A Night at the Royal Albert Hall
Chapter 2
Gerry couldn't resist mumbling to himself, while Steve was now studying a few famous romantic movie quotes online. Sandra's best attempts to talk some sense into the both of them had fallen on deaf ears. As the pair of them were still squabbling and behaving competitively - attempting to outsmart the other by maintaining they knew the best and legendary chat up lines.
Steve eventually believed they were acting rather silly fools. It was no wonder they had been left to their own devices in the UCOS office, for most of the morning. Danny and Sasha couldn't bear another moment longer, having to listen to their colleagues daily moaning and grumbling.
"Oh come on, this is stupid. Me and you Gerry, we shouldn't be behaving like desperate ladies men, pinning all our hopes on when, either of us might find true love next."
Gerry had given Sandra's words of encouragement for the last half an hour, some well good thought and guessed that the both of them might as well leave any discussion of their personal lives alone, for the time being at least. "Yeah, perhaps Sandra was right. Well we do tend to get up everyone else's goat, when end up boring them by discussing our love lives."
"You don't say" Steve hinted, with a telling smile as he walked around the evidence table.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Gerry asked, wondering whether his friend was trying to be funny.
"Nothing..." Steve held his hands up in protest. "Nothing. Anyway shouldn't you and I be making a start on some evidence files, that Sasha's left on our desks, for us to sort out between ourselves." He really didn't want to drop behind with whatever these set chores were and so he tried to motivate his laid back colleague into doing some work around the office and helping out with the evidence files.
"Yes she did say, me and you were asking for a right telling off, if we kept on messing around like, two misbehaving and naive childish fools. Can't say I blame her for calling us that." Steve said.
"Well she must have the patience of a saint."
"You see that's what I thought as well."
Gerry's thoughts soon drifted back to the meet up at the Royal Albert Hall later that evening. "That reminds me, what time do you want to meet me this evening?, you know before we head to go to the concert."
"Hm I haven't given that much thought yet...Say what about 6 O'Clock, on the corner of your street." Steve honestly hadn't thought too far ahead yet to this evening, however he was still more than capable of recommending a suitable time for him and Gerry to meet up.
"Blimey you're certainly more quicker on the draw than me, at arranging meet ups and scheduling things, Steve. Getting outdone by a Scot, don't think I was counting on that ever happening to me." Well that certain fact was now confirmed, according to Gerry, he tried not to kick up, too much of a fuss about it. For some reason his Scottish friend just couldn't keep a straight face and this began to started to have an immediate effect on his Cockney friend.
Before they knew it, both men burst out laughing aloud. The two UCOS colleagues didn't really seem to care who heard them, as their laughter escalated even higher.
"Oh I enjoy this Gerry, me and you joking around like a comedy double act. It's what makes coming to work feel somewhat less stressful." Steve smiled.
xxxxx
Sandra was in her hotel room, she was busy getting herself dolled up for this evening's exciting concert. She had styled her hair, doing it in hair bun and leaving it down, to rest at the back of her neck. She looked fabulous in her silver sparkling dress. There was no doubt that she had put some great consideration, into what type of dress she wished to wear for this evening.
Well she deserved to enjoy herself, she felt she had deserved to. This past year had gone from strength to strength for her, after starting her first full year with the War Crimes team. She had helped them to successfully convict a German man, who they'd had pinned up on their most wanted list for the last 25 years. He had gone undetected throughout Germany and France but the team had made a breakthrough, when she came across a recent reported crime and someone who had described in their witness statement, the description of the suspect. From there she matched this description to the wanted German criminal, her team then had traced him and arrested him in Dusseldorf.
Max wandered around in the hotel room, seeking something from his suitcase. He turned and gazed over, to see Sandra looking absolutely beautiful. "You look amazing..."
"And?" She challenged him to add some an extra comment to his verdict.
"Like a Hollywood Starlet." He impressed her with what he mentioned next. Well obviously she felt touched and warmed by his loving comment.
"What time is it?" She asked, while putting her earrings in.
"It's 5:30, we've got 40 minutes to get ready." Max told her. Well she had beaten him to it, he knew that she always preferred to compose herself and get ready as soon as possible, even for when the two of them occasionally went out for dinner together.
