Shall We Have a Deal?
Romance – general
All rights reserved © 2021 Evelyn Tomson
The characters in the book are fictitious, but some of the places named in the book are real-time places and are described in detail in order to make the atmosphere authentic.
INDEX
1. Sofia – meeting a nice stranger………………………………………
2. 12 years later………………………………………………………………..
3. Catching up…………………………………………………………………..
4. A week together…………………………………………………………..
5. The accident………………………………………………………………..
6. Isabel……………………………………………………………………………
7. Taifun…………………………………………………………………………..
8. The mission is possible…………………………………………………
9. Epilogue
1 Sofia – meeting a nice stranger
Isabel had just arrived and was alone in the big city for the first time. She used to come with her mum usually, accompanying her on her business trips. She would usually schedule an appointment at the eye clinic to check how things are with her lenses. They had really top-notch American technology at No. 22 Klokotnitsa str., in Sofia and were producing the best hard lenses in the country, the so-called DK 100. When she was done there she would go and have a coffee at the Princess Hotel or in the café of the Sheraton and would go for a walk in the center just admiring the beautiful buildings of the embassies or the National theatre Ivan Vazov. She would also go along the Vitoshka Boulevard with its inviting shop-windows, Lavazza smelling cafeteria and get a feel of the bustling life.
She liked her hotel for its affordable prices and central position, just behind the big Central city shop, called TSUM, making it easy for her to go in and out a few times during the day but allowing her also to admire the big city even at night. Right in the heart of Sofia the lights were shining brightly and it was safe to go for a small walk in the evening enjoying the night charm in these peaceful times. Isabel was only 23. She had just taken her final exams at the university and she deserved to treat herself kindly, maybe buy herself something or at least have a coffee and a cake at the Sheraton hotel. There is hardly any person who would not like a place like that – exquisite and elegant, yet comfortable and cozy. So quite often the tourist busses stopped there and outside the café of the Sheraton hotel was the meeting point of many foreign visitors who came to the city or of those who were leaving it. Anyway with plenty of time that day Isabel was not in a hurry to decide what she was going to do first and what would fallow next. So she checked in at the Lyulin hotel at about 2 in the afternoon and decided to rest for an hour in her room and then go out for a walk. On the way to the hotel she had passed by some open-air street stalls where people were selling second hand books in foreign languages and she liked a magazine in English. Its title was “Unique” and on the first pages there was a picture of Sharon Stone doing the catwalk in a stunning champagne-colour dress, so she immediately decided to buy it. She had the habit of always having something to read. And the quality of the magazine was as high-class as its title. Much in tune with the way Isabel felt – happy, fulfilled and triumphant. An important stage in her life had just finished and she was full of hope and expectations of good things to come her way in the future. Time passed quickly and at about 4 she was down at the reception desk, where all guest were expected to leave their keys before going out. She was surprised to hear someone speaking English because the hotel was basic, no fancy furniture or curtains with the exception of its great location. And it was mainly used by civil servants, municipal officers and staff but mainly Bulgarians. The receptionist asked the men if they spoke Russian but they answered negatively and she was at a loss what to do. She was trying to explain something to a group of 3 men, obviously without success. So Isabel though it was ok to intervene and said:
“Maybe I can help you. Look, I speak English”, she said turning to the receptionist. Of course she did not mind. It turned out the men wanted to take their passports for they were travelling to another town.
“Why can’t we have our passports back?”, one of them asked. Isabel translated the receptionist’s answer that according to the policy of the hotel all guest are required to leave a document of identity at the reception desk until they check out and pay. This was not the case, so she was not willing to give them their documents. The three men discussed something in a foreign language and the one who spoke English sorted out the matter within minutes. He was tall, wore an elegant blue suit and looked around 40.
Isabel was also very elegantly dressed in a white long-sleeved blouse with beautiful embroidery and she wore a black semi-long skirt with 4 triangle pleats in 4 parts. She looked “dressed to kill” that day. The design of much of her clothes was specially made for her by her grandmother, who was a dress-maker. So thanks to her smart outfit and her helping out she had made an impression. And the guy who spoke English suggested:
“If you have time maybe we can go somewhere for coffee, so I can repay you for your favour”.
“I haven’t done any big thing, really”, protested Isabel. But the man was patient and asked again: “If you have time, maybe you can show me around the capital”.
Isabel thought about the offer for a moment and then answered much to her own surprise:
“Why not. I have time.”
“I will just have a few words with my team”, said the gentleman. And he stepped outside and spoke with the other two men shortly. Coming back to Isabel he added:
“And now we can go. I have told my team to go to Pravets without me. Are you ready?”
“Sure. I am”, said Isabel and in the next two or two and a half hours she was telling him nearly all she knew about Sofia, the red Rotonda church St. Georgi behind the Sheraton hotel, the small square with St. Nedelya church. They walked past the Presidency and the Mausoleum of Gerogi Dimitrov, then through the park to Ivan Vazov theatre. They watched the pigeons and the fountain in front of the theatre. The day was so inviting, sunny and warm for this time of the year. They continued sightseeing until they came to Sofia university and then made a small semi-circle and returned passing by the Russian church with its 5 wonderful golden domes and by the Art Gallery, which used to be the Palace of Bulgaria’s ex-monarch. Crossing the square they found themselves near the Sheraton hotel again which was very close to their hotel. It was time for coffee and Isabel’s acquaintance suggested for them to go to Sheraton’s café. She was delighted and thrilled at the same time. The café was spacious but many of the tables formed separate booths which made the whole atmosphere pleasant and cozy. Meanwhile Isabel learned that they had come to Sofia on business and that he was the boss.
They chose one booth and while they waited for the waiter to come Isabel was feeling a bit uncomfortable for all she remembered was that the man’s name started with T. but she always had a problem remembering names. For a while she kept wondering how to ask him. And then suddenly she remembered that it had something to do with storms and she said:
“I am not very good at names I am afraid…Is your name Taifun?”
“Yes it is. And you are?”
“My name is Isabel”, she replied.
“I am very happy we met, Isabel”, said her companion and asked “How do you family call you?
“My parents call me Bella. What about you?”
“We don’t shorten names in my homeland. But when I was in America my friends called me Tai”.
Then the waiter came to take their order. Isabel ordered coffee and a cake. Taifun had coffee and some juice. They talked a bit more about where they had studied. He paid her a compliment for her English so none