SOMETHING NEW

Chapter II from the book Blossom Hill

A few weeks passed and the situation came up repeatedly. Mia wanted to work on her project or was ready for class but Bo had something else going on. Even when he suggested taking her to Uni by car, she couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t miss her class and end up somewhere else—in a garage to fix the car or whatever. Disappointed that she had already missed a few classes, she was ready to look for another room. She had had a viewing for one little room, which would be an option, but it was expensive.

The next day her dad called asking how things were going. Mia explained that it was like always, and that the relationship was more of a distraction than any kind of happiness. The study was good but it was so much trouble that she missed classes. “Well, Kay said you should leave him and do your study, this will never work.” Kay was her father’s new girlfriend. He suggested paying her some extra monthly. “I think that would be better,” Mia said. “I just had this viewing, but it is such a small room, they want like six hundred pounds for it and it’s the size of five square meters. This is insane! And I promised to share the rent, the flat is rented for a year, it’s not really fair if I say now that I’m moving out and leaving all the payments to him.”

Her father said: “Well, you need to know what to do, but yes, that’s you, if you say something, someone can rely on that. You’re loyal. But as long as you the two of you are together in the same city, that’s not going to work. What about the other place offered for next year? Why don’t you just take the time off now, enjoy it and start afresh with the other study place and your own room?”

“I can’t let go of this project now. It is amazing,” Mia continued: “They don’t often offer such projects with the subsidy. I’ll tell him that if he keeps distracting me, he’s got to take the whole flat on his own, maybe that will help.”

Just as Mia put down the phone, a message from Jason pops up thanking her for the money she had dropped off and he asked if she would like to pass by for a coffee. Oh, Jason! Somehow thinking about him put a smile on her face. His office wasn’t far from here so she wrote: “Hi, so the money got back to you? In the afternoon, I will be close to Angel station, and a coffee would be a great idea.”

Later that afternoon, Mia walked through the great hall of Jason’s estate building, passed by the reception, and up to the fifteenth floor. A stunning office over the whole floor with huge glass windows and an amazing view of the City. Jason welcomed her with a bright smile. Mia could not believe the change of scenery. From the small five square meter room she had seen minutes ago, now she stood in this office with such a breath-taking view—what a difference! Something she could never afford.

Jason asked her to sit down. “How is it going? Your first weeks at Uni are over, aren’t they?” Mia nodded: “Yes, but things are not going as I wished.” She started explaining her troubled relationship with Bo and the project they were working on. She stared with big eyes at Jason while telling him her story. Looking at him she thought: This guy is so amazing, he has such ease like nothing seems to be a problem for him and he is well trained, and so damn good looking, with tanned skin, which is hard to get in this London rain. Normally she would hesitate to talk, but she talks like a waterfall without hesitation, as if they have known each other for years. He starts talking about his time at Uni and his ex-girlfriend with whom he had a troubled relationship. He had had an on-off thing and wasn’t happy with either.

Just then, Jason received a call from her, and a few minutes later he put down the phone and looked at Mia. “I need a drink. It is already time for dinner. Have you eaten already?” Mia shakes her head: “No, not much just snacks and coffee.”

“So how about having dinner together, my invite, let’s go out?” Mia nods. Jason calls his assistant and asks her to make a reservation.

Half an hour later, the two arrive at ME London. Mia and Jason get a table at the side of the restaurant. A couple pass by and greet Jason; he stops at one of the tables to welcome Peter, a business friend and arranges an appointment with him for the next day. The two then take their seat at the back of the restaurant. Mia orders Risotto with Seafood and Mushrooms, Jason monkfish and a bottle champagne. Mia is surprised; she had imagined her evening anywhere else but sitting here at ME having dinner with Jason and sipping champagne.

“I’m often here, I like the ME; the food tastes great and I always meet people here that I couldn’t reach out to during the day,” Jason explains.

“Ah, well, so you can continue your business talks here? It’s a beautiful place,” Mia replies.

