New Encounters (11 page)

‘Bella, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pressure you. I just literally can’t stay away from you. If you don’t want to come then thats ok. I will just have to figure out a way to keep coming back.’

I can see the disappointment in his eyes. He looks hurt.

‘Robert, I want to come with you. I guess I am not explaining myself very well. I am just scared that we are moving so quickly. I feel like I am free falling from a plane, and I don’t want to hit the ground.’

He smiled ‘Bella, I feel the same. I am falling head over heels for you. I am worried as well. But I know what I want. I guess when I know what I want, I know no boundaries. We only live once, and if it feels right then we should just go for it.’

‘Yeah, your right Robert. Sod it.’

‘Sod it? How romantic Miss Stone.’

With that I laugh and we clink glasses and instead of cheers we ‘Sod it’.

Not sure how my friends will feel about this one though. But saying that, its nothing to do with them. This is about my happiness, about me and Robert. Wow, I am officially not me anymore I am a ‘we’.

After lunch, Robert suggests we go and look at some castles. I am delighted at this, as I have always loved history and seeing such beautiful buildings that were built so many years ago. Long before there was machinery to help, and long before builders took 4 hour lunch breaks and 5 coffee breaks. The castle is cold, and decked out with red plump furnishings. Old paintings that look like they have been painted centuries ago. Windows, that have lead cross patterns on them. Fascinated, I walk around consulting my booklet that tells me the history of each room.

We got to the second castle and I couldn’t help but try and stifle my yawn which Robert caught me in the act of.

‘I think Miss Stone, we need to go back to the hotel so you can get some rest before we go out for dinner tonight.’

‘Yeah, I think you’re right. I feel a bit tired.’ Not sure if I can rest much though.... lying next to Robert and all that, it will be a bit difficult.

When we get back to the hotel room, we both lie on the bed and Robert puts an old black and white movie on. Before I know it, I close my eyes whilst in his arms. The next thing I know he is gently waking me up.
‘Come on sleepy head, it’s time for us to get ready for dinner.’

‘Robert... I can’t believe I have fallen asleep. I never sleep in the day’

‘It doesn’t matter, if you’re tired then you must sleep. Anyway you are a lady of leisure now.’

I giggle and say ‘Oh yeah’

‘Right, I best go in the shower... are you coming?’

‘No Bella, we have 40 minutes to get ready. If I get in that shower with you, we won’t be going anywhere’

I don’t mind this rejection, as it was done in the most perfect way. I skip off to the shower and shout.
‘Where are we going?’

‘We are going into the city. There is a restaurant there with the best reputation, so we should go and see it for ourselves. Then we can go out for a few cocktails.’

‘Oh sounds great’

I was towelling myself dry while Robert was in the shower. I check my phone, and there is 2 messages from Ash.

*Did you get there ok? Ash x’

*Bella, let me know your ok? X*

I text back.

*Having the most wonderful time. Sorry been very busy haha. X*

Robert comes out of the bathroom. ‘Who are you on the phone to Miss Stone?’

‘I was just texting Ash back, I should have let her know I was okay but I had forgotten. ‘

‘What are you two like? Am I that bad that she is worried?’

‘We have been friends for many years Robert. We always check if we are both okay.’

He laughed and shook his head

‘Okay okay. Two peas in a pod. I guess by being with you I have to take on your life with every aspect. ‘

‘That you do Mr!’ We are both ready to paint the town red. Going to the restaurant was so quick, considering we are staying in the middle of nowhere. That is probably down to David and his amazing driving skills. The restaurant is true to its reputation and the food was delicious and light. After a few hours we go to a cocktail bar that the waiter has recommended.

Robert keeps his arm around my waist most of the time. In fact it’s like we are surgically attached to each other, but in the most fabulous way. A few large cocktails later we move onto a noisier venue. Women scantily clothed everywhere and they look fantastic. Robert doesn’t seem to notice, which makes my heart even warmer. However they do notice him and are casting evil eyes at me. He disappears off to the gents, and I stand trying to not attract any attention. But I always have to attract the biggest dickhead in the place. He sidles over to me and says ‘Alright hinny’.

‘Fine thanks’ I try to respond and turn away so that I don’t encourage him to talk anymore. He looks like he has had a recent fight, tattoos on his face and been drinking all day. ‘There is no need to be a funny bitch’

‘I’m not, I am just waiting for my boyfriend’.

‘Well, maybe you won’t be going home with him tonight.... maybe you will be going home with me tonight’. He grabs my arm too tightly, so I push him away.... ‘Back off’

‘Do you know who I am?’ Oh the infamous line, like we haven’t heard that before.

‘No, do you know who I am?’ I ask innocently. ‘Exactly.’ He tries to drag me away from where I am stood so I push him harder and shout at him to get off me. I haven’t even noticed Robert arriving before I see his left hand on the guys throat and he automatically let go of my arm. Robert slammed a punch into the guy’s face so hard that if it was a cartoon I would see birds flying around his head any minute now.

‘Robert, its fine. Let’s go’.

‘Aye... that’s right go off with your bitch. Before you get knifed up you fucking arsehole’

Robert slams another punch into his face and if he wasn’t holding him up by his neck the guy would be on the floor. I look up and there are a bunch of guys heading our way and they are armed with flick knives.

‘Robert, look!’