So now it was his turn to prepare himself for this evening's meet up with Sandra's delightful friends. Of course seeing as he was French, he would do his utmost by using his good mannered French manners, for when he eventually gets introduced to Brian and Esther, who he hadn't met yet.
xxxxx
Brian wasn't a fan of smartening himself for special occasions because he really didn't see the point of it, if truth be told. He had never taken well to being told to wear a tie or one those black/red bow ties. So instead of wearing dinner suits, he liked to wear one of his best shirts and dark blue trousers. Well Esther didn't mind how he looked in those certain clothes.
"Bloody freezing out here..." Brian said, he swore he could hear his teeth chattering together while he was shivering as he and Esther stood outside the main entrance of the Royal Albert Hall.
"Well I have told you many times, you should have chosen a better overcoat for tonight. You've worn that one everyday for the last 11 years, perhaps it's time you considered a second choice overcoat." Esther's words were without doubt, thought provoking. Hopefully Brian might take them into consideration.
"I know...I know...you must think, I behave like a right fusspot over what clothes I'd like to wear and what clothes I don't like to wear." Brian assumed he was probably most likely getting on her nerves with this unhelpful behaviour. Just how exactly had she succeeded with retaining her patience, by not snapping at him, god only knows.
"Not really. It's always down to you, what type of clothes you would rather wear. No sign of anyone turning up yet.." She changed the subject of their conversation, to the main reason, as to why they were waiting around, for their friends to turn up.
"Still I can't wait to watch Andre Rieu in person and for him to dazzle everyone in the audience with his dexterous violin skills." The buzz of excitement in Esther's voice was pretty clear to hear. "Just how big is the Royal Albert Hall inside and how many seats does it have?" She asked, out of curiosity.
"Well all I know is that, it was opened in 1871 by Queen Victoria and it's vast internal auditorium is 185 feet wide by 219 feet long covered by a glazed dome constructed of wrought iron girders. It takes up to 5,272 seats. I could go into more details but I'd be keeping everyone here all night if that happened, I wouldn't want you missing out on watching the concert tonight."
Esther gave him an expressive peck on the cheek. "You can always tell me, when we get home. We'd better be heading inside soon." She suggested, she started to realize how very cold it was becoming this evening.
"You know, I've lost count how many times you've listened to his latest album since I bought it for you, love..." Brian said, suddenly out of the blue.
"I have absolutely no idea myself.." She gave an upbeat smile.
Soon enough the married couple, overheard and instantly recognized the unmistakable sound of Gerry's voice coming up closer, behind the both of them. - Their long-time friend could certainly moan, laugh and win a medal for it, for England alright. They couldn't make out, what he was getting in a pickle about now.
Steve was asking his friend, why his Sat-Nav hadn't acted very reliable for getting them to the Albert Hall. "Besides I thought you knew all of London, off by heart. Talk about almost getting the both of lost, for ages."
"What you talking about? I got us in the end, so you can't stop complaining mate." Gerry smiled at him. Steve couldn't find a perfect response to bite back, so he felt it was best to leave matters there, fearing he might make an idiot of himself if he went on and on.
They soon turned their attentions to Brian and Esther, by greeting the couple with one or two friendly hugs and gracious handshakes.
"Good to see you mate." Gerry told Brian.
"You too Gerry. So that's why you and Steve were both late then."
"So...doesn't bother me that we're a little late.." Gerry glanced around them, he was expecting Sandra to surprisingly appear from the main entranceway of the building and for her to unleash her feisty side, by snapping at him. Yet she was nowhere to be seen.
"So where's Sandra then? I mean she did invite all of us to come here tonight." He asked.
"Maybe her and Max are inside, waiting for all of us to show our faces." Steve suggested, although he couldn't be too sure, that this might necessarily be true.
Around 8 minutes later, Sandra and Max did finally manage to arrive. She set tongues wagging amongst a few people and potential male admirers, who were attending the concert with their wives and girlfriends.
Apologies were made for lateness and before long they all headed inside. Brian and Max seemed to hit it off well, after finding out they both shared a liking for jigsaw puzzles and crosswords.
Everyone was very much looking forward to getting the opportunity of watching one of Andre Rieu's magical and enjoyable music performances.
"I know it's still only four days to go until Christmas, but can I just say it now. Merry Christmas Gerry, Steve, Brian and Esther. I hope you all have the best one yet." She gave a relaxing smile, before they eventually went into the main concert arena.
End of Chapter
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