As usual, the message from Jess went straight to my cock, they always do, even when she only wants to tell me about her new car. She is that kind of woman. This one was simple, “work wants me to fly to Amsterdam to sort out a problem with a supplier.” Most people would have taken such a bland message in their stride, not me, I didn’t need to read it twice before taking a couple of days' leave from work and then logging on...

There was  a pitcher full of the juice of freshly squeezed blood oranges. There was yoghurt, imported directly from Greece and a bowl of fresh raspberries - still wet with dew. Cherries, shiny brightly in a bowl of crushed ice. There were sweet apples, almonds, and blueberries and then pastries, croissants dripping with melted butter, cannolis and rum babas… I was the only guest at this breakfast banquet, me, alone just i...

Have you ever had palpitations? When you truly believe that your heart is about to jump right out of your chest? I put my hand on my left breast and felt the thumping behind my ribs. All Zoe had done was to reach out to take my hand but my body seemed to be in the act of surrendering, totally. Justyna came to our table and kissed me in traditional style. She whispered in my ear. “Be strong Suzy, remember, I lof you.” I bo...

The sky, of which there is rather a lot in Cambridge, was the colour of lead. From horizon to horizon an unrelenting solid coffin-lid of cloud covered my little world. No more the vivid world of Amsterdam, fizzing with light and colour. Yes, I was back at work and work is what I did, all day and often into the evening. I wanted it that way. My avoidance behaviour was good for business! My boss (bless her) welcomed me back...

The first time I saw the woman I remember fondly now as the Countess she was causing quite a stir in the train station. I had been dozing in my seat waiting for the train to finish its slow crawl into the Amsterdam terminal after making the 300 mile trip from Kaiserslautern, Germany, where I was stationed. The windows in my coach were open as it was a warm May afternoon. A nice steady breeze caressed the crowded terminal....