just down the road I could have taken you to.” She felt more uncomfortable than at any other time in her life.
Sat in the overly opulent surroundings she knew she was underdressed and out of her depth.
Her heart raced as she tried desperately to keep a check on her shaking, clammy hands.
“I asked you to dinner, remember, not the other way around. I wanted to make sure you had a good time. Maybe then you’ll let me see you again.” He shrugged as he peered down at his wine glass, swirling the deep claret liquid around the before lifting it to his lips.
Grace watched, mesmerised, as he swallowed, her gaze following the journey the wine took down his throat, her eyes stopping at the button of his shirt.
Noticing her avid attention Alex smiled broadly, winking when her gaze returned to his face.
Embarrassed at being caught admiring the view she quickly reached for her glass with one still very shaky hand, only to knock it over.
Grace watched in horror as the deep purple liquid flowed over the pristine white linen table covering.
Her hands flew to her mouth as she watched the wine cascade over the edge of the table like a waterfall.
“Shit! Sorry, I am so clumsy. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.” Her face flushed to almost the same colour of the wine. “Call the waiter over, Alex. I’ll pay for the damage and then leave you to eat in peace.” She was frantically mopping up the spillage when the waiter appeared beside her.
“Sir, Madam, if you wouldn’t mind just moving to the next table, I’ll get this cleared away in no time at all.” Grace hurriedly collected her things as she stood, not daring to meet Alex’s gaze.
“You promised me dinner. I’m not letting you leave now.
Come on, it’s a little spilled wine, no drama.
” He held her hand firmly, certain that she would run at any minute given half a chance.
Once seated he ordered more wine but asked for white this time.
“Just in case.” He smiled across at Grace who was still mortified.
Grace relaxed just enough to let out the giggle that was rising in her chest.
She had never been more relieved to have ordered fish when Alex’s venison arrived; she was sure it was still pulsing on the plate.
The blood seeped out of it when he cut into it.
She had to take a deep breath just to stop the gag reflex that was building in her throat.
Concentrate on the fish, Grace, she told herself.
The fish. It didn’t seem to bother him as he heartily cleared his plate.
The conversation flowed, with Alex soon putting her at ease.
He asked about her job, family and why she had moved to Scotland alone.
She answered with ease, amazed at how comfortable she was with him.
Every time she steered the topic around to him, he would answer quickly before turning things back around to her.
“Why won’t you talk about you? You keep avoiding my questions or just giving me one word answers. I thought this was a date. Isn’t then when you’re supposed to find out about each other? See if you like what’s on offer?”
“Everything about me is already out there, written in some gossip column or interview somewhere. It’s boring.
There isn’t really much else to tell you that hasn’t already been put out by my publicist, manager or so called friends.
” Alex reached to top up her glass again.
She covered the top with her hand as she shook her head.
“I’m a lousy drunk. I’ve had two glasses already, and it won’t be long before I start behaving really inappropriately.” Her eyes were already a little glassy looking and she had the warm fuzzy feeling all over. “Besides, you only had one little glass. You finish it.”
Alex shook his head. “I’m driving you home; I’ll have a drink later.
” He placed his hand on top of the one she had covering her glass.
She felt herself shiver at his touch. The sudden feeling of calm flowed through her veins, like nothing she had experienced before.
If this was anybody else she would not have drunk anymore but with Alex, well, for some reason she trusted him, deep down knowing that he would take care of her.
He gently lifted her hand away from the glass, proceeding to fill it until it was almost overflowing.
“Anyway, I might like a little inappropriateness.”
Grace smiled broadly before taking a cautious sip.
They chatted easily throughout the rest of the meal, both finally relaxing around the other.
“Thanks for tonight; I had a really good time. Who knew!” Her eyes grew wide as she hurriedly placed her hand over her mouth.
“Sorry, I mean I’m really glad you persuaded me to come.
Look, I can grab a taxi home, it’s fine.
” Grace stood to leave the table, and rummaging around in her bag she pulled out some cash.
“You can put that away. I’m paying AND I am taking you home.
Sit,” he ordered as he signalled the waiter to bring the bill.
“Can you charge that to my room please? I’m in the Caledonian Suite.
Thanks.” Alex stood to shake the waiter’s hand.
Grace was sure she saw him slip the man a hefty tip before he once again held out his hand for her to hold. “Come on, let’s get you home.”