There she was, waiting for me. Her blonde hair flowing loose framing her face as she waited for me outside of her hotel. Damn, she looks perfect, I thought as I watched her from the limo. I looked at her in the crimson dress and my heart melted. It was armless, form-fitting right down to her hips where it billowed out and was loose around her legs. The deep crimson suited her perfectly and on her shoulders, she had a black shawl that just truly highlighted her beauty.
I looked in the mirrored partition between me and the driver. This may have been my night but she is the one that deserves it, I thought as I readjusted my crimson bow tie and cumber band, smoothing my white shirt as I nervously waited for the limo to stop moving. I poured two glasses of Glenfiddich as the limo stopped. Slowly I opened the door and wolf whistled.
“Jolene, this is going to be a perfect evening.” I walked to her wrapping my arms around her and kissing her neck and cheek. I took her hand and walked her to the limo and held the door to let her in.
“I’ve been helping this director and cast get the characters right and I truly believe they will do it perfectly, but they will still be imperfect compared to your beauty,” I whispered to her as I sat by her, handing her a glass of Glenfiddich.
She blushed and kissed me, not wanting me to talk anymore. I moved a hand to behind her head as we kissed passionately, my other hand resting on a thigh.
I broke the kiss and downed my glass as we arrived at the theatre. The red carpet was out because there was a rumor that a prince of England and his wife were going to be coming tonight. I got out first as the paparazzi looked at the limo. I held the door open and took Jolene’s hand helping her out of the car. One reporter asked me who I was and who my companion was.
“I am the playwright of this piece, Gregory Townsend; my companion is the simply stunning Miss Liza Jolene Timmins. I hope you all enjoy watching this play,” I declared proudly before kissing her cheek.
I ignored the paparazzi as I led Jolene to the bar ordering a bottle of Rosé with two glasses, and taking her to our private box.
As I kissed her cheek with my left arm around her, the box next to us filled with three men in black suits and earpieces. One of them I recognised from a briefly vetting meeting, I nodded to him briefly before turning my attention away from the well-built men, kissing Jolene’s neck. She gasped as the men left and the Ginger prince entered with his wife.
“We are on equal terms with royalty tonight, my princess,” I whispered to Jolene as the lights faded.
I barely watched the first act of my play, my attention split between Jolene and the Royals. I was more nervous about Jolene enjoying it than the Royals. My heart raced as my breathing became shallow and rapid. I shut my eyes scared of how my play was being received. My hands gripped the armrests tightly.
Jolene reached across and took my hand, squeezing softly. Opening my eyes, I looked at her. In the darkness, I could make out a sly grin on her face as she looked at me. She leaned across and kissed me before looking back to the stage. My heart slowed as time seemed to freeze. I noticed the royals were sat, fascinated by the play. I watched the stage knowing that the big scene before the interval was about to happen.
I scanned the audience picking out where the actors were sat for the surprise. Suddenly there were screams of shock and surprise from the audience as the actors started to move out of the audience aggressively. Jolene and the Royals jumped too as the twist and surprise I had worked into my play did its job.
I left the box before the lights came up and brought another two bottles of Rosé and two more glasses of wine. I topped up mine and Jolene’s glasses before offering the royals a glass each that they accepted. During the interval, we got talking discussing the play, neither of the royals realising that I was the playwright until Jolene said about how great my play was so far. I blushed as they congratulated me.
During the second act, I found myself mouthing along with the male leads lines, each heartbreaking line, I muttered along with the male lead, each knife twist in the romance story line I followed knowing this act was the one that would make or break the play. I watched as the sad ending unfolded and looked around briefly, noticing that the princess and Jolene had tears in their eyes.
As the curtain fell, I waited for the crowd’s reaction. The prince was the first to start clapping as he stood. Slowly but surely the entire audience stood clapping leaving me as the only person sat down. My first play received a standing ovation. I took Jolene’s hand and pulled her down to me kissing her passionately. As we stood, I bid the royals a fond farewell and led Jolene by her hand towards the waiting limo.