Soaping her body she imagined her hands belonged to an insatiable lover. What an idiot you can be at times Danielle. She washed her long auburn her and emptied the water. Wrapping the fluffy bath sheet around her, she returned to her bedroom. She plucked the pink flowing dress she’d only worn once from the rail, and laid it out on the bed. As it was the beginning of September, she decided to wear a lacy white cardigan over the top. After blow-drying her hair she fastened the sides back with some pretty butterfly combs. She slipped on a pair of wedged sandals, and cursed the fact she’d not had the time lately to paint her toes. A light application of make-up and she was set to go.
The doorbell rang at seven on the dot. Another thing that narked her about Dean, his predictability. She opened the door with a false smile which dropped the second she saw how handsome he looked in his tuxedo.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“You should’ve told me to dress up.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d done that either, making her suspicious of his motives. Maybe he likes hogging the limelight.
He shrugged and walked back down the path to the car. “You look fine.”
The smile remained on her face but inside she was livid. Fine, just fine! Two hours preparation and the only compliment you can bloody come up with is FINE!
Trotting up the path behind him, already regretting her decision to spend the evening with him, she asked, “Where are we going with you all tarted up?”
Her thoughts drifted and she imagined being whisked away in a helicopter to a deserted island. Dining at a table set for two on the beach, the only sound nearby the gentle lapping of the waves, a Curtis Stigers melody in the backgr—
“Did you hear me, Danielle? There you go again, daydreaming as usual.”
“Oh don’t start, Dean. Can’t we have one night out without arguing?”
“I said … I’m taking you to the new restaurant in town, the Italian one in the precinct. The folks at work are raving about it.”
Danielle loved a good Italian. The food was delicious and the men weren’t bad either. She chuckled at the thought.
“Well, what are we waiting for then?”
Chivalrous to a fault, he neglected to open the car door for her. Dean had a smart new company car, a Mercedes sport C300. Mummy and daddy owned an import and export business, exporting what, she didn’t have a clue. Every time the conversation steered in that direction, she switched off. Dean was a Mummy’s Boy and his parents had always given her the impression they thought she wasn’t good enough to date their son.
They arrived at the restaurant and were shown to a discreet table at the rear corner of the themed room. On the wall to the left was a mural of a gondola travelling through the canals of Venice, and on the other a six-foot picture of the Tower of Pisa stood alongside the Italian flag.
“How about a bottle of Chianti while we choose?”
“That’ll be lovely, but I already know what I want.” Danielle looked up at the dark skinned waiter and said, “I’ll have the tomato and Mozzarella to start—”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dean raise his hand. “Come back in ten minutes there’s a good chap.”
The waiter appeared to be as embarrassed as Danielle. And that’s how life was with Dean. It’s my way or the highway. The trouble was she’d had enough of being dictated to, of not being treated as an equal.
“Now don’t go all moody on me. I just wanted to spend the time choosing a special meal to accompany our special evening.” He paused when the waiter brought the bottle of wine, then he raised his glass. “To us, it’s so nice to finally spend an evening together, it’s been a while.”
After taking a sip of wine she asked, “What’s so special about this evening, Dean?”
“Let’s see how the evening pans out, shall we? Now, tell me about your latest job?”
Now she really was suspicious, he never asked about her clients or the projects that filled her day. In the past two years her business, Intricate Designs, and her client list had exploded. Okay, I’ll play along with your game.
“Well, Mrs Russell is being a real pain in the rear at the moment. Apparently, me working fourteen hours a day over the past six weeks hasn’t been enough. Thank God I’ve nearly finished. She wants the dining room completely decorated and kitted out by Thursday at the latest. She’s holding a dinner party for the partners of her husband’s law firm, she thinks they’re going to ask him to be a partner in the firm. The decorators should be finished by Wednesday and then I can get on with shopping for the accessories. She wants the wow factor … are you listening to me?”
Dean had the attention span of a gnat. “What? Oh yes, of course I was. So it’s all finished that’s great, on to your next job then, which is?”
Anger started to build inside but she swallowed it back down. Why bother getting in a tizzy, I know he’ll never change.
“It doesn’t matter, Dean.”
He didn’t even have the decency to look guilty and spent the next ten minutes, until the waiter came to take their order, rattling off how many meetings he had managed to cram into his boring day.
Him, him and even more him, why the heck do you put up with it?
When the meal arrived it was one of the best she’d ever tasted, but the constant drone of his voice left a horrible taint in her mouth.
At nine, just when she thought the evening would never end Dean took her hand and smiled. “You look tired, hon, how about we call it a night?”
That was fine by her, he was right, his constant chatter had exhausted her. As they pulled up outside her home she turned in her seat and said, “Thanks for a lovely time, Dean, I really enjoyed myself.”
“Aren’t you going to invite me in, sweetheart?”
Danielle cringed, recognising the expectant glint in his eye. “I’m dead tired, it’s been a hectic week … If you don’t mind—”
“Nonsense,” he said, gently running a finger down her cheek. Putting on a little boy lost voice, he continued, “We haven’t spent the night together for ages. Anyone would think you’re going off me. You’re not are you, darling.”
