Romance Short Story ~ "Red Diamonds"

[Jonathon Francis]

Chapter 1 - Red Diamonds

“All aboard!” announced the porter as he stepped into the first class rail car leaning out towards the crowd. It was five thirty in the afternoon in Boston as I checked my watch jumping on the steps pulling myself up into the train. It had been a long week and I was looking forward to the weekend. I went over to the bar section in the dinning car, one of the perks of platinum first class travelers. The plush leather chairs and private waiters made the long trip back to Manhattan a dream ride.
“How may I serve you sir” asked the waiter. “Double jack on the rocks please” I replied. “My pleasure sir.” I loosened my tie and checked my black berry for final emails. “Let’s see nothing important or that can’t wait until Monday.” I murmured to myself scrolling down the small list of emails. “Your drink sir” said the waiter. “Thanks”. I said staying focused on my black berry.

The main door opened letting in a small puff of wind with the scent of Tresor perfume in the air. I looked up from my black berry to see who it was. A tall beautiful red head strolled in with her gloves draped in her hand and bag tucked under her arm. She was dressed in red from head to toe with a red hat and sheer veil. Her lips were red, her nails were red. She was just pure class from head to toe.

“Good afternoon Miss Patterson” said the waiter as she approached her private table and took a seat. “Hello Charles how’s Barbara and kids?” she asked. “Doing well Miss Patterson” he said placing a pink Cosmo and two napkins on her table. “Thank you Charles” she said. “You’re welcome Miss Patterson”. She lifted her veil and took a slow sip leaving her red lip imprints on the edge of the glass. I’ve never seen her on the train before. Who was she? How could I have missed this beautiful woman all this time?

My black berry vibrated interrupting my thoughts. “Hello, Paul speaking” I said in a low voice. “Yeah… Right… Okay, let’s talk about it on Monday. Thanks, talk to you then.” I powered off my black berry and reached for my drink to finish it off when I saw Charles approaching me with another one. “From Miss Patterson sir” he said handing me the drink and a business card. Patterson, Morgan & Chase Attorneys at law, NYC, Miss Alicia Patterson Sr. Partner it read on the card. “Alicia Patterson” I thought to myself. Who was she? I scanned the room and stopped on the lady in red. She was looking right at me. I raised the drink up and made a toasting thank you gesture. She raised and lowered her eyebrows and took another sip of her drink. Why me I thought to myself? She could have any man on the planet in my opinion.

I picked up the menu on my table and raised it up gesturing “can I buy you dinner” to her. She crossed her legs and nodded a confirming yes. The sun was setting as the train glided down the tracks. Charles went from table to table lighting the little votive candles floating in small intimate clear bowls of water with rose pedals in them. I picked up my drink, coat and brief case and headed over to her table. The flickering light from the candle made her eyes sparkle as she looked up at me. “Hello my name is Paul, thanks for the drink” I said putting down my brief case and coat. “My pleasure Paul, I am Alicia”. She was even more beautiful up close. Her ruby red lips, long red crimson red hair and slow batting eyes were intoxicating. I took the seat across from her and sat down my drink.

I handed her my business card. “Oh, you’re in fashion design” she said with a big smile. I could see by her outfit that she wore only the best tailored clothes and how lucky for me that I am one of the top private tailors and couture designers with boutiques in Boston and New York. “Yes, I’ve been in the business for years. Both my parents retired from it and I took over the family business.” I replied. She took another sip of her Cosmo, “Well, I am in luck then. I am attending a client’s merger party next weekend in the Hampton’s. Think you can put something together for me by then?” she said offering me a challenge. “Why yes I can. I am working on a piece now I call “Red Diamonds”. I’d say you’re a size six?” She smiled flattered, “You’re right Paul. You are good. Let’s order some appetizers then we’ll discuss that dinner offer you made. Do you have a place in mind?”

Thinking of a couple places then I decided, “Yes, CoCo Pazzo between 5^th Ave and Madison?” I asked seeking her approval. “Perfect. One of my fav’s. Mark Strausman is an excellent chef. The “Duetto di Agnello di Latte” is to die for.” She said looking into my the eyes as if I had said the magic words of the day. The waiter brought over two more drinks. We ordered two small appetizers and continued talking as we were being whisked to New York for dinner. How lucky I was, I thought to myself that the perfect girl for my new design “Red Diamonds” that I had been working on for the past two months has walked into my life.

To be continued…

Note: A special thanks to my muse for this story…