January
Craig Russell was in Finchbottom at the Hummingbird Shopping Centre and had just
bought himself some new shirts and was looking for a new tie to go with them
when he and Jade Kimberley had their second collision in as many days.
“Sorry,
sorry” she said
“It
was my fault,” Craig said, and he was once again stooping down to pick up her
bag.
“I
wasn’t looking where I was going”
This
time, however, she stooped down as well, as the contents of her bag had spilled
onto the floor and she blushed deeply as she scooped her brightly coloured
silky items of lingerie, back into her bag.
“Are
you ok?” he asked
“Yes,
thank you” she said and gave him a brief smile, which was when he realized that
it was, she.
“This
is the second time I’ve crashed into you,” he said
“Let
me buy you a tea or a coffee as recompense”
“There’s
really no need,” she said as she got to her feet.
“I
insist” he said and steered her towards the lift
“I’m
Craig by the way”
“Jade”
she retorted meekly
A
few minutes later they were sat in the café and gave their order to the
waitress.
“It’s
very strange how we keep bumping into each other,” he said
“Don’t
you think so?”
She
just stared at some imagined imperfection on the tablecloth
“Well,
I think three times in two days is noteworthy” he persisted
“Three?”
she said lifting her eyes from the tablecloth for the first time
“Yes,
breakfast this morning,” he elaborated
“Are
you staying there?” she asked
“Yes”
he replied
“Was
it your parents that I saw you with?”
“Yes
and no” she answered intriguingly
“Oh,
I see,” he said, “so the immaculately dressed tour de force is?”
“My
mother” she replied with a smile “Bella Kimberley-Price, I like to call her “Bella
Donna” because she really is quite poisonous”
“And
the military type? The fawning sycophant?” he asked, and she laughed
“My
Stepfather, Maxwell Price” she replied
Just
then the drinks and pastries arrived so there was a break in the conversation
“So,
what brought you to Pepperstock Green?” he asked
“A
funeral, one of Maxwells uncles” she replied, “He is one of the British aristocracies,
a minor one and totally impoverished however, which is why he married my mother”
“She
isn’t impoverished then?” he asked
“God
no she’s filthy rich” she replied “but she’s a snob, and a minor aristocrat is
better than no aristocrat at all”
“I
see” he responded “Hence the Manor”
She
nodded
“So,
where do you live when you’re not ensconced in luxury Hotels?”
he
asked
“Well,
our house is in London, but we are hardly ever there” Jade replied
“I
like travelling though”
“But?”
he said
“But
I wish I could do it without being under “Bella Donnas” watchful eye” she said
“Why
don’t you then?” he asked
“Mummy
dear controls the purse strings and I only get a small allowance, so I am
totally dependent on her” she replied bitterly
“You’re
obviously not happy about it,” Craig said
“That’s
because I’m 27 years old and I’m still getting pocket money from my mother” she
said
She
was on the verge of tears, so he chose a different tack.
“What
about your father? Your real father”
“He
died when I was 15” she replied
“I’m
sorry,” he said
“Its
fine” she said brightly “What about you, how come you are staying at the Hotel?”
“I’m
here for the Burns Night Supper” he pointed out “But I’m staying an extra few
days to indulge myself”
She
looked at him in a way that urged him to say more so he elaborated
“I’ve
been working in Russia for few months, and such deprivations deserved a reward”
“What
were you doing over there? Are you a spy?” she asked and laughed
“No,
I’m not a spy, I’m a sportswriter” he replied
“Really?”
she asked brightly “Would I know you?”
“You
might” he replied
“A sportswriter named Craig” she mused
“Hang
on are you, Craig Russell?” she asked
“Yes,
I am” he said surprised she knew his work
“I’ve
read your reports,” she said, “So what have you been working on? Something
related to the illegal practices”
“Spot
on, I’m impressed” he replied
They
then spent a very pleasant hour discussing sports of every type and he had to
admit that the scared little mouse he had bumped into took on an entirely
different persona when she spoke, with a great depth of knowledge, about sport.
She
was still in full flow when she glanced at the clock and announced that she had
to go.
“I
didn’t realize it was so late” she said, “Mother will be miffed”
“I’m
sorry I kept you so late” he said
“Don’t
be, I rarely get to discuss football with anyone other than taxi drivers” she
said
“If
you’re going back to the Hotel, I can drive you”
“That
would be great,” she agreed, and they were able to continue their discussion on
the journey.
When
they arrived at the Hotel the Titan was seated in reception
“Oops,”
Jade said and pulled a face
“Sorry
again” Craig said
“It’s
ok, it was nice talking to you” she said and walked over to where her mother
was waiting
“You’re
late” her mother said
“Sorry
I lost track of the time” Jade said
“Apparently
so” her mother said and gave Craig a withering look.
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