“So, which places have you been to so far. Have you been out yet?”

“Oh no, with all the struggles, I have only been to the Sunshine opposite the Uni.” Mia slightly frowns.

“Oh, but the Sunshine is a nice bar. Next door they have the Radio Bar, we should go there sometime, it’s a rooftop bar. I’ll let you know when they have a good party. Would you like to join me?”

“The Radio Bar?” Mia is stunned; it’s a posh place and you usually won’t get in except by invitation and of course Jason gets those invitations. “Well, yes, if I don’t meet any of your crazy girlfriends there, pushing their elbows into my ribs or anything like that.”

Jason smiles. “Oh, I see you are experienced with that kind of woman?”

“Kind of.” Mia smiles.

“No, I will make sure that won’t happen, don’t worry, they have bouncers at the door.”

Mia’s phone rings. It’s Bo: “Hey babe, where are you? Can you come down here, where you picked me up yesterday? I’m with Sasha and we are going to Sam’s, so can you come down?”

Mia is astonished. Sasha was the girl he said he wouldn’t see again; he had last seen her half a year ago.

“You are where? I thought you don’t see her. That’s what you were saying last time I asked you, didn’t you?”

Silence. “Hm, what? Yes, I said something, but you must have gotten that wrong, can you come down now?”

“Sorry, honey, I’m at dinner with Jason, you remember?”

“Ah, yes, that guy. Could you ask him if he has some space down South. I have a friend who is looking for a store space; you know the one I told you.”

“Yes, I will ask. But I can’t come down now, how did you get there? Can you take the same way home?”

“Yeah, I will ask someone else, but I will be home late, then.”

“Oh, well, that’s nothing new!” She’s looking over to Jason while rolling her eyes and shaking her head, then flashes a smile. She finishes the call. Looking at Jason, she says, “That’s how it’s always going; going here…there….and can you pick me up. And you wonder why the hell is he in South London when he is supposed to be up North. And some “friend” needs something, but you never know who the friend is but most likely he turns up with some female friend that means nothing and at the end of the day I was running around having done nothing. But I already told you this, didn’t I?”

Jason nods: “Yes, this seems a bit weird, he seems quite busy, your Bo, but probably not with the right focus.”

“Yeah, that was my kind of cold turkey the night I arrived here with his welcome that felt like winter in Siberia.”

“Oh, Siberia, I know how that feels; I had a Russian girlfriend with some kind of wrong focus, too, the one that called earlier.” Jason smiles. “But I won’t go further into that. This woman is kind of out of control sometimes and I won’t bring this up tonight.” He harrumphs, clearing his throat.

“Actually, Bo asked you if you have any options for a shop space down south for one of his “friends”. So instead of focusing on our project, where he really could work his part on the business side, he concentrates on his “friends” projects.”

“Well, Mike is doing houses and some industrial spaces around South London. I’ll give you his number so your boyfriend can ask him. I’m sure he will have something for him or his friend,” Jason replies.

“Oh, that’s great, thanks Jason.” Mia smiles.

“So, how is your project going. Is the concept ready?”

“Well, we have the basics; so far the plan is to create a flagship fashion store, not too big with a few collections and an online store. The idea is to make it more like a café, bar or kind of cool location, where people can sit, have drinks and flick online through the collections. So it is a mix of café and store. It also includes some events. People not only come in for shopping but also to a place they like to spend time and have an opportunity to shop when they want to. We plan different collections, each with a cultural background, a European, a Latin American, a North American, an African, an Asian and one collection inspired by Eastern countries. There will always be one collection that people can vote for online and in the store they can choose whether fifty percent goes to a charity of their choice.”

“That sounds great!” Jason is impressed.