Yes, say it, it’s the ideal opportunity, grab the chance. Say it…
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m exhausted that’s all.” She tried to sound weary and sighed. “If you want to come in for a quick nightcap, but only a quick one.”
He punched the air. “Yes, I knew I could twist you round my finger.”
Danielle groaned inwardly, why did she always back down like that? Because I want a peaceful life, that’s why, she answered herself.
They walked into the undecorated lounge. She had major plans for this room, when she could take time out of her busy schedule to fulfill them. Danielle switched on the gas fire to take the chill off the room. She turned around to find Dean standing right behind her. He caught her by the wrist and began planting wet slobbery kisses on her face and neck. She knew it would be pointless telling him to stop. This was Dean’s attempt at seduction and Danielle knew what would happen next. He’d drag her caveman style up the stairs and pin her to the bed for two minutes while he ‘made love to her’.
“Let’s go to bed, sweetie,” he whispered in her ear.
Pushing at his chest her words came out strained. “I think you should go. I’ve told you I’m exhausted.”
“Oh you always say that, you don’t mean it though. Come on, you know I’ll show you a good time.” By this time he’d dragged her halfway up the stairs.
Danielle knew if she fought against him he’d turn nasty, he always did. She’d do her usual trick of lying back and thinking of England while he enjoyed himself. By the time they reached the bedroom he was already half-undressed. “Come on, hurry up, darling, what’s keeping you?”
Exactly what’s keeping me from sending you packing for good? All she ever wanted was to be treated with love and respect. To be made love to and not screwed for a change. She wanted to feel gentle hands caressing her in intima
te places, but she knew she’d never get that with Dean. Danielle slipped out of her dress and underwear and dived under the silky gold quilt. Undressed, he jumped in the bed beside her. Danielle turned the light off on the bedside table hoping to lessen her humiliation. He got on top of her pinning her arms to either side of her head and murmured, “You know I love you, don’t you, babe?” In a second it was over, her eyes squeezed shut as he rolled off her. He fell asleep in a nanosecond.
She’d lain awake for hours rigid, too scared to move for fear of waking him, feeling cheap and dirty.
Coming out of the bathroom she saw Dean was awake, smiling at her as she scurried across the room to the wardrobe.
After stretching and yawning noisily, he said, “You’re up early, why don’t you come back to bed.”
“I have an appointment at nine, haven’t even got time for coffee before I leave, don’t want to get caught up in the rush-hour traffic.”
He pouted like a child. “But I was going to ask you something special last night, things got in the way. Surely you’ve got time for a quick coffee.”
Danielle pulled on her black skirt suit and red top and could feel her temper rising. She had no intention of being late for work. “Nope, just tell me?” She pulled out her black stilettos and as she stepped into the final shoe he snapped at her.
“I was going to ask you to marry me.”
She lost her balance and fell against the wardrobe, almost pulling the door off its hinges, and eyed him in disbelief.
“You’re kidding me.”
“No, I’m deadly serious. We’ve been together for three years and the natural progression is marriage. Mummy says it’s about time, so how about it?” He finished his matter of fact sentence with a shrug.
Dumbstruck all she could do was right herself and stare at him. “But your mother hates me.”
“She does not. Well … will you?”
“Dean, I can’t deal with this now, I’m going to be late for work. Let yourself out and make sure you slam the front door when you leave.”
His voice followed her down the stairs. “Charming. Is that all you’re going to say?”
“I’ll be late. We’ll talk later.”
Jeez, I don’t believe it, he calls that a romantic proposal? Danielle you picked yourself a good ‘un there, not!
Chapter Two
Getting through the busy London traffic in her MR2 was usually a breeze, but this morning she caught every red light going and ended up recapping the conversation she’d had with Dean. The impatient blast of the horn from the car behind brought her back to the present with a bump. Raising an apologetic hand, she turned left and pulled into Lansdowne road.
Danielle was surprised and a little nervous to see Mrs Russell standing on the doorstep waiting for her. Without uttering a word the middle-aged, smartly dressed lady pulled her by the arm into the dining room of her large Edwardian home.
“Look.”
Confused, Danielle studied the room, noting that everything was as it should be. She swallowed and asked, “Is something wrong?”
“On the contrary, my dear. Your men have done an excellent job. You’ve created such a wonderful room,” Mrs Russell gushed.
Relieved, she let out the breath she’d been holding in. “I’m so glad you like it.” Her chest puffed out with pride as she surveyed her sumptuous surroundings. Her men had indeed done her proud, and it was seeing the results of all her hard work that made all the long hours she put in worth it.
“Like it. I love it. I’m so thrilled with it. You really are a genius. If only I had half your talent for matching the colours the way you do. I must say when you initially showed me your design I wasn’t over-enamoured with it. But now I can see the result with my own eyes … well, it’s just — oh I don’t know, I’m lost for words. I can assure you that doesn’t happen very often.”
