Free Shopping With the Enemy by Carmen Reid Page B

ornately carved balustrades and balconies overflowing with flower displays.
    The towering front entrance with studded wooden doors was wide open and a smartly uniformed doorman was waiting for them.
    ‘Look at this place!’ Annie exclaimed, pushing the sunglasses onto her head to take a better look. ‘Just look at it! Isn’t it breathtaking?!’
    Svetlana gave a little smile in agreement.
    As the car pulled to a halt, Annie jumped out, almost gaping at the views. Over there was a huge, vibrantly blue swimming pool surrounded by a stone terrace with a view right out over the most beautiful lake she’d ever seen.
    The water sparkled in the sunlight; she gazed at the hills in the distance and bright, bright blue sky above. This was heaven. Sun loungers were set out around the pool and as the guests basked in the sunshine, a waiter hovered at their elbow serving tall drinks. She couldn’t wait to be lying there, Svetlana’s sunnies in place as she sipped at a cooling, brain-numbing cocktail or three.
    But the rumble in her stomach warned her that hours had passed since the First Class breakfast – surely it was time for a gorgeous cappuccino with thick creamy froth and a dusting of grated chocolate? Or was it too early for lunch … something beautiful, Italian, fresh and salad-like but nicely substantial? She definitely needed something before she stripped off and dived into the pool.
    As the doorman took charge of their luggage, Annie followed Svetlana into the hotel’s hall; except ‘hall’ wasn’t quite the word. ‘Reception room’, ‘stately welcoming space’, ‘marvellous room of gorgeousness’ would come closer.
    From the marble mosaic floor to the sublime frescoes, from the ornate marble fireplace to the stuccoed plaster ceiling, it was a magnificent, unbelievable hall.
    A handsome, dark-haired man in a black suit moved forward to greet them.
    ‘Our long-time friend, Mrs Wisneski, an honour as always,’ he said, taking Svetlana’s hand with a little bow. ‘And Ms Valentine, it is a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Carlo Moretti, the hotel manager.’
    Annie shook hands with him too.
    ‘We hope you will be comfortable and will feel at home. You must let us know what you want or need and we will provide this for you.’
    Annie felt her shoulders drop away from her ears. She was smiling, she was relaxing; finally, she was getting into the holiday spirit.
    ‘Mrs Wisneski, you will follow me to the Junior Suite … Ms Valentine, Lucca will take you to your room. Relax and make yourself at home then we will bring you to Dr Decatoso so you can have your consultation and begin your programme as soon as possible.’
    From a window, Annie cast a sideways glance at the pool and thought for just another tiny moment about cocktails. She would be there, she would be sipping cocktails on the sun lounger very soon; she obviously just had to get through the Doctory bit first.
    This was, after all, a spa and these places always needed your medical details: health and safety, insurance policies, all those pesky things. But then again, if 10 kilos were supposed to evaporate in five days … not many cocktails could be involved, could they? Maybe they made an extra light, or even slimming cocktail. Some sort of herbal, but slightly alcoholic tonic?
    Lucca, smartly dressed in his doorman’s uniform, let Annie step into the lift first. As soon as the doors closed, her stomach rumbled loudly.
    ‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘I’m hungry. I woke up very early to travel here today.’
    Lucca just smiled.
    ‘When is lunch served? Or could I order something up to my room?’
    Lucca smiled again and shook his head: ‘You need to consult with Dr De Catoso before we can give you any food.’
    ‘Really? I can’t just munch a little sandwich first – or a salad? Something very small, maybe a croissant?’
    Lucca shook his head once again.
    The lift opened, she followed him along the corridor and with a gasp of