Catfish, page 11
Kate – Good Morning, Lewis. No, he hasn’t replied to my message yet.
Lewis – On my way to a shoot. Let me know if you hear anything. Speak to you soon.
Kate - Yes, will do. Have a good shoot. Speak soon.
I love how caring he is. I also love that he called me beautiful. When I read that I had butterflies in my tummy. I sit there, sipping my water for a few minutes with a smile on my face re reading the text’s. The fact that he thought to text me makes me go all gooey for him. I’m in trouble.
I have Dave, my structural engineer, Tom, my architect I used for my last project, and also my trusted project manager, Alf, meeting me at the old warehouse buildings on Monday morning so that we can go over the buildings and make sure that they are structurally safe and a good investment. Hopefully, I can get a rough costing analysis done for the renovations. With the price of the buildings—I really want them both—and then the renovation costs, I’m going to need an investor or a hefty bridging loan from the bank.
I’m praying Dave says the buildings are sound, and that Tom can see my vision.
I’ve been here a few hours, putting together a proposal for the bank or investors. Provided my team approve everything on Monday, I will be putting in an offer for the buildings, so I have that letter ready to go as well.
I look at the clock and its 3.30 p.m. already. I decide to call it a day and head home to Chelmsford for the rest of the weekend. I lock the offices up and head back to my apartment block to get the car. I nip into the deli on the way to grab a tuna wrap and decide to eat it in the park before my drive.
I get this weird feeling as I leave the deli that someone is watching me. I look around, but I don’t see anyone else apart from cars passing by. I head to the park to enjoy the fresh air while eating.
I sit on the bench in the park, which is relatively quiet apart from a dog walker and one woman pushing her child on the swing, and I suddenly think to check my phone, as it’s been on silent. There is another text from Lewis. I have a big grin on my face and butterflies in my tummy again. What is he doing to me?
Lewis – Hey, beautiful. Just finished the shoot, and thought I would check in with you to see if you have heard back yet from the catfish. I’m in the car on the way back to the hotel and will be back there soon. Don’t worry if you’re busy. Just let me know when you can.
The butterflies are doing somersaults in my tummy, he called me beautiful again. The message was 40 minutes ago. He will probably be back at the hotel. I send a reply anyway.
Kate – Hi there. I’m just sitting in the park eating a wrap before I head on home. Sorry, I haven’t checked my messages since this morning, was too busy in the office. I’ll check when I get home. It will probably be around six, depending on the traffic.
Lewis – No worries. What park are you in? That’s a long drive back home?
I haven’t told him about my house in Chelmsford. I decide to be open. I’m not starting a friendship on lies.
Kate – It’s a park just near my apartment. When I say home, I actually live in Chelmsford. The apartment is my London place for during the week.
Lewis – Ah ok. I was going to see if you fancied a drink tonight? Don’t worry. We can catch up when you’re back.
Oh no. I would have definitely said yes to that. I must look so stupid, sitting here with a big grin on my face. He wants to see me again tonight. We only saw each other last night.
Kate – Sorry, Lewis. I would have really liked that. I’m back here on Monday for the week. I will also let you know if I hear anything from FL (Fake Lewis). Speak to you soon.
Lewis – Ok, Kate and drive safe. Let me know when you get home please? We can have that drink on Monday then if you like? Speak to you soon.
I finish my wrap and check my e-mails. I still feel as though someone is watching me. I look around, but I don’t see anyone. I then make my way back to get the car to get on the road home.
George
I WAKE UP early, my head won’t switch off, thinking about that fucking bitch, and I’m still pissed at her. Well, fuck her. I’m taking back control. I’ll write back later and re-arrange for next weekend, but there is no way in hell I’m waiting that long. I intend to strike before then. Especially now I know where she works and lives. I need a plan.
I get up. I need to burn off some of this anger and frustration. I do a workout in my little shithole. I have just enough room to do press-ups, sit-ups, lunges, squats, and weights that I keep under my bed. I have a pull-up bar across the only door there is, which leads into the bathroom and set about doing one hundred pull-ups to finish my workout.
