Friday, September 30, 2011

Things Change ~ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Peter that night thought about Cindy and how he felt when he first walked into the café, Cindy made him feel special like he was a person who meant something and not a fat person who should hide away, he thought about the seats in the cubicles and how romantic it would have been to be in one with Cindy he couldn’t help it he liked her a lot, he resolved that each day he would work at losing weight, he wasn’t sure how but something Cindy said spurred him on ‘if I could go one whole month without dessert I would shout myself to a new pair of shoes or a dress’ of course he wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes or a dress but he could buy something else.

He thought about what he would like to ‘treat’ himself to a pair of jeans he thought, it had been years since he had worn a pair but as he looked at himself in the mirror he knew that it would be a long time before he would be able to do that.
So he sat and thought about the things that he probably shouldn’t eat and the things that he should or could do for exercise, Cindy had given herself a month so he picked one food item that he would eliminate and one exercise thing to do every-day for the next month and if he achieved it he would buy himself a new shirt.

At two o’clock in the morning he felt pleased with himself and looked forward to the new day and the excitement of the journey he was about to begin.

The new morning he woke still excited and a little apprehensive whether he could do it or not, one day at a time he reminded himself, so he made breakfast, washed his dishes and mopped his kitchen floor he looked at the towel on the lounge-room floor where he decided that he would do the dreaded floor exercises that Cindy made him do everytime she was here. If there was anything he wanted it was to do the floor exercises well so that he didn’t look like a floundering fat fish.

He sat at the kitchen table looking at the towel that lay on the floor and he knew that if he just did it when he first put the towel down it would have been done by now and he wondered why he was so reluctant to start, it wasn’t as if he would be embarrassed there was no-one around to see him, surely now would be the perfect time to do it, while no-one was around.

After another ten minutes he gathered the determination to just do it, after fifteen sweaty minutes he pulled himself off the floor, fifteen minutes he thought to himself he should be able to do it quicker, he thought about trying again in the afternoon perhaps he could time himself he had an alarm on his phone that would be able to time him. Again he was looking forward to trying, but now he was going to have a shower and wash the sweaty film from him.

The following three days he continued his exercises on the floor in the morning and in the afternoon, he had got his time down to fourteen minutes and was proud that he had taken some time off his floor exercises. Today he was excited, Cindy was coming over and he decided to forgo his morning exercises and work off some of his renewed energy by wiping down the cabinets that had accumulated dust and grime over the years. Peter was surprised that he had allowed it to get out of hand.

She pulled up in front and gathered her bags to take them inside when she looked up she saw Peter at the door he was coming out to gather her bags.

She smiled as he took the bags from her and she looked at him, he looked different somehow, he had never come outside to help her with her bags before, was it confidence that she saw in him. She got the mat out and she thought about changing his routine she knew how much he hated working on the mat but the mat was a vital part of strengthening his core.

As she walked inside she looked around thinking it looked different but everything was in place and she resolved that it must have been her imagination.

After going through Peter’s session she was surprised to see Peter with enthusiasm.
“You’re all perky today, you’ve done the routine with five minutes to spare, congratulations.”

He wiped the sweat from his brow. “Yeah I feel good, the best I’ve felt for a long time.”

She smiled “That’s good. I had a nice time the other night.”

He took a glug of water from a glass and wiped his mouth on his hand towel. “Yeah me too, so since we’ve finished five minutes earlier what do we do with the extra time.”

“Well as you did so well today I say cool down and enjoy.” She looked at him and thought she saw that he would have liked to do more, which she found odd because he was usually glad when the session was finished. “Why don’t we do some more stretches?”

“That would be good.” He smiled

After they finished the stretches she packed up her things to leave.
“Well Peter I’ll see you on our next session Wednesday.”

Peter gave Cindy a great big smile “Look forward to it”

As Cindy started up her engine she mused over the entire session with Peter, something was different and she couldn’t put her finger on it.

Over the following weeks Peter continued to work out on his floor exercises and stayed away from potato chips which were his afternoon and evening treat, each Wednesday Cindy would pick him up and together they would go to the café where they both enjoyed good food, good service and a decent band that played decent music.
Peter was particularly impressed when it came up to his four weeks, one whole month of extra exercise and no potato chips.


Staring at the calendar where the circle indicated that he had done one whole month he placed a big black cross over the circle with the texta in his hand as he did every day, he smiled at his achievement.

Now, for his reward. He showered, shaved and rang for a taxi to take him to the nearest shopping centre where he purchased a new shirt and a new pair of track-pants, he looked at the tailored pants and thought about trying them on. He looked at his purchases and thought that the tailored pants would be his next reward. Pleased with himself he paid for his purchases and went back home.

Peter was surprised that he felt as good as he did, he looked at the towel that lay on the floor as a solitary reminder of the hard work he had put in everyday, it wasn’t easy, once it was done he was glad he did the exercise but getting there was the majority of his battle.

Looking back at the calendar he made another circle on it and thought about his next exercise that he would tackle, he thought about walking but it scared him, he looked at the walking frame and thought that he had to at least give it a go. He thought about how far he would go and where, he didn’t want to go when the kids were about their taunts would crush his ego that had begun to repair.

Looking out the window he watched the sun set over his street and knew that the kids would not be around he slipped on his lace-less sneakers and set off out the door, he put the timer on his watch five minutes he thought at least for a start, two and a half minutes he set the watch for and set off down the path leading away from his door, as the timer went off he was surprised that his time was up and headed back home.

As he walked in the door he felt good, he had a great day, he had reached the one month mark, bought a new shirt and track pants and had walked for five minutes without his frame.

The following week when Cindy came to pick Peter up for their weekly outing she noted his new attire.

“Very nice” she commented gesturing toward his new clothes

“You like it?”

“I do. When did you get this?” she said as she touched the sleeve of his shirt.

“Last week it was a reward.”

She smiled at him “A reward for what?”

“Well I remembered what you said that first night about rewarding yourself for not eating dessert, so I thought that I would do the same and this is my reward.”

“Oh congratulations Peter that’s wonderful I’m proud of you. You know the last couple of weeks I have seen a definite improvement in your workout and whatever you have been doing is working well”

“Those damn floor exercises you make me do, I do them every day and I cut out my potato chips”

“You must feel really good”

“I do”

She turned the car engine over “Well lets go celebrate and my reward to you for taking the initiative my shout.”

Peter blushed “Cindy I couldn’t possibly allow you to pay, what say at the end of the night I get a good night kiss on the cheek.”

Cindy smiled and held out her hand for Peter to shake “Deal.”

Their night together consisted again of good food, good service and a nice healthy dose of good music and wonderful company. The end of the night was drawing to a close and Peter felt excited he was going to get a kiss from Cindy, ridiculous he knew that he was getting excited about a kiss on the cheek but anything remotely close to intimacy he welcomed it had been so long since he had been with a woman.
He sat in the car and performed his weekly line “Would you like to come in for a coffee?”

She smiled at him, he was so sweet she thought, she put her hand on his that sat on his knee and gave his hand a squeeze. “You are wonderful man Peter, I believe I owe you a good night kiss.”

Peter blushed and gave a childish chuckle.

She leant over and kissed him on the cheek “Good night Peter, thank you for a lovely night.”

Peter chuckled again and wished her a good night as he got out of the car. He thought about his next day, he had an appointment at the doctors which he dreaded, more humiliation from the doctor.



Hopefully a new chapter tomorrow


til next time


Happy Reading


Valissa

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Things Change ~ Chapter 3

Chapter 3


As he walked into the café he felt as if all eyes were on him but they weren’t but his imagination and senses fooled him into thinking they were. The smell of the café was a mixture of rich coffee and delicious aroma of good food steaming off of plates, his mouth began to water, the band’s equipment was set up in the corner of the café but they were yet to play, ambient music of their latest self-recorded album played from speakers within the café.


Cindy found a seat that had a reserved sign placed on it and she sat down, he looked around and was instantly glad that she had not chosen the cubicle seats as he simply would not have been able to fit, he sat and commented on how nice the place was.

“I’ve been coming here for close to a year now, I’ve been following the band for close to two, a friend of my sister knows the drummer and I like their music. The café is really nice and they have good food and not overly pricey which is always a bonus.”

A petite redhead came to the table placed a bottle of water in the middle of the table and gave them each a menu that had been tucked under her arm and began to pour water from the bottle into the glasses as she spoke.


“Hey Cindy, how are you today?”


“I’m good thanks Clarisa. Clarisa this is a friend of mine Peter, Peter this is Clarisa one of the finest waitresses I’ve ever had the pleasure of.”


“Stop it, you’re making me blush, hey before I forget to tell you the specials today are seafood linguine and risotto stuffed quail with dessert being a death by chocolate cake with chocolate cream.”


“Mmmm sounds good I may have to treat myself.”


“You always say that but you never do.”


“You got me there.”


“We’ll look at the menu, thanks Clarissa”

Peter looked at her “You don’t treat yourself?”

Cindy smiled “Oh I do, just not with dessert. I always say that just to make Clarissa feel good that she has at least told me about the dessert. I made a pact a long time ago with myself that if I could go one whole month without dessert I would shout myself to a new pair of shoes or a dress and I guess I still do that.”

“But you could have dessert.”

She half smiled at Peter and she wondered how much she could tell him about her past, could she tell him that she was afraid to eat dessert, she knew it was silly but it was a demon that she had fought a long time ago and she knew that the demon was there and that it was easier to not tempt it. She had been strong this long, she wasn’t about to quiver.