“I’m really chuffed you’re so pleased, to be honest if all my clients trusted my ability the way you have, my job would be so much easier. This project has been an absolute delight, all that’s left is for me to do a final shop. You know pick up a few knick-knacks. I was wondering if you’d like to come with me. Some of my clients like to help me choose the final pieces, makes them feel as though they’ve had some input in the design.”
“Oooh, I’d love to.”
With the beam on Mrs Russell’s face, Danielle felt a little better about railroading the woman with her design. “Can you be ready in ten minutes? I need to have a word with my men before we set off.”
“Absolutely. Oh what a thrill! Take your time, Danielle, it takes me an eternity to get ready.” Mrs Russell was so excited when she turned to leave the room she almost knocked over Danielle’s supervisor.
The team howled with laughter. Jack, the supervisor had been out to the van to fetch the gold paint he intended to paint the huge windows with that would match all the gold fittings in the room. Sean and Ray were measuring up the two walls where the large paintings she’d bought would go. The paintings were a couple of still life originals, she’d twisted Mrs Russell’s arm to buy from a talented artist friend of hers. The frames were ornate and made by another clever friend. Mrs Russell’s ‘no expense spared’ attitude had come with a forty thousand pound price tag.
Three of the walls were covered in a rich burgundy embossed paper, and the remaining wall had been decorated in a luxurious cream coloured paper with a gold motif that she’d designed herself. The effect was subtle, yet pleasing on the eye. Around the ceiling rose one of the men had painted, in gold again, a star with six points that extended three-foot from the centre into the room. She’d stepped outside her comfort zone on this job, using the dark colours, but the room was so large she’d decided to go with her instincts. Thank goodness it had worked out, an eggy face was not a look that appealed to her.
Her team had given her design the thumbs-up, right from the word go. They were a vital cog in the machine; if they’d said no to her plans, then she would’ve listened to them and adjusted her design even started from scratch if necessary.
“Two more days and we’ll be out of here, Danielle.”
“That’s great, Jack. We’ve got that small job lined up next week and then we can all have the two week break we’ve all been striving for.”
Mrs Russell had already put her in touch with a couple of friends, so she knew there would be months of work for them to consider in the very near future.
“It’ll be good for you to have a break, too. You work too hard, my girl.”
He was right. What was a holiday? She’d spent seven years at art school and design college. Straight after which she’d started up her business while the ideas were still fresh in her mind.
Jack had been part of the team from day one, her father’s best friend. He had introduced, Sean, a plasterer by trade and, Ray, a qualified electrician-cum-decorator. The boys had never let her down and their reputation as a team was growing with every job they completed. She’d be lost without them.
Fifteen minutes later, as Danielle was giving her team their final instructions, Mrs Russell returned.
“Ready when you are, dear. I insist we take the Jag, it’s got a bigger boot than your little racer, we’ll be able to cram more goodies in.”
Danielle laughed at the woman’s enthusiasm. “I don’t mind. Do you think we should warn the shops we’re on our way,” she said winking at Jack.
“Come on, we’re wasting valuable shopping time.” Mrs Russell linked arms with Danielle and they left the house, two women on a mission.
In the car, Danielle filled Mrs Russell in on her plans. “Later today June will be delivering the curtains. I popped by to see her the other day and they’re gorgeous. I hope you like them.”
“I’m sure they’ll be super. I’ve always loved swags and tails. I’m so looking forward to showing off the room at the dinner party tomorrow.”
“I hope the smell of paint is gone by then. Jack has a few tricks up his sleeve where that’s concern
ed.”
“Gosh, I never thought of that.”
“It’ll be fine. I have my orders to bring back a couple of pound of onions.”
Mrs Russell took her eyes off the road for an instant and looked puzzled. “Onions?”
“A well-known trick of the trade, slice them in half and dot them around the room they soak up the odour. Obviously they’re discarded afterwards.”
“How amazing.”
“I hope you don’t mind me being cheeky, I didn’t sleep well during the night, it suddenly occurred to me you should have another piece of furniture in the room.”
“Go on.”
Danielle sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “What about a sideboard to match your beautiful dining table.”
“Sounds wonderful. Won’t it need to be ordered?”
She hesitated then said, “Actually, I saw one in Cornelia’s last week …”
“And?”
Danielle cleared her throat. “Um … I took the liberty of ordering one. I know we’ve gone way over budget, but …”
“Nonsense. I’m sure we can stretch to a sideboard, it’s a necessity after all, where else am I going to store my valuable china and canteen of cutlery?”
Mrs Russell spent the rest of the journey grinning. Danielle wondered if her love of owning beautiful possessions gave the ‘posh housewife’ a purpose in life.
First stop was the upmarket store Cornelia’s. A mature male assistant approached them the second they stepped through the door. “Mrs Russell, it’s always a pleasure to see you, how can I help?”
The pair shook hands. “My wonderful designer, Danielle, tells me you have a sideboard matching my table, would you mind showing it to me?”
“Not at all, please come this way.” The man guided Danielle’s client into the furniture showroom next door while Danielle remained in the smaller part of the shop gathering ideas for accessories. A pair of gold candelabras caught her eye, she placed them on the counter and went in search of the picture frames and vases she had in mind.
Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories Page 56
