As they walked through arrivals they soon found the man they were looking for; a tall-ish, skinny scruffy looking guy, grey ruffled thinning hair and a fag hanging out of his mouth, he stood leaning on a pillar holding up a sign with the words Hanssen + Rees printed on it.
The pair headed over to him.
"You must be our driver?" Henrik asked as he approached.
"Radisson Blu Hotel, Triangeln Malmö?" His thick cockney accent took the two by surprise.
"That's the one." They followed the driver to the taxi and he opened the boot to place their suitcases in for them. He then aided Tabitha into the back before getting into the drivers' side and heading for their desired destination.
After a 30 minute drive they pulled up outside the grand looking, glass building. Tabitha stood by the suitcases the driver had unloaded whilst Henrik paid the fare before he took both his and Tabby's cases and wheeled them into the foyer.
"I'll sort out our rooms." Henrik left Tabby near a plant with the suitcases whilst he went to converse, in Swedish might I add, with the lovely looking blonde behind the desk; she wore a navy blazer with a matching pencil skirt, light blue shirt and navy neckerchief, she had her hair in a bun with a plait encircling the bulb of hair, she was the ultimate master copy for the Swedish super model rule what with her bright blue, sparkling eyes. Strangely though Hanssen, being a native Scandinavian did not take a single double glance at her, Tabitha on the other hand could not take her eyes off this being of perfection stood behind the desk, smiling cheerfully, sliding Henrik some papers to sign then handing him some keys.
"Tacka dig, njut av din vistelse."
Golly her voice was far too söt, giwt, kawaii, however you wanted to say it; she felt like she was in love.
"Tabitha, are you even here today?" Henrik waved his hand in front of her face.
"She's gorgeous." She mumbled, still staring at the receptionist, who was clearly starting to feel a tad self-conscious with Tabby's stares.
"Yes, quite, to our rooms?" He dangled the key in front of her and when she still didn't respond he clicked his fingers close to her ear.
Tabitha suddenly jumped from her skin, "Shit Henrik, you could've have just spoke to me to get my attention." She snatched the key and headed off.
"Yes, well I did try that but you're not listening so why I'm trying to explain is beyond me?" He sighed as Tabby ignored him and hobbled for the lift, struggling with her suitcase in tow.
They sat in their separate rooms, on their separate beds, Tabitha was typing away frantically on her tablet, Hanssen hot at his laptop. Soon Tabby had enough and decided to call round.
*Knock knock*
The footsteps grew louder then there was the clunk of the door handle, "Hello there, Tabitha, something the matter?"
She tilted her head, "Can we talk?"
"Certainly." He stood aside for her to enter.
She began to pace the room, "I'm going to honest with you, but I am feeling apprehensive about this speech, I know it's tomorrow and we have plenty of time to go through it but it's only tomorrow."
Henrik shrugged, "Then let's go through it."
Throughout the rest of the day then they paced the room, each with their own copy of the speech they ran though it again and again.
Henrik checked his watch, "We'd best be preparing for the welcome dinner." He placed down his papers, "How are you feeling about it?"
"Much better, thank you." She smiled hugging her papers to her chest, "I shall see you outside in an hour?"
"Most certainly." He smirked as he watched her leave his room, a definite air of confidence in her stride.
Tabby wore a simple grey cocktail dress that had a pleated skirt, Henrik wore a simple grey suit with white shirt and navy tie; he couldn't help but smile at the accidental match when they met outside their doors.
"Let's go." Henrik grinned motioning for Tabby to lead the way.
"Of course."
The place was even more beautiful than Wrexham, each table had a white cloth draped carefully over it then in the middle stood a large bushy basket of flowers and greenery, everything on the tables were set out, the plates, glasses, bowels and cutlery. But then Tabby's eyes settled on one tall-ish, grey haired, suited bastard stood leaning against the bar talking with some other upper-middle class balding man. Tabby suddenly felt malice ripple through her, she wasn't going to spend the evening avoiding the man and hiding behind Hanssen, although logic said that that idea was definitely the safest. She held her head high and crossed in front of Henrik to get to the bar.
"Tabitha where you…? Oh no." He tried to catch up with her but he was too late, Fraser had already caught Tabitha's eye.
"Well, well, well, I never thought you'd approach me after what happened."
