The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (19 page)

Back in the car I slide my phone from silent to accessible and I notice a missed call from my sister Suzie. I click her number, sending my phone automatically into dial mode and crunch the car into gear - I needed to head back to work. Within seconds her bubbly voice echoes through the hands-free system.

“Hey Lulu. Where you at?”
“I’ve just left The Ashton and guess what? We got it. Yay!” I do the drum roll noise our Dad always did when we were kids and continue with my mini tune.
“We did it, we did, we won it, we won it! Who’s the mama, who’s the mama?” Attempting to complete a little victory dance in my seat, I move my shoulders up and down as best as I can without crashing the car. I can hear her laughing at the thought of how I must appear to the other drivers in my near vicinity.
“Ha ha. I can’t breathe! You’re off the wall. Well done chickadee - Didn’t expect anything less from our very own Kelly Hoppen.”
“Thanks Suze. Seriously though I was pretty confident with this one but the pressure was on. It’s a
lot
of money and will really boost the Elysium name and coffers. Anyway enough about me how’s things at your end?”
“I’m ringing to see if you’ll work your creative magic over the house, for Saturday night? I’m thinking 80’s theme – what do you think?” Her voice becomes more babyish the more she goes on with her begging.
I roll my eyes and grin to myself; she knows I can’t resist the
baby
voice. “So what you’re saying is I’ve got four days to pull a fabulously 80’s - themed decor out of my arse – on a budget I presume?”
“You got it,” she responds tentatively. I can practically see her pretty pout down the phone.
“OK, but only because it’s you. Do you have any decorations already we can work with?”
“Well I’ve got some bits but I’ll get you some cash for the rest. Just let me know.”
“Ok. I’ll have a look into it. I might have some props left over we can adapt to suit.”
“Why don’t we just go with the neon 80’s colour palette and then it doesn’t have to be too literal? That way we have current music and NO fancy dress! I mean it Suze!”
I say the last few words, very firmly as Suzie is a dress-up kinda of girl, even if the rest of us aren’t. I’d made the mistake of looking for something in their guest room wardrobe once and the clothes stashed in there would put a sex shop to shame. Nurse, Police, Fireman - pretty much all the emergency services actually, with the odd quirky character thrown-in. Maybe a Smurf, if I remember rightly? Say no more. I’m scarred for life.
“I can nip to the wholesalers on Thursday night to grab some napkins, cups, etc. and if we keep it simple, the
short-notice
of it all will not be glaringly obvious.”
“Sounds fabby. I knew you’d know what to do. Anyway I’ve gotta go – Gino is demanding that I accompany him to some dull-as Sales drinks do! Gotta go wear my shortest dress for him to attain this new potential investor. Lucky me. Love ya!”
“Bye Hun.” I chuckle and shake my head disconcertingly, at the seedy thoughts in my head from her scene setting. Gino’s usual dress code for women was
dress slutty
but I loved him none-the-less. He loved my sister unconditionally and wholeheartedly, placed her on a diamond-encrusted pedestal everyday and that was good enough for me. His good looks and charm worked on most of the female population but he only had eyes for Suzie. I would love to have half of what they had together.
 

