Chasing Daisy

chance to say anything else.
    That evening, he appears in the hotel lobby just as I’m waiting for the lads to come down. We’re staying in the old part of town on the Bosphorus Strait – the channel of water that separates the European part of Turkey from the Asian part. The mechanics want to check out some belly dancing in the Beyoğlu district and Holly and I figure it would be a laugh to tag along.
    ‘Coming out for a drink?’ I ask Will, hopefully.
    ‘No. I’m going for dinner on the river. Simon and a few of the sponsors are dragging Luis and me to some posh restaurant.’
    ‘Oh, okay.’
    ‘Hey, is your dad’s name Stellan?’ he asks curiously.
    I look at him with shock. ‘Yes, why?’
    He shrugs as the lads pile out of the lift. ‘The car’s outside!’ Holly calls from the revolving doors. She goes straight back around in a circle again. ‘Come on!’ she shouts as she goes past. I would laugh, but I’m distracted by Will’s question.
    ‘See you later,’ he says.
    Before I can open my mouth to shout, ‘Wait!’, Pete and Dan have swamped me.
    I can’t relax that night. The bar we’ve ended up in is buzzing and vibrant, but all I want is to talk to Will. Eventually I can stand it no longer.
    ‘I think I’m going to head off,’ I tell Holly, who’s busy studying her mobile phone.
    ‘Are you?’ she asks, distracted. She snaps her phone shut. ‘My mum,’ she explains. ‘Wants to know when I’m going back up to Aberdeen to see her.’
    ‘Oh, right.’
    ‘You off, then?’ she asks again.
    ‘If you don’t mind.’ In fact, I’m astounded she’s not giving me any stick.
    ‘Sure, that’s fine,’ she says. ‘I might go and chat to Pete.’
    ‘Good luck getting his attention.’ I nod in the direction of Pete and a few of the lads who are ogling a belly dancer undulating across the stage.
    Holly just laughs. ‘See you later,’ she calls, heading in their direction.
    I go outside and climb into one of the people carriers waiting for us. It’s not recommended for Western girls to venture out alone here, so Simon ensures we always have readily available transport.
    I sit and stare out of the car window at the dome-studded skyline as the sun sets luminescent orange over Istanbul’s mosques. I’m fully aware that what I’m seeing is beautiful, but I’m too preoccupied to properly appreciate it.
    Back at the hotel, I don’t know what to do with myself. I wander to the bar, on the off chance Will is there, but he’s not. Frederick is having a quiet drink with Klaus, so I nip back out quickly before they spot me and engage me in a conversation. I call the lift and, once inside, press the button to take me to my floor. Then I stare at the number for Will’s floor. On a whim, I press that, too. When we get to my floor, I shift from foot to foot and wait as the doors whoosh closed again and the lift continues to climb. We reach Will’s landing and I waver a moment. As the doors start to close, I leap out. Before I can stop myself, I’m walking towards his suite. I stand outside, listening for any sound. Is that the TV? No, it’s the room next door. Shall I knock? If he’s not there, it won’t matter.
    Knock, knock, knock.
    I wait. And wait. Then knock again.
    What the hell am I doing? I’m about to turn and run when the door opens. Will is standing there in a T-shirt and boxer shorts. His hair is all dishevelled and it’s obvious I’ve just woken him up. Cazzo , I am so embarrassed.
    ‘Daisy?’ he says sleepily.
    ‘Er, hi. Sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing. I was just out with Holly and—’
    ‘Come in,’ he interrupts.
    ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were asleep. What time is it?’
    ‘I have no idea.’
    ‘Sorry,’ I say again.
    ‘It’s okay,’ he replies.
    ‘God, sorry, you’ve got qualifying tomorrow.’
    ‘Stop apologising!’ He laughs. ‘Take a seat.’ He directs me to one of two opulent-looking sofas in his suite. I perch on it uncomfortably, fully regretting making such a tit out of myself by coming here. I spot the time on the DVD player.
    ‘Oh my God, it’s almost midnight. Oh shit, Will, I’m sorry. I’ll go.’
    ‘Daisy! Would you shut up? I’ll just go and put some jeans on.’
    ‘That’s a good idea.’ I involuntarily glance at his white Calvin Kleins and quickly look away again.
    He wanders off to his bedroom and returns a short while later.
    ‘Do you want a drink?’
    ‘Um, no, it’s okay.’
    He goes to the