Freeing Alex Read Online Free Page A

I’d like to say ‘hello’.” I like the feeling that I’m in
control. This is how I used to be before Lewis.
    He gestures towards reception and we walk over. Standing at
the marble counter, the one I spoke to last, Monica, makes her way over towards
us. “Mr Aconi.” She smiles, looking longingly at him, looking flustered as the
man she was discussing with her colleague stands before her.
    “Monica, just get the other two girls please. I’d like to
introduce you to Mrs Drake.” He’s firm. Good – I’m glad he’s keeping the little
miss and her colleagues in check.
    Within seconds all three girls are stood before him, all
with their bright white smiles, all looking like they’re willing him to devour
them instantly and he clearly has their attention.
    “Girls, I’d like to introduce you to…”
    As he starts to speak, I interrupt him, placing my hand on
his arm. “Can I introduce myself?” I look up at him, and I do have to look up – he’s so much taller than me. The girls all look at me, not with daggers, more
like pins!
    “Oh, yes, of course.” He smiles.
    I look at the three girls behind the counter, smiling
sweetly, particularly at Monica. “Hello, I’m Alex Drake. I’m the new owner of
this hotel,” I tell them with just a little smile. I’m enjoying this.
    Two of them smile and say “hello” very politely, but
Monica’s face drops. She looks shocked, eventually stammering, “Mrs Drake.”
    “Yes, Monica, Mrs Drake.” I look at James. “James, I believe
we may have a training issue in this area, in reception. Please can you look
into it for me? We need to address private and personal conversations taking
place in earshot of our – my – guests. Can I leave that with you to sort?” I
smile at Monica again. Oh yes, she knows her card’s marked.
    He looks at his reception team, frowning, and then again at
me. “Sure, I’ll get it organised.” He sounds confused.
    I smile at the girls again and lean towards Monica. I speak
very quietly, nearly whispering at the shocked young woman. “If I hear anything
like that again, lady, you’ll need to convince me to let you keep your job.
Understand?” I don’t wait for her to answer and turn. Walking away, James
catches me up very quickly after a few more quiet words with the girls.
Hopefully that’s put her in her place, little madam.
     He points out the restaurant and various other places that
are quite apparent. I let him carry on his guided tour, he’s clearly done these
tours in the past and has his own set route.
    After he’s shown me a couple of guest rooms, a standard room
and an executive suite, we make our way to the bar where he orders tea. He asks
me a little about myself, my background. I tell him about my relationship with
Maggie, or lack of it, but keep my recent past to myself. There’s no need for
him to know about Lewis and what I’ve run away from, or even that Maggie was my
real mother.  I tell him about Anna and our relocating to London, moving into
what was Maggie’s house. I can’t call it Maggie’s home because she apparently
rented it out, it’s only by sheer good luck that when we moved it was empty
with no new tenants scheduled. I tell him about Anna’s plans for university and
really that, at this point, I’m still feeling my feet, that I want to keep
myself occupied and have decided that, after being here today, I would like to
make the hotel my main focus. Everything else in the portfolio that I’ve
inherited seems to take care of itself, and the night club is only fifty per
cent owned by me, the other shareholder running the place on a daily basis.
    We sit and chat. James gives a little away about himself,
keeping it very professional, however, I’ve worked out that he’s single, which
for the life of me I cannot fathom, but then with an apparent stream of young
and willing girls, why would he want to settle down? He must be incredibly
experienced. He probably puts my sexual experience into