Lost and Found

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Saturday 22nd March 2008

Friday had been a long day, she’d been glad to disappear as soon as she could after the meal. She’d chosen the more demure of the two dresses she’d had delivered via Marilyn’s contacts earlier that day. Clay had looked her up and down almost indecently when she’d finally emerged in the black dress with spaghetti straps, a cut away back and a skirt that ended mid thigh.

                “Wow! You really are a woman!” He announced with a smile.

Sarcastically she had grimaced at him before heading out into the snow. True to his word Jeff sat her next to him, but by pure chance, Cole was directly opposite her. By dessert he was playing footsie, grinning as he entertained Mary the West coast manager, but all the time making lewd suggestions with his feet. When she’d finally looked up Clay was glaring between her and Cole with distaste spread across his face.

She’d humoured Jeff for as long as was necessary then when everyone made for the bar; she sloped off, hoping that no one would notice she was missing.

Amelia had been curled up in her pyjamas with her book when she heard the lodge door open. After some shuffling and movement, she heard a gentle tap on her door. Reaching out she flicked off the light and feigned sleep, she had been in no rush to enter in to a debate with him now. There were a whole host of reasons why Cole flirting with her was a bad idea, but she’d had no intention of discussing that at night.

Now as she stretched in bed, she was ready for a new day. The house was in silence, she knew there was a gym and spa on site, but she hadn’t brought any gear with her, so once again dressing for a day of winter sport, she left her room to head for the main building and the restaurant.  As she opened the front door she heard a noise and turning saw Clay stood there, in just a pair of cotton pyjama trousers. Amelia was a little shocked with his tousled bed hair and his surprisingly muscular and tanned chest; he looked more like a replete lover than her super efficient boss.

                “Hey Amelia!” he offered with a still sleepy croak. “You going for breakfast?”

She nodded, “I’m starving! All this fresh air, hey?”

Striding across the lounge to her he reached for her arm, “sorry for being a little hostile last night. Cole Stirling is a serial womaniser, and I just suddenly had the thought of him causing chaos. I don’t want to lose you...OR his father’s contract! But you’re a big girl, and you don’t need me over policing you!”

Amelia chuckled, “at least you’re honest Clay, and I’m well aware of the type of man Cole is, but to be honest this quality of snowboarding lessons would cost me a fortune! And two can play his game, can’t they?”

Clay was still guffawing with uncontrolled laughter when she closed the door behind her.

Eating breakfast in the large pristine, Alpine style restaurant alone felt luxurious to Amelia, whilst she did occasionally feel lonely, she also loved her own time and space, that said, she did smile when she saw Cole weaving through the tables towards her.

She’d been sat at a table at the window overlooking a snow covered valley, the morning sun shining down onto the white tablecloth, but now as Cole sat opposite her with a smile, she found the glare quite blinding. Squinting a little she smiled back.

                “Sleep well?” he asked as he sprawled against the chair. He paused to ask the waitress for orange juice, coffee and over-easy eggs, then turned his eyes lazily back to her. “The beds in the cabins are supposedly the best you can get; I’ve only ever stayed in the main hotel so I can’t comment.”