Clara's Greek Adventure Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Clara’s

  Greek

  Adventure

  Copyright © 2018 by S Cartlidge

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Published in the UK.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For Stephen Nelson.

  Yes, Dad, I’ve just outed your middle name to the entire world.

  I love you.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Dreams are made of sun and sand…

  Chapter 1

  Twirling around in front of the mirror, I smile at my reflection as I admire my sparkly new purchase. The intricate beading on the kaftan dazzles beneath the bright lights, making me believe I’m only seconds away from the beach. Taking a step back, my stomach flutters with excitement as I slip my feet into a pair of strappy sandals and rest my hand on my hip. The glitzy girl in the mirror beams back at me, as though she’s a different person entirely to the woman standing in front of it.

  I run my fingers over the delicate fabric and allow my eyes to close, imagining salty sea air blowing through my hair. Almost instantly, I am transported to a stunning turquoise ocean. I can almost feel soft sand between my toes as I inhale deeply and lose myself in the daydream. Pelicans soar in the distance as I gently sway back and forth in the world’s comfiest hammock, totally oblivious to anything other than the blissful sound of the waves lapping against the shore…

  ‘That makes your arse look big…’

  Spinning around, I scowl at the laptop and look down at my outfit sceptically. ‘It does?’

  ‘I’m joking!’ Lianna chuckles, leaning towards her webcam and bursting into laughter. ‘It’s fabulous, but I don’t think you really need another kaftan. We’re only going for five days. How much can you possibly wear in such a short space of time?’

  A quick second glance in the mirror is all it takes to convince myself that I do need another kaftan. I can nearly hear my reflection egging me on as I give my overflowing suitcase a dubious look and wonder how much more I can realistically fit inside without bursting the clasp.

  ‘It’s coming with me.’ Not hesitating for a moment longer, I whip the embellished garment over my head and throw open the case.

  ‘How can you still have room in there?’ Lianna exclaims, taking a sip of wine and propping her phone up on her knees. ‘That suitcase is like Mary Poppins’ handbag!’

  Ignoring her comments, I fold the kaftan and desperately try to make some room amongst the assortment of brightly-coloured clothes. Resorting to squashing down my many pairs of shoes, I sit on the case and bounce up and down in an attempt to flatten the contents. Numerous groans escape my lips as I furiously wrestle with my beach bag to create some much-needed space. The mattress squeaks beneath me, providing a comical soundtrack to the rather unflattering scene. Not ready to give up, I take a running jump and land on the case with a thud.

  ‘You have no idea how ridiculous you look right now.’ Holding her phone an inch from her face, Li giggles and takes a screenshot. ‘This will make great blackmail material for the next time I want to borrow your Versace stilettos.’

  ‘You better delete that picture. No one needs to see me humping a suitcase in my underwear.’ Huffing and puffing as I fight with the flimsy lock, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and frown. ‘Besides, you’re never borrowing my shoes again because you stretch them out with your big clown feet.’

  Hearing her click away regardless, I continue with my mission until the lock finally surrenders and allows the case to close.

  ‘Finally!’ Lianna cheers, clapping her hands together as I fist pump the air in victory. ‘Can I show you my holiday outfits now?’

  Taking a moment to catch my breath, I throw myself on the bed and adjust my bra to avoid an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. ‘Shoot…’

  ‘I think we’ll start with my swimwear.’ She says to the camera, tipping out the contents of numerous plastic bags onto her bedroom floor. ‘I mean, it’s going to be boiling in Greece. I don’t think we will be wearing much else…’

  As Li drags her pink suitcase into view, I pull my laptop towards me and allow my mind to wander. We leave for Mykonos in less than twenty-four hours, but only now have we slowed down enough to be able to pack. To say that our working lives have been busy lately would be a massive understatement. Not that I’m complaining, I still remember the days when I prayed for the business to be as thriving as it is right now. Although it doesn’t feel like it, a full twelve months have drifted by since Suave secured the Ianthe collaboration and in that time the company has gone from strength to strength.

  When we first discovered that Janie had coerced Stelios Christopoulos into signing the all-important contract, we didn’t have much time to envisage the public’s reaction to the partnership. With Suave being so close to the brink of destruction at the time, all efforts were thrown into bringing the collaboration to life as quickly as possible and it paid off in more ways than we could have ever imagined.

  The limited-edition pieces, tastefully labelled The Rhodantha Collection, literally flew off the shelves. Within a matter of days, the entire collection sold out completely, leaving Ianthe with a big decision to make. They could either sign another contract or pocket the profits and move on to new ventures. Taking into consideration the huge popularity of the partnership, Stelios didn’t think twice about signing an agreement that would see the two companies work together for the foreseeable future and the results have been amazing.

