Pt 3&4 of Romance Short Story ~ "Red Diamonds"

[Jonathon Francis]

Chapter 1

“All aboard!” announced the porter as he stepped into the first class rail car leaning out towards the crowd. It was five thirty in the afternoon in Boston as I checked my watch jumping on the steps pulling myself up into the train. It had been a long week and I was looking forward to the weekend. I went over to the bar section in the dinning car, one of the perks of platinum first class travelers. The plush leather chairs and private waiters made the long trip back to Manhattan a dream ride.

“How may I serve you sir” asked the waiter. “Double jack on the rocks please” I replied. “My pleasure sir.” I loosened my tie and checked my black berry for final emails. “Let’s see nothing important or that can’t wait until Monday.” I murmured to myself scrolling down the small list of emails. “Your drink sir” said the waiter. “Thanks”. I said staying focused on my black berry.
The main door opened letting in a small puff of wind with the scent of Tresor perfume in the air. I looked up from my black berry to see who it was. A tall beautiful red head strolled in with her gloves draped in her hand and bag tucked under her arm. She was dressed in red from head to toe with a red hat and sheer veil. Her lips were red, her nails were red. She was just pure class from head to toe. “Good afternoon Miss Patterson” said the waiter as she approached her private table and took a seat. “Hello Charles how’s Barbara and kids?” she asked. “Doing well Miss Patterson” he said placing a pink Cosmo and two napkins on her table. “Thank you Charles” she said. “You’re welcome Miss Patterson”. She lifted her veil and took a slow sip leaving her red lip imprints on the edge of the glass. I’ve never seen her on the train before. Who was she? How could I have missed this beautiful woman all this time?

My black berry vibrated interrupting my thoughts. “Hello, Paul speaking” I said in a low voice. “Yeah… Right… Okay, let’s talk about it on Monday. Thanks, talk to you then.” I powered off my black berry and reached for my drink to finish it off when I saw Charles approaching me with another one. “From Miss Patterson sir” he said handing me the drink and a business card. Patterson, Morgan & Chase Attorneys at law, NYC, Miss Alicia Patterson Sr. Partner it read on the card. “Alicia Patterson” I thought to myself. Who was she? I scanned the room and stopped on the lady in red. She was looking right at me. I raised the drink up and made a toasting thank you gesture. She raised and lowered her eyebrows and took another sip of her drink. Why me I thought to myself? She could have any man on the planet in my opinion.

I picked up the menu on my table and raised it up gesturing “can I buy you dinner” to her. She crossed her legs and nodded a confirming yes. The sun was setting as the train glided down the tracks. Charles went from table to table lighting the little votive candles floating in small intimate clear bowls of water with rose pedals in them. I picked up my drink, coat and brief case and headed over to her table. The flickering light from the candle made her eyes sparkle as she looked up at me. “Hello my name is Paul, thanks for the drink” I said putting down my brief case and coat. “My pleasure Paul, I am Alicia”. She was even more beautiful up close. Her ruby red lips, long red crimson red hair and slow batting eyes were intoxicating. I took the seat across from her and sat down my drink.

I handed her my business card. “Oh, you’re in fashion design” she said with a big smile. I could see by her outfit that she wore only the best tailored clothes and how lucky for me that I am one of the top private tailors and couture designers with boutiques in Boston and New York. “Yes, I’ve been in the business for years. Both my parents retired from it and I took over the family business.” I replied. She took another sip of her Cosmo, “Well, I am in luck then. I am attending a client’s merger party next weekend in the Hampton’s. Think you can put something together for me by then?” she said offering me a challenge. “Why yes I can. I am working on a piece now I call “Red Diamonds”. I’d say you’re a size six?” She smiled flattered, “You’re right Paul. You are good. Let’s order some appetizers then we’ll discuss that dinner offer you made. Do you have a place in mind?”

Thinking of a couple places then I decided, “Yes, CoCo Pazzo between 5^th Ave and Madison?” I asked seeking her approval. “Perfect. One of my fav’s. Mark Strausman is an excellent chef. The “Duetto di Agnello di Latte” is to die for.” She said looking into my the eyes as if I had said the magic words of the day. The waiter brought over two more drinks. We ordered two small appetizers and continued talking as we were being whisked to New York for dinner. How lucky I was, I thought to myself. The perfect girl for my new design, “Red Diamonds” that I had been working on for the past two months has walked into my life.

Part 2 – “Dinner at CoCo Pazzo”

“Hello Miss Patterson, we’ve been expecting you” said the doorman as we stepped from her private car. “Hello Jimmy. Is Mark on staff tonight?” she asked as if expecting a yes. “He is Miss Patterson. He said he’ll come by your table after you have a chance to settle in.” said Jimmy escorting her from the car by her hand. “Very good Jimmy, this is Paul a friend of mine. He’ll be joining me for dinner.” She said softly waiting for me to exit the car. “Very well Miss Patterson. Right this way. Your table is waiting.”