“Yes, Bo should actually work on the business plan. He does business studies but he is busy with everything else but that.” Mia keeps complaining about Bo and continues, “Actually there are two fashion designers in the house I live in Lordship Road. The girl next to me, she’s from the Middle East. She studies at St. Martins and lives with her boyfriend Marc, who studies medicine. And the girls from the top-floor, Tonya and Versa, they study fashion design as well.” Mia smiles and her eyes are shining while she keeps talking about their project. “Well, Mick and I will do the interior design, our field of expertise. Versa and Mac are doing Marketing Communications as a major so they could also help out with the business plan, we will see.”

“This is really a serious project! It’s a great match. People come together with the right skills and I like that idea with the cultural background and the unique selling point of a campaign dedicated to a social project. You guys are making socialising the focus rather than sales. Sounds like a cool project. If there is any way I can help, let me know.” Jason sips his champagne.

“Well, when our project plan wins this year’s foundation prize, I will let you know, then we would need a space on a good location and I guess your help would be greatly appreciated.” Mia smiles.

“I know some people, I’m sure I can help with that. Let me know when you guys are ready.”

Mia replies, “Yes, I will let you know.” She takes a deep breath and looks at Jason who smiles at her with a deep look. Mia swallows, her throat tightens and she feels the heat rising in her body. She is dazzled by the look Jason throws at her.

“So, how is it going with your present living situation? If you need help with a room, I can do something for you, too.”

“Oh, you are so nice. I actually had a look at a room today and I was offered support from my Dad as well, but it’s just so ridiculously overpriced. Six hundred pounds for five square meters.”

Jason bursts out laughing: “Sounds like a real offer. Did you take the room?”

Mia, starring at Jason, said, “No, I did not take the room! I let it go, that special offer. It was missing gold taps.” She laughs and continues: “I just don’t think it would be fair to let Bo hang on now and leave him alone with the rent. We rented the flat for a year and we both agreed to it.”

“You want to be fair? Well, what he does, is that fair?

“I said I’ll give it another try,” Mia said. “But when he keeps distracting me, I will move out, so he should be aware of it, now, but my illusion has faded anyway. I think we can arrange something,” Mia replies thoughtfully while imagining how it must feel living in Siberia.

“Sounds like a bitter pill!” Jason adds. “Not all life is fair, but this is: if it distracts you too much let me know. I can help you find a solution. Don’t let all this love drama get in the way of your studies. That’s more important, you know that.”

Mia sighs deeply: “Yes, you are right, that’s what I’m trying to do. I would just like to have a win-win situation for both of us.” Mia refills her glass and sips her champagne. “Well, maybe the situation will be changed by one of our Russian girls from the upper floor. Maybe someday soon one of the girls will feel the desire to move into our flat for whole days not only for the nights I’m not in.” Mia jokes in a sarcastic tone and continues. “He leaves none out. I came back from Germany last weekend and you could see immediately that the one Russian girl, Slatka, must have had a good time in our apartment. But they both don’t say a word, neither Bo nor her.” Mia takes another sip from her glass: “And since my arrival in the cold, I couldn’t care less.” Mia says this in a little-frustrated tone.

“So how much is “care less” and how much is “you do care”? Jason asks and comes closer, leaning over the table. Mia bends over the table; both are head to head now. Mia closes her eyes, and their lips meet. She’s kissing him over the table, then, opening her eyes, she looks into Jason’s eyes with a smile. “That less or that much for something more.”

“Wow, then care more, please,” and Jason goes for another kiss while stroking Mia’s hair. A voice interrupts: “Excuse me but is there anything else I can do for you—dessert, coffee or anything?” Jason looks up “What would anything else be, do you have free rooms?”

“Well, I need to check but I think there are rooms available.”

Jason looks over to Mia: “Would you like any desert in the room?”

“Yes, that would be sweet. Some peach parfait and another glass of champagne, that’s exactly what I need right now.” The two get up and walk towards the hall. They take the lift to the top floor. The doors open to the sky suite and Mia is standing in the middle of a huge suite with an amazing view looking over the River Thames. She’s breathless and the night is full of breathless moments.

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