  Since then, the Suave office has been a fabulous place to be. No longer do we lie awake at night worrying about how to pay people’s wages. No longer do we frantically call around other companies in a desperate bid for business and no longer are we at loggerheads with one another over how to turn things around. I’m pleased to say the only thing keeping me awake at night is the dilemma over which savings account I should use for Noah. Come nightfall, I have so many figures whirring around my mind and each one makes my stomach flutter with adrenaline.

  The truth is, Oliver and I have never been in financial difficulty, but the huge success of the Ianthe deal has left us with more money than we know what to do with. This vast turnaround of events has been a lot to take in and not just for me, but for all of my friends, too. With the cheques rolling in and the figures on our bank statements growing rapidly, i
t’s easy to forget that just a year ago things were very different indeed and I’m always secretly concerned we could end up back there.

  My conservative nature has meant the majority of our money is tied up in high-interest accounts, but I can’t say the same for Lianna and Vernon. Those two flash the cash like there’s no tomorrow, as do Marc and Gina. Being a director in a company that turns over millions of pounds certainly comes with its fair share of perks, but as strange as this may sound, it takes a lot of getting used to. Seeing my friends purchase luxury cars and expensive jewellery is bizarrely surreal and as much as I try to join in, my inner saveaholic stops me from doing so.

  I’d like to say Janie is equally as cautious with her new-found wealth, but the reality is she spends Stelios’s money like it’s going out of fashion. Living the high life in Mykonos, my crazy mother-in-law has taken to her dramatic lifestyle change like Carrie Bradshaw to a Manolo Blahnik sale. I still find it hard to believe that while we’re going about our day-to-day lives, Janie is sitting on her throne in Stelios’s beachside mansion like a Greek goddess. Well, if Greek goddesses drank whiskey, swore like sailors and wore extremely inappropriate clothing, but still, you get the picture.

  Oliver is yet to accept his mother’s relationship with Stelios and I’m beginning to think he never will. Regardless of Janie being happier than I have ever seen her, Oliver just cannot see beyond Stelios’s past. His infamous sex tape with Giulia Romano is something we no longer speak about, but I know it is all Oliver can see when I dare to breathe Stelios’s name. Oliver still won’t have custard on his desserts and I can’t say I blame him. That notorious video is the reason I skip custard creams with my morning coffee, but I am quietly grateful. The absence of my beloved breakfast biscuits has resulted in the loss of my muffin top and that’s always a good thing.

  In spite of Oliver’s feelings towards Stelios, I’m hoping beyond hope this trip will change his mind about Janie’s choice of partner. Receiving pictures and Facebook updates only give Oliver a snapshot of his mother’s life. It doesn’t allow him to see that beneath the photographs and online displays of affection, is a relationship that is proving all the doubters wrong. As hard as it is to believe, Janie and Stelios appear to be deeply in love. To be fair, their love does centre around a fondness for ouzo, tacky furniture and a frankly horrific dress sense, but I suppose love is love, no matter where it is found.

  I am praying that once Oliver immerses himself in his mother’s new life, he will see just how good for her Stelios Christopoulos really is. For reasons I am yet to understand, Stelios seems to love Janie just the way she is. His ability to see past her potty mouth and impudent behaviour is bringing out a whole new side to the Janie we know and love. If Instagram posts are to be believed, Stelios is certain he’s finally found The One, but after three failed marriages and numerous high-profile relationships with notorious celebrities, I’m not holding my breath.

  ‘What do you think of this bikini?’ Lianna asks suddenly, popping my thought bubble and bringing me back to the task at hand. ‘Is it too much?’

  Snapping to attention, I blink at the screen and raise my eyebrows. The rope-style swimsuit wraps around her toned body numerous times, barely covering her modesty with a series of thoughtfully placed ribbons.

  ‘It will make for some rather interesting tan lines, that’s for sure.’ I mumble, rolling onto my stomach and yawning loudly. ‘Can you really call it a bikini when it’s made of a single piece of string?’

  Shrugging her shoulders, Li dances around in front of the webcam. ‘What you are referring to as a piece of string is actually haute couture…’

  Tearing off the label, she throws on a crochet sarong before diving back into the pile of clothes on the floor.

  ‘Do you really think that’s suitable swimwear for this trip?’ I ask, already knowing that it most certainly is not. ‘What’s wrong with a classic swimming costume?’

  Quickly tugging on a pair of denim shorts, she grabs her sunglasses and ruffles her blonde hair. ‘Clara, we’re going to visit Janie. Anything is suitable for this holiday.’

  Not being able to argue with her, I nod along and crawl under the duvet. ‘That’s true, but it’s not exactly a holiday, is it? Don’t forget why we’re going to Mykonos in the first place…’

  When Stelios invited Suave’s board of directors to his annual Ice Party, I didn’t think Oliver and I would be in attendance. After all, with Oliver’s detest of Stelios growing stronger by the day, I couldn’t envisage us clinking glasses under a Greek sun and toasting new ventures anytime soon. Nevertheless, when business calls, Oliver has no choice but to put his personal opinions to one side and represent our company.

