City Of Love

3.

"Ragan, I'm so glad you came" I heard Patty's voice through the crowd of people. I did not expect to see that many people here, the place was full of unfamiliar faces, laugher and loud conversations. The hallway itself was enormous, a white staircase in the middle which looks like it lead to heaven. The chandelier hanging from the celling looked about the size of my flat.

"I brought this" I said as I passed her the bottle of prosecco, now feeling very cheap. "its all I could find" I started blushing. Prosecco in a place like this, really Ragan?

"It's perfect, you didn't have to bring anything though love, honestly, but thank you" She lead me through to what I believed to be the front room.

"This place is amazing Patty" I said as I looked around, taking in the beauty that was her home.

"It's not much, but its home" she exclaimed. Not much, not much, looks like the queen could bloody live here. "here let me introduce you to a few people. "Katie, i'd like you to meet Ragan Murphy, Ragan this is Katie Holland, our loyal and loving receptionist."

Katie, a small blonde girl with a very petite body pulled me in for a hug. "welcome to the family" she said with a caring grin on her face.

"I'll leave you two alone to chat, I have to go ask the servers to bring out more glasses of Champagne" Patty said as she whisked away through the room.

"Excited to start next week?" Katie asked as she passed me a glass for very expensive bubbly.

"Nervous, but excited. How long have you worked at GloCo for?" I asked then took a very big gulp of my drink.

"Just coming up five years, I started when I was twenty straight out of college, honestly you'll love it" Katie said. She turned around and placed her hand on a guys arm. "Jeremy, this is Ragan, Ragan this is my partner Jeremy"

"Nice to meet you Ragan, may I ask where you are from? You have a lovely accent" Jeremy stated as he smiled warmly.

"A place called Dunmurry, just outside of Belfast" I said as I took another sip.

"Well going from your accent, it must be a lovely place" Katie said. I think this was the start of a new friendship. She seemed so lovely and genuine and all I could ask for was a friend right now.

"Babe, Ash has just turned up, i'm just gonna go and say hello" Jeremy said as he kissed Katie on the cheek.

"Whose Ash?" I asked Katie, looking in the direction Jeremy just walked away in.

"Ashley is Pattys son. He's a nightmare. Beautiful face, but he drives Patty insane" Katie said as she rolled her eyes.

We carried on chatting but was interrupted by the sound of raised voices. I heard Pattys voice in the distance, coming from a different room.

"This is MY party and I will not have you embarrass me in front of MY guest. Go and get changed and straighten up Ashley" I then saw a tall dark hair boy leave the room they were in, perhaps the kitchen, and head up the stairs, followed by Jeremy. Patty followed shortly, her face fluster, probably hoping no one heard the commotion.

"I better go and make sure they are okay, Ash is a very close friend of Jeremy, and a close friend of mine. I'll introduce you in a bit" She hurried off.

I stood admiring the artwork of the house and started to walk around. I ended up walking through a glass door that took me outside onto a patio. I stood there for a while, taking in this new life of mine, wondering if one day, I will have made it this far. I heard the door shut behind me and I jumped.

"Oh sorry I didn't realise anyone was out here" I heard a voice, he sounded angry.

"I'm sorry, I just started wandering, and ended up out here. I'll head inside" panicking thinking I was going to get into trouble. I turned around to see a young man, maybe my age, maybe older standing there with a cigarette in his mouth. He was covered in tattoos, and dressed in black jeans, and a grey shirt. Who was he?

"Yeah I think you should, run along now" well whoever he was he was fucking rude. All I was doing was stood here, plus technically I was here first. I barged passed him.

"Dick" I mumbled, just enough for him to hear me. I heard a chuckle escape his lips before the door shut.

I saw Katie stood back in the front room so I went to join her. I was chatting away with her and Jeremy, when Katie coughed. "Ragan, this is Ashley, Ashley this is Ragan"

I turned around and it was that arsehole from outside, my bosses son. Great.

"We've met" Ashley said winking at me. I just rolled my eyes and turned my back to him.

"Oi Jeremy, lets get out of here. You coming Kate?" Ashley spoke up.

"Well you're both drunk and there is no way i'm letting either of you drive. Ragan, fancy me showing you around London tomorrow?" I nodded, grinning widely.

"That would be lovely, thank you" I passed her my phone and let her enter her number in. "I'll give you a text in the morning?"

"Sounds good, see you tomorrow" She hurried out the door, followed by Jeremy and Ashley. As I looked, Ashley turned around gave me a smirk,and mouthed 'i'll see you around'

God what a jerk.