Grace, Decadence & Lust,
It’s also known to be given, as a last gift to lovers when they end a relationship;
Let these symbolise your beauty. Don’t let this be the end of everything, Lu. S x
I can’t deal with this now - its all too much - and grabbing the rose box, I lift the lid and prepare myself for the strong, now familiar heady perfume of the deep, almost ruby black rose that rests within silver tissue. The diamanté pin in its head, glints as the sun hits it but all I see is a beautiful coffin; a grave of our relationship. The thick cream card nestles just underneath and looking up at the ceiling I consider whether to read it - can I put myself through more of this torment?
What more can he say?
With a hard lip bite, before diving in, I retrieve it and scan the scripted words.
I should have binned the bloody thing the second I saw it. I can’t be arsed. I grab my bag and say my goodbyes to Jackie before making my way out to meet Nathan for our meeting.
Time to face things head on.
The drive to The Ashton is filled with non-stop calls from the office and clients and I conveniently end the last call confirming my appointment tomorrow at The Gilded Fox, with Carolyn Walters, just as I enter Holdgate Village. Turning into the sweeping driveway, the gravel popping under my tyres like firecrackers, I sigh as I see my phone ringing again. It’s Nathan. I undo my seatbelt and click the hold button promptly. I’d be seeing him in a few minutes, so there was no point answering. I’m still not happy with him, but I know one minute in his amiable company and he’d be forgiven – providing he didn’t speak about his shite of a brother.
Debbie, James Marcell’s efficient PA, meets me in the foyer – she is a great tonic on a grey day; all efficient and perky and ten minutes later, I’ve caught up with her on few key points about progress on the design and building works within the hotel. James is away hunting at present, so I’m unlikely to see him around, which was a shame, as I wanted to thank him for my recent referral.
Who the hell went ‘hunting’ these days anyhow? I could definitely envisage him and Colin, in full dressage, astride a horse. Colin would ride anything, given half a chance.
Heading up to the Honeymoon Suite, the noise from power tools, growing more deafening as I near, I smooth my hands down my tailored crop suit pants. I’d made an effort today – to make myself feel better, I tell myself, but it was hardly site-wear. My Reiss black suit with fitted blazer was always a staple in my wardrobe and I’d paired it with a blush, barely there, silk blouse, huge vintage statement necklace and nude stilettos. My hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and make-up kept simple, with smoky eyes and nude lips; my glasses perched schoolteacher-like on my nose – hopefully they’d help me appear more in control that I am at the moment.
At the imposing and elaborate double doors, I pause, take a breath and enter. The site that hits me is chaotic. Workmen littered the room, calling out orders, moving materials and generally getting busy – that’s what I liked to see. I take a moment to get a feeling for the general state of affairs. Things were certainly starting to come together. I could see past the mess, grime and dust – I’d done it a million times. All I could envisage was the end product; the big picture. It wouldn’t be long before the carpets were going down.
I smile at one of the workers I’d met at the start of the job as he shyly nods at me, his mask in place. Danny was it? I can see two guys struggling with a chunk of heavy and intricate moulding, presumably produced and ready to be slotted into the corner of the immense suite’s ceiling, to fix the gap that currently exists. The fireplace is in and looks beautiful and bloody huge - all matt black and brushed pewter – just what I’d hoped for but the Italian marble fire surround is not there; I make a mental note to clarify its whereabouts. Nathan’s joinery is now in place, along the wall that houses the large Georgian windows and a wall-to-wall seating box rests there, like it had been for decades. But the bed is the piece de résistance. It was everything I’d dreamed of and more and once the fabric and curtains adorned it, the result would be majestic. I look up at the ceiling and can see that the cracks and water damage from earlier years had been repaired and re-plastered and the decorative ornate cornicing all touched up. They really had cracked on the past few days. I loved this part when you could see your baby start to take its first steps. The Silver Construction team, were nothing if not reliable and trustworthy – obviously not traits picked-up from their Boss.
“You came.”
I startle at the sound of a deep resonating voice behind me. I know that voice, would know it anywhere, it cloaks me in a thousand different emotions all at once - making me tremble deliciously and putting the fear of God in me for my sanity.