He looks up and laughs. Why is he laughing? Is this funny? I feel like my body has gone numb, and my legs are about to turn into jelly. Within seconds, there is a second wave of guys. Great, there are more of them. We are never going to make it out of here alive and yet Robert is laughing harder.

‘Who wants to play first?’ Why on earth is Robert antagonizing them? Then as I look again, the second wave of guys are armed with guns and have them placed on the back of each thugs head. Immediately they all drop their knives.

‘Steve, take Bella to the car please.’

‘Robert, come on’

But Steve has lifted me off my feet and moves effortlessly out of the club.

‘Robert’

‘I won’t be long Bella’

Steve puts me in the car and I try to get out, but David has locked the doors.

‘David let me out of the car this instant.’

‘No, I can’t do that Miss Stone’

‘David.... let me out’

‘I am sorry Miss Stone, but I can’t do that.’

‘Robert is in there, he needs to come out’.

‘Trust me Miss Stone. Robert will be just fine’

‘Trust you? I don’t even know you. For god sake’

I feel infuriated and scared all at once. I just want Robert beside me, he could be getting hurt in there. I keep watching the door and it feels like hours. But Robert is coming out, he looks so powerful. There are so many of the guys behind him and they escort Robert to the car before dispersing in different directions.

Robert climbs into the car and I grab hold of him.
‘Come here Bella. Its ok, don’t worry sweetheart’

‘Don’t worry. I have been beside myself. Look you have blood on your shirt.’ But its not Roberts, he doesn’t look harmed. He looked at the horror on my face and he took his shirt off.

‘I must have busted the guys nose.’ He threw the shirt out of the window and pulled me onto his knee and curled himself around me. He soothed me and rubbed my back, and I felt safe once more. As we pull up to the hotel David has taken his jacket off and his taking his shirt off.

‘What are you doing David?’

‘Robert, he needs a shirt to walk into the hotel with’.

‘Oh’. I turn away as I can see David looks awkward. I can hear Robert thanking him. We got into the room and Robert calls downstairs for a bottle of brandy and for the fire in our room to be lit.

‘You’re in shock Bella’. I feel dumbstruck and realise that I have barely spoken and that Robert has had to guide me to the room.

‘Sorry’ I mumble.

‘Sorry? Oh Bella.... you never say that word to me again. You hear me? You have no reason at all to be sorry. It was that.... that piece of shit.’ With that he clenches his fists and I take a step back. He immediately changes his aggressive stance and relaxed his hands. He walked over and wrapped his arms around me kissing me gently on my forehead he sits me on the bed. He leaves me and wanders into the bathroom and I just sit on the end of the bed. I can’t believe that all this happened tonight. We were having such a wonderful night out, such a giggle and it turned so violent. Robert returns to me and gets on his knees and undoes my shoe straps.
‘It was my fault’.

‘How did you figure that out?’

‘Well, he came over and came onto me. Maybe I should have been more gently when I turned him down’

‘Bella, that guy would not understand gentle. You did nothing wrong.’ He stands up and pulls me to my feet. Taking my clothes off, he picks me up and carries me into the bathroom. I can smell roses and he bends down and places me in the bath. I can hear a knock at the door and I jump.

‘Shhhhh... its ok...Its just the room service.’ He goes out of the room and I lean back. Robert puts on some soothing music and walks through with a large glass of brandy and ice. I take it from him and take a gulp, it burns as it hits the back of my throat. I feel as sober as a judge after tonight’s events.

Robert sits on the bathroom floor next to me and has one hand on his brandy glass and one hand on my arm stroking it.

‘Do you feel a little better baby’.

‘Yeah .... I do thank you. Sorry I was just shocked.’

‘Stop saying sorry. I am pleased you are feeling a little better. Let me check the fire then let’s curl up on the couch and watch a movies or something’

‘That sounds good’ I smile at him. He is so wonderful. So in charge of everything and in control. He thinks of everything.

I get out of the bath and dry myself. It suddenly occurs to me, who the hell were those guys that jumped in to help Robert? I pull on the big dressing gown courtesy of the hotel and walk through to our lounge.

‘Robert, who were those guys?’

‘What guys?’

‘The guys who had guns? The guys who jumped in to help you?’

‘Oh right. They are staff. ‘

‘Staff?’
‘I have a big team of staff Bella. Some of them are bodyguards. I deal with a lot of money and they are hired to ensure nothing happens to me.... or you now.’

‘Bodyguards?’ I can’t help but feel even more puzzled now. Was there nothing normal about this man.
‘Bella... its really nothing for you to worry about. Like I said, I deal with a lot of money and they are there to protect me and now you as well.’

‘oh’ I am not sure how I feel about this, but Robert is quick to poke our roaring fire and has a movie on the TV and has refilled my brandy glass in the blink of an eye. We curl up on the large couch and by the end of my second glass of brandy I feel slightly intoxicated.

‘Come on Bella, it’s bed time for you.’

‘Okay’ I can’t help the dirty grin on my face. He carries me over to the bed and places me on it gently. We start to kiss and I am taking his clothes off revealing his physique. I run my hands over his body as he takes off my robe and moves it aside. But tonight... we don’t have frantic sex. We make love, slow and delicious love.

CHAPTER 14

The next morning as I stir I can feel he is not beside me. I turn over and he is missing, so I sit up. There is a note from him on his side of the pillow.

‘Dearest Bella.

I am just dealing with a few business calls outside as I didn’t want to wake you. I will see you for breakfast when you are ready.... or maybe it will be brunch!

Love Robert x’