Chapter 4 - Flying to Italy

Alice POV

I get up at seven with my alarm playing some random song. I turn it off and I get up to make a cup of coffee. The day doesn’t start before I have coffee.

I sit near my window looking out. Today is a lovely day. I open the window a little and I put some food in a bowl for Maria.

Not long after Karen would be here to pick her up and take her home.

I walk to the bathroom and I have a quick shower doing my skin routine and moisturising my skin after. As an escort, I need to take care of myself. After all my appearance is everything in my job.

Once I get out Karen walks into my flat. She has a spare key.

“In ringed” - she says

“Was in the shower” - I say and she smiles giving me half a hug.

“Everything ready?” - she asks and I nod my head.

We both walk into my bedroom and we chose the pencil skirt and the blouse. We do my hair neatly.

“I have to go, call me as soon as you can” - she says

“I will” - I reply

Karen leaves and I do my makeup.

Harry will be here soon so I should go down. I close my door behind me and I enter the lift.

Once I open the building door I see Harry Payne. I can understand Karen’s obsession with him. He is tall, intimidating and sexy as hell. His suit hugged his muscles perfectly not leaving a lot to the imagination.

His eyes follow my every move and when he touches my hand shaking it I can’t help but feel butterflies in my stomach.

I’ve done this a thousand times but none of the Joes I worked for was this good looking. They were mostly older guys just looking for a beautiful face to escort them around their business trips.

But not Harry, he is perfection. His voice is deep and manly sending a shiver down my spine. Once we reach the airport and I get a hold of his strong arm I felt small compared to him. He towers over me. Almost one foot taller than me. With my high heels, I don’t look like a child next to him. But if I was with my normal clothes jeans and t-shirt I would look like his daughter easily.

The media outside the plane take our photos asking questions but Harry ignores them. He guides me inside with his hand touching lightly my lower back. I can feel his warmth through my clothes and I can’t wait to go to the bathroom to freshen up.

I’ve never felt this way before for a guy in a first meeting. Not even in my personal life.

I could feel my phone vibrating but we haven’t discussed the small details as in if I could answer phone calls and reply to texts. I had some Joes before that didn’t want me focusing on my personal life not even for a second.

Once the seatbelt sign turns off I get up and walk to the bathroom grabbing my phone from my purse. I looked at it and had four missed calls from Karen and two texts.

I read the texts and they are both wishing me good luck and to be careful not to fall in love with him.

I turn on the Wi-Fi signal on my phone and I send her a quick email saying that everything was okay and that I haven’t discussed details with him yet because I find him intimidating. I sent the email and turned my phone into flight mode again. I leave the bathroom and I see Harry with his laptop opened. He was working. I got a hold of a couple of gossip magazines and I started reading them. There were some articles about his family and I read them paying a lot of attention to names and faces. I know a fair bit about his family because Karen made sure I knew some stuff already and the rest I read on the file.

Once we landed Harry looked at me and took his shades off showing his beautiful green eyes.

“It’s showtime, are you ready?” - he asks

“As I’ll ever be” - I reply and we both get up and we exit the Jet.

We both have our shades on. His hand on my lower back again as I hold the handrail going down the stairs. He whispers in my ear sending a shiver down my spine.

“Smile for the cameras” - he says and I look at him smiling.

He holds my hand and walks me to the black limo waiting for us.

He opens the door for me waving at the journalists and I slide in. He slides after me closing the door and taking his shades off. He pinches the bridge of his nose and his eyes meet mine.

“We have some little stuff to discuss don’t we?” - he asks and I nod my head.

“Use your words please” - he tells me.

I clear my throat.

“Would you be okay if I used my phone?” - I ask him and I can see his face twisting.

“Of course you can use your phone, you can’t stay two weeks without checking your life” - he says

“Thank you” - I say

“Does that happen a lot?” - he asks

“What?”

“You, not being allowed to use your phone?” - he asks

“You would be surprised” - I say with a soft giggle

He looks deep into my eyes and I feel my entire body shake with anticipation.

“Karen told me about sex. I don’t expect you to have sex with me, or anyone else for that matter, and the sleeping arrangements will be sorted. We will have to share a bedroom but I can sleep on the settee” - he says and I am taken aback by that.

“No, you don’t have to, I am smaller than you I bet I will sleep perfectly fine on the settee” - I say

“Don’t be stupid Alice, what kind of a man would I be if I forced you to sleep in an uncomfortable place” - he says

“The kind of man that just called me stupid?” - I reply and he looks at me with a smirk on his face.

“You’re right, I’m sorry” - he says and I shrug my shoulders grabbing my phone.

Harry takes it away from my hands and I look up at him.

“We’re not done” - he says

“Can I have my phone back please?” - I ask. It’s not a great phone but it is mine.

“You can’t be using this, no-one in my family would believe you are my girl if you use the old thing” - he says

“But it’s the only one I’ve got” - I say

Harry grand the phone on the limo and then I hear him saying to the driver to stop at an Apple Store. I look at him in disbelief.

“I can’t accept that” - I say

“Why?” - he asks

“It’s in the contract, we are not allowed to accept presents that are not pre-approved by Karen” - I say

“I will deal with her later” - he says as we stop at the store.

Harry leaves the car and offers me his hand. We walk inside and he greets the salesperson in Italian. I never thought I would find him sexier than before but he keeps proving me wrong.

They chose the latest phone and all the accessories for it. EarPods, case, charger, case with charger, an iPad and an iMac.

I shake my head trying to get his attention.

I whisper in his ear

“This is too much” - I say

“My family will expect you to be equipped with everything technology has to offer.

“But Karen” - I start and he cuts me off

“I said I’ll handle that later”

One hour later we exit the shop with everything in travel cases. We left the boxes that so his family wouldn’t figure it out.

Once back in the car I message Karen saying we landed and everything is okay. She texts back asking me to behave.

The drive was quiet and Harry spent most of the time looking at his phone reading and replying to emails.

I looked out of the window. Rome is just beautiful. I can’t wait to go have a look around. Or I hope I have the chance to.