“Yes I suppose I could, but I would rather treat myself with other things than food, I remember someone once telling me ‘no food is as good as feeling thin’ and I have always stuck by that.”

Peter was puzzled that she would remember such things she was pretty and skinny and wouldn’t need to watch her weight “But you don’t have any need to remember being thin.”

Cindy shifted uncomfortably in her chair she always felt uncomfortable when someone spoke about her weight, how thin she was, how fat she was, why was the world so obsessed with eating and being fat or being thin, why couldn’t people accept people for who they were. But she knew most people obsessed about food and weight, heavens she should know, she did it, wasn’t that why she got into what she did, to help people, to help herself.

Clarissa came back to the table with order pad and pencil in hand “So what will you guys have.”

Cindy looked at Peter

“You go first.” he said, he wanted to see what she ordered.

“Prawn cocktail and a Mediterranean salad”
Peter looked at the menu wanting the beer battered fish and beer battered wedges “Warm beef salad”

“Do you want that with chips or warm potato with a Chantilly sauce
Umm I’ll have ch…”
Cindy laid a hand on his “Oh Peter try the potato with the sauce its good”

“It is good” Clarissa reiterated

Peter looked down at Cindy’s hand that lingered on his, it seemed so small and petite compared to his large fat hand. “Oh ok well I guess I’ll have that then.”

“Great did you want any drinks?”

“I’ll just stick with water.” Cindy said as she pulled her hand away and began folding the napkin that was in front of her

“I’m good with the water” although he would prefer a beer he thought to himself
As Clarissa left Peter asked the question “So what the hell is Chantilly sauce it sounds fruity.”

Cindy laughed “You’ll like it, it’s a cream based sauce with mustard and vinegar it will go well with your beef salad.”

“So would have the chips.” He joked

The band began and their meal was delivered, Peter was impressed with both and before long the night was drawing to a close and he was wishing that he had more time that he could spend with Cindy, they had a great night and he did indeed like the band and even bought one of their cd’s, he bought it more so that he could play it again and remember the lovely night he had.

She pulled up in front of his house and he suddenly felt nervous he wasn’t sure what the protocol was did he ask her in for a coffee, did he just say thank you, did he give her a kiss, he wanted to.

“Did you want to come in for a coffee or something?”

She smiled slightly, tilted her head and shrugged a little “I would love to but I have an early start in the morning.” She paused as she watched the light in him dull “Would you come again with me next week?”

He smiled and brightened “That would be nice, I had a great time tonight, thank you for asking me.” He paused and looked at her, scared to ask what he wanted to ask “Do you mind if I give you a goodnight thank you kiss on the cheek.”

She laughed and blushed “That would be nice.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek, she patted his hand “Thank you Peter I had a lovely time tonight, I’ll see you next session.”

“Yes, I’ll see you then.”

He got out and waved her off as she drove away, he almost skipped to his front door. As he entered the door and locked it behind him he smiled, he knew that tonight was the beginning of good things to come.

til next time
Happy Reading


Valissa

Friday, September 23, 2011

Things Change ~ Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As she drove to her next client she felt the warm buzz inside her, she always felt good when she made a client feel good about themselves but something was different, of course she had a soft spot for Peter.
The next few hours she busied over her clients and tried to not think of Peter concentrating on her clients.

After shutting the door Peter decided that if he was going out he was having a shower and a shave and would have to find his nicest clothes, he knew that was going to be his biggest problem. What would he wear, he didn’t have any nice clothes he never went anywhere, ‘what you’re wearing now would be fine’
It would have to do, he had nothing else, of course he would wash them as soon as he got out of the shower.

As he waited for his clothes to dry in the dryer he decided that he would do some cleaning up, some dusting, and he tried to recall the last time he did, impossible trying to think when he did, he knew that he had to do something he was edgy, and he couldn’t sit still. He felt like a teenager going on a first date again. He smiled he liked Cindy, he liked her a lot but she was way out of his league, too young and way too pretty, he wondered what her boyfriend must think that she is going out with one of her clients.

A pity date, that’s what this was he thought to himself but even if it was he was going to enjoy it.

He looked at his watch for what must have been the thousandth time and it ticking by so slowly, it wasn’t quite seven and he agonised over whether she would turn up or not, he wouldn’t blame her if she did but he knew that she wasn’t the type of person to stand him up and after all, she asked him out. He looked at his watch again.

She was running late, she hated running late and she knew that if she was even a minute late Peter would begin to fret and quite possibly pike out, she really wanted him to begin enjoying life, what was the point of living if you didn’t enjoy it, most especially when you had the capacity to do so as Peter did, it was only his shame and embarrassment that held him back.

Pulling her car over she decided to call him ahead to let him know that she was running late.

“Hi Peter its Cindy”

She’s cancelling he thought and his heart felt like concrete, he tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “Hi”

She heard it even though he tried to hide it “I’m running a little late so I just thought I would let you know I’ll see you soon.”

“Oh you don’t….”

“I have to go Peter or I’ll be even later I’ll be there shortly.”

She hung up and stared at the phone he was going to pike out, she was glad she didn’t give him the chance. She turned off the hazard lights of her car and pulled back onto the road, she would be around ten minutes late she mused.

He put the phone back on the hook and wished that she would have given him the chance to cancel now she was on her way, he shouldn’t have accepted, people would stare he knew that, ‘what’s the pretty young girl doing with him?’

Deciding to pass the time he went to his computer and began playing some computer games, she didn’t say how late she was going to be, he looked at his watch again, five minutes, he decided to switch the computer off in case she arrived, it was only a matter of time now.

He looked through the curtains it was dark out, he was thankful that it was, that way he wouldn’t have children or neighbours jeering at him. He looked at his watch again, he was feeling sick and wondered why he was putting himself through it all, it was after all a cup of coffee in a café with his therapist, but it hung that they wouldn’t be client and therapist, that they would be two people, man and woman in a public setting.

He mopped his brow with his handkerchief that he kept in his pocket and hoped that for the rest of the evening it would be the last.

A glint of lights shone through the slits of the curtain where they didn’t draw together properly and he peered out of the window. Butterflies flew around in his chest and he smiled, it was her.

He left the kitchen light and the porch light on for his return and exited his small one bedroom unit that he called home, a far cry from his four bedroom two bathroom house that he had once called home, but it was a roof over his head and he was grateful for that at least.

She saw him come out of the house and gave a little wave, he got in the car and he thanked her for the evening out.

“It’s me who should be thanking you, I go to the café every Wednesday and I sit alone and I would much prefer to have company so, thank you.”

He gave her a puzzled look “But you are so pretty you could have anyone, why me?”

She gave a little laugh and blushed “Thank you Peter but I’m really not that pretty and it’s not that easy to find someone nice.” She put her hand on his “As for asking you, I like you, I feel comfortable around you and we have a lot in common, so why wouldn’t I.”

He almost said that it was because he was fat that she shouldn’t, but there was a look in her eye that held him back, so he sat and said nothing.

“Ok well let’s get going.” She put the car in reverse, reversing out the drive and drove to the café which was ten minutes away.


Next Chapter hopefully tomorrow.


Til then


Happy Reading


Valissa

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A new short story

Last month I joined a writing group and we were given a project to do, after being given the start of a sentence we were to carry on and keep writing.
One story is in an earlier blog 'a dog named Bob' and today I am posting the other story although I havent finished it.
This is a challenge to me to get my mojo back so the first chapter I have below.

I hope you enjoy

I have called it.

Things change

A very large man was the subject of ridicule from the teenage children who walked passed his house every day. The taunts came thick and fast and he doubted that they knew how much their taunts caused pain in his heart.
It was hard to hear it, hard to hear the truth but even harder when it got slammed home with such viciousness, it didn’t matter if he was inside the house or not, or even if he was not at his home at all, the kids still threw their verbal taunts at him.


They would laugh and carry on and keep on walking and he knew that within one minute of hurling their taunts that they would have forgotten all about him, they would be talking about the latest music or sport or whatever it was that teenage children talked about these days.


But for him the matter hurt, and he wouldn’t have forgotten about it, it would take him a good couple of hours to heal the taunts, to block the hurt, he tried not to let it bother him but bother him it did, it hurt.


Sometimes he would cry, the hurt would just get to him and he would just cry and wonder why they had to be so cruel, sometimes he would get so angry at the children that he wanted to go out and hurt them, but he knew that wasn’t the answer and if he did go out the children had larger numbers than himself alone he wouldn’t stand a chance not only that but he would be in trouble with the police.


He hadn’t always been a large man, over the years it had just crept on but since he had the accident and was placed on medication the weight piled on and he blew out like a balloon, sometimes he would look at photos of when he was younger, he was handsome, he had been the best and fairest in his footy team three years running, it had been a great time in his life.


Funny how things change, he looked around his room at the sparse old second hand furniture and wished that he could go back twenty years to when his life was good, he was ashamed to admit it but he took it all for granted, life had been very good, he had a wife, two children, a beautiful home, a great job, he was content, happy and satisfied with himself.


It only took one day to change it, a moment in time to change a life of good with all that life had to offer, to a life that was hard and have nothing and no-one, to find the courage to get out of bed each day was a struggle in itself and to ask the question why it was worth getting out of bed that day?


