“I wouldn’t be angry with you. You’ve got your own life.” After all, we were no longer an item, just friends.
“I don’t want to know.”
“Suit yourself.” I lay on my back. “But you definitely can’t get away from the girls.”
Daniel was a man who didn’t remain unnoticed. He was about 6’3” and had a great body.
“Well, I don’t live like a monk.” He laughed.
“What’s it like to always have some chick calling you?”
“It gets old. I’m sick of all these short-term relationships,” he admitted.
“Better short-term relationships than nothing.”
“Well, yes. Otherwise, the hand starts to hurt.” He grinned.
“Daniel!” I reproached him lightly and pushed his shoulder, but I also laughed at his words.
“Well, it’s true.” He continued laughing.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I pretended to be offended and scowled, even though I knew he was only joking.
“No, darling, I wouldn’t make fun of you.” He leaned on his elbow. “But I admit I said it to make you laugh.”
I relaxed and closed my eyes. Gentle sunrays occasionally penetrated the tree’s foliage. I felt so calm.
“I like your laugh,” he said and leaned over me.
“You’re blocking my sun.” I lazily opened one eye and then closed it again.
He touched my face, caressed me, and suddenly kissed me. Surprised, I kissed him back for a second. His lips were so soft and he was such a good kisser that I forgot about everything, the obstacles that stood between us.
For God’s sake, what am I doing? The gears in my brain slowly started to turn, and I sharply twisted my head, gasping.
“Daniel, what are you doing? Don’t ruin everything again.” I glared at him.
The truth was I really needed a man next to me, and he needed a woman, but there was no point in trying to rebuild a relationship that was doomed from the start. Years ago, we tried. I gave everything of myself, and nothing came of it. All that was left was disappointment.
“But you kissed me back!” He eyed me, confused.
“You know there’s no point. It won’t work. In the end, we’ll both hurt each other. We can’t be together, not if you’re hardly ever in Zurich.” I sat up, resting my hand on the blanket.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” he said and rubbed his face. “Actually, I do—you’re so… beautiful.” He sighed. “Quit your job and come with me. I’ll take care of both of us.”
I smiled at his proposal. It sounded pretty crazy. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Then I’ll give it all up and look for a job here.”
His words made me feel desired, but I didn’t want him to make such a huge sacrifice for me. It wasn’t fair to him. After a while, his regrets over lost opportunities would crush him.
“You wouldn’t be happy,” I whispered. “Perhaps once you’ve achieved your goals, you’ll be able to arrange your schedule so you don’t have to travel so much. And then it will be easier to get into a more serious relationship with someone.”
“Dammit, I never thought my career would affect my personal life so negatively,” he said sadly.
I felt sorry for him, but I didn’t want to hurt him. I stroked his shoulder. “It will all work out. Don’t worry.”
I wanted to console him, even though I needed to be consoled. I wanted to feel happy just as much as he did. I dreamt of meeting the man I could always depend on at anytime. Someone to lean on in difficult times and to laugh with when I was happy.
“Will we stay friends?” he asked, concerned.
“Of course,” I replied sincerely, and something like a tentative smile appeared on his face.
“You’re so good to me, despite all the idiotic things I’ve done. You support me and give me strength.”
“I believe in you, Daniel, and I know you’ll succeed. You have a great future ahead of you.” I wanted to give him hope and strength.
“Let’s go out to a club tonight,” he suggested. “And have fun like the good old times.”
“I can’t. I’ve been invited to the birthday party of Lily’s uncle.”
“Nooo!” he said, not hiding his disappointment. “But you’ve always steered clear of such posh parties.”
Daniel knew my girlfriend and that her uncle was one of the many Swiss millionaires who liked to spend a fortune on extravagant celebrations. They brought together VIPs from the entire country and invited famous Hollywood actors.
“Well, this time Lily managed to convince me.” I checked my watch. “When’s your flight?”
“Tomorrow at noon.”
“Where’re you flying to?”
“Milan.”
“Next time you come back to Zurich, you won’t forget to call me, right?” I asked playfully, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“If you still want to see me.”
I smiled reassuringly. “And then you’ll tell me about your new accomplishments.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m being serious. Next time, we’ll go to celebrate them.”
2
The hours slipped by, and suddenly it was time to get ready for the party. I went into my bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and started searching for an outfit. I had many evening dresses, which made choosing difficult. At the end, I decided on my pink satin dress with fine lace, which I bought in New York last year. I put on a bit more makeup than usual—mascara, pale-purple eye shadow, eyeliner, powder, rouge, and pink lip-gloss. I applied one of my favorite perfumes—Jean Paul Gaultier’s Classique—and put on the gold necklace and earrings my dad had given me on my last birthday. I called a taxi and then Lily to tell her I was on my way over.
When I arrived, the party had already begun. Many artists, musicians, and presenters from around Switzerland were already there. Most people were gathered around cocktail tables covered in white cloths and decorated with colorful bouquets. Torches were scattered around the grass, adding warmth to the atmosphere.