  You see, Stelios’s yearly gathering for his business associates is a very exclusive event and this year, Suave was lucky enough to receive an invite. The famous Ice Party is held at Stelios’s Mykonos mansion and is attended by all his trade contacts. This luxury event gives his colleagues a chance to network and make new connections within the industry. Or at least, that’s what he tells his bank manager. The reality is that Stelios’s legendary parties are just a chance for him to spend more of his money before the taxman gets his grubby hands on it. Although, he must have one hell of an accountant to get away with putting scantily clad dancers and caviar canapés through as a tax write-off.

  ‘I’m telling you, Clara. This is going to be the holiday of a lifetime.’ Lianna sings, returning into view wearing a cute white dress. ‘No children, loads of cash and the old gang back together again. It’s going to be unforgettable!’

  I smile back at my best friend as a wave of adrenaline washes over me. With Owen and Eve staying behind with the twins, Hugh running the business and Dawn in control of Floral Fizz, it is down to Oliver, Li, Vernon, Marc and I to wave the flag for Suave. Of course, when Gina found out about this trip she immediately arranged childcare for Madison, MJ and Melrose and booked herself a plane ticket. In her words, there was absolutely no way Marc was escaping parental duties to tan his arse in Greece and leaving her behind.

  I do feel a little guilty to be jetting off without Noah, but the thought of a Greek adventure with my friends makes me all warm and giddy inside. I can’t remember the last time we spent some proper time together outside of the office and I definitely can’t remember the last time Oliver and I did anything without having Noah between us.

  When you have a playful six-year-old keeping you busy, it’s easy to neglect your time as husband and wife. Slowly but surely, romantic date nights are replaced with rainy visits to the zoo and mammoth Lego sessions. This trip to Mykonos is exactly what the doctor ordered to relight the fire in our relationship. Lazy days on the beach and candlelit dinners beneath the moonlight await. I can almost taste the pína coladas…

  ‘How’s Oliver feeling about this holiday now?’ Lianna asks, holding up two pairs of high-heeled wedges. ‘Is he looking forward to it yet?’

  Pointing at the pink pair of shoes, I shake my head in response as the reality of Oliver’s attitude towards this trip comes back to haunt me. ‘He’s still refusing to acknowledge this as anything more than a networking opportunity. Although, I did catch him dancing around to Club Tropicana while he packed his sunscreen earlier.’

  Lianna laughs and tosses the pink wedges into her suitcase carelessly. ‘He’ll come around to Stelios eventually. He has to. Stelios has been in our lives for an entire year now. His collaboration with Suave and relationship with Janie are both going strong. You’ve got to hand it to him, Stelios must be doing something right.’

  I nod along as she speaks, hoping that she’s right. ‘I think a lot of Oliver’s hostility towards Stelios comes from his anxiety over his mother. He would never admit it, but you know how much he worries about Janie. The fact that we haven’t seen her for a year has just added fuel to the fire.’

  ‘She didn’t plan this move very well, did she?’ Li muses, looking around her messy bedroom. ‘Who goes on holiday and never comes back?
If she was my mother, I’d be worried, too.’

  ‘Exactly!’ I reply, grabbing a pillow and curling up into a tiny ball. ‘Let’s face it, the idea of Janie being thousands of miles away without supervision is nerve-racking for all of us.’

  Continuing to throw various items into her suitcase, Li shoots me a wink. ‘Clara, she’s living in a Greek mansion with an eccentric billionaire for company. Just how much trouble could she possibly get into?’

  I close my eyes and picture my audacious mother-in-law sprawled out in a luxury residence, with immediate access to millions of pounds at her fingertips.

  ‘You know what, Li? I dread to think…’

  Chapter 2

  Splashes of water land on my face as I float on my back in the warm ocean, providing welcome relief from the sweltering heat. Tipping back my head, I smile as rays of sunshine bounce off the waves, creating a sparkling display all around me. Gently kicking my legs, I screw up my nose as the droplets become heavier and heavier, until I am practically drowning beneath their weight…

  ‘Clara?’ A tinny voice echoes in the distance. ‘Clara?’

  Letting out a sleepy moan, I rub my face as I stir in my slumber.

  ‘Clara!’

  Struggling to pinpoint the voice, I peel open my eyes and bat away an excited Pumpkin, who is happily licking my face in a bid to wake me from my deep sleep.

  ‘What time is it?’ I murmur, unable to hide my disappointment at discovering I am still sprawled out on the bed and not floating in the ocean in Mykonos.

  ‘It’s dinner time.’ Oliver says lightly, looking around the untidy bedroom and frowning. ‘Please tell me you’ve packed and why are you in your underwear?’

  Yawning groggily, I push myself into a sitting position. ‘I was trying on holiday clothes earlier and I must have fallen asleep. I have packed though. Well, almost…’

  Oliver motions to the messy bedroom once more and scowls. ‘Did a tornado hit while you were doing it?’