Authors: Summer Jordan
Rain rattled the large leaded windows. Hand in hand, Serge and Tanya walked through the large state rooms of the redundant East Wing. Only temporary electric lights lit the rooms, and hung precariously from the scaffolding. Large buckets caught drops of rain as the old leaking ceilings bled water. The furniture was gathered to the far side and covered under protective sheets of white cloth.
Holding tightly to Serge’s hand, Tanya thought it would ideal for a film set for a low budget horror film. “You thought they would have come to walk us through, rather than let us make our own way.”
“They certainly have their privacy living at this end of the place.”
At the foot of the wing sat a well-lit room. In the centre of a walnut double door was a brass plate stating the room number ‘105’. Tanya glanced at Serge “That’s it.”
Serge knocked on the door and it immediately opened. “Malcolm.”
“Hello.”. A smiling Malcolm waved them through. “Come through, come through.”
“The only thing this place is missing is a few ghosts.”
“We do hear the odd bang in the night.” Malcolm turned to kissed Tanya’s cheek. “Good to see you again.”
“You too.”
* * * *
The walnut
panelled walls were separated with tall arched windows. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high mosaic painted ceilings. Tanya marvelled at her surroundings. “Could be in one of those period dramas you see on the TV.”
“The place is gorgeous. Really, quite something.”
Julia walked in from an open door. “Hello, again.” She held a tray carrying whisky glasses. “I hope you are enjoying your stay with us.”
“Whisky?”
“Yes, please take one. It’s tradition here.”
“That’s a generous measure as well
.”
“It would be rude for it not to be.”
Serge passed the glass under his nose. “I’m not a whisky drinker, but even I know that smells expensive.”
“I’m sorry about the walk through the East Wing.”
Tanya reached across and tapped Julia’s arms. “No, don’t be. It was quite atmospheric.”
“Damn power failed again this morning, so had to use the generator.”
Serge nodded as he sipped from his whisky glass. “So, you two seem to have taken on a huge project here.”
“Massive. Malcolm made up his mind that he wanted this place. I had no choice but to follow.”
“You sound a little resentful.”
“Yup, I was dead against it, but I love him, and knew he was quite brittle at times.” Julia put the flat of her finger against her nose. “He needed something to focus on
… and boy did he get it.”
“I don’t mean to pry, but this place must have cost a bomb.”
“It cost a fair whack … still is costing a fair whack.” Julia took a sip from her glass. “Anyway, a slight change of conversation. So, how did you two meet?”
“Through friends.”
Tanya spoke at the same time as Serge, “Online.”
“Which?”
Tanya rested her hand on Serge. “Sorry, through Serge’s friend, he got him to go online, and we met up.”
“Lovely, how modern.”
Serge nodded at Julia. “What about you two?”
“I worked in a local paper, I covered his rise to fame. He was very much a local celebrity when we started dating.” Julia blushed. “I wasn’t doing it to better my career
…. I’m still at the same shitty paper before you ask.’’
“We weren’t making any assumptions.”
“That’s what a few people seemed to think at the time.”
* * * *
The guests had started to arrive and waiters walked the room offering canapés Tanya stood with Julia as Malcolm took Serge on a tour. Sipping from her glass, Tanya said, “You seemed quite annoyed earlier when you mention people thought you were with Malcolm for the wrong reasons. Does it still grate you then?”
“Yes. I shouldn’t let it get to me.”
“I think people probably think that about me and Serge, considering the difference in age.”
“There is nine years between us.”
Tanya felt she had to do her best to seem surprised. “Is there? “
“Yeah, I’m nearly forty.”
“What’s it like dating a younger man? So I get an insight into Serge’s world.”
“It can seem like kindergarten at times.”
“Oh … Great.” Tanya laughed. “So the gap causes problems for you two as well?”
“He has his moments, yes. But I know to handle him.”
“What’s the secret?”
“Well, men are men. They think with their balls. He flirts, especially after a drink. So I save my anger until the moment is right.”
“Right?”
Julia glanced over to Malcolm who stood talking to Serge across the room. “When he thinks he’s gotten away with it, I give him both barrels.”
“Why wait?”
“Just gives you time to think. I think we wouldn’t have lasted if I didn’t.”
“You have plenty of arguments then?”
“No more than most. He knows I’m the boss.”
“I would like to think I was the boss.”
Julia gushed with pride as she rolled her tongue. “I knew him from the age of sixteen until he was twenty
-three, he was touring the world, surrounded with female tennis players as well and all kinds of famous models and actresses. Yet he always remained interested in me.”
“Sweet.”
“So I have no doubt he loves me. That’s why we married.” Julia held Tanya’s hand and walked her through the bedroom. “Here put this on.” She passed her a fur coat.
“You sure?”
“Yes. You’ll need it.” Julia smiled at Tanya. “I was dead against buying this place. But the evening Malcolm brought me up here, I was sold.” Julia pushed the double door open. A blast of North Sea wind gushed through the door, whipping the curtains into a wild frenzy. Julia wrapped her coat tightly around herself as she stepped out onto the balcony.
Tanya rested her hands on the granite wall. She stared out on the moonlit sea. The snow top mountains circle the large bay. Despite the fact midnight was approaching, the
harbour below was a hive of activity, as fishing trawlers were unloading their evening catches. “Amazing, I can see why you loved the place.”
“I did. Despite our worries, I don’t regret taking it on.”
