Read Online Forty Shades of Pearl by Arianne Richmonde - Free Book Online
Authors: Arianne Richmonde
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punch. I’ve wolfed down my Eggs Benedict and I’m ready for my third drink. This is unusual for me – I don’t usually have more than a glass or two of wine.
I can hear my words slurring, morose pessimism thick in my voice. “Why do you think I haven’t dated all this time? It’s too raw, too painful, that’s why.”
Daisy is married with a child. She has forgotten what it’s like out there. She’s looking fresh-faced and jolly; her husband has taken her daughter, Amy, to the park for the day and Daisy has a few hours free. Her dimpled cheeks and curly red hair make her look like a grown-up Annie.
“Bollocks!” she exclaims. “You’ve been locked away at work and have not even given dating a chance. Anyway, it sounds like this Alexandre guy is into you.”
“That wasn’t my brother’s opinion.”
“Yeah, well, this happens every week. After you’ve spoken to Anthony you always seem to want to slit your wrists.”
I say sarcastically, “I haven’t noticed that.”
“Families – often they do more harm than good. Take what he says with a pinch of salt. Look, Alexandre fondled your thigh, kissed your hand like some romantic, courtly knight from the Medieval Age. Come to think of it, isn’t that his last name? Knight?”
“Alexandre Chevalier.”
“Exactly. Chevalier means knight in French.”
“That’s right, I’d completely forgotten that. My French is pretty poor. I can speak some Spanish, though.”
“Listen, he took you away for the whole day, treated you to everything, including a beautiful lunch at that fancy resort.”
“But that doesn’t mean he finds me sexy.”
“If you looked like the back end of a bus, believe me, Pearl, he wouldn’t have bothered. He must be interested to have invested a whole day with you. Men are basic. They don’t do favors, they do what they feel like doing.”
“I’ll tell you something interezz- ting,” I slur, the Bloody Marys making me bold. “When he had his hand on my thigh, I thought I saw a big rock in his jeans. I assumed it must be his wallet but later, when I looked again, after he’d taken his hand away, it had gone down. Could be my imagination—”
“You see? He had—” – she lowers her voice and looks about to check nobody is listening – “-a hard-on when he touched you.”
“So then, why didn’t he ask to stay over? Or at least come in for a night cap? Or rather a ‘knight cap,’ ” I joke, tweaking my fingers in quotation marks.
“I don’t know. Odd behavior for a man in his twenties. But, apart from that, it does sound as if he really fancies you.”
Chapter Four
N early a week has gone by. No news from Alexandre. Such a bullshitter, giving me hints about inviting me over for a meal, going climbing again, et cetera.
I have thrown myself into work, re-editing some old projects I had put aside and doing massive amounts of research on all manner of controversial topics. I’m grateful that Natalie is away so I don’t have to fend off questions and nosey wonderings about why I am so quiet this week.
When I get home from work, Dervis the doorman is back from his vacation, his large Hungarian frame looking a few pounds heavier.
“You look relaxed, Dervis,” I tell him as he opens the door for me. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes, thank you, Mrs. Robinson. I just stayed at home but it was very pleasant. Very pleasant indeed.” I notice a sheepish look on his face. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Robinson. There’s a package for you. The new boy put it in the store room and I’ve just discovered it.”
“When did it arrive?”
“It had Mrs. Meyers dry-cleaning with it which was delivered last Tuesday so it looks as if it has been there for a few days. It came by hand delivery.”
“But it’s Friday today.”
“I apologize. Luke has made several other mistakes and has already been dismissed. He won’t be working with us anymore.” Dervis goes to retrieve a large, gray box wrapped in a white, velvet
I can hear my words slurring, morose pessimism thick in my voice. “Why do you think I haven’t dated all this time? It’s too raw, too painful, that’s why.”
Daisy is married with a child. She has forgotten what it’s like out there. She’s looking fresh-faced and jolly; her husband has taken her daughter, Amy, to the park for the day and Daisy has a few hours free. Her dimpled cheeks and curly red hair make her look like a grown-up Annie.
“Bollocks!” she exclaims. “You’ve been locked away at work and have not even given dating a chance. Anyway, it sounds like this Alexandre guy is into you.”
“That wasn’t my brother’s opinion.”
“Yeah, well, this happens every week. After you’ve spoken to Anthony you always seem to want to slit your wrists.”
I say sarcastically, “I haven’t noticed that.”
“Families – often they do more harm than good. Take what he says with a pinch of salt. Look, Alexandre fondled your thigh, kissed your hand like some romantic, courtly knight from the Medieval Age. Come to think of it, isn’t that his last name? Knight?”
“Alexandre Chevalier.”
“Exactly. Chevalier means knight in French.”
“That’s right, I’d completely forgotten that. My French is pretty poor. I can speak some Spanish, though.”
“Listen, he took you away for the whole day, treated you to everything, including a beautiful lunch at that fancy resort.”
“But that doesn’t mean he finds me sexy.”
“If you looked like the back end of a bus, believe me, Pearl, he wouldn’t have bothered. He must be interested to have invested a whole day with you. Men are basic. They don’t do favors, they do what they feel like doing.”
“I’ll tell you something interezz- ting,” I slur, the Bloody Marys making me bold. “When he had his hand on my thigh, I thought I saw a big rock in his jeans. I assumed it must be his wallet but later, when I looked again, after he’d taken his hand away, it had gone down. Could be my imagination—”
“You see? He had—” – she lowers her voice and looks about to check nobody is listening – “-a hard-on when he touched you.”
“So then, why didn’t he ask to stay over? Or at least come in for a night cap? Or rather a ‘knight cap,’ ” I joke, tweaking my fingers in quotation marks.
“I don’t know. Odd behavior for a man in his twenties. But, apart from that, it does sound as if he really fancies you.”
Chapter Four
N early a week has gone by. No news from Alexandre. Such a bullshitter, giving me hints about inviting me over for a meal, going climbing again, et cetera.
I have thrown myself into work, re-editing some old projects I had put aside and doing massive amounts of research on all manner of controversial topics. I’m grateful that Natalie is away so I don’t have to fend off questions and nosey wonderings about why I am so quiet this week.
When I get home from work, Dervis the doorman is back from his vacation, his large Hungarian frame looking a few pounds heavier.
“You look relaxed, Dervis,” I tell him as he opens the door for me. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes, thank you, Mrs. Robinson. I just stayed at home but it was very pleasant. Very pleasant indeed.” I notice a sheepish look on his face. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Robinson. There’s a package for you. The new boy put it in the store room and I’ve just discovered it.”
“When did it arrive?”
“It had Mrs. Meyers dry-cleaning with it which was delivered last Tuesday so it looks as if it has been there for a few days. It came by hand delivery.”
“But it’s Friday today.”
“I apologize. Luke has made several other mistakes and has already been dismissed. He won’t be working with us anymore.” Dervis goes to retrieve a large, gray box wrapped in a white, velvet
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