Almost immediately, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Lily’s uncle, Frank Romer, a fine gentleman with great manners. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, white shirt, and black bow tie with white polka dots. Despite his graying hair, he looked at least five years younger than the sixty he was celebrating. Everyone from Lily’s family worked at the company for her uncle, who owned a chain of gold jewelry shops in Europe and America. Lily was the only one uninterested in this line of business and worked at Credit Suisse bank.
I handed him my present—Armani cufflinks—and he thanked me warmly. “I’m very glad to finally have the pleasure of meeting you, Miss Welson. Lily has told me so much about you,” said Mr. Romer while we were shaking hands. “Please call me Frank.”
I nodded in response.
“My niece tells me you also work in the banking sector. I’ve no idea what it is you like so much about this kind of work. It’s quite disappointing Lily doesn’t want to work in the family business. She would have been very valuable with her sharp mind and resourcefulness. But she doesn’t even want to hear about it.” He sighed.
“Uncle, let’s not talk about that and fill Alexia’s head with family arguments,” she reproached him mildly.
I knew from her that they were very close and Mr. Romer loved her as his own daughter.
He hugged her around the shoulders and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ve not given up yet on poaching you for the family business—this conversation isn’t over.” He smiled at her.
“Uncle Frank, please.” She glowered, but there was warmth in her eyes.
A man joined us, who politely congratulated Mr. Romer on his birthday. My God, he was the Hollywood actor Bill Malcolm.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” he asked Mr. Romer, looking toward me with a smile.
We shook hands, with him obviously undressing me with his eyes the entire time. I felt somewha
t uncomfortable. As far as I was aware, he was married with kids, but this didn’t stop him from flirting with me.
Bill Malcolm was a very attractive man—tall, with an athletic body, messy, light-chestnut hair, and grey eyes. He’d managed to build a great career in Hollywood, but his infamy as a bad boy preceded him. Now he was definitely enjoying being away from his family, searching for yet another blonde to seduce.
I hated such men. Why had he married in the first place?
It turned out he was shooting a movie in Zurich, and for some reason, he was very surprised when he realized I was American. After all, people from all over the world worked in Zurich. Clearly, he wasn’t aware of that. He gave me many compliments, lines he no doubt trotted out to every girl. However, I couldn’t care less. Fortunately, some beautiful, long-legged blonde beckoned him, and he went over to her, politely excusing himself.
I took my glass of champagne and moved away from the crowd to enjoy the wonderful view of Lake Zurich.
“Great view, right?” said a deep, raspy male voice behind me.
I turned around and saw a tall, trim, wide-shouldered man standing there. I was struck dumb by his incredibly beautiful blue eyes, which shone like sapphires in the soft light of the torches. One look was all he needed to win over any woman. Everything about him oozed confidence, greatness, power, and sex appeal. His high cheekbones and strong jaw reinforced his pronounced manliness even more. He was dressed in an expensive black tuxedo, which highlighted his sexy physique. In his hand rested a glass of champagne, while the other he kept nonchalantly in his pants pocket.
“I’m sorry, I’ve not introduced myself—Alexander Kraftberg,” he said and held out his hand, openly curious.
“Alexia Welson,” I managed to blurt out after a short pause. His magnetism was making me feel quite nervous.
I held out my hand for a handshake, but instead, he lifted it to his perfectly formed lips and gently kissed it. Upon his touch, I felt a hot flush overtake my entire body.
“Alexia Welson,” he repeated in a way nobody had pronounced it before, with such passion it made the blood in my veins boil. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
“Thanks,” I replied shyly and tried to look away from him, but it was in vain. It felt as if I were under a spell.
My God, he was so handsome. My heart started beating wildly, my pulse accelerating quickly. I felt shivers down my spine and butterflies in my stomach—the feeling I’d been yearning after for ages. I stared at him as if hypnotized and could not look away.
“I’ve not seen you before at any of Mr. Romer’s gatherings,” he continued.
“This time, they managed to convince me to come,” I mumbled in response.
“Why? What’s wrong with these parties?” he asked, interested, and took a sip of his champagne.
“I don’t think I fit in here.” I pointed toward the party’s attendees. “But this time, Mr. Romer’s niece, Lily, who I’ve known for years, wouldn’t take no for an answer. I simply couldn’t refuse.” I shrugged apologetically.
At that point, I saw Lily approaching us.
“Alexander,” she greeted. “It’s nice to see you. I suppose you’ve already met my friend Alexia?”
“Yes, Lily, I’ve had the pleasure,” he replied without looking away from me. His eyes were drinking me in and making me hold my breath… in excitement.
We got to talking about my mixed German-American origin, which led to a discussion of the differences between the German language, as spoken in Germany, and the Swiss-German dialect, spoken by a large part of Switzerland’s population.
When the song “How Could an Angel Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton came on, Alexander briefly glanced toward Lily.
“And now, would Miss Ferrai excuse us? I’d really like to dance with Miss Welson.” And without waiting for my reply, he took my glass of champagne, left it next to his on the nearest cocktail table, grabbed my hand, and whispered in my ear, “May I have the honor?”
I only managed to nod before he led me toward the dance floor at a confident gait.
