Leaving London

🔊listen to the audio on 𝕏 

from the book DESTINATION DESIRABLE – Chapter 1 – Leaving London

Paula was looking at the picture displaying her and her boyfriend Walt. The afternoon at a friend’s home in Beirut in 2015 when a friend took a photograph, the weekend they had met for the first time. Paula was working as Social Worker in the Lebanon, and Walt worked on a Freedom project for the UN as Human Rights Officer. Both worked for three years on the same mission, and they shared the same love, Asian food. That’s how they had met in an Asian food store in Beirut.

In 2018 Paula was pregnant at the time, they had decided to move back to London, but later on, she had a miscarriage.

Paula now wasn’t sure if she would want another child. She had an offer for a new project, again in Lebanon. In contrast, Walt wanted to stay in England and hung on to family planning. He also was about signing a new contract for an environmental project with an office in London.

Standing at a crossroads, both had agreed to take a holiday to get a clear mind before deciding.

So, Paula had just booked an exclusive cruise around the Gulf of Thailand with the Seven Seas Explorers on the Star Clipper.

A trip that would start in Bangkok move on to Thailand, along Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore to Jakarta, Java, Indonesia, with the final destination in Bali. They would spend the weekend before in Bangkok and with an extension week in Bali, where they would enjoy a week of chilled Island and beach life to allow their souls to recharge.

Paula was packing, she had travelled to many countries so far, but it had often included moving. So, packing for a simple three weeks holiday was different this time. But she was ready, and in the evening, they would depart.

Walt had arrived. He was arranging the last bits still on the phone, making arrangements about the ongoing work offer. The taxi was already waiting outside, and finally, he made it at 7:30 pm. They were ready, together on the way to the airport.

“You remember the last time we sat together in a cab?” Paula asked. Walt was looking deep into her eyes. He did indeed, and it hadn’t been a fun ride.

They had been on their way to the Beirut airport as Walt had a trip to Kabul and Paula wanted to accompany him. As they travelled through the back streets, bullets smashed against the car’s windows. A sniper had had his focus on them. They had sat in a bulletproof vehicle, but they were aware that the number of shots the car could take before the glass would break was limited. One of Walt’s experiences led to the decision to move back to England.

Nights out, Charity & boat trips – part 02

🔊listen to the audio on 𝕏

“Being spontaneous? Yes, why not.” Pippa confirms the invitation, the Icetank parties are always amazing and the invitations are always very limited handed mostly to the It-people and the celebrity kind of crowed.

“Ok, ten o’clock, I pick you up?” Brendon asks.

“Yep, sounds great!” Pippa writes with a blink.

 “Cool.” He replies.

Pippa quickly jumps under the shower. She puts on her Vata dry oil an Ayurveda oil with almond and basil to re-vitalize a little. She was almost falling asleep as she was sitting on her study.

Now standing in front of her open walk in wardrobe she has quickly to decide what to wear, dress or trousers? No question, she puts on the new Lipsy trouser with a white blouse combined with a lace top underneath and her high heels with the red sole.

The doorbell already rings. “I am coming one sec!” She shouts. Taking off the shoes again to get quicker to the door.

“Oh, hey Brendon, time passed so quick, already ten, is it?” She asks.

“Yes, it’s already ten.” He says with a smile.”.

 He’s looking damn good, Pippa thinks, and can’t help to bite her lips, she swallows than in a stuttering voice. “Yes, I will be ready, give me a minute.”

She still has no make-up on and rushes into the bathroom and has just time for a mascara. She gets all her stuff together, grabs her coat than stops in the corridor with a critical look in the mirror and quickly puts some lipstick on. She turns around looking at Brendon: “Ready!” she says.

“Wow, you are looking beautiful, let’s go.” He replies, and they walk over to his car and make their way to the Icetank at Covent Garden.

Brendon and Pippa are standing on the buffet chatting with Alexa who takes a refill for the empty champagne classes. Her boyfriend Hendrik, the initiator and sponsor of the party one of the most popular and elitist events in town held once a year but who is on a business trip in Asia, so the party is on Alexa’s patronage. “I just welcomed our Russian special guests you know Victor and his precious wife Anastacia? I will introduce you later to them, they are responsible for the draw that we will hold at midnight. You won’t believe the first prize. Actually, you might want to help me to get some more tickets out. You moving your sexy ass through the crowed, is going to double the charity’s revenue.” Alexa jokes.

