Karen Aldous - The Chateau

He returned to his office and checked his laptop. He still hadn’t received a reply to his email. He wondered if Gina had seen it. Maybe she was busy. He’d give her a few more weeks but the option on the land in London had only two months left so, although he considered London a safe haven for his next investment and the property portals provided a huge amount of information, he would appreciate her input. It would also be an opportunity for her too. Not to mention an excuse for him to make contact.

Thomas wandered in removing his jacket and hard hat.

‘How would you feel about working in London, Tom?’ he asked conscious that it would be difficult with his family in Switzerland.

Thomas grimaced. ‘It wouldn’t be ideal but I have bills to pay.’

‘I’m spreading my wings a bit. London’s still a good investment,’ he told him as he watched Tom unroll a huge site drawing.

‘Well, you have to go where the opportunities are like me. I would prefer to stay with you.’

‘Yeah, we work well together so think about it.’

‘I’ll speak to Anna,’ Thomas said, nodding his head and spreading the drawing across his desk. ‘It’s all about schools nowadays.’

‘Oh, I completely understand. Yes, a bit different from when we started out and we could stagger round bars. Have a chat with Anna about it. Let me know,’ Ollie said, thinking how lucky Tom was. He certainly had a beautiful wife and super kids. He wouldn’t want to uproot them but wanted Thomas to stay with him.

Sitting back in his chair, staring at the screen, he had to admit it was always drink which made him brave. He had made a fool of himself being so drunk at the rehearsal and calling out to Gina. He’d probably completely blown his chances. He just wished he had a natural confidence with women. He was so inept, particularly with women he really liked. Why did it always go so wrong when he found someone that really stirred him? He could only conclude it all stemmed back to being rejected and, publicly humiliated, by Phoebe Barton-King in his first year at university. He’d been surprised when she’d agreed to go out with him. It had taken several drinks and a crass chat-up line to ask her. She’d been the girl all the guys buzzed around like bees around a honeypot, but she’d left a bitter taste after just four weeks. Just as his confidence was growing, she’d taken great pleasure in telling all his friends in the bar that he was the biggest and most boring dork she’d ever met. Adding that he was still tied to his mother’s apron strings. It was the worst moment of his life and for weeks afterwards he’d seriously contemplated suicide. Luckily, it was his mother who had got him through it.

Thomas called for a third time. ‘You’re miles away. Do you want coffee?’

Ollie stared up at his colleague. ‘Oh, er, yes. Sorry. Yeah, just thinking.’

‘Pretty deeply by all accounts,’ Thomas laughed.

‘Thinking how lucky you are. Having Anna and the children. It’s worked really well. Didn’t you meet her in that club we went to when we did my father’s site in Vevey?’

‘Yes. That was embarrassing. I’d met some other girl there the week before.’

‘Ha, that’s right. I remember she came up to you when you were chatting to Anna.’

They both laughed. Ollie had been finding his feet again around that time. Two other guys at the site, he and Tom had regularly enjoyed their nights out.

Thomas placed a mug of coffee on his desk. ‘Yes, my friend, you were quite the player then. What happened? Since Ella, you’ve not really been on many dates.’

Ollie thought he’d got over his fear. Picking up girls in clubs was easy. He was drunk, they were drunk and drooling. He didn’t care for them. Any really beautiful woman however, he steered away from. The Phoebe Barton-King incident had grossly knocked him sideways. He refused to approach a beautiful girl again. Labelled them all as cruel and up their own backsides. The irony was, the less sensitive he behaved towards the girls he did approach, the greater his success. He became the bad boy they all wanted.

‘I don’t know, it all became meaningless. Ella was sweet but…nowhere close to what I’m looking for, and what you have.’

‘God, I got lucky with Anna.’

‘You found the right person and you went for it. Clearly she is special.’

Special, that was what Gina was. And they’d exploded with chemistry. The attraction was strikingly strong, that’s for sure. He’d been brave enough with a drink inside him or perhaps just brash. Inevitably, he would struggle and he would have to risk humiliation. Surely he should be mature enough to deal with that. He rubbed his forehead. It was just his bad luck she was in a relationship. Long-term too.

His mind drifted as he closed He pictured her amazing dark chestnut hair, which happened to be his favourite colour on women. Thick and long with a soft natural wave flowing down her back. And the delicate bone structure shaping large green-blue eyes which smiled on their own, a pretty, slender nose with just slightly-flared nostrils which gave her a sort of wildness, sexiness even. Her aura bleeding a blend of confidence and independence, a quality that really turned him on.

‘Right,’ he said, shutting down his laptop. ‘I’m off.’

‘Can you sign off this before you go?’ Thomas brought him a sheet. ‘And I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘See you in the morning.’ He gave Thomas a swift wave and headed back to the centre of Montreux. He could, he decided, do with a quick beer.

He wandered along the lake path. He passed a statue on the edge of the lake: a door in just a frame leading directly in to the lake. He smiled. It never failed to amuse him. The lake path was strewn each year with a variety of art in several forms. He was curious as to the artist’s inspiration for the piece as he approached it. He’d intended to find out one day before it disappeared. Then, just as he peered away back to the path, thinking about stopping and reading the plaque beside it, a female figure grabbed his attention. It was Gina. She was strolling before him, deep in thought. He swallowed hard as his breathing raced.

‘Gina. I…I Would you believe it? Not five minutes ago I was just wondering why I hadn’t heard from you. How are you?’ He hovered throwing his trembling hands into his pockets. ‘Did you get my email?’

Chapter 6

Gina’s heart leaped as a man appeared in front of her. It took her a few seconds to register the speaker. She’d been thinking about her father. He couldn’t even pick up his phone and talk to her. She stared at Ollie.

‘Sorry, were you saying something?’ she asked him. Her heart pounding faster.

Ollie repeated himself.

‘Hi, yes. I’ve been busy. I had meant to reply. Bit of a family crisis right now. You’ll have to excuse me.’ She continued walking.

‘Can I help, Gina?’ he asked, realising he’d seen her father in a bar with a younger woman a few times and quickly figured this could be the crisis.

Gina gave him a tense smile. ‘I don’t think so. But thank you.’

‘You could try me. I’m finished for the day. I’m a good listener,’ he said as they both halted by the opened door to the lake.

Gina squinted at him pensively for a moment. A flutter shooting through her heart swelled blood through every vein. He looked adorable, her epitome of a man. But he was a persistent shit. His way or the highway. Not really the type of person you could call on when you needed a shoulder to lean on. She glanced at the open door to the lake. Should she share her private troubles with this man, this arrogant loudmouth? Oh, if only his eyes didn’t grab her like this.

‘It’s very kind of you to offer but I…’