From Liverpool to Bogota

From Liverpool to Bogota contiued

Jan’s mum came to the door seeing her daughter had not gone and wondered what was going on. After explaining what was happening and the amazing coincidence of how they met.  Jan’s mum blurted out, in her usual down to earth way, “But you said you thought the guy you were hoping to do business with yesterday was a typical, foreign, illiterate nincompoop and should stay in his own country!”

   “Mum” Jan whispered fiercely as she pinched her mum on her upper arm (her mum had always said one couldn’t “hit” a child in public, but wouldn’t they look silly saying they had been “pinched” by their ma!)

   “Please, querida, do not worry. I know, as well as Julio does, that he needs to improve his English. It is entirely my fault as it was a quick decision to come over here for this deal and I could not arrive in time to meet up with your lovely daughter myself, Mrs.Butterworth.”

   “Oh, er..I..em..”

   As Jan’s mum stuttered trying to put things right, Jan took Felipe’s arm and steered him into the awaiting car, and told her mum to go back inside before she made things worse.

They left Jan’s mum standing on the pavement, all the while Jan desperately trying to think of what to say to Julio for her mum’s faux pas.

   Felipe took Jan’s hands in his, kissing them as he had done the previous night, commenting what beautiful long, elegant fingers she had and how they would show off so well with some emeralds on them.

   “I have a sister who lives in Bogotá with her husband. He is at present the Spanish Ambassador. I must take you there sometime, preciosa.”

   “Where is Bogotá? My geography is terrible”

   “It is the capital of Colombia, in the northern part of the Andes, next to Venezuela and Brazil. You know where I mean now?”

   “Ah, yes” mumbled Jan who, to her mortification didn’t, (thinking “Got to get on internet a.s.a.p.”) She blithely continued, “Anyway, tell me where exactly are we going?”

   “First of all we will go to my office. My chauffer will then go and pick up your car to take it to a garage to be put to rights. We will settle down and see what you can do for us, we will leave Julio to sort out details whilst I will wine and dine you.”

   Jan thought to herself “I must have died and gone to heaven” and pinched herself to make sure she was not dreaming. 

   Meanwhile Felipe was rattling on in his native tongue to his assistant and chauffer.

   Jan just relaxed back into her seat day-dreaming. She was running along a fantastic white sandy beach, looking absolutely fabulous, even Trinny and Susana couldn’t fault her outfit. She was looking so fit and tanned, her hair long and bleached (naturally of course, not from the bottle).

   “Janeece, hey Janeece,” Felipe was shaking her.

   “Wh..what..”

   “Mi preciosa, you were snoring!”

   “Was not!”

   Felipe just gently laughed and ruffled her hair. They had arrived at his office. Janice didn’t know the area as she had not long lived in Liverpool. It was obviously a smart, but strictly business, area. As they got out of the car Julio went ahead whilst Felipe gave instructions to his chauffeur. Jan looked around. There were a lot of modern looking buildings obviously built with a purpose, not that beautiful really but not as ugly as they might have been.

They went inside where there was obviously a lot of decorating and organising going on. Felipe steered Jan to the back where there was a lift. They stepped in and were quickly and smoothly taken to the top floor. When they stepped out Jan was taken aback by what greeted her. Plush white carpets, a beautiful reception area with an elegant looking, beautifully groomed  receptionist seated at a mahogany and glass desk. She greeted Felipe in Spanish who immediately, but politely, cut her short by saying that she should always speak in English when he was accompanied with someone she did not know. The receptionist apologised to Felipe but glowered at Jan, unseen by her boss.