 “Or triple it.” Brendon laughs while taking a look at Pippa’s backside.

 “Well okay, I see the conversations go flat here, so let me help you out, darling.” Pippa replies and smacks her hip on Alexa and they all have a good laugh.

Pippa starts giving out some tickets and the people are very generous. They buy tickets in total from 500 to 1000 pound per couple at least. Pippa talks to a Chrissy a US model who Pippa had met on her last holiday in Ibiza who currently is on a Europe trip with her boyfriend an international lawyer who also has to do some business in Brussels.

“Oh, let’s meet next week, I really would like some advice on our new apartment, you got such great style Pippa, I would love to go for a shopping tour with you.” Chrissy suggests.

 “Of, course sweety, I’m quite busy, apart from my study I just started a new part-time job and you cannot believe what kind of asshole I have to work for. I will make some space for an afternoon, a shopping tour with you and nice dinner would be lovely.” Pippa agrees and they set a date.

Pippa turns around and looks straight into the eye of exactly the asshole she was just talking about.

“Good evening Mr.” she pauses. “Oh, Toby, what pleasure to meet you here.” Pippa forces herself to a smile.

“I wonder, what someone like you is doing on this party.” He then looks at the draw. “Ah, you are working here, of course, I would doubt you ever being on the invitation list of that event.” Toby comments with the utmost condescending look at Pippa. “Well, I’m sure you want some draws supporting the charity, helping some less fortunate people who did not grow up with all the advantages you have, don’t you?”

Blend 37 – Pippa Bow – ebook

New Beginnings – part 04

🔊 Listen to the audio on 𝕏

A Victorian bar in South Kensington that somehow had become Pippa’s second home during the last summer semester.

“I will be there at around six. I’m with a client here.” Tess replied.

“See you, there. Drinks waiting.” Pippa wrote.

Pippa was on her second Martini when Tess arrived.

“Hi sweety, how is it going? You are impressed by your new job as I see, aren’t you?” Tess asks ironically.

“Yeah, I’m so impressed, you can’t believe what kind of asshole this assistance guy is who I have to work with, unbelievable, a total sexist!” Pippa states this with anger.
“Well, you better get used to this, when you enter the working sphere, that’s the first thing they will pick on, after all it is all about competition, honey.” Tess tries to calm Pippa down. “You have no idea what I experience with my colleagues; even in our law firm, half the energy goes into fighting against our colleagues. Jim lately sued Kathrin for dealing with one of her clients, and that’s within our own firm. Imagine that!” Tess keeps going.

“How do you get through that?” Pippa asks. “When I look in the mirror in the morning, I tell myself, “This is the best time. You can do this, if you want to drive a Maserati, you better be a bitch.” Tess said.

“You say what?” Pippa laughs out loud.

“Yes, that’s what I tell myself every morning, and it works.” Tess says, “and don’t take things personally, darling. That’s rule number one. People don’t do all this because they are against you, they do it because they are for themselves.” Tess continues.
“Well, I was thinking changing this job, looking for another one, but this again takes time, and I am in my final year now, so I don’t want to waste too much time on job hunting.” Pippa says.

“You know most of these bricks are just insecure or feel intimidated by you in some way; they might not appear to be that smart. That’s the main reason why people bully. There is always that one jackass who ruins everything. Get your own strategy on how to get along with those morons, and you will find your way. This event company is good for you to work with. Rise above it; you’re not doing this for him; instead, you should focus on your studies and your bright future; and, of course, the money. You’re doing it for greater things ahead. Always know your “why”!

They both have another drink and change the topics. Tess is again reporting the details and latest news about her new lover and they are big. “He asked me for a boat-trip. Can you imagine?” Tess giggles.

“A boat-trip?” Pippa asks and was astonished by that idea as most guys would simply ask for a weekend-trip to the country-side.

“Yes, he suggested a turn from Mallorca to Ibiza, he has an invitation on a party in Magaluf, one of his friends is throwing a party there. It sounds amazing and I really would love to go there, but I have this case with that merger running so I don’t know if it is a good idea to take the whole week off.” Tess says hesitating.