He found it hard to look for the good in each day, which was what his therapist had asked him to do, each day he needed to find something good in his life. But he found it hard to find good in the kids that taunted him each day.


Most times the only good in his life was the therapist herself, she was kind and pretty to look at and if he had of been younger and not so disabled he would ask her out on a date, but who would want to date an old fat man.


He looked at the walking frame he was supposed to use when walking it was such a pain in the arse he hated using it and around the home he would use it but when he had to go out he needed it and it was embarrassing this was something only old women used not a fifty something man.


He wanted one of those scooters to buzz around on but they were expensive and he tried for aid but his disability was deemed not bad enough for a scooter to be granted to him.


Cindy his therapist had suggested several times that he should give swimming a go as part of his therapy session but he balked at it each and every time, the thought of going to the pool terrified the living daylights out of him and that hurt too because he used to love swimming and going to the pool, that of course was before he became obese, morbidly obese were the doctors words, in fact he said that if there was a category after morbidly obese he would fit into it. He wondered if the doctor knew how humiliating he felt, perhaps the doctor was trying to shame him into losing weight, it didn’t work it only made him feel more miserable and he tried not to, but he turned to food for comfort.


Today Cindy was coming and he always enjoyed the days she came, she was so sunny everything brightened the moment she stepped into the door.


“Good morning Peter, how are you today?” she said smiling


“Good morning Miss sunshine I am a lot better now that you are here.”


Cindy laughed “Oh Peter, you do have a way with words” she put her bags down two of them and went back out to the car for her mat.


He hated the mat, floor exercises. It meant that he had to get down on the floor to do the exercises and it took effort to get down without looking like an elephant and a while to get up without looking like a beached whale rolling around.


“Ok let’s get started.”

For the next hour the two did exercises with Cindy leading the way and coaxing and coaching, she enjoyed working with Peter he was such a gentle man, and very kind. She had seen the photos around his dilapidated home and she could see that once upon a time he had been quite a good looking man and had a very beautiful family.


She didn’t know the reason that some people came to her, only that they had come to her and it was usually through the centrelink program to help get them off disability. She had been working with Peter for a few years now and she wasn’t getting very far with his rehabilitation and she thought that it had a more serious note to his disability than just the physical side to it, but she wasn’t able to speak with anyone regarding his progress or speak to his doctor, this was probably the most frustrating part of her job that she couldn’t do it effectively as she would like. Sometimes in order to heal, the healing needed to come from several sides. And Peter needed extra help.


Over the time she had come to care for Peter he was funny, smart, charming they had a lot in common and she liked him, a lot and probably a bit too much for a professional to be liking her client.


He wasn’t that much older than her, only nine years and she knew he thought she was younger, a lot of people did, she was glad that she was able to maintain a youthful image without enhancements or cosmetic interference, it was all down to healthy eating, regular exercise and good genes.


As she was packing up, she saw the light that had been shining in him snuff out, her heart tore that he was so lonely, he was such a kind man.

“What are you doing tonight?” she asked she didn’t know why she asked and she knew where she was going with it and it was against all of her working principal but she just had to ask, she wanted to ask.

“Sitting in front of the television watching bad shows. Why?”


“Well there is this really nice band playing at a cute little café that I regularly frequent and it would be nice to have a companion”

She wants me as a companion he thought and his heart began beating faster and he blushed. He didn’t have anything to wear apart from track pants and old t-shirts with holes in them.

“You don’t want me tagging along.”


“Of course I do that’s why I asked.”

She noted his unease and her heart went out to him “Come on please I would really love for you to hear this band I think you would like them.”

He hung his head in shame “I don’t have anything to wear.’ he admitted
She smiled in sympathy she knew how he felt “Its ok, what you’re wearing now would be fine, I’ll pick you up at seven.”
He looked down at his daggy track pants and faded blue t-shirt that was half soaked in sweat, she couldn’t possibly be serious he hesitated “if you’re sure.”


“Never surer, I’ll see you later Peter”

As she said her goodbye she noted the glint in his eye, his spark was coming back and she smiled.


Chapter 2 to be posted (hopefully) tomorrow.


til next time

Happy Reading
Valissa

Friday, September 16, 2011

Receiving Mail



Today in the mail I received a lovely thank you letter, and then when I went to my email account I received another thank you email, it made me feel all warm and gooey inside.

One was from a library that I donated a book to as they lost some books in a natural disaster and they thanked me for my generosity and kind heart and the other was from a lady (Sonia ~ thank you) who had read my book and loved it wanting to know when the next one is coming out.

I haven't been able to wipe the smile from my face all morning.


I love writing and I enjoy making up stories but hearing that other people too enjoy it, makes writing all the more worthwhile.


SO THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Til next time
Happy Reading

Valissa

Thursday, September 15, 2011

One day into the next

I can't believe we are up to Thursday already.

It seems that this week has gone so fast and I wonder where it has gone. As I look back over the week I wonder what I have done, I know that I have been busy, but with what???

I haven't written much, maybe a sentence and I haven't read anything this week, I haven't even so much as opened a front cover, so as I sit and ponder what I did this week it reminded me of something that I have heard from a few inspirational speakers that I have seen over the years.

Fill your life with high quality stuff.

Those of course weren't the exact words and the words differ from person to person.

But the meaning is there and it is the same.

If you don't fill up your time with high quality things it will be filled with low quality things.

For instance if I want to write for the day but I don't put the effort into writing my day will be taken up with other things such as cleaning the toilet.

Now this for some people may be an important thing to do and while I agree to a certain point it is, it is not how I wanted to spend my day, I wanted to write but I filled my time with other less meaningful tasks.

I have heard that the same principal applies to other areas in your life, your house, your garden, your mind and etcetera. If you don't fill your garden with flowers it will be filled with weeds, if you don't fill your mind with knowledge what is it filled with. So what do you want to fill your life and mind with??

I suppose the point that I am trying to make to myself is that I need to put a lot more effort in what I want out of my day, my week, my life.
I have also heard that those who create a wish list or a to do list achieve and experience more.

Something to ponder......

I wonder what is going to be on my list.... What's on yours????

Til next time
Happy Reading
Valissa

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Believe


Last week on impulse I bought a trinket and I'm not usually into buying trinkets it is a wood carving of the word "Believe" and I put it on the side table in my dining room.
I'm not sure why I bought it or what possessed me to buy it but the message is simple.
Believe
Then today I was looking through the inspirational quotes on google and this was the first thing I saw.

I think someone is trying to tell me something.

I hope that you all have something to believe in.



Til next time

Happy Reading
Valissa

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Off to a publisher

As yet untitled..........
If you are following the story and wish to know the end you may have to wait a little longer. While I originally committed to blogging it, over the weekend I changed my mind.
I named it Becky although I'm still not convinced on the title and this morning shipped it off to a publisher in the hope of having it published, and so until I hear from the publisher I wont continue to post it on my blog.
My writing mojo took a beating last week but I still so desperately want to write, I blame my writing mojo on the crappy weather we had last week, Monday was a beautiful day and then the rest of the week turned to shit.
Today the sun is out, it's a lovely day still has a bit of a chill in the air but if I sit in the sun out of the wind I could pretend it's spring.
Til next time
Happy Reading
Valissa

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Lost my writing Mojo

I'm not quite sure where I lost it or when, but it was sometime last week.
A lot of things went haywire for me last week and the frustration set in, but a lot of good things happened too and I guess I should ride on the good things rather than dwell on the frustrating things. We all have bad days. (Mine was a bad week) And I still cant get my printer to work after a week. Technologically savvy I'm not.
I often wonder if I am trying to do things too fast and get results too fast or am I not patient enough.
Does this happen to anyone else???
I suppose there are other people who get frustrated just because things aren't going as smoothly or as anticipated as they would like. Maybe I expect too much.
So each time I sat down to write last week it just wasn't there and it scared the crapola out of me, I love writing and take so much pleasure in it, I cant even get into reading and that too scares me I have always loved reading.
I don't have the answer, I don't even know if people like what I write. I suppose I should say that I write for myself and I do, I love writing but it's nice to hear what people say about what you write but good is always better than the bad.
I'm not sure how to get my mojo back, maybe I will take the next week off and leave the computer alone, I might even hide the books I am trying to read. I think during the next week I might do some cooking. What do you think??
Well til next time
Happy Reading
Valissa

Saturday, September 10, 2011

As yet untitled ~ Chapter 6

WARNING!
The following chapter contains sexually explicit material. For those who are easily offended, I highly recommend that you do not continue reading.
Chapter six

“You know the city well.”

“I’ve lived here all of my life, well not here in the city in the suburbs over the years you see it all or most of it anyway and it becomes a part of you, going to the MCG to see the footy or the cricket, seeing Chloe for the first time going to the Melbourne cup being in Melbourne on grand final day has a buzz all of its own.
The history behind Melbourne is something that some of us hold dear so I can understand definitely where your enemy is coming from.”

“He is not my enemy we are business associates”

She raised an eyebrow “Aah! You see,” she said waving a chopstick at him “you underestimate the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, it may have started over one hundred years ago but it is well and truly alive today, I guarantee it.”

She leaned forward She took his tie in hand and gave it a friendly gentle tug “your business associate if what you are telling me about him and his company will have that ingrained in him, Melbourne would be oozing from his pores and to have a Sydney company take what he and his family built would be a crushing defeat. He will not go down without a fight.”