Nearly two hours later and I’m dripping with sweat by the time I’ve finished. I head into the bathroom to take a much-needed cold shower, just as well, as I don’t have any hot water.
While in the shower I think of the bitch and I get hard. Fuck, just what I need right now. I jack off to give me some release, but it doesn’t do much for me. Shit, I can’t be in this state all day. I decide I’m going to her apartment to see if she’s there. I don’t trust the bitch. I think she’s lying to me. I want to see for myself.
I finish in the shower and check the time. It’s still only 7.30 a.m. Still early for a Saturday morning, if I get dressed and head to her apartment, I can watch her building from across the road and out of sight.
I make it to her building by 8.55 a.m. and wait. It’s now 9.55 a.m. and still no sign of her. I’ll stay here though until I’m sure she isn’t here.
10.45 a.m. and there she is. I knew it. She was lying to me. She’s on her own, no kid with her. She’s heading in the direction of her office. I get up to follow her but make sure I keep well back so she doesn’t notice.
She approaches her office building and goes inside. I go to the café opposite, the one I sat in the other day in my suit. I go in and use the toilet, then order a coffee, grab one of the free newspapers, and sit at a table in the window where I can keep an eye on the building. I could be here all fucking day.
I’ve been here for ages. My phone says 2.45 now, I’ve had three coffees and I’m on my second bottle of water. I had to swap newspapers a couple of times. Finally, at 3.40 she appears at the front of the building. She’s practically done a day’s work, and I’ve sat here bored shitless. She starts to head back in the direction of her apartment building. I get up and start to follow her, staying on my side of the road and way behind so as not to look suspicious. She turns into the same deli she went into the other day. I stay back where I am, not near enough that she would notice me even if she looked in this direction. I’m just a guy in a baseball cap standing with his phone.
She comes out of the shop and looks around up and down the street as though she’s looking for someone before she starts back towards her apartment building. I edge forward but then at the first side road she comes to, she turns right and heads down it. Oh shit, has she seen me and is trying to lose me? I speed up a bit, so I don’t lose sight of her for too long.
I approach the side road she turned down and turn cautiously just in case she’s there. She isn’t. Shit, where did she go? I walk faster down the road. I’m alert, my eyes darting everywhere in case she’s in one of the buildings along this road, but I don’t see her. I come to a crossroads and look left, then right. I still don’t see her. Fucking great. I can’t even tail the bitch properly. I decide to cross over the road and turn left, still heading in the same direction as her apartment but just on a different road. I’m walking past what looks like a little park area that’s all fenced off. There is a swing set and slide and then a very small grassed area with benches and fuck me, she is sitting on one of them.
Luckily, she isn’t looking. She seems engrossed in her phone. I move back a bit so I’m shielded behind a large tree and a small hedge. I can still see her, but she won’t be able to see me. She finishes her food and then suddenly looks around as if looking for someone. I quickly move out of her line of sight behind the tree so she doesn’t see me.
I don’t look back for a couple of minutes, in case she’s still looking, but then when I do look, I start to panic as she’s up and making her way towards the gate to come back out onto the road. Shit, I move quickly in the opposite direction so she doesn’t see me. I think I make it around the corner on the other side of the park without her noticing. I can see her leaving the park from this side view. That was close. Fuck, I don’t think I’m cut out for this stalking bullshit. I’d just rather get it over and done with.
I still manage to follow, keeping my distance. She’s heading back to her apartment. She reaches her building, but she heads down the ramp at the side towards the underground parking instead of up to her apartment. I stay where I am on the road and get my phone out of my pocket and pretend I’m on it, talking.
A few minutes later, I see a blue Mercedes appear and notice she’s driving. Shit, I can’t follow her anymore. She turns right onto the road away from me.
Fuck, what a wasted day that was. I still don’t know if she was telling me the truth, because she could be heading to her brother’s now. I think she was bullshitting me, and that pisses me off.
