Here is a bit more of an insight into how Joey ended up in her current position – and how she meets Hugo. I hope you like it. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Ten
January 2000
Sydney, Australia
Robbo had sought permission to take Joey out on a date. Joey had vehemently objected but her father had stated that if she was going to marry him, then she ought to get to know him. This had led to another row between them. And now, sitting in a restaurant at a candlelit table, Joey supposed she had lost.
"Why don't you like me, Joey?" Robbo asked.
They'd finished a delicious main course each and Joey had just about managed to get served a couple of glasses of wine, even though she was underage.
"You're not my type," she replied honestly.
He smiled and studied her face. She was definitely his type. He didn't like the marriage idea her father was proposing but his own plan, one hatched with his father and colleagues sounded like a marvellous idea.
"Why not?" he asked.
Joey leant forward, a smile playing on her lips.
"You're rude, arrogant and a little bit sleazy," she replied.
"Thank you," he said with a wink.
Joey snorted and finished her drink.
"Can you take me home please?" she asked.
"I thought we could go and hang out," he said.
Joey shook her head. She wanted to go home to bed and maybe have another little kiss with Maria. They'd been steadily getting to know each other better in recent weeks and made out a few times. It had been a surprise but Joey was enjoying it and she'd rather be with her maid than with Robbo.
"I really just want to go home," she said. "Please?"
She flashed her most charming smile.
"Oh, come on," Robbo said. "I'm not expecting anything you're not willing to give. I just thought we could have some drinks at my Dad's club. Spend some more time together."
"Let me be completely straight with you, Robbo," Joey said, leaning forward ever so slightly.
He blatantly looked down her top. She chose to ignore it.
"I don't like you," she said. "I don't want to date you. I don't want to go to your Dad's sleazy club with you. And I definitely don't want to marry you."
He sat back and smiled cheerfully.
"Good luck getting past your Dad," he said.
"I'm calling Nick," Joey said, pulling out her mobile phone.
Nick was her driver. She just wanted to go home. Robbo reached out and touched her hand.
"One drink?" he requested.
"If I go for a drink with you," Joey reasoned. "Do you promise you'll send me home straight after?"
Robbo nodded. Joey relented.
Half an hour later, Joey was seated in the basement of the Cruze Club with Robbo and his friends. They were all strangers and she hadn't warmed to any of them. Robbo headed up to the bar to get another round of free drinks. His friend, Hugo, sidled up to sit next to Joey.
"You're really not into him, are you?" he said with a gentle smile.
"Really not," Joey told him.
"Not your type?" Hugo asked.
"Like I said, really not," Joey replied.
She looked at the time and said she really ought to be getting back. Hugo inched a little closer.
"I could drive you if you like," he offered.
"Thanks but I have a driver who'll come and collect me," Joey said.
Hugo smiled.
"Little rich girl, I take it?"
"Well, I hope I'm not a cliché," Joey laughed.
Robbo reappeared with drinks. Hugo didn't move. The boys stared at each other for a good few moments but Hugo turned back to Joey.
"So, what is your type if Robbo's not it?" he asked.
Joey pictured Maria. She turned back to Hugo just in time for him to swoop in and kissed her. Joey drew back immediately and shook her head, telling him that he wasn't it. He looked disappointed and apologised for being too forward. Robbo's eyes bored into both of them.
"I really ought to be going home," Joey said, moving to get up.
"I'll see you out," Robbo said, finally relenting and accepting that she was determined to leave.
The night hadn't exactly gone to plan but at least he felt like he was getting somewhere, even if Joey didn't believe that anything had changed.
"Me too!" Hugo said, also jumping up.
The fifteen year old nodded and said goodbye. Robbo and Hugo both followed her back up the stairs and into the night air. Joey pulled her phone out and called Nick, who promised to be there in ten minutes. Hanging up, Joey was aware that both Robbo and Hugo were hanging around.
"You don't have to wait," she told them.
"We can't abandon a lady," Hugo said with a grin.
Despite herself, Joey laughed. If she had to pick between them, she'd pick him. There was something gentler in his manner than in Robbo's. Robbo made her skin crawl and yet she seemed doomed to stay with him. She didn't want to be with either of them but she had no idea how she could make her father understand.
Ten minutes later, Joey said goodbye and hopped into the back of the car.
"How was your night?" Nick asked, glancing in the rear view mirror.
He was a nice man in his forties and Joey had known him for her entire life. She liked and trusted him and was grateful that she had someone so willing to drop anything and take her home whenever she needed him to. She pulled a face.
"I spent the evening with Robert Cruze and his mates," she said sourly. "How do you think my night was?"
Nick chuckled. Joey always made him laugh.
"I take it your father's still intent on pairing you up," he said.
"I am this close to running off and joining a nunnery," Joey told him, flopping back in the seat and sighing heavily.
Back at the Cruze Club, Hugo and Robbo shook hands before Hugo headed out to his car with directions to Joey's house. She might have gone home but the night was far from over.