The rest of the meal was spoken of art and music and how she would love to take him to the Myer music bowl for a free concert with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra or perhaps a movie in the botanic gardens, they spoke of sport and hobbies, she was surprised to find him a collector of stamps that started as a child and she told him how she was a collector of spoons as she inherited her grandmothers collection and she added to it when she went on holidays, although she didn’t classify it as a real hobby.

She looked at her watch it was five past ten and as she looked around the restaurant it had begun to thin out.
He noticed her looking at her watch and he felt a twinge of sadness that the evening was about to end, for the first time in a long time had he enjoyed the company of a woman for something other than the pleasure of the body.

It felt good to be able to talk to someone other than work and it was then that he realised how much time, effort and energy he had put into working for PEH, he had given them everything and he hadn’t realised it until now as he looked at Becky, she had shown him that there was more to life than work, there was life itself, things to enjoy, things to see, experiences to behold and memories to make.
He thought of his own memories and what he had over the past eight years he had worked for PEH there were several defining moments and at the time he relished them but other than sheer accomplishment of a goal driven by the company he had not done anything for himself.

Tonight he didn’t want her to leave, he didn’t want to sleep in the bed alone he wanted to wake up next to her and breath her in as he took in his first conscious breath of the morning, hell he wanted to wake up next to her every morning, but first he would deal with tonight and tomorrow they would talk about every other day after that.

She had looked at her watch again

“Did you want to get going?” he nodded toward her watch

She blushed, embarrassed that he had seen “It’s getting late and I have to get to work tomorrow.” and I don’t like taking public transport at night alone she thought, perhaps she could catch a cab.

“Then we shall get going.” He put his hand up to signal the waiter and the bill.

Rebecca reached for her purse as the dish with the bill was bought to the table.

“No, I’ll pay.” He said as he placed a plastic card on the dish and handed it to the waiter.

“I could’ve paid.”

He smiled and leaned on the table “I’m sure you could have. If it makes you feel any better consider it payment for showing me around your city.”

“I’m not a thing that can be bought.”

“Then accept it as being a part of a date.”

She smiled and leaned forward to mirror him “Do you expect a kiss at the end of a date?”

“I don’t expect one,” I will be getting one though “but if one happened my way from a beautiful woman such as yourself, then I would be inclined to accept graciously.”

Feeling like a schoolgirl on her first date she eyed his dark brown eyes that as he just spoke darkened sending a pleasurable shiver through her body, his voice had deepened into a low throaty drawl that sent her heart fluttering and her pulse racing, it had been a long time since a male had caused such response from her body, she took in a long breath to calm her racing heart.

The waiter came back with Lucas’s card he tucked it into his wallet placing his wallet in his pocket.

He stood and held out his hand, she got up from the seat and smiled up at him, oh yes, she was going to remember this day for a long time.

He held her hand and the warmth from her hand ran up his arm and into his heart and it swelled with the warmth, it felt good, it felt right. He shifted his fingers so that they entwined with hers he looked down into her eyes, her beautiful jade green eyes with their gold simmering flecks had darkened with lust oh he knew and he knew she knew it too he could sense it, feel it, smell it.

He wanted her tonight, tomorrow night and every night after that he wanted to look in her eyes and watch them change knowing that he had caused the smouldering passion beneath.

She looked into his eyes and she saw desire and wanton lust his hand so big in hers and how she wanted them over her body to explore.
As they stepped out into the street the warm summer air breezed across her face whipping lightly at her hair Lucas still intent on watching her face darting his eyes ahead every now and then ensuring they were still walking on the footpath he stopped turned and with his free hand bought it up to her face tucking the straying strand of her hair behind her ear.

He trailed his finger down her cheekbone to the tip of her chin tilting it up so that she was looking into his eyes again, hers darting between his eye and his mouth and his eyes too darting to her mouth, she parted her lips a little and licked her lips
Not standing it any more he cupped his hand on her face and bent down to kiss her lips. Never before had such a simple kiss done such things to his insides it was a strange feeling like coming home, knowing that this was where someone belonged and that it was right, that it was perfect. Her lips were so soft and sweet he darted his tongue tasting the sweetness from her oh how he wanted her, he shouldn’t have begun to kiss her here, his body pulsated beneath his clothes.
She bought her hand up to the nape of his neck and pulled him in closer. Her pulse roared to life, his lips demanding and hot, his tongue so cleverly darting and her knees began to weaken beneath her.
He pulled himself away and ran a hand though his hair as he stared into her eyes “I want you.” He said in a growl he barely heard as his own voice
The low throaty growl from him stirred her insides and she took in a breath as she looked into his eyes she couldn’t say anything unable to say a thing she opened her mouth to say something but all she could let out was a sultry breath.
He grabbed her hand and almost dragged her along toward the hotel. He punched in the elevator and stood a distance from her as he was afraid of what he might do in public if he were to touch her.
Inside the elevator she could feel the sexual tension and she knew why he was keeping his distance and she was glad of it she needed time to recoup her thoughts sensible Rebecca would not follow through with this, it was too crazy she knew that once inside his room they would make love and her sensibilities went straight out the window. Becky would make love to him and enjoy it having no thought of the tomorrow or the consequences, sensible Rebecca knew that she was falling in love and she would get hurt, but being in his arms, kissing him felt so right it felt like it was meant to be, if only she could enjoy it without falling deeper for him.

They walked along the hallway to his door the sexual tension building with each step, he opened it allowing her in first before he put out a sign on the handle and walked in behind her.

She turned around to face him and he was right behind her looking down into her eyes, his eyes dark, brooding, very dangerous and it turned her on.
He ran a hand up to her face before claiming his mouth on hers, there was no hesitation and no gentleness from either as their lips and tongues met in a hot greedy, seeking and demanding kiss.

Her hands plunged into his hair grabbing and pulling demanding running them down his back over his shirt. She wanted to feel his skin beneath her hand.

She clambered at his tie pulling and tugging it lose from its knot, his lips not letting hers go nipping at her bottom lip, he kissed her chin while her fingers trembled at the buttons of his shirt at the top of his neck, as she got the top undone she plunged her lips to his neck feeling the racing pulse beneath her tongue as she tasted the saltiness of him her fingers continued down button by button as her lips followed her hands.

His hands entangled themselves in her hair as she devoured and savoured his skin, he could hear his own ragged breath and felt his lungs on fire, he couldn’t think, he pulled her up to him and he claimed her hot wet mouth on his in pure animalistic greediness.

Her hands dug into his back and ran their way along the rippled hard muscle beneath. His own hand ran up the length of her feeling her body beneath the fabric oh god he had wanted to do that since she flashed her leg earlier that day.

The thought of her leg and them wrapping around him stirred his loins til they ached, how could one person want another so bad, the ache the want the need the desire the passion it was overwhelming.
He wanted her, needed to feel her he had to have her as if it was breath itself that he needed.

Her arms had wrapped themselves around his neck as his lips had locked onto hers, he savagely kissed her jaw leading down her neck, she threw her head back as his kisses sent her pulses soaring, he wasn’t sure if the moan came from him or if it came from her.

Lifting the dress, he ran his hand along her smooth toned legs he continued to lift the dress higher til she helped him rid of the material that created a barrier between them, he flung the dress on the floor and plunged his mouth into the heaving flesh of her bosom that rose and fell with every heavy breath of hers, he cupped his hands and teased before removing the lacy garment that had created another barrier.

His bare chest with bulging muscles wasn’t enough she wanted to see all of him in all his glory, she fumbled at the belt and pawed at the unforgiving button, damn it, so many fastenings she thought and zipped frantically away at his pants dragging them down, as he too took off all that was remaining of hers, he kicked off his shoes and stepped out of the pants hanging around his ankles he picked her up and laid her on the bed before lowering himself on top of her.

He expertly kissed her from head to toe, murmuring how beautiful and how sweet, but Rebecca couldn’t hear but the blood rushing in her head, soaring and floating she arched beneath him, demanding that he take her.

“Not yet” he murmured against her skin.

She shivered and shuddered, at the heightened sense of her arousal he took her, they slithered and clambered and their hearts pounded together with echoing heartbeats sounding like the drums of an ancient jungle rhythm, the heat between them intensified as the raw primal need had them scraping and clawing, arms and legs tangled, skin on skin, lips on lips til together they rode the crest ever increasing, searing, demanding and flashing between them, he cried out, pushing himself closer as she tumbled over the crest and screamed out his name arching her back before falling limply against the bed.

Collapsing against her, he could her hear and feel her heartbeat beneath him, she had wound her arms around him and closed her eyes. His breath laboured, his lifted himself up and looked into her sultry sexy eyes all dark with desire, he smiled as he tenderly kissed her lips and pulled himself off atop of her and pulled her close into the crook of his arm.

He wondered after this how he could go on living without her, and he wondered if it were too soon to tell her that he was in love with her, he ran his hand down her spine and felt her shiver beneath it, he pulled the covers over them both and kissed her forehead.

Again they rode and rose the crest of love and intimacy only this time savouring the pleasure each other bought before they both fell asleep in each others arms.

Friday, September 9, 2011

As yet untitled ~ Chapter 5

Chapter 5


She followed him into his decadent room, her eyes took in all the opulence. She eyed the bed and imagined him sleeping in it waking up with his hair tousled on the pillows, she wondered if he would he sleep naked, the thought sent a shiver down her spine.

He walked up behind her and bent toward her ear and whispered “did you want to give it a test run?”

