Alex

Chapter 3

Two days later, I'm wiping an expensive moisturiser over my face when the phone springs to life on my bed, making me jump. Quickly, I dive for it and answer.

'Bethany,' I exclaim with a smile.

'Hello,' she replies with just as much enthusiasm. 'I'm glad I caught you.'

'I only have half an hour before lunch,' I tell her.

'Excellent. You have to tell me about your time so far. What did you do last night?' she asks, her voice full of excitement.

'I stayed in my room,' I admit. 'There seem to be a lot fewer people here at the moment.'

'It's because it's the middle of the week,' she replies. 'A lot of people tend to leave for work and only come back to party at the weekend.'

'Oh?'

'I reckon you should make the most of this time by schmoozing up to anyone who's there just now,' she suggests. 'Then you can spend the weekend with everyone else.'

'You make it sound so easy,' I moan.

'It is.' She laughs. 'You're human, just like them!'

'Because ditching everyone I'm hanging out with on the weekends isn't obvious.'

'Well, make it... unobvious.' She giggles and I roll my eyes before smirking.

'I'm so glad you called me. It's such a help,' I tease, and she laughs harder before apologising.

'Alex is still here,' I decide to tell her, completely changing the subject.

'Are you staying away from him?'

'I am,' I lie before instantly biting my lip. When the hell did I become such an idiot? Lying to Bethany, putting the whole damn plan in jeopardy. 'Don't worry, I'm making a good impression,' I tell her. 'How's the sun?'

'It's gorgeous,' she answers. 'Far better than England.'

'As always,' I reply, and she chuckles.

Our conversation continues, swiftly moving on to the topic of Bethany and her adventures last night with a man called Micah, someone who she promptly ditched after finding out he was staying in a three-star hotel down the road.

Eventually, someone in the background calls for Bethany to come to the pool, and she apologises before quickly reminding me of the main high-society rules. I assure her that I know what I'm doing. Further lying by me.

Ending the call, I drop the phone onto the bed and stand, smoothing down my long, yellow summer dress and exhaling, attempting to free myself from some of the nerves that continuously reside inside me. I have twenty minutes before I head to the Sun Room. Hal has insisted we indulge in a full three-course meal for lunch as an excuse to avoid the dining room tonight.

A knock on the door startles me, and I curse under my breath before walking over, smiling and pulling it open. I'm astonished when I come face to face with a huge, beautiful bouquet of white lilies, not even able to see the person behind it.

'Um, hello?' I say with slight hesitation. Stepping back slightly, I attempt to peer around it, but no one says anything, instead continuing to walk straight into my room. Eventually a head appears from the side of the flowers.

'Where do you want these, Miss?' the bald man asks, and my mouth drops open, unsure how to reply.

'What... what are they?' I manage, and he rolls his eyes.

'Flowers,' he mutters, popping the lilies on the chest of drawers behind him. I'm speechless, eyes pinned on the flowers. What the hell is going on?