Alicia strolled in greeting clients and friends of hers. Everyone knew her. She has a power and presence glow about her. “After you” I said to Alicia letting her slide into the leather booth first. “Thank you” she replied smiling, scooting in laying her purse and gloves on the table. “My pleasure Alicia” I said scooting in next to her. “So tell me about this design of yours” she said touching up her lips. “Red Diamonds is a one piece full open back with an empire waist design” I said adjusting my tie and unbuttoning my blazer. “Wow. You’re not fooling around. Why red?” she asked.

“Red is a deep bold color that commands attention in any room” I said with a smile adjusting the silverware. “I was going to make it in white, but when I was in Paris a couple of months back, I found this unique red fabric that I knew the moment I laid eyes on it that this was the fabric for my Red Diamonds design”. Our waiter arrived just as I finished “Your Cosmo Miss Patterson and your Double Jacks on the rocks sir”. “Thank you Marcus” said Alicia. “To Red Diamonds Paul” she toasted. “To Red Diamonds” I said toasting her glass.

“Good evening Mrs. Patterson” said Mark the head chef arriving to attention at our table. “Oh, hello Mark, what’s on off menu tonight?” Alicia asked. “I have a delightful Pollo alla Diavola. It’s fresh organic chicken, braised in balsamic vinegar and pan seared with lemon, herbs, and crushed red pepper, broccoli rabe and sautéed Yukon Gold potatoes” said Chef Mark. “That sounds delightful, don’t you think so Paul?” she said asking for my approval. “Sound awesome to me” I said nodding my head in approval. “Very well Mark, two orders please with two wild green winter salads?” she said lifting her veil tucking on top of her hat. “It’ll be about twenty five minutes Mrs. Patterson is that okay” asked Mark. “That will be fine Mark, thank you” she said sipping her Cosmo.

We talked about her law firm and how she climbed to the top and becoming one of the law firms in New York. Our meal arrived and as Mark promised it would be divine. We ordered a couple more drinks to go with desert and called it a night. “So when should I come by for a fitting?” she asked picking up her purse and gloves. “Is Monday afternoon anytime after four pm okay for you” I asked looking at my black berry. She checked her black berry and said “I am open from three O’clock on.

Works for me” she said thumbing her black berry. “Good, I’ll see you then. You have my card with my New York address” I said powering off my black berry. “Four O’ Clock it is. Mind if I come a little early?” she asked touching up her lipstick. “Not at all, I’ll a Cosmo waiting for you” I said in a flirting with her. I could barely keep my eyes off of her, but from the moment we met on the train, introduced ourselves and exchanged business cards, she became my client.

Chapter 3 – “I have the weekend to get Red Diamonds ready”

I went right to work on Red Diamonds after I got home. It would take all weekend to have all the alterations done. I knew Alicia would not accept anything less than stellar. My creative juices were flowing as I pictured your size six frame in the dress. I called Rachel of Rachel Hats, Bags & Bangles, a very good friend of mine and my absolute go to person for special custom hand bag and hat work. I knew from seeing Alicia’s hand bag, the bag to go with Red Diamonds had to be nothing less than a original and a one of the kind. I heard the buzzer at the door as I was mounting Red Diamonds on the mannequin. “Who is?” I asked pressing the door buzzer mic. “It’s Rachel” the soft voice said. “Come on up” I said buzzing her in.

I lived above my shop in New York. It’s a nice two level, three bedroom loft. “Hey Paul, what’s up?” asked Rachel walking over to the dress. “I’ve got a big one Rachel” I said walking around Red Diamonds sticking in marker pins. “Well, you found the perfect girl eh’” said Rachel putting down her things and taking off her coat. “Yeah, here’s her card” I said pushing it over to her. “Wow, you’ve got your hands full. I’ve heard about her. She’s real picky” said Rachel tapping on the card. “I know” I said walking around the dress.

“Let’s have a look shall we” said Rachel approaching the dress. “Man, this is one awesome piece of work. I am thinking of a couple bag designs that would work with this” she said turning the mannequin around. She pulled out her laptop and turned it on. “Got anything to drink?” she asked walking over to the fridge. “Yeah, help yourself. You know your way around”. Rachel picked out an Evian water and went back to her laptop and started a software for designing bags and attached a digital pen pad. She looked at the dress and started drawing out her ideas. “Nope, no looking until I am done” she said shielding her laptop as I tried to get a look.