Her heartbeat raced, she closed her eyes, licked her lips and waited for the wave of desire that washed over her subside. She swallowed and took a breath. “I’m sure it’s been tested before.” she turned around to face him taking a step back as she did she lifted her bags to create a barrier between them “I don’t want to carry these around all day, can I trust you enough to leave them here?”

“I can trust me, can you trust you.” he drawled moving in closer to her.

She could feel the sexual tension between them, she knew it was there, it prickled beneath her skin, it was uncomfortable but alluring, dangerous but sexy and as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted him.

She took a step backward, turned, put the bags on the bed and turned back towards him “Lets go, otherwise we’ll miss out on the best that Melbourne has to offer.”

She had top get out of the hotel it was too intimate, too seductive, too alluring best to start with Chloe she thought.

They got out of the hotel and headed for the trams. “I was hoping we’d catch a W-class but there are not a lot of them around anymore which is a bit of a shame.”

“What’s a w-class?”

“It’s a type of tram they’re the green ones that Melbourne is so synonymous with. I can remember the first time I got on one, I was so excited.”

He watched the gold flecks in her eyes dance as they flickered with excitement.

“This is our stop.”

They got off and headed across the street.

“So were seeing Chloe.”

“Yep.”

She stopped outside the Young and Jackson her hand poised on the door.
“She’s in a pub.”

“Yep.”

“She’s a waitress?” he asked quizzically

She shook her head

He frowned. “A stripper?”

She laughed, grabbed his hand and pulled him inside “She’d be an old one, we have to get a beer first. You’re paying.”

He didn’t question it “What’re you having?”

“You’re in Melbourne and you are about to meet Chloe, it has to be a beer.”
“Two middies thanks.”
She laughed and poked him in the ribs “Damn Sydneysider, you’re in Melbourne we drink pots or if you’re a girl it’s a glass but most people drink pots so..” she nodded to the bartender who had a grin on his face “two pots thanks.” She said holding up two fingers.
They grabbed the drinks and Rebecca headed off in the direction of Chloe. “Well. There she is, Cheers Chloe.’ She held up her pot to Chloe.

“I don’t see anyone.”

She smiled, it was the same reaction she had when her dad bought her to meet Chloe when she was eighteen, it was a family tradition that all of her older brothers had been through when they turned eighteen and just because she was a girl she wasn’t able to escape it.

Rebecca pointed to the painting “Chloe I would like you to meet Lucas our guest for the day, he’s a Sydneysider.”

He raised his eyebrows “Chloe is a painting.”

“Oh she’s much more than that, Chloe is Melbourne. Chloe to Melbourne is the Mona Lisa to France she should be hailed a national hero, she’s beautiful.”

He sat there and eyed Chloe.

After leaving Chloe they walked down over to Federation square along the Yarra and Birrarung Marr over the footbridge where she pointed out the MCG.

“I’ve seen it in lights at night, it’s a pretty sight at night.”
“Have you been?” she asked
“To the MCG?”
“Yeah.”
“No.”
“I wish it were winter and there was a game on so I could take you for the atmosphere.”

They continued walking til they came to Fitzroy gardens and she gave the history of Captain Cooks cottage and went on a tour with Lucas being amazed that it had been transported from England to Melbourne.

“Let’s walk” she held out her arm and he took it as they walked along the grass
“Where are we going?”
“For a walk.”
“That’s all we have done”
She smiled and poked a finger into him “Someone has to walk off all that McDonalds you put into your body”

He begun to understand a little why the Lewis’s were so reluctant to let go of their company, pride and history and he wondered back to all of the other companies that they had bought out and while the majority were reluctant to let go none of them were as old as the Lewis’s company he at least knew that much.

She took a hold of his hand “Come, I want to show you something.” She walked over to a tree that had been intricately carved. “When I was a little girl my mum bought me here I fell in love with it so much. It’s called the fairy tree and you make a wish and the fairies come and collect your wishes and make them come true. When my Mum was little, her mum bought her to see it and one day I’m going to bring my own children to visit I hope that I too have a girl and give her the same wonderful memory.”

She looked up at him, she could imagine having children with him and walking through the gardens as they were now.

She blushed.

He watched her blush as she talked about having children and he felt that tug again and a knot forming in his stomach it was different to any other he had felt before not like the knots in his stomach he got when he was involved in taking over a company involved in tough negotiations, this was different.

He lifted a hand to her face to remove the strand of hair from her face, his movement was involuntary and as he touched her silky smooth skin beneath he felt the warmth run up his arm and through his body stirring in his heart. Oh boy what a day he thought as he dropped his hand.

He was close, a little too close maybe but she couldn’t move she was mesmerised by his dark eyes that were once menacing but now softened, she closed her eyes as his hand was brushing over her cheek she took in a sharp breath of air the touch of his hand sent a warm spiralling sensation around her body like fireworks just set off before they exploded, she knew that it was only a matter of time before she felt those explosions.

It was dangerous for her to be feeling anything for Lucas he was from Sydney he would be leaving the next day and she should not be falling in love with him, she knew she was or maybe it was lust, but she had been in this position before, falling in love. Didn’t she promise herself to not go there again, that it was too hurtful to love. No, it wasn’t the loving that hurt, it was the losing them. So how was she going to not fall in love? She smiled up at him.

Rebecca Peterson was the girl who fell in love and got married.
Becky Peterson had a damn good time and didn’t think about the consequences, she lived for the moment and today she was Becky.
“Make a wish.” She whispered and closed her eyes
And so he did.
She looked at him and smiled as he held his eyes closed, not many men would make a wish at the fairy tree.

She grabbed his tie “Come on there’s still so much to see.” she skipped off down the path.

As his tie slipped through her fingers and she skipped off down the path he briskly walked to try and keep up with her, he frowned at the woman who dressed in sunshine yellow and shoulder length auburn hair had just given him a glimpse of marriage, home cooked meals, children and she now skittered away like a frisky foal.

He watched as she twirled around in the sunshine as she called for him to hurry up, it was probably a good thing that she had skipped off because it was far too dangerous for him to be thinking about marriage, what the hell had he been thinking about that for?
He frowned. Marriage? Kids? Where the hell had that come from? Shit, he couldn’t even keep a girlfriend let alone a wife, and kids. His stomach wound itself up in knots. Just as well she wasn’t his type.

After a few tram rides Lucas was glad that she knew where she was going, as they past certain spots she would point out things to him tell her of things she did with her family or her school and her memories of them, it warmed him and a glow in the centre of his chest expanded.

Walking around the Old Melbourne Gaol Rebecca unconsciously hooked her arm through his he looked down at it and wondered if she had done it deliberately or if it were natural to her. He was surprised that he asked himself because she was natural and beautiful.

“I’ve always wanted to come here at night.”

“Are you crazy?” he stopped and looked at her with surprise

“Maybe, they say there are ghosts that haunt these walls.”

“I bet, and you want to come here at night.”

“Yeah they have a night tour, if you were staying longer I’d make you come with me.”

“Not a hope in hell”

She laughed she never thought that tough businessman Lucas would be afraid.

“There’s one more thing I want to show you.” She said as she tugged him along

Again they boarded a tram “If we’re lucky we will catch Phar Lap.”

“You are crazy.”

“He’s in the museum we may just make it.”

And make it they did just in time

“We shall be closing in fifteen minutes Miss.”

“That’s all it will take I just want to show my Sydneysider friend here Phar Lap.”
Lucas scowled at her introduction of him as s Sydneysider, even though she meant it as a joke.

The man behind the counter smiled “Way you go miss, enjoy.”

As they stood in front of Phar Lap and she had seen him before, she couldn’t help but feel pride welling inside her as she did each time she visited, Phar Lap was a national icon, a hero and here she was standing in front of him.
Lucas couldn’t believe that he was standing in front of Phar Lap, he didn’t even know that Phar Lap was in Melbourne yet here he was standing before him
“We are closing please make your way to the exits” came the overhead voice.

They ambled out of the museum and Rebecca smiled it had been a whirlwind afternoon but even so, there was still so much that she could show him, that she wanted to show him, to experience, Melbourne gave and had so much that even she had not experienced it all.

“Are you hungry?” she asked

“I am a bit.”

“I know just the place.” she said with a smile on her face

“I don’t think I like that idea.”

“Oh you’ll like it.” She said as she grabbed the sleeve of his jacket dragging him along.

A few more tram stops they entered a building and rode the elevator to a café called Kiosk 88 where they ate muffins and drank coffee Rebecca contemplated telling Lucas what she had planned for him next but thought best that she leave it for a surprise.

“Finished?”

“Yeah.”

“Come along with me.”

They walked along a little further and came to a desk where she purchased some tickets, Lucas thought that maybe they were going to the movies.
“This is ‘The Edge’”
“You want me to go out there.” he said pointing
She stifled a giggle at his horror and held on to his arm “You’re not scared are you?”
“No!” yes, petrified. “Just surprised, I wasn’t expecting to walk out hundreds of metres off the ground.” He replied uncertain

Rebecca got the response she was hoping and if he was scared he didn’t show it as they walked out on the glass that was suspended three hundred metres in the air.

But Lucas was surprised once he got over his initial fear and treated the glass beneath his feet as a floor he was ok and he began to enjoy the view it offered.

“It would be beautiful at night.”