“Worries?”
Julia sat on a chair and gazed across the bay. “All Malcolm’s earnings went into this place, every single penny. We were relying on future revenue to get us through. Put the last two summers have been wet.”
“Oh dear.”
“”It really has put us on the edge.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
The pair listened to the crashing waves. The breeze fluttered Julia’s golden curls. She lit a cigarette as she leaned over and watched the street below. “Looks like people are starting to leave.”
“I better get going then.”
“No don’t, not yet.”Julia grabbed Tanya’s arm. “You sure you’re not one of those models I was talking about earlier?”
“No, I never knew any tennis players.”
“You sure?”
“Promise.”
“I sure know you from somewhere.”
Tanya shrugged “Have you lived in London?”
“No.”
“Well, I hadn’t left until last month, so there you go”
Julia laughed. “Well that’s that then.”
* * * *
The room had long filled with guests. The drinks had been coming thick and fast. Serge had lost track of Tanya. Standing up from his armchair he felt lightheaded. Walking across the room he felt himself swaying and decided to take a seat. Bringing his hand to his face, he felt his forehead. “How did this happen?”
Malcolm found Serge sitting in the chair. “How are you finding the whisky?”
“Rather effective.”
Malcolm topped Serge’s tumbler.
“There you go.”
“You really shouldn’t have.”
“Why? You’re our guests. It’s our duty to keep you entertained.”
“And pissed it seems. Seen Tanya?”
“She was on the balcony with Julia. Want to join them?”
“I would if I could, but I feel glued to the chair.”
Malcolm slapped Serge on the back. “That’s it, Sergie boy. We’ll both be feeling that way shortly.”
“As long as it’s not glued together.”
“Whatever floats your boat.”
“Sorry, I’m taken.”
“So, Tanya, how did you bag her? She’s quite a steal.”
“A man never reveals his secrets.” Serge sniggered as he peered down towards his crotch.
“I see … She likes the larger things in life.”
“I’m saying nothing.”
Malcolm gazed about a room filled with guests. His eyes set on a chubby brunette. “You know what? I miss being single.”
“I’ve just finished a twelve year stint as a single man. So not exactly missing it just yet.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love Julia, but man I would love to shag a fatty right now.”
“A fatty?”
“A meaty girl.” Malcolm laughed. “Come on, every man loves a fatty once in while.”
“I know what you mean. It was rare to see a fatty in Moldova. There wasn’t enough food for a start. But came to England, and I lived on fatties for few years.”
“Really?”
“My flat was outside a burger bar, so I did my dating there coz it was cheap.”
Malcolm couldn’t stop laughing. “Amazing.”
“Good times.”
“You just said you grew in Moldova? But I thought you said Russia earlier.”
Despite the alcohol flowing through his veins, Serge kept cool. “When I was a kid, it was all part of the USSR
… same place.”
“Oh, of course.”
* * * *
Tanya stepped back into the room. Serge and Malcolm both sat in
-between two heavy-set women. She seethed at the fact Serge had his arm around one of the woman and was whispering into her ear. Tanya glared at Julia. “Would you look at that?”
Julia pulled at Tanya’s arm. “Leave it Tanya, don’t let your anger boil over.”
Tanya did her best to quell her anger, but struggled to contain it. She paced across the room and grabbed Serge’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
“I’m just talking to Lorna here.”
“I think you have chatted to Lorna long enough. Let’s go.”
“Hey.”
“I want to go back.”
“I want to stay.” Serge leaned over and glared at Malcolm. “Tell her
, Malc.”
“”I’m staying out of it.”
Tanya pulled at Serge’s arm. “Serge, get up.”
“
All right.” Serge struggled to his feet. “Christ you would think we were fucking married.”
“What did you just say?”
“You heard.”
Tanya glared at Serge and folded her arms. “I thought that was the plan.”
“No one ever fucking said anything about marriage.”
“”Maybe not, but we have both committed our love to each over.”
“But marriage?”
“Fuck you Serge, stay here with the slag, I’m going.”
Lorna stood up. “Who are you calling a slag, ya wee bitch.”
Tanya scoffed. “Sit back down, we’re in different weight divisions to box.” She turned and stormed out of the room.
Serge stumbled to his room alone. His case was lying against the door. He knocked but there wasn’t an answer. Sitting on his luggage he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The spring sun shone through the window of the sitting room. Malcolm slouched on the leather couch with his feet resting on the arm when a sheet of paper landed on his chest.
He glanced up and saw Julia standing above him. “What’s that?”
“Take a look and tell me who that is?”
Malcolm opened the paper and glanced at the printed photo. “You have to be shitting me?”
“I told you.’’
“This is a police notice though?”
“Tanya’s a missing person and Serge is a wanted criminal
…. This might be the miracle we were looking for”
“But they’re our friends.”
“Darling, we have known them for twenty-four hours. We didn’t make them break the law.”
“But?”
“If you want this place to survive, then we need all the help we can get.”
“So what’s the reward?”
“Thirty K.”
“That will keep the wolves at bay for another couple of months
….”
Julia snatched the paper from Malcolm’s grasp. “No.”
“What do you mean? Thirty grand is great?”
Julia folded the paper and slipped into her handbag. “I’m going to get us more.”
“You think they’d negotiate?”
“Leave it to me, Darling.”
“But….”
“We haven’t got time for questions. What is important is that we don’t let them leave.”