No sooner have I ended the call, the
House of pain
ringtone starts to
jump
again but taking a quick glance, I don’t recognise the landline number flashing up on the screen.
“Elysium Interiors. How may I help you?” I answer trying to sound proficient, switching from laughter to businesslike in a nanosecond.
“Is that Lucia Myers?” a rather snooty female voice enquires.
“Yes that’s correct. To whom am I speaking?” I do try not to sound waspish in return but fail miserably. I can’t do with snooty callers; they irritate the hell out of me. Let’s hope it isn’t an Ambulance chaser or Payment Protection mis-selling call.
It’s none of the above.
“This is Sebastian Silver’s PA and I’ve been asked to call you with a quotation for The Ashton Hotel.”
“Oh hi. Wow, that was quick.”
He must have sorted things the minute he left me. It’s been 15 minutes at the most.
“Well, Sebastian – I mean Mr. Silver, does like to work effectively. I have already e-mailed you the quotation and a purchase order to sign, however he wanted me to call you with the numbers- apparently this job is
very last minute
.”
I pick up on her disapproval. It’s obvious that’s she is inferring that
I
am disorganised, not Sebastian. I immediately get a full on visual of him, he really is considerate and despite my annoyance at him, I cannot help but respect his own efficiency. She continues on in her rather patronising voice, and feeds me some figures, which sound OK, whilst I do my own sums. I am very aware that I’m more annoyed that Sebastian has a female PA who seems to act like she knows him more than I do. I thought Sebastian had said his PA was called Tony anyway?
Putting my professional
butter wouldn’t melt
voice back on, deliberately killing her with kindness, I respond.
“Ok, thanks for that. I’ll be sure to forward these on to my client to confirm and if you could inform Sebastian that I’ll be in touch with my decision.” I revel in that last snippet, knowing that this woman will probably be annoyed by it.
“I would much rather you contact
me
with the purchase order so that
I
can inform Mr. Silver. We have a very close relationship!” Her voice is sharp and official. I dislike her even more. Should that not be
working relationship
? I choose to rise above it.
“No problems, I’ll do both.” Ha, silly mare. I can play you at your own game.
“Right. Good. Well thank you Ms. Myers. Just ask for Toni, with an
i
, when you call.”
She doesn’t wait for my response. The line goes dead.
Of course she would be a chick, with an
i
at the end of her name; I wouldn’t expect anything less from Sebastian. So
this
is the infamous Tony - sorry Toni with an
i
. I’m surprised how annoyingly niggled I am by the fact that
he
is in fact a
she
– she definitely had obvious designs on Sebastian. Women’s intuition was an amazing superhero power; it even worked down a phone line!

Later that night I’m cuddling up watching the fabulous animated movie,
Despicable Me
for what feels like the hundredth time; Steve Carell’s accent is really amazing throughout. Finn’s boneless body is sprawled all over me and relaxing I take a moment to re-live the day’s events. I’ve not really had the opportunity to relive today’s events at The Ashton. I am aware that given 1% less stubbornness, Seb would have had his wicked way with me, then and there, on the dusty wooden floorboards - the only worries filtering through my mind would have been splinter extraction.
 

Yes, just a smidgen more courage and we’d have spent the afternoon tousled in luxury Egyptian cotton hotel sheets, blissfully scratching this impossible sexual itch. I tingle at the thought but immediately that 1% rears its head and I’m thrown into
protection mode
again. Our
relationship
whatever that is, is extremely messed up at present. I’m not really sure what I actually want anymore from Sebastian. Is it really wise to mix friendship with sex?
We’d always just been Seb and Lu. Best mates, unequivocally. Now the main basis of our relationship was stilted and had been replaced with some serious sexual attraction that threatened the friendship that meant so much to me. Sebastian
and
Lucia was a completely new concept to me. The reality is that deep down, if I am honest with myself, I want both - friendship
and
hot sex and I’m not sure that’s possible.

Fumbling around on the floor for my iPhone, which alerts me that I’ve reached a new level on temple run, (bless my little lad, he is so good with technology but my phone is continually dying as the battery is eaten with crappy apps) I notice that I’ve received a text from the man himself. I purse my lips in thought. I haven’t heard from him since earlier at The Ashton and I’d been phone watching all night (loathe though I am to admit it). I’d wanted to thank him for the flowers but didn’t want to spoil the secretive illusion. Annoyed with myself at such indecisive behaviour, I bite my lip and read his message.

If I haven’t made myself clear I’d be happy to show you how sex should be done Lulu but be warned, I’m no Niall.
 

FBR Number 2: One night will not be enough for me to take you to new sexual heights - believe me you’ll want more.
 

 
One proposition = one month of pleasure.

 
This is non-negotiable x

My cheeks are on fire. I can feel bits awakening just at his words. Wow, he is good, and incredibly full of himself. This is already getting out of hand, it was only ever supposed to be one night - do I want more? A month?
 

Who are you trying to kid?

I punch out a quick message, hesitate briefly over pressing send, shake my head and just do it anyway and snuggle back down to watch Gru and his minions capture the moon.

Your wish is my command x

His reply flies through in seconds

I like the sound of that x