Lewis
WHEN I GOT back to the hotel last night, I needed a shower and a release. I just couldn’t stop thinking about Kate. She’s the most beautiful, curvaceous woman I have ever met. I could hardly sleep all night, which is not good when you have a shoot the next day. The last thing I needed was to look like I had been out partying the night before. A bit of concealer can hide dark circles, but I never want the photographers or producers to think I don’t take this seriously. I have no idea how long the modelling will last. I do love my job, and I will keep at it for as long as I’m in demand.
At 5.30 a.m., I decided enough was enough. I got my running gear on and went out in Hyde Park. It really rejuvenated me. Once I got back to the hotel, I got changed into my workout clothes. I need to look ripped for this shoot. It’s for a new fragrance by Gucci for men, launching just in time for Christmas. I’m almost naked in the commercial, so I just had a protein shake for breakfast.
Lucinda comes to get me at 10 a.m. We have to travel to a studio in Shepherds Bush for the shoot. The traffic is bad for a Saturday morning. I get my phone out to see if Kate has messaged me, but nothing. I decide to text her, just to see if she has heard from the psycho yet. That’s what I tell myself anyway. Really, I just want to make sure she’s okay.
She texts me right back. I’m not sure if I’m disappointed that she hasn’t heard back from him or not. I want to keep her safe. She intrigues me. She’s nothing like I have ever gone for and maybe that’s my problem.
I have to get to wardrobe, and although my agent sent me the script for the commercial, I need to run through with the director and producer to find out exactly what they want me to do today.
This is only my third commercial, so I’m a bit nervous. Thankfully, there are no lines to learn. It’s not a speaking commercial, just a visual one.
“How are they going to make it look like I’m in some kind of palace with a big ballroom in this little studio?” I ask Luce.
“They are only doing some of the shots here, Lewis. We are going to Venice, Italy on Tuesday to film the rest of it in the magnificent Palazzo Pisani Moretta. We are there for two nights. It’s in your schedule. If you looked at it for once instead of relying on me to tell you your every move, you’d know!” She’s smiling at me now. I was so wrapped up with Kate last night, I didn’t check when Luce sent it through, and I only asked her if I was free next weekend, not what I was doing this week.
Shit, I’m going to be out of the country for a couple of nights this week, and I wanted to see Kate. I need to concentrate on filming this commercial and not think about her, but that’s easier said than done.
We are on set for about four hours in all, which isn’t too bad, and the producer and the marketing team from Gucci seemed to be pleased with the way it has all gone.
We get into the car to head back to the hotel, and I pull out my phone to see if Kate has texted me. There are no messages from her, so I take it she hasn’t heard anything yet. I’m going to see if she wants to have a drink with me tonight. I really need to see her again.
God, I have it bad already, and I have only spent a few hours with her.
Once I get back to the hotel, I order room service and go onto the balcony to relax for a bit and catch up on my social media.
My phone dings with a text from Kate. My heart flutters, and I get butterflies in my tummy—a reaction that shocks me. We message for a bit, and I discover she actually lives in Chelmsford. I have a house there too. This is no coincidence—it’s fate. I hope she agrees to a drink on Monday.
Katherine
THE DRIVE HOME is good. No traffic, so it doesn’t take me too long to get here. I love coming home. I do miss it here. It’s so quiet and peaceful, especially after being in the city all week. I downloaded a new album by a new artist called Tokio Myers. He’s a pianist with a twist. I listened to that on the drive home, and it really chilled me out.
I arrived at 5.45 p.m., and I’m looking forward to just relaxing and reading tonight with a nice bottle of wine.
I make myself some tuna pasta, then I shower and am now in my boy shorts and tank top with a glass of wine and reading a book in front of my real wood fire. I love the fire in my house. Last time I looked at the time on my phone, it was 7.45 p.m., but I look up as it pings with a text message and it’s 10.30 p.m. Wow, nearly three hours I’ve been sitting here, relaxing, engrossed in my book.
