Best Erotic Romance 2014 by Kristina Wright

Author:Kristina Wright [Wright, Kristina; Dane, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781627780223
Publisher: Cleis Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

A PERFECT PLACE

Catherine Paulssen

I step outside the palace at the outskirts of Vienna when my phone rings. It’s Alicia, my boss, and I can tell immediately that she’s not as calm as her tone pretends. “Hon, I’m on the phone with Alexander and I just told him we’ve found the perfect place for the movie.”

“What do you think, Julie?” Alexander’s voice calls through the speaker.

I take a deep breath and think about a way to start, but before I can even utter a word, he cuts me off. “I see. Well, all right.”

I bite back a little smile, even though Alicia can’t see me anyway. Alexander’s one of the busiest directors I’ve ever worked for. I guess picking up the gist of a situation within moments comes with his schedule. He has no time for beating around the bush.

“Alexander”—Alicia chimes in—“don’t you want to see the photos Julie has taken first, or hear what she has to—”

“No.” He exhales. “Listen, one of the producers just met this guy whose family apparently owns half of Hungary. He says they have an old castle on a mountain that might be just the thing we’re looking for. Have a look at it, will you? I’ll tell Kelsey to give you his number.”

While I listen to Alexander’s assistant and scribble down the Hungarian guy’s contact information, I steel myself for a peeved call from Alicia. And as reliable as clockwork, the moment I’ve hung up, my phone rings again.

“One word!” she says. “If you had given him one word, this endless marathon all across Europe would finally be over.”

“It wasn’t the right location.”

“And why not? ‘The neoclassical Palais Schönburg, built in 1790, is one of the finest examples of Vienna’s architectural treasures. Today, it’s most famous for its wall frescos and enchanted gardens…’ blah blah blah,” she reads from a memo. “That’s just what they were looking for!”

“Licia, how long has Alexander been working with us now?”

“About what—eight years?”

“Ten,” I say, trying hard not to sound too smug. “Ten years. You want it to stay that way, right? Trust me, he wouldn’t have been satisfied.” I glance back at the salmon-colored palace. “The ground and exteriors are great, but inside it was too—neat. It lacked dilapidation; I can’t really explain. But I know for certain it’s not the right place for the movie.”

She sighs. “Fine. Call me when you’re in Hungary, okay?”

I promise and hail a cab.

The next day, I take the train from Budapest south to a small village in the Baranya County. A meeting has been arranged by the estate’s secretary, and some Mr Illésházy will meet me at the market square in front of the only church. I assume he’s the administrator and for some reason, picture a good-humoured, middle-aged man with a gray moustache.

If the castle proves to be the location Alexander’s looking for, maybe I can persuade Alicia to let me stay in Hungary for another day. Everyone has been exquisitely nice to me, and the countryside is the embodiment of rural idyll.

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