A couple of hours had passed and I had made all the alterations to Red Diamonds. “What do you think?” I asked Rachel. “Boy, that’s one drop dead sexy number. She is going to light up when she sees that!” Rachel said with wide eyes. “Well, check these two ideas out and let me know if I’m close” said Rachel turning her laptop around. “Definitely the second one, it’s not too small or too big. She seems to like medium bags” I said pointing. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking” she nodded. “Okay then, I’ll see you tomorrow morning with it in hand” she said powering off her laptop. “Excellent Rachel, you are the best!” I said giving her hug. “That’s what friends are for” she said walking to the door. “And you owe me dinner for this rush job” she said over her shoulder pulling the door closed behind her. “You got it!”

Chapter 4 “Is the dress ready Paul?”

Rachel dropped the bag off yesterday afternoon as promised and it was perfect. It was a red sequined clutch with red marble inlays trimmed in gold. Red Diamonds was setup in the private fitting room. I catered in food with a professional server from Gourmet Details. I cleared my appointments for the rest of the day. Fortunately I have understanding clients. The food and server showed up right on time to setup. Everything was perfect. I was on a phone call when I heard the chime of the front door. “She’s here, I’ll call you later Rachel and let you know how it turned out” I whispered into the phone and quickly hung up.

There Alicia stood with a full length black coat, a stunning black two piece Donna Karan with gold buttons down the front, a matching black Dolce Gabbana handbag, black mid high gloves, Gucci large rim dark shades, with her hair down. She was drop dead gorgeous and knew it. I quickly and calmly walked to the door. “Hello Alicia, welcome to De’gassi Designs” I said in a calm voice smiling. “Hello Paul, it’s good to see you. This is a nice boutique, I am impressed” she said walking in looking around holding out her Dolce Gabbana in anticipation that I would be taking it from her hand. “Very nice in deed” she said taking off her glasses. I took her coat after she pulled off her gloves sliding her sleek arms out the long sleeves. “Thank you Paul” she said. “Very nice dresses, very nice in deed” she said walking over looking at the four couture pieces I had out on display feeling the fabric. “So, now where is my dress?” she said with a smile turning around.

“Right this way Alicia” I said opening the French double doors to the private viewing and fitting room. There it was, Red Diamonds in the center of the room turning slowly on a rotating stage. “Oh’ my god” said Alicia with a big smile. “This is absolutely beautiful Paul, I mean absolutely divine work, a master piece” she said spellbound by its rotating display. “Your cocktail Mrs. Patterson” said the waiter walking over after I gave him the queue. “O’, thank you” she said taking a sip with her gazed still locked on Red Diamonds. “Can I try it on now?” she asked like a kid asking permission to open Christmas presents. “But of course Alicia, this is all about you” I said pressing the button stopping the rotation so that the front of the dress was in front of her. She put down her drink and walked up to it. “Simply divine work Paul” she said slowly stepping out of her high heels.

“Right this way Alicia” I said leading her to the dressing room. “I’ll bring the dress to you”. “Hurry Paul, I can’t wait” she said closing the door. A few minutes later I tapped on the door. “Here you go” I said hanging the dress on the back of the door. “Simply beautiful Paul” she said sliding out of her skirt. “I’ll be out in the lounge waiting” I said looking at her long beautiful slender frame. She blushed a little realizing that she just took off her skirt with me in the room with her. “Okay” she whispered with a smile. I pulled the door behind me, went over to the leather chair, sat and sipped my drink waiting for her to appear.

“Here I come” she said from behind the door opening it slowly. She came out tip toeing as the full length of the dress trailed behind her. She slipped on her high heels and the dress came alive. “Wow Alicia. You look ravishing” I said setting down my drink as I slowly stood up to examine my alterations. “Absolutely ravishing, just as I imagined, but with you wearing it” I said spellbound looking at her as she turned around slowly for me to see. “Paul, this is magnificent. I’ve never had anything on like it. I’ll be the hit at the Hampton’s next weekend” she said looking at herself in the surrounding mirrors. “Yes you will Alicia. No doubt about it” I said clapping my hands in a soft applause. She turned and looked me dead in the eyes. “You must go with me Paul. I will not accept no for an answer” she said in a pouting please say you’ll go voice. “It would be my honor Alicia” I said smiling helping her down from the stage.

I turned her around checking my alterations one more time. “Hummm, a little tacking here and on the shoulders and that should do it”. I said walking around her stopping and putting the chalk marker in my pocket. We were face to face. I could feel her breath and smell her perfume. “So, it’s a date” she said is a soft voice watching my eyes. “Yes, it’s a date” I said wanting to kiss her. “Very well, when’s my next fitting” she asked getting closer to me. “Tuesday afternoon, same time?” I asked. “I can do that” she said. The phone rang breaking our focus. “I have to get that, I am expecting a call from my supplier in France” I said looking at her eyes. “I’ll go change back into my things” she said stepping back. “I wont be but just a few minutes” I said listening to the phone ringing in the background. “I’ll be waiting” she said standing in the doorway of the fitting room.

To be continued…