"Shut up, this was the only space left by the bar and I need a drink." She took the complementary glass of champagne that was handed to her by the barman, "So enjoying Sweden?"
"It's alright yes." He took an awkward sip.
"Yes, I haven't had much chance to experience the city yet; it was pretty much off the plane into a taxi into the hotel and never see the outside for two days, haha." She took a swig.
"Miss Rees, we need talk."
"Oh do we now?" She scowled at him, "You feel me up on the ward then later you trap me against a wall and proceed to finger me, you then wrap my fingers around your dirty little member and force me to jack you off. What else is there to talk about?"
"Listen Tabitha, what can I say?"
"Sorry maybe. And it's Miss Rees to you; by doing what you did you no longer have any status over me. If I were you I'd treat me with some respect." She then turned and headed back to Henrik.
"My, my Miss Rees, that was certainly brave, I'm proud of you." Henrik smiled.
"Thanks."
Soon it was time for the welcome dinner; unfortunately all of the Holby team were placed on the same table so Henrik made sure Tabitha was sat between the only two people he trusted, himself and Mr Cunningham, awkwardly Fraser took his place on the other side of Henrik.
"So is this where I meet my end?" Fraser started quietly.
"Touch her and you will be dead, but for now I will trust that you will keep your hands to yourself."
Dinner though was without a hitch; thankfully the other few people on their table were from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in South Wales and therefore spoke English, which was a blessing to the Holby team as the awkwardness of knowing about Fraser's indiscretion was enough to keep them silent in case of certain slip ups.
Henrik and Tabby returned to their rooms at the end of the night and settled in to sleep.
"Ah, Miss Rees, I see we're matching again." Henrik chuckled as he pointed out Tabitha's red neckerchief tied under the collar of her cream shirt. Henrik wore a white shirt with red tie and a black pin striped suit, including his waistcoat which had the red patterned back to it, he looked very handsome indeed. Clipboard and folders in hand they headed for the hall.
"Now if you dare get drunk and disgrace the team I will be forced to punish you." Hanssen spoke quietly into Tabby's ear as they headed for their seats.
"Ooh, Mr Hanssen, will it be bare hand or riding crop." She teased.
He replied with a slight chuckle.
There were quite a few speakers to go before Tabby and Henrik were up which got Tabby's nerves up quite considerably. Finally though they were called.
"God morgon, mitt namn är Henrik Hanssen VD och chef för kirurgi vid Holby City sjukhus i Bristol, och detta är Tabitha Rees min personliga assistent och praktikant läkare. I dag ska vi tala om hur tekniken används på sjukhus redan, vad är ännu att komma till sjukhus och vad Holby gör för att integrera denna nya teknik." Henrik started.
Tabitha took a deep breath when suddenly she felt a hand on her on the lectern. She finally felt the confidence she needed.
"Right now in 2013, robots are already patrolling the corridors of hospitals, mainly doing the work of porters, for example Forth Valley Hospital in Scotland, opened not long ago has a fleet of robots which are guided by lasers and can sense when something is in its way. It can be called to do a task using a PDA system. The fleet is divided into 'clean' and 'dirty' tasks so each team uses its own set of corridors to reduce the risk of cross contamination. Countries leading the hospital robotics revolution are Japan, the US and France…"
Tabby finished her stint without a hitch and now it was time for Henrik to work his magic on the crowd and finish the speech.
"…thank you very much for listening." They both took a quick bow as the crowd applauded and they took their seats.
On their way back Henrik placed his hand in the small of Tabby's back and leaned down to her ear, "You were outstanding, well done." He whispered.
Tabby giggled coyly and took her seat again. After two or three glasses of wine, and a scary warning look from Hanssen she finished her last and had no more. Finally, after another two hours of thumb twiddling, struggling to translate the language, applauding and teasing Henrik by stealthily running her fingers up his leg now and again, the conference finally ended.
Henrik decided that for the rest of the day he'd take Tabitha shopping, she looked like she needed some retail therapy and what young woman wouldn't want to go shopping, particularly in a foreign country. Henrik helped her with the language barriers and treated her to some Swedish delicacies whilst Tabby bought him a new tie and took him for a walk around a beautiful park which had a gorgeous lake in the middle of it. When they returned to the hotel they had about two hours to get ready for the ball.
