Chapter One
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2024 Manchester, Nova Plus Hotel
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Natalie Shultz sat at the bar and nursed a neat scotch on the rocks, warm fingers aimlessly twisting the glass. The complimentary bowl of nuts went untouched, even though, if she were to think about it for too long, she knew she was hungry.
The bar was empty, other than the barman standing at the end of the bar, drying and shining glasses with a dish towel and a keen eye.
She swirled the glass again and listened as the ice clinked against the edges. It felt cold now as she fingered the condensation, but she barely noticed it, her thoughts unable to get past one image.
It was fleeting, a blur even, but she was sure that it had been her leaving the hotel just as Natalie’s Uber pulled up outside that morning.
Raising the glass to her mouth, Natalie sipped and caught her reflection in the mirror.
She looked tired.
Lifting a hand to push her hair back from her face, and then instantly regretting it, she tugged the fringe back down again. In her mid-forties and still not as grey as some of her friends; she was pleased with that at least. Hopeful of getting at least another decade out of the chestnut waves and curls that she used to hate back then.
Her thoughts drifted once more.
Another life, another place entirely.
They’d been so young, and foolish, and in love. Hours spent together, laughing and lounging in the fields behind her house.
Rolling naked under bedding her aunt washed without ever knowing the things they did with each other beneath the sheets.
Teaching each other, and themselves in the process. It was carefree and blissful – until it wasn’t. Until she’d been forced to walk away.
Natalie smiled sadly to herself at the memory.
It was Sadie; she was sure of it.
“Another?” the barman asked, noticing her drink was almost gone. Just the ice melting and watering it down into a colour that no longer looked appealing.
She shook her head. “No, thank you. I should—” She stood up and collected her bag and coat from the back of the tall bar stool. “Thank you. Good night.” She smiled at his polite nod and walked away.
Only her heels clipping rhythmically on the marble floor sounded until she pushed open the door and stepped into the foyer and its plush carpet. Quickly, she crossed the expansive space to take the lift to her floor, hoping not to get caught by anyone from the convention who’d want to waylay her with inane chit chat.
She wasn’t in the mood for that.
She patted her pocket for the keycard and breathed a sigh of relief that she still had it, having had a habit of losing them when she’d been staying in hotels in the past.
This was her second night here, attending the Adult Intimate Gadget and Entertainment Convention. Her feet were killing her from walking between pitches and listening to each seller try and explain why their dildo or vibrating toy was better than the alternatives.
She thought once more about that straightlaced teenager she had been all those years ago and chuckled to herself. Who would have thought she’d have built her little empire around adult toys? But even that, she could lay at Sadie’s door.
Glancing at the reception desk, she considered something, then made the decision and walked confidently towards it. This late, it was quiet as she stood smiling at the clerk.
“Can I help?” he asked brightly, remembering her from check in. “Ms Shultz?”
“Yes,” she glanced quickly at his name badge, “Brian, I was wondering if you could pass on a message to a guest I believe is staying here, I’m not sure of her room number, but her name is Sadie Swanson.”
“Okay, let me just pull up the details.” He continued to smile at her, clicking away at his keyboard. “I’m sorry, we don’t seem to have anyone staying under that name.”
“Oh, alright, well thank you.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help. Have a good night.”
She smiled graciously at him, headed towards the bank of three lifts and pressed the button. It had been worth a try, she thought.
Stepping into the lift, she smiled quickly at the man who followed in after her and wondered what he’d think if he knew she made her living selling vibrators and anal beads to women around the world.
She almost chuckled out loud as the stainless steel doors began to slide closed. She turned her attention on them and when they were just inches apart, Natalie stared through the gap and gasped.
Those eyes.
The ones she’d searched so many times back then, eyes that haunted her still after all these years. Heavy dark make-up, or not, she knew those eyes.
“Sadie?” The name was barely a whisper.
She was tall and slim still, long black hair pulled away from her face to hang down her back, much darker than it had been back then, and styled somewhat dramatically with the solid fringe. Pouting lips were covered in red lipstick and she wore a long black coat; the look was elegant.
Sadie Swanson, Natalie was sure of it.
In a moment of panic, Natalie furiously tapped the button to stop the door closing, realising too late that in her panic, she’d been hitting close. She switched and rapidly poked the open button, but it was too late. The steel doors had slid closed, and the lift began to move.
“Shit,” she muttered to herself.
“Friend?” he asked, still smiling at her.
Exhaling her disappointment, she shook her head. “No, just—” Her mind was all over the place. “Someone I thought I used to know.”
“Hopefully you’ll catch up with her tomorrow then.”
“Yes, maybe.”
The lift jolted a little as it came to a halt and the doors slid open again, this time on the 3rd floor.
He looked like he was about to introduce himself or offer an invitation.
“Well, good night,” she said, dashing any hopes he might have had. She stepped out into the corridor.
“Yes, sleep well.” He blushed a little and pulled an awkward Hugh Grant kind of face. “I mean—”
“Thank you, and you,” she said with a wry smile. If she were interested in men, he’d certainly have been a candidate. Tall and rugged in a perfectly fitting suit. That level of quiet confidence to at least speak to her, even if he did feel a little awkward about it. But it was women like that who interested her. Self-assurance with just a hint of cavalier and swagger. Put her in heels and a power suit and Natalie might just have invited her in for the night.
Alas, it would be another night alone. Well, unless you counted the multitude of devices she’d been given over the last two days, to try out and potentially order in bulk for the stores.
Come Again had grown rapidly, from the opening of her first store in Brighton, to now having twenty-five nationally, and an online presence that rivalled almost every other adult website in the UK, if not Europe.
She dropped her bag and coat down onto the chair in the corner and sighed, kicking off her heels as she unzipped her skirt and let that fall to the floor halfway to the bathroom. Her blouse followed before she pulled the light switch and illuminated the small shower, basin and toilet.
Hot water soon peppered the tray as steam built in the room, and the minty taste of toothpaste filled her mouth. Once again, she looked at the image of herself in the mirror, naked now but for the underwear she would soon discard.
Many hands and mouths had touched her skin since Sadie. Women had come and gone. Some had stayed a while, while others just passed by in the night. None had ever really sparked her like Sadie had. Maybe that was because it was her first real love. Not just a crush, not just a fumble out of sight after sharing a bottle of cider on the swings at the park, but love, real and intense and passionate. It had filled her parts, every inch of her consumed with want and need for the one person who could turn her into molten lava.
Eight months of utter bliss.
She spat out and rinsed her mouth. Did Sadie realise it was her? When their eyes had met, had she known? She had to have recognised her. Had she too thought about her all these years and wondered what if?
Highly doubtful, she decided. Pulling the shower curtain back and stepping in and under the cascade, she allowed her body to relax. Heat massaged the tension away.
No, Sadie wouldn’t have thought about her. Not after what she’d done.