“Yes I believe it would”

“You haven’t been at night”

“I haven’t been here at all this is my first time”

He smiled that just as he was experiencing something new in Melbourne so was Becky and it enthralled him that they did it together and again he felt that warm glow within him a sense of excitement swirled around in him, he wanted to kiss her, he leaned closer to her.
She took Lucas by the arm and looked up at him as he leaned in, she knew what he wanted, she didn’t want to go there, not really she was afraid that she wanted it too much, but the pull, the magnetism was there, the fire, the heat the excitement, the anticipation was there “Let’s go find a restaurant that’s on terra-firma.”

Thursday, September 8, 2011

As yet untitled ~ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Her eyes flew open, she knew because she felt them bugg out of her head and if she was in a comic strip they would have stretched out half way across the table. Holy hell she knew how to pick em.

This made him laugh he was going to milk this for a bit and enjoy every minute of it. He smiled, he tried the gangster smile and he leaned back in his chair and threw his arms behind his head.

She squirmed in her seat, she was going to die what the hell was she thinking, walking up to some strange guy, tease him and think she could get away with it.

The look on her face was priceless, her eyes darted looking for an escape, he smiled even more as she squirmed in her seat, he couldn’t do it to her any more.

She looked for other places she could sit she would simply excuse herself and sit elsewhere she spotted a spare seat by the wall she grabbed her tray.

As she grabbed his tray he put his hand on hers and watched her eyes as they flung from their joined hands to his eyes, hers were filled with terror. “I’m not a gangster. I’m a businessman.” He said

Relief washed over her, she let out the breath that she didn’t know she was holding. She looked down at his hand that was still on hers. It was big and it entirely swallowed her small hand, it was warm and maybe it was her imagination but it felt like it was tingling and getting hotter.

It was time to come clean. “I work for P.E.H. I do the most of the deals I’m a negotiator.”

She picked up the spoon for her sundae and pointed it at him “Ooh I’ve heard of them, don’t they buy up companies that are in trouble or something.”

That would be a nice way to put it “Yeah something like that.”
She was relatively smart most, no, not most, all of the women he had dated had no idea who P.E.H were, let alone what they did. This woman in front of him not only knew who they were but some of what they did.

“So what has bought you to Melbourne?”

“A deal. I had two meetings this morning but the first fell through.” He ran a hand through his hair “so the second got cancelled and I have to try and fix it before hitting the office on Friday.”

She noticed the way he ran a hand through his hair she thought that it was obviously a gesture he did a lot probably more when stressed. “They’re a company based in Sydney aren’t they, do you live there?”

He laughed at the idea of living anywhere he only just thought of that earlier this morning didn’t he, travelling out of a suitcase the whole time “I have an apartment in Sydney but as I travel so often, I am rarely there.”

“Really? Wow you must see so much.”

The look of excitement in her eyes, he too had felt it when he originally landed the position some eight years ago thinking that it was his way of seeing the world, getting around the world he did, but actually seeing any of it and being a part of it, never happened.

“I travel a lot but I don’t get to see much of the cities or places I go, mainly I see airports hotels and boardrooms I might see a landmark as we drive past but that is about it.”

“But surely you get some time to yourself like now.”

“All well and good but who wants to see something alone and without anyone to share the experience with.”

The sadness in his answer made her heart ache, a man with so much and yet so little and she thought of herself with so little but she had been happy, hadn’t she?

“So what went wrong in the meeting?” she broke the apple pie in half, blew on it to cool it and nibbled into one half of it.

He looked into her eyes, did he tell her, perhaps if he said it out loud he might get an answer himself. He told her about the company how it was turning over a little more than one hundred million a year and his company would be buying from it using their products but wanting a substantial cut in the price, as the company was in financial trouble this would be their ticket to freedom. He told her of his research and what they had planned for the company he even told her how the director called him a ‘damn Sydneysider’.

“Well if the company is in financial trouble and your company wants goods at a cost that is going to seriously undermine their profits why would they?”

“Because our company is willing to buy them out, keep the company running exactly the same only take it global, their products are good, a hell of a lot better than any of its closest competitors they could make a fortune but the owners can’t see it, they don’t have the vision and they don’t know how to take their company to the next level.”

“Perhaps they don’t want to.”

“Who wouldn’t want a lot of money and prestige?”

“Money and prestige aren’t everything in fact most times all it does is buy more problems and usually bigger ones and if I get what you’re saying is, this is a mum and dad operation who have probably put their entire life into it, this would be like their child and you are asking for them to sell their child for what, so that your company can save a few bucks.”

He sat back flawed at her explanation, she should work for him, he gave her insight, he could work on angles that she gave him it would give him the upper hand when it came to dealing, he knew he was good but obviously not good enough, why hadn’t he seen that, he thought he had the answer to their problems all he gave them was another problem.

“What did you say you did for a job?”

“I’m a lab assistant.”

“For who?”

“Does it matter?”

“It might.”

“I don’t think it does.” She thought about changing the subject, she didn’t want to talk about herself because she didn’t wanted to be reminded of who she was before today, she was someone different today even if it was for one day it didn’t make any difference to him he would be gone and that would be that. “What do you like about Melbourne?” she asked

He shrugged his shoulders “It’s like any other city it has an airport, buildings and things to look at.”

She laughed at his answer “So how many times have you visited Melbourne?”

“Countless. Couldn’t say.”

“And you have never visited any of it.”

“Nope, not unless you call the Hilton or the Hyatt a landmark.”

“Have you seen Chloe?”

“Who’s Chloe?”

“You don’t know who Chloe is?”

“I’m supposing she is a female”

“What about the Shrine?”

He shook his head

“Captain cooks cottage? M.C.G? Old Melbourne gaol? The Edge?”

“The What?”

“What about our newest park?”

“Melbourne has a new park?”

“Birrarung Marr.” She smiled when he gave a puzzled look “As you have absolutely no understanding of Melbourne and you are trying to persuade a Melbourne based company to jump into bed with you I suggest you at least taste some of the culture, spend the afternoon with me and we will check out at least some of the sights.”

He picked up his shake and looked at her as he sucked on the straw, he could think of worse ways to spend the day, looking into his computer for the rest of the afternoon and evening would be one of them or he could spend it with the pretty woman who did things to his body that no woman had done for a long time.

“You’re taking a bit of a gamble to be asking a complete stranger to spend the rest of the afternoon with you.”

Prickles and heat ran along her skin the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, he was right and while Becky would wave to the danger and would probably get a thrill from it.

Sensible practical Rebecca headed the warning, she went into her bag and got her phone, took a photo of Lucas typed in some details and sent it to her facebook faster than he knew what had happened “Well I just told my mum, my best friend, my boss and my co-worker that I would be spending the afternoon with you Mr Lucas from PEH” she smiled and tilted her head “so they know who you are.”

“I could have made up my name and the company I work for”
“Ditto Mr Lucas, I could be a spy for that company you are trying to buy.”
“What’s the name of it?”

Damn! He was good. She smiled and slurped on her empty coke making horrible slurping sounds “That would be blowing my cover as a spy now, wouldn’t it?” She said pointing the coke in his direction, she put the coke on the table and looked up at him. “Ready to take a walk?”

She got up and loaded her bags.

He stared at her, it was going to be a fun afternoon “If we’re going to do this, I don’t want to walk around with my laptop lets go back to my hotel room.”

She smiled and raised a questioning eyebrow “Is that an invitation?”

He stood up beside her, at six foot three he was considerably taller than her five foot seven frame he took a step closer to her. With one hand on his laptop-case, his free hand scooted behind her back and pulled her close to him, he felt he body tremble at his touch which pleased him and he smiled slightly, lowering his voice he whispered “it could be if you want” he bent closer to her and watched her part her lips, his smiled widened. “Let’s go.”

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Coffee at the Warburton Pantry




This morning I had a disastrous start to the day, I had a flat tyre, ok I am being a little melodramatic there, it wasn't really that bad, but it threw my thoughts off balance, I was supposed to help out at the school, the kids were going to be late and I had to get the tyre fixed.
So after getting the tyre fixed I thought I needed something to cheer me up and a good coffee usually makes my day.


Friends of mine Leila and Brendan own the Warburton Pantry and it stocks organic produce and a variety of spices, cheeses and other pantry items that are unique. It's a lovely shop that has a lovely atmosphere.
Recently they have made it into a internet cafe with breakfasts on the weekends and they have coffee, so I thought that I would try their coffee.

OMG!!!!! It is the best coffee I have had in a long time and not that I want to plug a friends shop or coffee but it is good, seriously good.

I told Leila how good it was and she was saying that it took them a few blends to get it right.

The coffee is roasted in Warbuton by Silva Coffee and has a unique blend that they have tried over time, she did tell me the blend forgive me Leila for not remembering.



Leila making coffee's.

So we discussed this and that and she and Brendan served other customers and even made a babycino with chocolate and marshmallow for a little one (how cute) and I was sad that I had finished my cup.


I contemplated having another cup but I wanted to get home and do some writing and some other things so I got myself a take-away cup, they even have a travel mug with warburton pantry on it, I have to get myself one of those the next time I go in. But I was impressed that the take-away cup is biodegradable not many take-away cups out there that are. I take my hat off to Leila and Brendan for doing a gret job they have worked hard at making the shop what it is today.
So to anyone out there who is looking for a good coffee and is in the Warburton area pop in and say hi to Leila and Brendan, look for Leila's fabulous smile and Brendan's warm disposition and enjoy a fabulous coffee.

