The Ultimate Surrender

The room itself was large enough to accommodate not just the king-sized bed but also the pair of armchairs placed at either side of the fireplace and the table in between them, as well as a pretty writing desk set between the room’s two tall, narrow windows.

The bathroom, to Polly’s approval, was the very thing that a hotel bathroom should be. Its marble walls and floor would make it easy to keep hygienically clean, the bath was huge, claw-footed and very much in keeping with the era of the house, whilst the shower looked promisingly as though it could deliver a real blast of water.

The toiletries supplied had the discreet logo of a very up-market supplier and were, in fact, Polly was pleased to note, the same ones she bought for Fraser House. But she was equally pleased to see that this hotel, unlike her own, did not supply its guests with the additional luxury of a choice of aromatherapy oils—and candles.

All their bathrooms could be candlelit if their guests required it, and Polly knew from the frequency with which she had to replace the candles in their specially designed safety-glass pots that most of them did. Nor did this hotel have the floating bath pillows which she knew from their comments that her female guests adored.

She unpacked, which didn’t take her long—it was simply a matter of hanging her new dress in one side of the large double wardrobe along with her change of clothes for her return journey in the morning. Then, stowing her overnight bag on the floor beneath them, Polly locked the wardrobe door with the small key provided and put it safely in her purse.

Locking wardrobe doors was a nice touch, which she made a mental note to remember. The hotel would have duplicate keys, of course, but nevertheless it would give guests an extra sense of security.

After her afternoon tea, which was everything she had anticipated, Polly went upstairs to change for the evening.

Once on, her new dress was also everything it had promised to be when she had first tried it on. Picking up her bag, she opened her bedroom door just as the maid was about to knock. Seeing that she was carrying a pile of clean, soft white towels, Polly smiled approvingly at her before leaving her to get on with her work.

The hotel Phil was negotiating to buy was on the opposite side of the city, but fortunately, when Polly got into her taxi, the traffic had thinned out enough for their journey to be completed without too many delays.

As she stepped into the foyer of her destination Phil was waiting to greet her. He came towards her and took the hand she offered him to shake in between both of his and then pulled her gently but firmly towards him, so that instead of shaking it he could kiss her briefly instead.

Polly gave him an old-fashioned look which he had the grace to acknowledge with a rueful smile.

‘It’s your fault if I’m having a problem keeping my eyes and hands off you,’ he teased, and then unexpectedly the laughter died out of his eyes and he told her more seriously, ‘I mean it, Polly; there’s something about you that…’

Immediately Polly shook her head.

‘I’m flattered,’ she told him honestly, ‘but…’

But what?

But she loved Marcus, had loved him for over fourteen years, would always love him, even though she knew that her feelings, her love, would never be returned.

‘But what?’ Phil prompted her.

‘But…I’m older than you, Phil; I’ve got a grown-up daughter and…’

The sound he made stopped her.

‘Older than me? By what, four or so years?’

‘According to Marcus—’ Polly began.

‘Marcus?’ Phil had started to frown. ‘What’s this got to do with him?’

‘Nothing. It’s just…’ Polly stopped. ‘I like you, Phil,’ she told him honestly. ‘But I’m just not in the market for…for anything other than friendship.’

‘Markets can change,’ Phil told her meaningfully. ‘And I wouldn’t have got where I have today if I didn’t know how to be a good salesman. You have been warned! Would you like a drink in the bar first or would you prefer to go straight into dinner?’ he asked her.

‘A drink first, I think,’ Polly responded. ‘After all, you did say that you wanted my opinion on the hotel.’

‘Mmm…I did, didn’t I?’ Phil agreed.

Just over an hour later, when the waiter had brought the main course of their meal, Polly acknowledged to Phil that she was impressed with the hotel.

Its decor was a trifle modern and minimalistic for her taste but, judging by the number of sharply suited businessmen and women filling the bar and now the restaurant, it was obviously a very popular place.

The restaurant had been well planned, to allow those who wished to be seen to be seen and those who didn’t to enjoy a little privacy. It was clearly a very ‘in’ place to dine, and she had already recognised several media celebrities. ‘What I have in mind is to offer the business guest the option to bring his or her partner with them—all the rooms here are doubles, and the only difference between our rate for their single occupancy or their double is the additional cost of the inclusive room service breakfast.’