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"I'm going to take her for coffee and tell her how much I missed her. I really have missed you so much Cristina. I never phoned because I didn't think it was fair on you. But I couldn't even imagine being with another woman. It was crazy and I was slowly going out of my mind. I 'd keep meeting women at work functions and often they'd want to arrange a date but I just couldn't. I felt like I'd be cheating on you. It just didn't make any sense. I was like half a person after we went our separate ways."
Cristina nodded. "We're two of a kind. I was the same. I didn't know what to do without you. If what we had didn't work it seemed pointless to go and meet someone else. It's funny how things work out. We might never have talked again if it hadn't been for my love consultant, as I call her, the one and only Sally."
"Thank you Sally. We'll have to make her the guest of honor at our wedding," Greg looked at the surprise in Cristina's wide eyes and knelt down on one knee outside the coffee shop. He took a small box from his coat pocket and opened it to show a huge diamond ring.
With a slight quiver in his voice he asked, "Cristina, make me the happiest man in London by marrying me. Will you marry me?"
Cristina put her hand to her mouth, took a deep breath and looked down at the engagement ring, looked Greg in the eyes, felt tears in her eyes, and said the words she thought she'd never get to say: "Yes Greg, of course I'll marry you."
Never Kiss the Clients
Linda sat back in her office chair admiring the new painting on the wall opposite. She loved the bright turquoise colors of the sea and the rich deep blue sky set against the white of the beach house. Wearing her cream suit, at 40, she looked every inch the part of the successful and beautiful young executive and she made sure her office looked just as good. She heard Karen walking past her office and called out. "Karen, just a quick one, block all calls from George Preston."
"Ok, will do, Linda. I'll add him to the long list of unacceptable men," her P.A. joked, "I'll squeeze him in at the bottom."
Linda glared at her from her desk. "I met him yesterday evening in the champagne lounge. He's another heir to a family estate. The usual, a wealthy vagrant with no work ethic. When I asked him what he does for a living he just changed the subject, as that type always do. He seemed to be more interested in discussing fine wines and the state of play in Argentina's polo circuit. What a sad, pathetic and boring man."
"Is he good looking?"
Linda played with her gold necklace. "Yes, he is actually. He's an older guy, around 52 I'd say, he has long dark brown hair, blue eyes and a strong chin. And his dress sense is spot on, he was wearing a beautiful tailored dark navy suit with a crisp white silk shirt. Very fetching. I don't trust myself with men like him, his good looks might make me lose control. Anyway, you know me, I've no time for the idle rich, outside of work that is."
"Yes, I know that. You didn't become the most renowned property diva in Chelsea by avoiding rich clients. What was it The Times said about you? "Linda Black is the estate agent of choice for high net work individuals seeking to invest in the most prestigious locations in London. Her client list reads like a who is who of the international business world. Not only that, the elegant brunette is one of the most eligible single women in London." What they didn't mention of course is your love life or lack of one, eh?" Karen digged.
Linda shook her head. "It's not easy finding a good man these days. Since I smashed my way though the 40 barrier last month I've resigned myself to the fact that maybe it just won't happen. And I'm ok with that, sort of. You know I've tried. Over the last 8 years as my trusty assistant you've seen the ups and mostly downs of my dating life. All in all it's not exactly been a ball, has it?
"The funny thing is, everything else in my life is great. I love my business, I have a great bunch of friends, I have a loving and supportive family back in Cornwall and I want for nothing. Except, the one. I know this might sound cynical and even jaded but I'm starting to think it's true, that, all men are the same, they all have a one track mind, you can't really trust any of them."
"Oh, come on Linda, That's a little overboard, don't you think? I've never been happier since I met Mike, we've been happily married now for 7 years . He's everything I was looking for in a man. And it's true, I did despair before I met him that I'd ever find someone that would suit me. But I was never cynical like you've become recently. I've not said this before Linda so take this the right way, as your friend, I'm telling you, it's your attitude that is the problem not the male population. You're scaring off the good ones and attracting the cynical ones, two peas in a pod, and all that."
Linda raised her voice. "Cynical? Me? Oh come on Karen, I'm the most positive person you could meet on the King's Road. You know that."
Karen held her ground and raised her voice in response. "Yes, you are, with one exception, when it comes to men you're not, not at all. You talk about them as if they're the source of every problem of humanity. I don't remember the last time you had something good to say about any of the guys you dated."
"Well there's a reason for that, they were all either rich and lazy or lazy and rich, either way, none of them had any drive. They bored me to tears."
"Linda, that's exactly what I've been saying."
Linda shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "I really don't know what you're talking about today. Sounds like a load of mumbo jumbo to me. Actually, now that I think about it, I've decided, no more dating for the next six months. I deserve a break. And anyway, I've far too much to do. My social calendar is full. Next month in particular is jammed.
"At last I'm going to visit Vienna to attend the Spring concert series. I've been wanting to go there for years. It'll be fabulous. Just me, three full days of world class music and of course the art galleries. I can't wait."
Karen frowned. "Why are you going on your own?"
"Everyone is too busy with their partners to get away. I was hoping to steal a few of the girls and elope but when it came to making the booking not one of them would drag themselves away from their man."
"Linda, are all of your friends in long term relationships?"
"Yes, all of them. Except for Jo of course but she doesn't count because she will never find a man that can meet her exacting standards." Linda sneered.
"Hmm, sounds like someone I know," Karen joked.
"That's low, even for you. I'm not at all like Jo. And you know it." Linda barked.
"Ok then, let's look at the similarities and lets see if you're right. You're both 40, very attractive, highly successful, leading lights in your field and you both have not had a stable long term relationship for years, and for the same reason.
"Don't forget. I talked to Jo about this not so long ago, that night when she poured her heart out to me. She talks about men exactly the way you do. In fact, she even uses some of the same exact phrases to describe "the enemy"."
"You're joking, right? You must be. I'm really not that bad."