Til next time

Happy Reading
Valissa

As yet untitled ~ Chapter 3

Chapter 3


The closest food place he could find was McDonalds, not his ultimate choice but it had wi-fi and he could hook up while he was there. He stepped into the restaurant with its burger rich smell, god there were people everywhere, there was no way he was going to get a table.

He got in line and he thank god that it moved quickly he looked to the skies ‘while you’re there can you look after me and get me a table’ he wasn’t overly religious but he wasn’t sceptical either there were many a times and not that he would call them miracles but he felt in many of his deals there had to be some sort of heavenly intervention because in a few of the deals he had done there had been no way of achieving and then poof like magic the deal was done.

He needed one of those.

He got to the head of the line and ordered a regular Big Mac meal, a thick shake and a double cheeseburger he tossed up whether to get a fillet a fish as well but thought against it.
He grabbed his tray and looked around, not a seat anywhere. He looked back up to the ceiling, so you’re not going to deliver he thought. He looked back around and just in front of him an elderly lady saw him

“Mister you can have our table if you like, were just leaving.”
“Thank you very much Ma’am.”
He looked skyward said a silent thankyou.
“Did you hear that Ronald he called me ma’am just like an American.”
“Are you American?” she asked

“No ma’am just polite.”

“Well you have yourself a really lovely day.” She smiled at him
He took everything off his tray placed his tray away, took out his laptop and fired it up as he unwrapped his double cheeseburger taking a bite, he slurped on his coke and opened up the file that they had on the company he visited earlier that morning.
What had he missed? He thought to himself.
He polished off the cheeseburger half the fries and swirled the empty container rattling the ice in the bottom.

She walked in through the automatic doors and the smell of burgers, fries and sweaty bodies overcame her followed by the cool relief, her senses were on overload there were people everywhere there was no way she was going to get a table, she looked at the long lines, she had to get food first she thought although the lines appeared to move fast, the sound of constant chatter annoyed her and she didn’t realise it but she was probably glad it wasn’t school holidays.

She got to the front of the line still not knowing what to eat she looked at the board above, the attendant tapped her nails impatiently, Rebecca looked at the person in the line beside her, he seemed to know what to order she would have whatever he was having.

“Big Mac meal, large, chocolate sundae and an apple pie.”

Ahh she knew what she’d order and she repeated the order to the attendant.

Her meal was paid and delivered on a tray and before she said thank you the attendant was already serving the next customer. She looked around for a seat.

There were a lot of tables and there were more people than tables. She spotted one on the other side of the room and she moved over toward the table banging people with her bags as she went. She didn’t even get half way to the empty table before it was claimed by a couple. She looked around again.

It was then she spotted the man in the business suit with slicked back hair hunched over a computer surrounded by food rattling the ice in his empty coke container. She smiled.

It would be just like the Rebecca she was today to barge her way in, annoy the hell out of the man she didn’t know and be completely charming about it. Of course there was no guarantee that he was going to relinquish any room but she felt the devil on her shoulder.

She sat her tray on the edge of his table. He didn’t even seem to notice. She pushed the screen forward “umm excuse me.”

Some woman was touching his screen.
What the hell was she doing, rude woman and then he saw her jade green eyes, they glinted with hints of gold specks and just a touch of mischief, he took her in full view of her in her yellow dress and bags hanging off her arm. God women were annoying, what the hell was she saying.

“So can I?”

“Can you what? I’m busy.” he snapped

Rebecca would normally have had a smart answer snapped back at him and told him to leap off a tall building but today she was……. Becky.
She smiled at the thought of being someone new.

His heart flipped and fluttered at her smile, it was cute, charming, sexy, mysterious and dangerous. Oh yeah with those jade green eyes and that smile, she was definitely dangerous.

She smiled “I’m really sorry to bother you but I just need a place to sit down, my feet are killing me.”

She flashed her leg showing off her brand new shoes and battered her eye lids at him smiling the entire time. God if this didn’t get him to offer a seat then nothing would she thought.

He took a look at her leg that she had on offer and raised his eyebrow, nice set he thought to himself and automatically thought of them winding around his waist.

What the hell was he thinking?

He glanced at his computer screen. Shit, he wasn’t getting anywhere with that and what was twenty minutes with some woman, she was certainly easy on the eye. He looked back up at her and caught her eye again and he felt that flutter that he felt this morning, perhaps it was going to be a good day after all.

He gestured for her to sit opposite him “Please.”

Closing the laptop he placed it in the bag and stuck it between his feet he gathered his food closer so that she could place her tray down.

“Oh thank you, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get a table. Isn’t it a wonderful day?” She plucked out a few chips from her container

“Yes it is” he eyed her as she delicately got out a chip and nibbled on it.

She held a chip up “Mmm these are good.” She began gobbling them “I had no idea these were so disgustingly good.”

“You’ve never eaten them before?”

“Yeah when I was little, way back in primary school was the last time I had McDonalds that long ago I cant really remember” She had finished her chips and were eyeing his half a packet.

He watched her finish her chips and saw her eying his own “Did you want mine?”

She looked up into his eyes they were dark and menacing a shiver went up her spine she felt a little nervous, she smiled slightly more to ward off the nerves that had crept in. Taking a breath she squared her shoulders ‘no thank you’ she took a sip of her ice cold coke and continued to look at him

He would have given them to her and he didn’t know why he thought it but he would give her anything.

She hadn’t really taken a good look at him til now, before he was just a man in a suit but as she took a good look at him his hair was slicked back and curled slightly at his ears and just touching the edge of his dark navy immaculate suit it was most likely outrageously expensive, his chiselled square jaw gave him a look that he meant business, his chin matched his jaw and was square in cut and at the bottom of his lip was just a little dip that left her mesmerised she continued to look at it before pulling away from the straw and licking her lips and looking back up into his dark brooding eyes. She was sure that they held secrets.

Oh Dear God. Did she know what she just did was so damn sexy? How many times had she pulled that move on some other poor unsuspecting bloke? He felt a tug in his cortex the one that warned him he was in dangerous territory although he usually felt that kind of warning in the boardroom, of course he knew how to handle himself there, but women, well they baffled the shit out of him and the string of failed relationships proved it.

“Aren’t you hot in that suit.” she asked as she bit into her Big Mac.

“It’s air conditioned in here.” he unwrapped his Big Mac

“Yeah, but it’s hot out there.”

“I’m not out there. Am I?” He pulled back the bun lifted the pattie, located the pickle and tossed it on the wrapper.

She tilted her head as she watched him pluck away at his burger like a child dissatisfied with what his mother had dished up.

She pointed to the pickle. “Why’d you do that?”

“I don’t like the pickles. No-one likes the pickles.”

“I like pickles.”

“Did you want it?”

“Not when your hands have been all over it. I don’t know where your hands have been.” she took another bite of her own burger.

“Then it’s none of your business what I do with my pickle. Is it?” he said taking a bite of his burger.

She smiled. Rebecca would of normally had a tut-tut to the man about eating his vegetables and given him a lecture about how most diseases that man ails from could be avoided by eating a sensible diet which included vegetables and a regular exercise regime, but since she was eating McDonalds herself, what would be the point, instead she poked her tongue out at him.

He caught her poking her tongue at him and normally it would irritate him that a grown person would behave in such a childish manner but instead it warmed him right where the flutter was earlier in the day. He smiled.

With both elbows on the table and burger in hand she pointed her little finger at him “I like your smile its much better than that serious face you try to pull off, makes you look all mean and grumpy.”

He wiped a napkin at the side of his face and watched her take another bite of the burger, he tried to assess her but damn it he couldn’t, his natural personality radar was all off with her she did things to him like a magnet repelling or maybe it was attracting.

“Maybe I’m meant to look mean and grumpy.”

She put her burger back down on the paper and took a slurp of the coke all whilst not keeping her eyes off him, he was definitely good to look at but more so she was too scared to not keep her eye on him he did things to her insides, and if memory, a long memory at that, served it’s purpose, it was lust. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“How do you know it doesn’t suit me, you don’t know who the hell I am.”

“You know what, your right. I don’t know who you are so let’s introduce ourselves and then I can actually mention that I had lunch with you and not some imaginary gorgeous guy. I’m ….” She stalled at her name only slight trying to remember who she wasn’t “Becky. And you are?” she said holding out her hand.

He looked from her hand back up to her face, she was far too trusting, she should be in the suburbs baking biscuits for the girl guides, CWA or something. Taking her hand he felt the flutter in his chest again and he took in a breath. “Lucas.”

At his touch she felt the tingle race up her arm and bang straight into her chest making it race. She looked up into his eyes to see if he had felt it too.

“Well Lucas, now that the formalities are over you can drop your guard and we can enjoy our lunch.” she popped the last of her burger in her mouth and licked the crumbs off of each finger and took another slurp of her coke.

He was sure she knew what the hell she was doing and how provocative each of her movements were, he stirred his thick shake it wasn’t so thick now just the way he liked it, he wouldn’t have to suck his guts out to try and get any. He took a slurp of it still looking at her face.

As he looked at her face he wondered if she knew how pretty she was, she wasn’t model material but she was no ugly duckling either she had a small petite nose, those gorgeous jade green eyes, an oval face with high cheekbones, her complexion was fair but not milky or pasty white, she had seen some sun but what he got mostly was that she was natural, she wore little if any makeup which he liked, most women these days seemed to trowel it on, her shoulder length auburn hair flowed effortlessly about showing no sign of hair product and she was dressed in designer wear.

