Beneath This Man(120)

Mario appears, looking rather dapper in his white waistcoat and bow tie, his hair combed precisely to the side and his moustache neatly trimmed. He smiles brightly and I remember the lush cocktail he made for me earlier today. 'I'll have a Mario Most Marvelous, please.' I grin at Mario.

He laughs loudly. 'Yes!' He starts faffing at the bar. 'Mr Ward?'

'Just a water, please, Mario.' Jesse replies, leaning towards me for a kiss. I can feel Sarah's eyes drilling into me, so, of course, I oblige and let him have his way. Not that I need Sarah around to do that. He has his way wherever and whenever he chooses.

'Sloe gin, Mario.' she snaps petulantly, and then proceeds to huff while Jesse gets his fix of me. He really does not have any regard for this woman, and I feel all the more comfortable for it. She's not even really a threat.

'Jesse, I could really do with you in the office.' she presses.

He growls, and I'm mentally willing him to trample all over her. 'Sarah, please!' he grates, standing up in front of me. 'Baby, do you want to stay here or would you like to come with me?'

I'm not looking at her, but I know she has just rolled her eyes, and while I would love to piss her off more, I'm quite happy to sit with happy Mario and drink my Most Marvelous. 'I'm good here, you go.'

He grabs his water and pushes his lips to my forehead. 'I'll be quick.' He stalks off, leaving Sarah to virtually jog on her eight inch heels in order to keep up with him, but not before she leans across me to retrieve her gin from the bar on a snarl. I ignore it and accept my drink from a smiling Mario.

'Thank you, Mario.' I return his smile and take a sip, gasping in gratitude.

'Miss Ava. May I say how magnificent you are looking this evening?' He smiles fondly, and I blush slightly.

'Mario, may I say how devilishly handsome you look this evening.' I raise my glass to the small Italian man, who I have become rather fond of.

He slaps the bar on a sharp burst of laughter, and then his eyes fall onto the diamond that's suspended around my neck before he tips his eyes back up to me with a high raised eyebrow. 'He loves you very much, yes?'

I give a little embarrassed shrug, feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the friendly Italian. I don't want everyone thinking the inevitable, just like Sarah did. 'It's just a necklace, Mario.' A Sixty grand necklace, yes, but no one has to know that small detail. I reach up to grasp it again. I have to keep checking it's there, even though I can feel the weight perfectly.

'I see that you love Mr Ward very much too.' He smiles and tops my glass up. 'It makes me happy.'

It does? He gets distracted by a smashed glass and goes stalking off, waving his arms around and shouting in Italian.

I sit happily at the bar watching the staff preparing for the evening. Champagne is poured into hundreds of glasses and the bar is repeatedly wiped down by Mario. He shouts instructions around and points here and there to guide his staff. This is like a finely tuned execution of organisation - he knows what he is doing. The little Italian is a perfectionist, making everything just so. The huge room looks stunningly made up, everything obviously arranged precisely and with the utmost attention to detail. The low hanging chandeliers are shimmering subtly, giving off a soft apricot glow of light, the words sensuous and invigorating springing to mind immediately - words I have heard before.

Pete appears with a tray of canapes. 'Ava, you look wonderful.' He presents me with the tray. 'Would you like a canape?'

I take in the glorious smell of smoked salmon and spy the small flat breads caked in cream cheese. 'Ah, Pete.' I place my hand on my stomach. 'I'm still full from lunch.' I have no idea how I'm going to manage a three course meal. I'll burst out of this dress.

'Ava, you hardly ate your lunch.' He gives me a disapproving look and carries on his way. 'Enjoy your evening.'

'You too, Pete.' I reply, feeling immediately silly for telling a member of Jesse's staff to enjoy their evening of working hard, but he's right, I didn't finish my lunch. That's because I lost my appetite when Sarah rocked up and it's probably why I'm not hungry now either.

I turn back to the bar and find my glass has been filled again. I search Mario out and spot him across the bar repositioning some stools. He catches my eye and gives me a cheeky grin, while I hold my glass up and give him a frown. He ignores it and carries on moving stools about. I'll have to be careful. I've had two glasses of this Most Marvelous concoction already, and I have no idea what's in it. I can't be falling about all over the place when people start arriving.