I look at the message and see it’s Lewis. My heart skips a beat, and the butterflies in my tummy are doing somersaults again.
Lewis – Hi, beautiful, just wanted to check in with you again and make sure you arrived home safely and to see if you had heard anything from the catfisher yet?
Oh crap. I’d forgotten to check if FL had messaged me back. I’d best check before I reply to Lewis. I grab my laptop and log onto the dating site, but there is no message from him yet. I really don’t think I’ll hear from him again. I don’t want to hear from him. I would much rather go out for drinks with the real Lewis. I text him back.
Kate – Hey, Lewis. Sorry, I said I would let you know that I got home okay, but yes, I did, thank you. I’m just not used to letting anyone know where I am or what I’m doing. No, I haven’t heard anything from FL 😊. I don’t think I will to be honest.
Lewis – Sorry, I wasn’t checking up on you. I just wanted to make sure you were safe 😊. Glad you got there okay. I didn’t know you lived in Chelmsford. I live not far from there.
Kate – Wow, do you? I didn’t realize. So is it just an apartment for when you are in London you are looking for? I thought it was for a permanent place to live. I don’t mind you asking if I got home safe—it’s nice to have someone who cares enough to ask.
Lewis – I have a house in a small village called Little Waltham not far from Chelmsford. I love that house. It’s really quiet at times, but then it’s not too far from the village pub and the little village shop.
I do care enough to ask, Kate.
It’s sad you don’t have anyone to ask you. A bit like me really, besides Lucinda, I don’t have anyone who cares enough ☹.
Kate – Well then, let’s make a pact to care enough about each other that we want to ask. Deal?
Lewis – Yes, that’s a deal I would like to make. What are you up to tonight? I know it’s late. I hope I didn’t wake you.
Kate – No, I was reading in front of my log fire with a glass of wine, just chilling. To be honest, I’ve been so engrossed in my book I didn’t realize the time until your text came through. I’m really tired though. I didn’t sleep well last night.
Lewis – I’m just in my suite at the hotel on my own. I was browsing through the internet finding out about dating sites. Did you know there are lots of terms used for the different types of people on these sites? I remembered you saying last night that this was you being catfished, that’s why I looked them up. Why didn’t you sleep well? Are you okay?
Kate – Yes, I found out a lot about the terms used on these dating sites, and I’ve probably had 70% used on me, but I won’t go into that now and bore you. I just couldn’t sleep. I had too much going around in my head. This stuff with FL, then with work. I’m looking to buy some new buildings to convert… and then you 😊
Why did I say that?
Lewis – Me?
Kate – Yeah, you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you as well. About what a coincidence it was, you coming to me looking for an apartment, and the guy I have been talking to using your picture. What are the chances of that happening? Thinking that everything happens for a reason, and maybe you are my white knight. Also, what if I hadn’t met you yesterday? Who knows what would have happened tonight? It terrifies me, Lewis, thinking about it. I don’t normally scare easily, but this has gotten to me ☹.
Lewis – I’m so pleased we did meet, Kate. I daren’t think about what could have happened. It makes my blood boil. I couldn’t sleep last night either. The same reasons as you really, but mainly I couldn’t stop thinking about you 😊.
Oh wow. He was thinking about me last night. Is that just because of FL or because he likes me. My tummy is doing somersaults again.
Kate – Me? As in you saved me?
Lewis – As in I really like you, Kate, and I want to get to know you more. I know you said you would have liked to have a drink tonight if you were still in the City so can we meet up on Monday for a drink?
I’m shocked that he’s pursuing this! I’m a plain Jane who is a bit hefty. I bet if I did a search on the internet for Lewis Clancy I would see lots of pictures of him with models and actresses at star-studded events. He’s way out of my league. I don’t go to events where people snap pictures of you. I don’t have all the designer clothes like the models wear, mainly because they stop at a size twelve. I don’t fit into Lewis’s life. I’m a nobody.