“Well, come on, you are almost through with this case, can’t your associate do this paper stuff, you will be back at the opening day. Imagine what a great time you will have there, go for it, girl!” Pippa keeps motivating her as she has worked so hard since the break-up and really deserves a good break.

“Yeah, you are right. It is just the paperwork that needs to be sorted, and the form of order sought is already here. I should go for the trip.” Tess agrees with a big, triumphant smile on her face. “I’m going.” Tess was working on a merger between a global media company and an Asian production company, and it had taken her endless nights to finally get the deal together, but it was all set, and it seemed like it was never the right time for taking time off for a holiday, so if it wasn’t now, then when.

Read the full story here, get the ebook on kindle

New Beginnings – part 03

🔊 Listen to the audio on 𝕏

The following day university started again, and in the afternoon, she had her first day at her new job at the prestigious event agency. The receptionist opened the door for her, and she got introduced to the team. Two girls, both around their early thirties, one from South London, the other with an Eastern block country accent. The head of digital was not in, as on most days he would delight with his absence. Last but not least, Pippa was introduced to the digital director’s assistant, who, on the other hand, would shine even brighter with his presence. He would be the one Pippa would work closest with, to her delight, which she already knew the moment he shook her hand with such a soft, arrogant, dismissive handshake.

“Welcome Pippa, we are already expecting you. I got lots of projects already waiting for you. Show us how you will delight us here.” Toby, the assistant, pointed to his desk. “Well, you might want to have a seat.”

Pippa could only feel how her stomach acid rushed up and she swallowed it down. Yes, this was exactly what she was looking for; working with the asshole assistant.

“Thank you, Toby.“ She smiled. “Nice to meet you, I am so excited.”

Pippa took a seat, and Toby started explaining his role, since when he was in the company and what important work he was doing, which prestigious clients he worked with and that Pippa’s forerunner had been from the Netherlands and had returned to his study, and he wasn’t really sure if Pippa had what it takes to talk with his important clients.

“But we will see, I have several projects in mind you could work with and then we will see where you fit best,” Toby suggested. Pippa agreed in a friendly manner and repeated.

“Yes, well, let’s see what fits best.” She was impressed by what an asshole this guy was, how someone his age could talk with such arrogance, and she wondered what else he could do besides talk nonsense. It seemed like as more asshole the people to work with, the better the pay. Pippa had forgotten about the idea of simply looking for another job because it was difficult to find one that fit the hours and paid well. Otherwise, she would need to ask her father to support her with her living costs which she wanted to avoid under all circumstances. She was so glad not to need to ask him to support her, despite the fact that, of course, he would pay her lots of extras that made life damn comfortable and allowed her to live in such an area. She would rather have to find a way to get along with this assistant director. Toby kept talking himself into heaven. In between, he was looking at Pippa.

 “You are in the third year of your design studies, aren’t you?”

“Yes, and in programming as well.” with her proud voice.

“Very good. I need your help with this then.” Toby nodded. “We are working with a designer and programmer who are specialized in this, and I need a list of all those activities and the payments.” Can you work with Excel?”

Wow, what an eloquent question! Pippa was stunned, sitting on her chair, trying to fake her politeness with a smile.

 “Excel? What is this?” she asks jokingly.

“Well, we do a lot of calculations; what did you study?” Toby was asking with his missing sense of humor.

“I was just joking, it is like asking a drawing student if he knows a pencil, isn’t it?” Pippa replies.

 “Like a pencil?” Toby repeated. He was lacking the link to Pippa’s comparison, and she thought, let it be.

 “Well, yes, I am quite familiar with Excel, Toby. I work daily with the program, for calculations, forecasts, budget calculations, and things like that.” Pippa explained and couldn’t hide her lack of excitement about calculations.

“Good, we will see.” Toby replied. “But entering some data shouldn’t be too difficult, I guess.” He commented. “Well,  I have a meeting now. You will come tomorrow afternoon. Here is what you can start with; you will sit at the side of Rebecca at the reception, and she will show you the computer.” Toby finished.

Pippa couldn’t believe her luck with this new job. This was going to be like working in hell. She said goodbye and left the office, texting Tess: “Ready for a drink? Meet me at Kay’s Bar!”

Get the book here on kindle