Tabitha emerged from her room to the knock that was on her door. Henrik could not stop his eyes from gliding down her body. A silk black floor length dress that hung loosely around her with a daring neck line that stopped half way down her cleavage, her hair was stylistically ruffled which perfectly hidden the messy way it was cut.
Henrik looked dashing as ever, he wore a white shirt with a green tie, grey waistcoat, but the best part of his outfit, and the thing that made Tabby swoon with lust, was his tailcoat, she never thought owned one.
"You like what you see?" Tabby gave a small twirl.
"My, my, Tabby, were you hoping to dazzle me?"
"I think I've succeeded have I not?"
Henrik chuckled, "I think you have." He held out his arm.
Tabby locked her door and linked her arm through and he escorted the young doctor down to the hall.
"Champagne, Miss?"
"Ooh, marry me." Tabby glided past picking up a glass. Though just as she was about to take a sip, it suddenly disappeared from her hand.
Henrik had reached around her to grab the drink, "Take it slow it tonight, won't you?" He warned when Tabby turned to face him.
"Yes, Henrik, I promise." She teased.
"Good." He handed it back to her.
*Cough* "Er, could I grab your attention for two moments please, ladies and gentlemen? Yes thank you. Um, well, welcome to this year's annual European Medical Conference Ball, here at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Malmö, um, I'd like to congratulate everyone on your speeches this morning they were excellent and truly inspiring and I think we could all learn a lot from each other so it was great to have you all there, it's also so nice to see so many of you have stayed for this ball, it's going to be a truly wonderful evening which we will end with some lovely fireworks in the hotel garden. Er I won't keep you much longer just let you know that champagne will be served around the room for the night and any other beverages you are welcome to ask for at the bar, there's a buffet at the back help yourself whenever, and um, well, have a great time." The man grinned then gave the thumbs up for the orchestra to begin and soon plenty of people took to the floor with a partner.
"Well Miss Rees, may I?" Henrik held out his hand.
Tabby giggled, "I can't."
"I'll support you."
"I can't dance anyway let alone with this." She knocked on her plastic splint.
Henrik gave a hopeful smile which she couldn't refuse and so she gave in and took his hand.
Once at a suitable place on the dance floor, Tabby turned to her partner and placed a hand on his shoulder, she then felt his hand slide around onto her lower back, they then interlocked fingers with their other hands and Henrik helped Tabby around the steps. Tabby hopped around on her healthy foot with all the grace and elegance of a penguin attempting to climb the steps of Montmartre. After a while Mr Cunningham cut in for a dance.
After a few false starts he had an idea, "Here, if you put your feet on mine…"
"But I don't want to ruin your lovely shiny shoes."
"It's fine go on."
"You'll be lucky if you can take my weight."
"Oh shut up."
Once she was on, Cunningham held her tight to keep her from falling and soon they were gliding and twirling across the floor like Du Beke and Widdecome.
"See Twinkle Toes, you're nothing more than a feather."
"Oh, Mr Cunningham you flatter me." She giggled.
As the piece came to its end, Terence wrapped his arm tightly around Tabby's slender frame and bent her backwards over his knee, leaving Tabby in a fit of giggles. But as he looked up his grin quickly faded when he caught the eye of Hanssen who was not looking so pleased.
"Come on…" He lifted her to her feet, "…We'd better get back." He helped her hop back to the tall Swede by the bar. Whilst Tabby was turned to the barmen asking for a glass of red Henrik leaned to Terence, "I need to retrieve something from my room, may you keep a close eye on Tabitha for me, don't let Fraser get anywhere near her understand?"
Terence knew the exact reason why and knew that if such a thing was to happen here, where there was a crowd, 1) it would be easy for him to hide her and have his way and 2) such a scene would put Holby and indeed the NHS in a very bad light, "Of course Mr Hanssen, you have my word."
"Thanks." He then departed.
"Hey where did Mr Hanssen go?" Tabby glanced around for him.
"He said he had to retrieve something from his room, do you want something to eat, I can go and get you something, save you struggling over there with a plate."
"Yes please."
"OK what would you like?"
"Anything will do me thanks."
"You like fish? You're not allergic to anything?"
"Yep and nope."
"Great I'll be back in a minute then." Terence smiled then made his way over to the buffet.
Tabby smiled to herself before taking another sip of her wine when she felt something warm behind her, hot air was circling around her ear as a hand snaked its way onto her hip.
"May I have the next dance?"