Million Love Songs(23)

We’re greeted by a guy who looks like a model. ‘Hi, Mr Soames,’ he says. ‘Good to see you.’

‘Thanks, Callum. Busy tonight?’

He nods. ‘Word is spreading.’ Then he shows us to a blood red chesterfield sofa by the big, stone fireplace where a fire roars in the grate. The room is seductively lit, the main illumination provided by small chandeliers that hang over the side tables. All along the fireplace is a row of elegant church candles and above them is a huge modern painting depicting a coat of arms. There are more candles clustered, artfully, on a silver plate in the centre of the dark wood coffee table. Next to them is a vase of scarlet roses. On the far side of the room there’s a bar, also lit so low that I’ve no idea how they can see what they’re doing. In the corner there’s a DJ playing smooth tunes and a dance floor the size of a pocket handkerchief.

‘Well, this is all very lovely,’ I whisper.

‘You like it?’

‘It’s fab. You say it hasn’t been open long?’

Mason shakes his head. ‘A couple of weeks. This is one of our ventures too.’ I can’t help but notice the pride in his voice. ‘Well, it’s my baby, really,’ he adds. ‘We’re aiming it at couples who want something a bit out of the ordinary and are prepared to pay for it. We want it to be classy, a cut above.’

‘You’ve certainly done that.’ I bet membership here costs a fortune.

‘We haven’t even had a proper launch party yet,’ he says. ‘I wanted to give the staff chance to find their feet. You’ll have to come along when we do.’

As if I’m going to say no. I’d go to the opening of an envelope and perhaps my one desperately underused party dress will get an airing.

The waitress comes over. ‘Hello, Mason. Nice to see you.’ She gives him a winning smile and they exchange an intimate glance. Hmm. Wonder if this one is another of his many conquests. ‘What can I get for you?’

‘Hi Cindy, I’d like a Jack Daniel’s on the rocks, please.’ He turns to me. ‘For you, Ruby?’

‘I’d like a Hendrick’s gin with Fever-Tree tonic and a slice of cucumber. Thanks.’

Cindy dips and puts out two cocktail napkins and a small bowl of wasabi peas. I realise that I haven’t had anything to eat all evening and fall on them.

‘We should get some food,’ Mason suggests.

‘I haven’t eaten all evening. I could kill for some chips.’

‘I’m sure we could organise that.’

When Cindy comes back with our drinks, he orders two club sandwiches and fries. I’m getting to like this man more and more. And they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. There’s a short cut straight to mine.

I settle back into the sofa. ‘This is beyond cool,’ I marvel. ‘Thanks so much for bringing me here.’

‘I value your opinion. You’re very straight-talking, Ruby. I like that.’ Mason glances round the room and I can see the pride on his face too. He’s clearly pleased with his little self and why not? It’s fab. Most of the tables are full, with couples or small groups of friends, but there’s no lairiness like there is in so many clubs now – one of the main reasons I don’t go to them. Plus I’m about twenty years older than the average clientele. Here, the atmosphere is great. ‘If it goes well, then I’ll roll it out in a few other cities.’

‘Bye-bye Butcher’s Arms?’

‘Jay is doing a great job. I’m really surplus to requirements there. I know a lot of the staff feel that way.’ He gives me a wry glance and I say nothing. Mason is obviously more shrewd than he appears. ‘I’ve had a very privileged life, Ruby, and I’ve spent a lot of time jetting about, shirking my responsibilities. Now I’m ready to step up to the plate and I’ve managed to let my father give me free rein with a few of my own projects. I want to take on a new role in the company and make my mark. This is my first chance.’

‘Looks like you’ve done it with good style.’

‘I’ve put my heart and soul into it. It needs to succeed. My old man might have once had a soft spot for the black sheep of the family, but even he’s run out of patience. He won’t cut me any slack if this place flops. It’s his dosh behind it.’

‘I can’t see that it will.’

Mason smiles. ‘Thanks for your confidence in me. I have a lot to prove. Both of my brothers are successful businessmen and my sister is a barrister. I’m the no-good waster of the family.’

‘I wouldn’t say that.’

‘My dad does and what he says is law. He’s a very difficult man.’

I think of my own family, who are as soft as putty and have ceaselessly supported me through all my trials and tribulations.

‘I have a lot to prove,’ he continues. ‘My family look down on me and I’ve played along with it just to wind them up. One of the reasons I spend so much time away is to avoid their scrutiny and their censure. It doesn’t work though.’ He shrugs his shoulders. ‘Now I’ve got to grow up and make something of myself. I can’t sponge off my parents for ever.’ Then he grins at me. ‘They’ve said as much themselves.’

I laugh at that and we clink our glasses together. ‘Here’s to growing up.’