The Other Side Of Midnight by Georgia Le Carre

Author:Georgia Le Carre [Le Carre, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 39

Autumn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoZJdil0_HI&list=PLRU2kFDUg_RLmd-GsT1v4zzYpW1TlRw5g

For a few seconds I can only stare astonished at the blank space that was once occupied by them, then I turn my head and look at Rocco. His face is taut, and the skin around his mouth is very white, making his lips look redder than usual.

“Were those people really your parents?”

He nods.

“That was the strangest encounter I’ve ever had. I got the distinct impression they did not like me.”

“Don’t take it personally, that is how they behave towards anybody that is outside their… circle.”

I notice the slight pause before circle. “Why did they want to meet me while they were masked?”

He sighs. “Because they didn’t want you to see their faces yet.”

I shake my head, a frown on my forehead. “Why not?”

“They have their reasons.”

“I know. You’ll explain later, right?”

He nods. “Yes, I will. Would you like to dance?”

It is only then I hear again the classical music playing in the background. “To this music?”

He smiles slightly. “Yes, it’s a waltz.”

“I can’t waltz,” I confess.

“Just follow my lead.”

“No thanks. I’m not going to go out there and make a complete fool of myself,” I mutter.

“Do you really care what any of these people think of you?”

I look around and once again notice that many of them are actually surreptitiously watching us, actually not us, but me. I meet Rocco’s eyes. “Why is everyone staring at me?”

“Because they are curious about you,” he replies.

I nod. “I need to use the restroom, but when I come back you’re going to teach me to waltz.”

He smiles, a genuine smile, the first one of the night. “That’s more like the feisty spitfire I know.”

I grin back at him. At that moment, the champagne is making my head buzz pleasantly, and everything in the world feels right.

“The Ladies is that way.” He nods towards a side entrance.

“Be back in a jiffy,” I call over my shoulder as I walk away.

I follow the signs and find that the bathrooms are accessed by going down a spiral staircase. After that there are two other doors before I see the sign for the Ladies. Even here, it smells overpoweringly of perfume. I use the toilet quickly, wash my hands, and go out. Once I’m outside I open the first door which then gives me a choice of doors. I no longer remember which way I came so I open the first door.

And gasp.

I have accidentally opened the door to a candlelit room. It is lavishly decorated as if it is a French brothel from the eighteen-century, with heavy red velvet curtains, vibrant art in gilded frames on the walls, a massive bed covered with a plush damask bedspread. It is so crazy. Would there be such a room underneath the hotel?

Even stranger are the two maskless people in it.

A young woman is lying naked on the big bed. Her skin looks fresh and rosy, like the skin of a freshly picked sun-warmed peach, her eyes are wide and circled with thick dark lashes, and her right hand is tangled in her long auburn hair.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.