Chasing Daisy

not right about his smile.
    And then I see her. Tall, slim, blonde, wearing white skinny jeans and a fitted white shirt, looking radiant, glowing with a light tan – the sort of tan only the very rich seem to get right.
    Laura. I know it in an instant.
    I’m in shock. I realise I’m staring. My eyes flit back to Will as I see him stop to shake hands with some sponsors. He introduces Laura and she shakes their hands, too.
    I want to escape. I want to get out of here. But with Holly upstairs, I’m the only person staffing the station. And now they’re coming this way.
    ‘Would I be able to have a cup of tea, please?’ Laura asks in a posh British accent.
    I look around for the teapot and realise Gertrude has just gone into the kitchen to make a fresh pot. I can’t wait for her to come back so I pour water into a cup direct from the hot water jug, trying to keep my hands steady. I suddenly realise I haven’t put the teabag in, so I quickly rectify my mistake, but it means the tea doesn’t brew as well. I stir it with a teaspoon, assuming Laura is currently thinking I’m a total loser.
    ‘Laura, this is Daisy,’ Will says.
    ‘Hello!’ She leans across and shakes my hand. It’s greasy from bacon fat, but she doesn’t wipe her hand on her trousers or do anything so common as that afterwards. She probably has a handkerchief in her handbag, for all I know.
    ‘Good morning,’ I reply, feeling ever so formal. ‘Let me know if you need anything during your stay, won’t you? I’m here to help!’ I have NO idea where these words are coming from, but I force a bright, albeit shaky, smile.
    ‘Well, thank you very much,’ she says warmly, holding her hands out for the tea.
    ‘Milk?’ I ask weakly.
    ‘No, thank you. What are you having, darling?’ She turns to Will. ‘One of those dreadful milkshakes?’
    I stare at him as he decides.
    ‘No, maybe later.’ He puts his hand on Laura’s lower back and steers her away, not meeting my eyes. They take a seat at one of the tables and I do my utmost to focus on the bacon, but my gaze keeps flitting back to them.
    She doesn’t wear much make-up – only a light slick of the sheerest lipgloss and a touch of blush and mascara. She’s too beautiful to need anything else. I can see her fingers, long and slim, wrapped around the handle of her teacup. Her nails are perfectly manicured.
    ‘Alright?’ Holly re-emerges, looking comparatively cheerful.
    ‘Laura is here,’ I mutter under my breath.
    Holly surveys the tables and spots her instantly. She waves. I look at Laura to see her wave back and smile. I remember they’ve met before.
    ‘Sorry,’ Holly whispers to me. ‘She saw me; I couldn’t ignore her.’
    Will suddenly stands up. Laura looks surprised at his sudden movement. He says something to her, then turns and walks towards the stairs leading to his private room. She quickly places her teacup on the saucer and hurries, gazelle-like, after him in her ever-so-high heels.
    I turn and look at Holly.
    ‘Oh, dear,’ she says.
    I don’t speak, just stare down at the sizzling bacon. I look back up at her. ‘Does my hair look greasy?’
    ‘No, it looks fine,’ she lies. ‘Gorgeous. You look stunning.’
    I smile at her gratefully, even though I know I look like a state. Why oh why did I go out drinking last night? And the bacon! The curse of the bacon! I look like a mess.
    ‘Why did she have to come to this race? Of all the races to come to, this is the one I’ve been most looking forward to!’ I lament.
    ‘Don’t let this spoil it for you,’ Holly says, but she doesn’t understand. My weekend has been ruined already.
    Later that afternoon, Holly takes me to one side. ‘I know why she’s here.’
    ‘Who? Laura?’
    Holly nods.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘She’s involved in a charity event they’re all going to this evening.’
    By ‘they’ I assume she means the drivers and directors.
    ‘I see.’ So there’s no chance of Will coming out with us tonight.
    ‘We’ll have a good time,’ she tells me, but she knows I don’t believe it.
    By ten thirty that night, I’ve had enough. Everyone else is in high spirits, but I just don’t have it in me to enjoy myself. I quietly tell Holly I’m heading back to the hotel. She immediately grabs my arm and pleads with me to stay, before drunkenly insisting she’ll come with me. I firmly tell her no. She’s been having a laugh with Pete and Dan and I know they’ll see she gets back to the hotel