Lewis – On my way to a shoot. Let me know if you hear anything. Speak to you soon.
Kate - Yes, will do. Have a good shoot. Speak soon.
I love how caring he is. I also love that he called me beautiful. When I read that I had butterflies in my tummy. I sit there, sipping my water for a few minutes with a smile on my face re reading the text’s. The fact that he thought to text me makes me go all gooey for him. I’m in trouble.
I have Dave, my structural engineer, Tom, my architect I used for my last project, and also my trusted project manager, Alf, meeting me at the old warehouse buildings on Monday morning so that we can go over the buildings and make sure that they are structurally safe and a good investment. Hopefully, I can get a rough costing analysis done for the renovations. With the price of the buildings—I really want them both—and then the renovation costs, I’m going to need an investor or a hefty bridging loan from the bank.
I’m praying Dave says the buildings are sound, and that Tom can see my vision.
I’ve been here a few hours, putting together a proposal for the bank or investors. Provided my team approve everything on Monday, I will be putting in an offer for the buildings, so I have that letter ready to go as well.
I look at the clock and its 3.30 p.m. already. I decide to call it a day and head home to Chelmsford for the rest of the weekend. I lock the offices up and head back to my apartment block to get the car. I nip into the deli on the way to grab a tuna wrap and decide to eat it in the park before my drive.
I get this weird feeling as I leave the deli that someone is watching me. I look around, but I don’t see anyone else apart from cars passing by. I head to the park to enjoy the fresh air while eating.
I sit on the bench in the park, which is relatively quiet apart from a dog walker and one woman pushing her child on the swing, and I suddenly think to check my phone, as it’s been on silent. There is another text from Lewis. I have a big grin on my face and butterflies in my tummy again. What is he doing to me?
Lewis – Hey, beautiful. Just finished the shoot, and thought I would check in with you to see if you have heard back yet from the catfish. I’m in the car on the way back to the hotel and will be back there soon. Don’t worry if you’re busy. Just let me know when you can.
The butterflies are doing somersaults in my tummy, he called me beautiful again. The message was 40 minutes ago. He will probably be back at the hotel. I send a reply anyway.
Kate – Hi there. I’m just sitting in the park eating a wrap before I head on home. Sorry, I haven’t checked my messages since this morning, was too busy in the office. I’ll check when I get home. It will probably be around six, depending on the traffic.
Lewis – No worries. What park are you in? That’s a long drive back home?
I haven’t told him about my house in Chelmsford. I decide to be open. I’m not starting a friendship on lies.
Kate – It’s a park just near my apartment. When I say home, I actually live in Chelmsford. The apartment is my London place for during the week.
Lewis – Ah ok. I was going to see if you fancied a drink tonight? Don’t worry. We can catch up when you’re back.
Oh no. I would have definitely said yes to that. I must look so stupid, sitting here with a big grin on my face. He wants to see me again tonight. We only saw each other last night.
Kate – Sorry, Lewis. I would have really liked that. I’m back here on Monday for the week. I will also let you know if I hear anything from FL (Fake Lewis). Speak to you soon.
Lewis – Ok, Kate and drive safe. Let me know when you get home please? We can have that drink on Monday then if you like? Speak to you soon.
I finish my wrap and check my e-mails. I still feel as though someone is watching me. I look around, but I don’t see anyone. I then make my way back to get the car to get on the road home.
George
I WAKE UP early, my head won’t switch off, thinking about that fucking bitch, and I’m still pissed at her. Well, fuck her. I’m taking back control. I’ll write back later and re-arrange for next weekend, but there is no way in hell I’m waiting that long. I intend to strike before then. Especially now I know where she works and lives. I need a plan.
I get up. I need to burn off some of this anger and frustration. I do a workout in my little shithole. I have just enough room to do press-ups, sit-ups, lunges, squats, and weights that I keep under my bed. I have a pull-up bar across the only door there is, which leads into the bathroom and set about doing one hundred pull-ups to finish my workout.