It was his business to pick out the flaws of people and he played heavily on their weaknesses. That was why he was so good at what he did. So what was, should he say it, a simple woman doing in clothes that didn’t seem to fit yet at the oddity of it, fit her perfect, she was an enigma.

“Have you figured me out yet?” she said taking scoop of the chocolate syrup from the sundae.

“What?”

“Can read you like a book, you’re trying to work me out, lets face it not many women go up to a strange man and ask to sit and then engage in the type of conversation were having, so you’re trying to work me out.” She rolled her eyes “Am I deranged?”

He frowned “I think possibly you are.”

“Good. Then when I get up to go home you won’t follow me.” she took another scoop of the sundae licking the back of the spoon as she did.

Oh god she was doing it again he leaned forward “Who the hell are you?”

She pointed the spoon at him “Were going over the same ground, I’m Becky remember we shook hands, I’ve even flashed you my leg.” she smiled

He couldn’t help but smile “I’m beginning to think that maybe you are deranged.”

“So what do you do?” she dunked the spoon back into the sundae.

“Whatever the boss wants me to do.”

Rebecca’s heart stopped and her eyes flew wide open looking at him. “You’re a gangster?”

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

As yet untitled ~ Chapter 2

Chapter 2

She twirled around in her bare feet and watched the skirt flare out in the mirror. Then swinging to and fro she watched the skirt move and embraced the feel of it on her bare legs, god it was such a fantastic feeling, she felt deliciously sexy. She never dreamed that dresses or skirts could do this to a woman, she had always worn jeans, track pants or shorts, and she knew that this was a turning point she was going to be buying more dresses from now on especially when they made one full of giddiness.

“It looks really good on you.” The sales assistant said to her.

“It does, doesn’t it?” She smiled at her reflection in the mirror she almost didn’t recognise herself.

She felt different, it was a glorious feeling, like she was a completely different person altogether, she didn’t feel like Rebecca Peterson, lab assistant, anally retentive of systems, procedures timetables, labels and budgets.

For one day she was going to be the complete opposite of the woman she had come to rely on, the woman that everyone had come to rely on, today she was going to be all those things she never dared to be, frisky, seductive, alluring, demanding, explosive, energetic, impulsive, charming, unpredictable and all woman.

“Can I wear this out of the shop?”

“Certainly, we shall place your regular clothes in a bag for you.”

“Thank you” she smiled at the sales assistant and gave another twirl before the mirror.
Rebecca went to the counter to pay for her purchase and she went to use her savings, but smiled at herself, frivolous Rebecca would use the credit card and to hell with the consequences.
She handed the Sales Assistant her credit card “Oh could you tell me where I could get some fabulous shoes to go with this gorgeous dress?”

“Oh absolutely Miss Peterson, four shops down there is a shop with some lovely shoes that would compliment this dress fabulously.” With a wink the sales assistant continued “They also sell gorgeous handbags that are to die for, I will ring them ahead to let them know you will be stopping by.”

“Thank you very much Patricia, have yourself a gorgeous day.” Rebecca smiled and skipped out of the shop

Four doors down the Sales assistant Kelli had sold Rebecca a gorgeous handbag that complimented the dress and the perfect shoes to match, again Rebecca asked to wear them out the shop again.

“Certainly, oh you must, they go so fabulously with that dress.”

Rebecca looked at her watch eighteen past twelve she wondered what she was going to eat for lunch.

The sales assistant rang up the shoes and bag placing the others she had in a store bag, for the second time in one day Rebecca handed over her credit card and smiled.

“Could you tell me where a really nice restaurant is?”

“Absolutely there’s one ……..”

Rebecca didn’t hear Kelli’s answer her mind was ticking over, she was too busy thinking about doing things she normally wouldn’t do, what wouldn’t she normally eat.
“Ummm thank you, but actually instead I might do something different, is there a McDonalds around somewhere?”

Rebecca was excited just thinking about eating something she would never consider putting in her body. She said her thank you and headed off in the direction that she was given.

He went back to the Hotel, engaged a consult room and hooked himself up for a video consult with the General Manager, one of the Director’s and the Chief Executive Officer.

“I know James it just all fell apart. Perhaps we didn’t do enough research.”
“They should have bitten at the offer Lucas, we have given them the perfect solution to their problem.” James replied

“James the feeling I got was that we jumped too soon, we haven’t wooed them enough.” Lucas sighed

James swore “Can you get them back on board?”

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck trying to rub out the tension that had built since the first meeting didn’t go according to schedule and now they were in damage control. He rubbed his face with both hands sliding them over his slicked back hair resting them behind his head, he leaned back in his chair staring at the computer terminal in front of him with his three superiors on the screen.

“I don’t know James. I think we’ve underestimated them it’s looking to be something that can’t be done from Sydney.”

“Don’t these guys know that Sydney has more international exposure than Melbourne?” Christopher commented

“Christopher it doesn’t look like they realise the potential they have.” Lucas said

“We want to keep it that way Lucas.” David added

“That’s the problem David, if you want these guys then you are going to have to sweet talk them some more, they see us as a big corporate business from Sydney and they don’t want to do business.” Said Lucas

James swore “How much time do you think it’s going to take to get what we want.”

“James it’s not time that’s the major factor here, you could give them from here to eternity. They deal only locally and they do business with only those who fit within their business plan. We don’t fit.” Lucas pointed out

“How do we fit? Can we make it work Lucas? Can you work your magic?” Christopher asked

“Christopher. How bad do you want this?” Lucas enquired leaning forward toward the screen.

“You know our project and in order for this whole project to work we need them, otherwise we have wasted the last three years and plans for the next five, the directors are counting on this.” Christopher commented

“Could we try someone else another company with similar products?” asked James

“James we would have to change the project to suit, you know that, it would have to be explained to the board of directors, we wont be able to pull the wool over their eyes especially as David’s sitting here, but for the whole plan and project to work we are relying on those key products, Lucas you have crisscrossed this entire planet working on this and it comes down to these pansies who have morals holding us up, this is business. You are going to have to do whatever you can to get them across the line.” Christopher noted

Lucas put his elbow on the table and held his head in his hand before releasing and looking up at the three gentlemen on the screen before him.

“Gentlemen you will have to give me time to come up with a solution, my planes booked for midday tomorrow, I’ll work on a solution this afternoon. Tomorrow I’ll work from home, hopefully I will come up with something.”

“We don’t live in the land of hope Lucas, you work this out. Keep us posted. We need them.” David stated

“Gentlemen.” Lucas said

With curt nod’s “Lucas.” was all that was said by the three on the screen.

Transmission was cut and Lucas folded his arms on the table before him and laid his head on his arms.

He knew after this morning’s meeting there was not a hope in hell that the company was going to deal with them, not ever, taking their quote ‘outsiders didn’t give a shit about people, just profits.’
It was true to a certain degree, out of all the deals he had manoeuvred for the company, all that the company cared for was the bottom line.

He didn’t like so much that part of what he did, he supposed that in all jobs there were aspects that you didn’t like and those you did.

He relished in the part he loved about his job, the thrill of the chase the element against you, not knowing if you were going to win and then receiving your prize at the finishing line. That was why he loved those games in school that required chasing, he loved to be the one who did the chasing, to hunt down stealthily, sneakily, he probably should have been a cop and at one point it did happen to cross his mind but the thought of putting his life on the line simply didn’t cut it for him.

So much he thought about it going to be a good day, he shouldn’t have changed his routine he blamed it on the walking, but damn it, it did feel a good day. He looked around the dimly lit room got up and adjusted the lights.

He paced the room, thinking and calculating as to how was he going to fix the problem, with the first meeting falling through the second was cancelled straight away, there was certainly no point in going through with the second.

Damn it. He punched his fist on the table everything would have fallen like dominoes if he had of been able to pull off the meeting. It was his fault and he knew it, he had pushed too hard and not done enough homework on them.
Sydneysider he called him, ‘damn Sydneysider’ was the more correct term.

He was no more a Sydneysider than he was a New Yorker sure the company came from Sydney but recently he had spent more time in New York or New Delhi, in fact he had barely slept in the same bed for three days running during the past five or was it six years.

He loved it, didn’t he?

Right now was not a time to question it. He shook his mind free and tried to concentrate on the issue at hand.
Damn it, he couldn’t think, he looked at his watch it was eighteen minutes past twelve perhaps if he ate, he picked up the phone to dial for some food.

“Concierge.”

“Ah, that’s fine sorry to bother you. I’ve changed my mind.” or he was out of his mind.

He packed up his laptop placed it in its bag and headed out the door. At reception he let them know he was done with the room and decided to go on a search for some food.

He stepped out of the hotel and for the second time that day he breathed Melbourne in, it was a little hotter than earlier but for some strange reason he felt the buzz again. Maybe it was Melbourne and he never knew it, never realized it.

He glanced at his watch again twenty-four minutes past twelve.

She stepped out of the shoe store and headed in the direction towards McDonalds, there was a skip in her step, ooh she loved the way the skirt felt around her legs, god she felt so sexy and she was about to go into a McDonalds store, she hadn’t been into one since she was in primary school, she opted to never eat it again but today she was not Rebecca she was... someone else, she looked at her watch twenty-four minutes past twelve.