A Parisian Fairytale

Chapter Twenty Four

Annabelle sat in the business class seat flying over the Atlantic Ocean, she sipped her coffee whilst typing on her laptop. She was working on a brief for the Autumn/Winter fashion week spread when her phone pinged. She had WIFI, and saw the whatsapp message from Laura, a photo accompanied it.

A rather large elaborate bouquet has just arrived at the office, normally I would ask Abby to deal with it but as she is with you, do you want me to drop them at yours? x x x

Wow, they are beautiful. No don't be silly, I won't be home until Tuesday. You take them. Enjoy them. Who are they from? x x x

Are you sure? Am I ok to read the card? x x x

Sure.. x x

Umm, they are from Dan.. are you guys actually back together? xx

Not exactly. God this just got even more complicated. x x x

I don't envy you. x x

Landing at JFK, Annabelle and Abby jumped in the waiting chauffeur driven town car and headed into Manhattan. "So what is the plan, remind me?" Annabelle said to her PA. "We are free this evening, tomorrow press brief first thing, followed by the exhibit. Prada are hosting tomorrow evening, followed by runway on Saturday." Annabelle nodded noting things down on her phone. "Look I am not gonna be much company at all, so is there anything you wanna do? I know you have never been here before." "That's sweet but I don't want to force you to do anything.." "Don't be silly it will be a good distraction." "Can we do the Empire state?" "Sure... book dinner somewhere, and we will go there after. It is amazing seeing the view at night." "Thank you so much Annabelle." The latter smiled. "You're welcome." She rolled her neck as Abby's phone rang. "Umm just one moment please.." Abby put the call on hold. "It's Dan..." she said quietly. "Tell him I am in a meeting.. I'll call him back." Abby nodded understanding before relaying the message and hanging up. "You have gotta give it to him.. He is keen. That's the third call in as many days.." Annabelle nodded. "Doesn't stop the fact he is still a man who lied to me for 6 months and broke my heart." "Very true." Abby replied as Annabelle looked out at the passing skyline.

Arriving at the hotel, the pair checked in swiftly and freshened up before agreeing to meet in the lobby for dinner. Annabelle did her usual of texting her mum to let her know she had arrived safely and sent a photo of the view from her room to her sister. She was surprised to get an almost instant response. Needing her sister more than ever, she picked up the phone and called.

"Belle.. what's up?"
"Nothing, everything.. I don't know."
"Well don't you sound cheerful for somebody on an all expenses paid for trip to the city that never sleeps."
"For a while I had everything, and I think I fucked it."
"Now come on... don't think like that."
"Well how am I meant to think... I had a boyfriend. A nice guy, or so I thought. He turns out to be married. I flee, I go on the most random trip of my life, fall for an amazing famous guy, we agree to try make things work, then man number one arrives and tells me he has broken up his marriage.. FOR ME. Then guy number two thinks I am back with guy number one and boom no guys at all." Annabelle heard her sister sigh.
"So no guy? As in you and Dan are not back together?"
"Not officially no. He came over to make sure I was ok after the Johnny story broke. He kissed me. For a while things felt back to how they were, but is that what I want?"
"Honey, only you know that."
"I just wish for once somebody would tell me what to do..."
"That is unlike you.."
"Tell me about it!!"
"So now what?"
"Now I am in New York, like a bloody intern, as I was too much of an inconvenience at the office. I have got to kiss up to designers, photographers and just be a charming British woman of society in the hope of scoring our next cover girl."
"Sounds like... a dream"
"Yes thank you.." Annabelle said realising she was playing the pity card.
"Look throw some nice clothes on, get dolled up.. go have fun. You are still you, and even without a guy, I think you are pretty awesome."
"That's got to be the nicest thing you have said to me in a while..."
"Hey.. I am always nice to you.. in my own way."
"OK.. what is it you are after?"
"Chanel have this amazing new jacket, its white brushed..."
"Yes ok I will keep an eye out.."
"You are a doll." Annabelle sighed, she knew Lottie hadn't meant it, but that word was used a lot by Johnny. She closed her eyes and swallowed.
"Anytime.. what are sisters for. Thanks for listening."
"Thanks for having a kick ass job that gets me free stuff... oh and for once having the more dramatic life."
"Ha.. You are welcome, but I don't plan to make this a habit."
"B?"
"Yes?"
"Go with your heart. Ignore what your head has to say. Our minds have logic we don't even need to think about. Follow your heart and you can't go too wrong."
"I will, thanks Lottie. Love you.."
"Love you more.."

An hour later, Annabelle and Abby were sat in a rooftop bar admiring the sun setting across Manhattan. Annabelle was on her second Cosmo. "These are good.." she smiled sipping the red drink. "Yeah.. any more and I will be on the floor though. Can we eat now?" Abby said and Belle nodded. "Sure go ahead and order." After snapping a photo of the view and uploading it to social media, she saw Johnny's friend Gina had posted an obscure photo on her story. It looked like a gothic style place, and had a single bottle of wine on the table. It was captioned "Toasting New Starts", Annabelle smiled. Johnny deserved a new start, and she wished him well. She had hoped he would have answered her phone calls and texts explaining what Dan was doing at her place but nothing, he had left her on read for days. Annabelle knew that by now Gina and Stephen as well as the rest of the world would know what had happened, so decided against messaging, but simply reacted with a love heart emoji.

After dinner, and Abby's first visit to the Empire State Building the pair were back in the hotel bar sipping drinks when a group of guys approached. "You don't look like you are from around here." A cocky looking chiselled man said. "That's because we aren't." Annabelle said bluntly turning her back on the man. "Ahh, tourists?" he asked Abby who looked friendlier as she smiled. "Well yes but here on business" the girl said sweetly. "Need somebody to show you a good time?" The man responded with a wink. Annabelle's mouth dropped open. "Oh please..." she said under her breath. She was not in the mood to be hit on. "Actually it is my first time here.. so maybe." Abby said nervously looking at Annabelle. "Be my guest." The latter said, as Abby jumped off her bar stall and headed over to where the men had been sat. "And what is your story?" One of the men who had stayed beside Annabelle said. "My story?" "Yeah who hurt you that you shut everyone out?" "I'm sorry.. you don't know me?" "I know your type.. maybe some fun would help loosen you up." "Really? and what is your version of fun?" Annabelle turned fully to look at the man. "a few drinks, a dance, a goodnight kiss." "Oh yeah.. and I know your type. You'll be expecting more than a goodnight kiss and I am NOT that type of girl." The man sighed. "Hang on... you are that girl.." "Excuse me?" "The girl dating Depp... please don't tell me I just hit on Johnny Depp's girl." "I am not his girl.. not anymore anyway."