Nearly two hours later and I’m dripping with sweat by the time I’ve finished. I head into the bathroom to take a much-needed cold shower, just as well, as I don’t have any hot water.
While in the shower I think of the bitch and I get hard. Fuck, just what I need right now. I jack off to give me some release, but it doesn’t do much for me. Shit, I can’t be in this state all day. I decide I’m going to her apartment to see if she’s there. I don’t trust the bitch. I think she’s lying to me. I want to see for myself.
I finish in the shower and check the time. It’s still only 7.30 a.m. Still early for a Saturday morning, if I get dressed and head to her apartment, I can watch her building from across the road and out of sight.
I make it to her building by 8.55 a.m. and wait. It’s now 9.55 a.m. and still no sign of her. I’ll stay here though until I’m sure she isn’t here.
10.45 a.m. and there she is. I knew it. She was lying to me. She’s on her own, no kid with her. She’s heading in the direction of her office. I get up to follow her but make sure I keep well back so she doesn’t notice.
She approaches her office building and goes inside. I go to the café opposite, the one I sat in the other day in my suit. I go in and use the toilet, then order a coffee, grab one of the free newspapers, and sit at a table in the window where I can keep an eye on the building. I could be here all fucking day.
I’ve been here for ages. My phone says 2.45 now, I’ve had three coffees and I’m on my second bottle of water. I had to swap newspapers a couple of times. Finally, at 3.40 she appears at the front of the building. She’s practically done a day’s work, and I’ve sat here bored shitless. She starts to head back in the direction of her apartment building. I get up and start to follow her, staying on my side of the road and way behind so as not to look suspicious. She turns into the same deli she went into the other day. I stay back where I am, not near enough that she would notice me even if she looked in this direction. I’m just a guy in a baseball cap standing with his phone.
She comes out of the shop and looks around up and down the street as though she’s looking for someone before she starts back towards her apartment building. I edge forward but then at the first side road she comes to, she turns right and heads down it. Oh shit, has she seen me and is trying to lose me? I speed up a bit, so I don’t lose sight of her for too long.
I approach the side road she turned down and turn cautiously just in case she’s there. She isn’t. Shit, where did she go? I walk faster down the road. I’m alert, my eyes darting everywhere in case she’s in one of the buildings along this road, but I don’t see her. I come to a crossroads and look left, then right. I still don’t see her. Fucking great. I can’t even tail the bitch properly. I decide to cross over the road and turn left, still heading in the same direction as her apartment but just on a different road. I’m walking past what looks like a little park area that’s all fenced off. There is a swing set and slide and then a very small grassed area with benches and fuck me, she is sitting on one of them.
Luckily, she isn’t looking. She seems engrossed in her phone. I move back a bit so I’m shielded behind a large tree and a small hedge. I can still see her, but she won’t be able to see me. She finishes her food and then suddenly looks around as if looking for someone. I quickly move out of her line of sight behind the tree so she doesn’t see me.
I don’t look back for a couple of minutes, in case she’s still looking, but then when I do look, I start to panic as she’s up and making her way towards the gate to come back out onto the road. Shit, I move quickly in the opposite direction so she doesn’t see me. I think I make it around the corner on the other side of the park without her noticing. I can see her leaving the park from this side view. That was close. Fuck, I don’t think I’m cut out for this stalking bullshit. I’d just rather get it over and done with.
I still manage to follow, keeping my distance. She’s heading back to her apartment. She reaches her building, but she heads down the ramp at the side towards the underground parking instead of up to her apartment. I stay where I am on the road and get my phone out of my pocket and pretend I’m on it, talking.
A few minutes later, I see a blue Mercedes appear and notice she’s driving. Shit, I can’t follow her anymore. She turns right onto the road away from me.
Fuck, what a wasted day that was. I still don’t know if she was telling me the truth, because she could be heading to her brother’s now. I think she was bullshitting me, and that pisses me off.
