It’s been two days and Anton has reverted back to the man I love. There’s been no mention of what happened and I’m happy to just put it down to jealousy and hope it never happens again.
I peer at myself critically in the mirror and say, “Is this is too dressy for dinner with the neighbours?”
Anton looks up and my mouth waters at the sight of him. He is dressed in tight-fitting, black ripped jeans and a top that clings to his extremely athletic body. His hair is still damp from the shower and the aftershave I love wafts across the room towards me.
He smiles appreciatively, “You look beautiful, babe.”
Smoothing down the white silk dress, I have to agree with him. Yes, I love to shop and when it rewards me with fantastic clothes such as this dress, I can see why I indulge my passion so much. This dress looks a million dollars and gives me a confidence I never really had growing up. I was one of three children raised by a single mother in a tower block near Croydon. We never had money for clothes and, being the youngest, all of mine were handed down by my sisters. It was only when I started modelling that I got my break and met Anton when I did some work at his club. I’ve never looked back since and even though I spend a lot, I haven’t lost sight of that girl I was who started with nothing. I still do the odd modelling job that pays well but largely I spend Anton’s money, which should bother me, but it doesn’t. No, Anton couldn’t care less because he earns a fortune every week and likes me to reap the benefits. He’s told me often enough, so any concerns I had at the beginning are long gone.
I know what people think of me and yes, it does hurt. I suppose that’s why I spend so much time trying to be a good friend and neighbour. I want them to see that I’m not just some gold digger out for what she can get. All I want is to marry Anton, have lots of babies and care for them all for eternity. It helps that we live such a charmed existence, but having come from nothing that doesn’t scare me as much as it obviously does Arabella who has never had to struggle.
Once again, I worry about her. I know she’s not coming tonight because her parents are here and Anthony’s working. Making a note to check on her tomorrow, I turn to Anton and say, “Do you know if Venetia and Matthew are coming?”
He shrugs, “Why would I? You know more about the neighbour’s movements than I do. I just turn up when told.”
He grins as I roll my eyes and glimpses at his watch. “We’d better go. We’re already ten minutes late and they’ll have a seizure if anyone’s even a minute late.”
Laughing, I nod, “You’re right there. I’ve never met such an anal couple in my life.”
Taking Anton’s hand, we head toward Miranda and James’s house. A mirror image of ours from the outside but very different inside. Whereas ours is chic and modern, theirs is absolutely stuffed with antiques and furniture that wouldn’t look out of place in the last century. It always creeps me out a bit when we go there because, like James, the whole house feels stuffy and forbidding.
Miranda is the sweetest woman I know, but James scares me. He’s a very educated man and a Barrister and is probably used to dealing with a certain type of person. Both Anton and I are self-made, and I always think he looks down on us a little. James has led a privileged life, as has Miranda. They both attended private schools and then university, resulting in a high-flying career. Miranda used to be a legal secretary, which is how she met James, but gave that all up when they married, as appears the norm in The Chase, except for Venetia.
Anton is strangely silent beside me, and I know why. Like me, he is like a fish out of water around James and is probably dreading this evening, as am I.
Squeezing his hand, I whisper, “Don’t worry, babe. Lots of alcohol will get us through this ordeal.”
He laughs softly. “I’ll hold you to that. I’ll need to drink his dusty cellar dry to survive dinner with those two.”
I have to agree with him. Miranda and James are hard work and it was only because I couldn’t think of an excuse not to come that we’re here at all.
Miranda answers the door dressed in a floor-length, pale blue dress that complements her brown bob. She’s a pretty girl but wears minimal makeup and always seems to lack confidence, so I say emphatically, “You look amazing, Miranda, I’m loving that colour on you.”
We kiss on the cheek and she blushes prettily as Anton repeats the compliment. “Oh, this old thing; I’ve had it years.”
As she turns to guide us inside, I whisper to Anton, “Old dress, my arse. I’ve seen that same one at Stella McCartney, and it’s not cheap.”
Anton grins as we follow Miranda through their dark, dismal hallway, to the living room where I peer around with dismay. A fire burns in the grate, but that’s the only thing this room has in common with ours. Huge leather chesterfield sofas dominate the room, surrounded by various huge wooden bookcases that hold many old leather-bound books. The threadbare rugs are expensive but could use a good clean and the oil paintings on the wall have individual lights above them, reminding me of those stately homes on the television. I shiver as I struggle to breathe in the dark, severe-looking room and then I notice James standing by the fire with a glass in his hand, watching us and smile politely.
“Hi, James, it’s lovely to see you. It’s good of you to invite us.”
I kiss him on the cheek and watch Anton shake his hand. I can tell Anton is uncomfortable around James because he is wearing the closed expression he reserves for people he doesn’t know. However, James just smiles broadly and booms, “Lovely to see you both. Now, what can we get you to drink?”
Miranda nods and I smile, “A white wine please.”
He turns to Anton. “How about you? Are you allowed the hard stuff tonight?”
Anton nods and I grin to myself. Yes, Anton will need a whole bottle of the hard stuff to survive an evening in James’s company.
Miranda soon hands us our drinks and I say with surprise, “Are we the only ones? I thought Matthew and Venetia may be around.”
She shakes her head. “No, Venetia’s away and Matthew’s working. Something about a strike expected early next week, so he’s in meetings to try to avoid the certain chaos it would cause.”
James looks thoughtful. “I still don’t understand his position in that airline.”
Miranda rolls her eyes. “Oh, for goodness’ sake, James, I’ve told you many times, Matthew is the chairman of Venus Air. He runs the whole bloody thing.”
He looks suitably impressed, and Anton says, “How did he meet Venetia?”
I answer, “He was on one of her flights and they hit it off. She told me she didn’t even realise he was her boss until he confessed after the third date.”
James laughs. “That must have come as quite a shock.”
Miranda smiles dreamily. “I think it’s romantic.”
James snorts. “Stupid bloody woman. You think a dog advert is romantic. Romance gets you nowhere. I should know, I’ve participated in enough divorce proceedings to witness first-hand what happens when the romance dies. No, companionship is the answer and staying on the same page.”
He fixes Anton with a shrewd look. “What about you, Anton? Surely you agree with me?”
Anton looks uncomfortable, so I intervene. “No, Anton’s all about the romance, isn’t that right babe? I mean, why settle for anything less? Look at us. We’re still in the first flush of love and have it all to look forward to. We’re in no hurry to become that boring couple who finish each other’s sentences and wear matching clothes. No, Anton and I love the romance that goes with finding your soulmate, isn’t that right, babe?”
Anton nods and pulls me close to his side and smiles sexily, “Of course it is, you’re spot on. Why rush something amazing?”
I catch Miranda’s eye and she smirks, which annoys me. Ok, so all my friends know how desperate I am to move this on to a more stable relationship, but James has seriously pissed me off and I would rather what Anton and I have than what my friend has. To be honest, she looks totally miserable all the time, and he is hardly ever here.
As I grip Anton’s hand just a little tighter, I’m glad we’re as close as we are and I hope nothing ever changes that.