At first, his self-confidence annoyed me, but everything changed when I felt his hand on my waist and the touch of our bodies. It was as if a surge of electricity coursed through me. I felt a strong desire to stay in his embrace. His body was so warm and his scent was divine. One thing was certain—I was starting to fall in love, and much too quickly at that.
“I hope you aren’t going to decide to go back to the States anytime soon,” he murmured. “May I call you by your first name?”
“Yes, of course,” I replied.
“Which city in the States are you from, Alexia?” he continued, his voice caressing my ears—its timbre was so pleasant.
“From Boston. My father lives there with his second wife… My brother too.”
“And your mother?” he asked, interested.
“Unfortunately, she passed away.”
My mother died when I was only ten years old, during my brother’s birth. Fate left my father a young widower. It was very hard on our family for a number of years. I couldn’t complain about my father’s selfless support, but I missed my mother’s love.
The only thing that held me together was, unlike my brother, I’d known her and kept the memories. Countless times, I told my brother about her, how good she was and how joyous she felt she was going to have another child. Sharing her happiness, we held together plans for the future.
I became sad—I missed her infectious laughter, her soothing voice, and her huge capacity for love. I wished so much she could be beside me all these years, to support me and give me strength.
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said as if he’d read my mind. He looked at me deeply and warmly and pulled me in even closer.
“One cannot escape one’s fate—whether good or bad; she leaves memories in us.”
“I agree completely.” His voice was very gentle. Then, probably to change the topic, he slipped in, “See how many men are staring at you?”
“And how many women at you,” I replied, which was true.
I smiled, glanced at him, and caught his stunning smile, revealing pearly white teeth that contrasted his suntanned face.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked, and I thought he might be holding his breath.
“No, I don’t. And you? A girlfriend?” I couldn’t believe I’d been brave enough to say these words out loud. It would definitely be putting it mildly to say I was enthralled by his charm. My heart was about to burst from my chest and my stomach was twisted into a ball.
It is impossible he doesn’t have a girlfriend.
Alexander looked me straight in the eyes and replied confidently, “No, but I intend to have one in the very near future”.
Is he implying something or am I just imagining things?
I decided to tease him a little. “Are you always so sure of yourself?”
“Always.”
This self-confidence of his was making me wild. And how was it possible for someone to smell so good? It wasn’t fair he exuded such sex appeal, which attracted me so strongly and made me think of sex—wild, all-consuming sex. I was dizzy with all the female hormones swimming around my body, making me feel so confused.
“I wish I were so confident,” I added.
“So are you not?” I felt his hot breath on my hair.
“No, not always,” I admitted.
“Believe me, Alexia, a beautiful and intelligent woman such as yourself can achieve a lot. I believe every door upon which you knock will open, as long as you can muster up the courage to do it.”
I blushed, which almost never happened to me. How was it possible in such a short time, this man had managed to attract me so strongly? I wanted him. I wanted to taste his lips and feel the touch of his hands on my body. I realized, after twenty-four years, I’d fallen in love. The feeling made me happy and scared at the same time. And he was clearly attracted to me too.
Daniel,
Christoph, and Ralph were the boyfriends I’d had so far. All three of them had loved me, but I couldn’t love them back. And now… I felt I couldn’t get enough air. I was in so deep.
“You probably shower every woman with such compliments,” I mentioned teasingly.
“I generally don’t have to pursue them, if that’s what you’re implying.”
And from his eyes, I realized he was being honest. Obviously, women just threw themselves at him and he didn’t have to woo them.
“You’re different,” he said quietly.
“What do you mean? As far as I’m aware, I don’t have wings on my back.” I giggled at my silly utterance.
“I’ll refrain from comments so you don’t say I’m using old clichés.” And to change the topic, he asked, “How do you know Lily?”
“From college—we studied and graduated together.”
“Do you also work at Credit Suisse?” he asked.
“No, I’m with the competition—UBS.” I smiled.
When the song ended, I saw Sebastian, Frank Romer’s son, approaching us.
“Hey, Barbie, I’ve not seen you in ages. How about a dance?” He grabbed me and leaned over to kiss me, at which point he almost spilled his drink on my dress. He was either drunk or stoned. I knew about his vices from Lily.
Sebastian was a handsome man but of a very weak character. His brown eyes were glazed and slit, and his hair was messier than usual. Part of his shirt hem had come out of his pants.
I sharply turned my head to the side to avoid his kiss. I felt a strong arm pull me back and found myself in Alexander’s arm, who hissed through his teeth, “Romer, pull yourself together,” pushing him away with his free hand.
Sebastian lurched, almost falling, but managed to steady himself and, swaying, retreated into the crowd.
Seeing the stares of the people dancing around us, I wished the earth would open up and swallow me whole. I felt so embarrassed, even though what had happened wasn’t my fault. I didn’t understand why Sebastian—the cousin of my best friend Lily—was behaving in this manner. We’d known each other for years, but he’d never intimated he had any special feelings for me. So what was this theatre about just now? And why did he address me as Barbie? He’d clearly had too much to drink and couldn’t control himself.