Lewis
WHEN I GOT back to the hotel last night, I needed a shower and a release. I just couldn’t stop thinking about Kate. She’s the most beautiful, curvaceous woman I have ever met. I could hardly sleep all night, which is not good when you have a shoot the next day. The last thing I needed was to look like I had been out partying the night before. A bit of concealer can hide dark circles, but I never want the photographers or producers to think I don’t take this seriously. I have no idea how long the modelling will last. I do love my job, and I will keep at it for as long as I’m in demand.
At 5.30 a.m., I decided enough was enough. I got my running gear on and went out in Hyde Park. It really rejuvenated me. Once I got back to the hotel, I got changed into my workout clothes. I need to look ripped for this shoot. It’s for a new fragrance by Gucci for men, launching just in time for Christmas. I’m almost naked in the commercial, so I just had a protein shake for breakfast.
Lucinda comes to get me at 10 a.m. We have to travel to a studio in Shepherds Bush for the shoot. The traffic is bad for a Saturday morning. I get my phone out to see if Kate has messaged me, but nothing. I decide to text her, just to see if she has heard from the psycho yet. That’s what I tell myself anyway. Really, I just want to make sure she’s okay.
She texts me right back. I’m not sure if I’m disappointed that she hasn’t heard back from him or not. I want to keep her safe. She intrigues me. She’s nothing like I have ever gone for and maybe that’s my problem.
I have to get to wardrobe, and although my agent sent me the script for the commercial, I need to run through with the director and producer to find out exactly what they want me to do today.
This is only my third commercial, so I’m a bit nervous. Thankfully, there are no lines to learn. It’s not a speaking commercial, just a visual one.
“How are they going to make it look like I’m in some kind of palace with a big ballroom in this little studio?” I ask Luce.
“They are only doing some of the shots here, Lewis. We are going to Venice, Italy on Tuesday to film the rest of it in the magnificent Palazzo Pisani Moretta. We are there for two nights. It’s in your schedule. If you looked at it for once instead of relying on me to tell you your every move, you’d know!” She’s smiling at me now. I was so wrapped up with Kate last night, I didn’t check when Luce sent it through, and I only asked her if I was free next weekend, not what I was doing this week.
Shit, I’m going to be out of the country for a couple of nights this week, and I wanted to see Kate. I need to concentrate on filming this commercial and not think about her, but that’s easier said than done.
We are on set for about four hours in all, which isn’t too bad, and the producer and the marketing team from Gucci seemed to be pleased with the way it has all gone.
We get into the car to head back to the hotel, and I pull out my phone to see if Kate has texted me. There are no messages from her, so I take it she hasn’t heard anything yet. I’m going to see if she wants to have a drink with me tonight. I really need to see her again.
God, I have it bad already, and I have only spent a few hours with her.
Once I get back to the hotel, I order room service and go onto the balcony to relax for a bit and catch up on my social media.
My phone dings with a text from Kate. My heart flutters, and I get butterflies in my tummy—a reaction that shocks me. We message for a bit, and I discover she actually lives in Chelmsford. I have a house there too. This is no coincidence—it’s fate. I hope she agrees to a drink on Monday.
Katherine
THE DRIVE HOME is good. No traffic, so it doesn’t take me too long to get here. I love coming home. I do miss it here. It’s so quiet and peaceful, especially after being in the city all week. I downloaded a new album by a new artist called Tokio Myers. He’s a pianist with a twist. I listened to that on the drive home, and it really chilled me out.
I arrived at 5.45 p.m., and I’m looking forward to just relaxing and reading tonight with a nice bottle of wine.
I make myself some tuna pasta, then I shower and am now in my boy shorts and tank top with a glass of wine and reading a book in front of my real wood fire. I love the fire in my house. Last time I looked at the time on my phone, it was 7.45 p.m., but I look up as it pings with a text message and it’s 10.30 p.m. Wow, nearly three hours I’ve been sitting here, relaxing, engrossed in my book.
I look at the message and see it’s Lewis. My heart skips a beat, and the butterflies in my tummy are doing somersaults again.
Lewis – Hi, beautiful, just wanted to check in with you again and make sure you arrived home safely and to see if you had heard anything from the catfisher yet?
Oh crap. I’d forgotten to check if FL had messaged me back. I’d best check before I reply to Lewis. I grab my laptop and log onto the dating site, but there is no message from him yet. I really don’t think I’ll hear from him again. I don’t want to hear from him. I would much rather go out for drinks with the real Lewis. I text him back.
Kate – Hey, Lewis. Sorry, I said I would let you know that I got home okay, but yes, I did, thank you. I’m just not used to letting anyone know where I am or what I’m doing. No, I haven’t heard anything from FL 😊. I don’t think I will to be honest.
Lewis – Sorry, I wasn’t checking up on you. I just wanted to make sure you were safe 😊. Glad you got there okay. I didn’t know you lived in Chelmsford. I live not far from there.
Kate – Wow, do you? I didn’t realize. So is it just an apartment for when you are in London you are looking for? I thought it was for a permanent place to live. I don’t mind you asking if I got home safe—it’s nice to have someone who cares enough to ask.
Lewis – I have a house in a small village called Little Waltham not far from Chelmsford. I love that house. It’s really quiet at times, but then it’s not too far from the village pub and the little village shop.
I do care enough to ask, Kate.
It’s sad you don’t have anyone to ask you. A bit like me really, besides Lucinda, I don’t have anyone who cares enough ☹.
Kate – Well then, let’s make a pact to care enough about each other that we want to ask. Deal?
Lewis – Yes, that’s a deal I would like to make. What are you up to tonight? I know it’s late. I hope I didn’t wake you.
Kate – No, I was reading in front of my log fire with a glass of wine, just chilling. To be honest, I’ve been so engrossed in my book I didn’t realize the time until your text came through. I’m really tired though. I didn’t sleep well last night.
Lewis – I’m just in my suite at the hotel on my own. I was browsing through the internet finding out about dating sites. Did you know there are lots of terms used for the different types of people on these sites? I remembered you saying last night that this was you being catfished, that’s why I looked them up. Why didn’t you sleep well? Are you okay?
Kate – Yes, I found out a lot about the terms used on these dating sites, and I’ve probably had 70% used on me, but I won’t go into that now and bore you. I just couldn’t sleep. I had too much going around in my head. This stuff with FL, then with work. I’m looking to buy some new buildings to convert… and then you 😊
Why did I say that?
Lewis – Me?
Kate – Yeah, you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you as well. About what a coincidence it was, you coming to me looking for an apartment, and the guy I have been talking to using your picture. What are the chances of that happening? Thinking that everything happens for a reason, and maybe you are my white knight. Also, what if I hadn’t met you yesterday? Who knows what would have happened tonight? It terrifies me, Lewis, thinking about it. I don’t normally scare easily, but this has gotten to me ☹.
Lewis – I’m so pleased we did meet, Kate. I daren’t think about what could have happened. It makes my blood boil. I couldn’t sleep last night either. The same reasons as you really, but mainly I couldn’t stop thinking about you 😊.
Oh wow. He was thinking about me last night. Is that just because of FL or because he likes me. My tummy is doing somersaults again.
Kate – Me? As in you saved me?
Lewis – As in I really like you, Kate, and I want to get to know you more. I know you said you would have liked to have a drink tonight if you were still in the City so can we meet up on Monday for a drink?
I’m shocked that he’s pursuing this! I’m a plain Jane who is a bit hefty. I bet if I did a search on the internet for Lewis Clancy I would see lots of pictures of him with models and actresses at star-studded events. He’s way out of my league. I don’t go to events where people snap pictures of you. I don’t have all the designer clothes like the models wear, mainly because they stop at a size twelve. I don’t fit into Lewis’s life. I’m a nobody.
