The paradise is called Jonathan Turner Part 1 HAZEL I know I'm running away, again. But this time it wasn't me who ran, it was once again a red light like a warning, because I know my love stories always end the same. Am I seeing things that don't exist? Imagining that there's something giving warning signs for me to stop? I see Olivia entering the kitchen, but I don't follow her; I need to take a breath and so I pause for a moment in the living room, lost in thought. Actually... It's the second time this woman has interrupted us! First, the call from London on barbecue day, and now this. Coming from her, I better reconsider whether it was the interference of fate or if there's something supernatural coming from this woman that stops me from surrendering and having her son. I remember the day of the dinner when I put on, somewhat impulsively, the Greek eye talisman my mother gave me. Was it intuitive? I surprise myself with what I'm thinking! Could she be a witch? Gosh, I'm probably
The paradise is called Jonathan Turner Part 2 HAZEL I know I'm running away, again. But this time it wasn't me who ran, it was once again a red light like a warning, because I know my love stories always end the same. Am I seeing things that don't exist? Imagining that there's something giving warning signs for me to stop? I see Olivia entering the kitchen, but I don't follow her; I need to take a breath and so I pause for a moment in the living room, lost in thought. Actually... It's the second time this woman has interrupted us! First, the call from London on barbecue day, and now this. Coming from her, I better reconsider whether it was the interference of fate or if there's something supernatural coming from this woman that stops me from surrendering and having her son. I remember the day of the dinner when I put on, somewhat impulsively, the Greek eye talisman my mother gave me. Was it intuitive? I surprise myself with what I'm thinking! Could she be a witch? Gosh, I'm probably
A small blingefor a big problemJonAhmet calls me and I know that Hazel or my mother has actually asked him to see where dear Jonathan is. Irony. I'm a big credit card for these women. It doesn't matter if it's my mother or Hazel. I'm worth no more to them than that. That's why they want to control my every move. There's no love in this world, as I've just seen. That's why my relationships boil down to mere domination. I can give love, but nobody wants it. They just want the contracts and the money. Who was I kidding? Myself? I ask the waiter for another shot of whisky. Today I want to give my liver a good workout... Maybe there won't be anything left to regret later.Ahmet arrives after a few shots. I'm high, not too drunk. I'm very tolerant of alcohol and it makes me numb to life's bullshit, but it doesn't make me forget that a little while ago I was going to have sex with the hottest girl I've ever met. And that goes for her
THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT PART 1 HAZEL I set my phone's clock to wake me up quietly, so I wouldn't lose track of time. Jonathan is still sleeping next to me, in a deep slumber. I don't intend to wake him after this tumultuous night; he definitely needs rest. After yesterday's conversation, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, but at the same time, I feel bad for knowing that I could have acted differently. I should have shared my whole story a long time ago, and most likely, his actions would have been different. If he really knew me better before, but... well, it's not anyone's fault. We didn't make this agreement to get to know each other, and which of us could have imagined that we'd feel something more than horniness? And I know that there really is more to it than that. I missed the timing* of the game. I'm rusty! I don't know how to play anymore. If I ever did. I had a boxing teacher who told me that my mistake
THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT PART 2 HAZEL Even Hungry, I decide to wait for Olivia to have lunch with her. A short while later, she appears in the kitchen, where I'm having a conversation with Nadia. "Ms. Olivia, would you like some company for lunch?" I ask. "I'm not so well, that breakfast wasn't good." "I don't think that chocolate pie was such a good idea in this heat. It was ..." "Come on," as usual, she interrupts me, "that's not what was wrong with me. It doesn't matter, I just want a salad. Nadia, make a tuna and leaf salad and bring it to me in my room, please. And a juice." "Any preference, ma'am?" "Whatever you have."I look at Nadia and raise my eyebrows while my lips form a sad smile, one typical of a child. She doesn't seem to mind the way Olivia treats her at all. This thought stays in my mind for a while. People’s temperaments and their reactions to others have a mu
The almost disastrous dinner Part 1JonIt's late at night when I come home from work to hear a loud argument coming from my room. No way! More trouble? As I enter my room, I take off my tie and can clearly hear what Hazel and Olivia are saying to each other." Work? I know what your job is. Your job is to find a rich man to lean on. To take his money!”Listening to this nonsense, which I am fully aware is a lie, I go into the closet and catch the discussion." Not at all! I work and I have my own money! I've never needed a man to support me. If my work bothers you, I'm sorry, but at least I'll never be a mother who expects my son to work like crazy, without the right to a life of his own just to support my family name, as you want from your son, Mrs. Turner!”Uhhh, Olivia, you didn't expect that! What a right punch! Hazel is right, but I love my job." Jonathan, my son! Did you hear what she called me? Did you know all this?”"Mommy, let's go to your room and try to calm down, Hazel'
The almost disastrous dinner Part 2I hear notifications arrive on my cell phone. It's Aziz.You're going to the home of the Emir of Dubai Sheik Mohammed, but don't forget that it's President Sheik Khalifa Bin Zayed who's in charge now. It's very polite to greet everyone, are you aware of all this, Jonathan?I notice out of the corner of my eye that Hazel is discreetly trying to see the display on her cell phone. I don't intend to hide it and I explain what Aziz has just sent. I reply to him.Meet me at the door. I can't recognize who Khalifa Bin Zayed is by face. If it's possible, my dear...Yes, that's fine, I don't want my nominees looking bad, I'll wait for you.Perfect. I go back to the place indicated on the GPS. The castle is in the southern part of Dubai and very difficult to find. I've heard that ordinary people can't enter the palace unless they're invited. I
FAKE ENGAGEMENT, REAL PASSION PART 1HAZEL Locked in Jonathan's room, lying on that bed covered with a black velvet quilt, I try to make sense of what happened. How could I have imagined that a stranger would recognize me on the street because of Instagram? I shouldn't have said those things to Olivia, I know that well. But, at that point, it would be useless to try to stay in the role of a fake fiancée in love. It wouldn't have mattered to say that I don't dance anymore, that I stopped at Jonathan's request—she would still think I'm a gold digger. But I can't stand people's prejudice anymore. People who don't understand my way of living and being happy.I stand up and look around the room. I run my hands over the strange things Jonathan has there. I don't know the names of his exotic toys, and there are some things I've never seen even in a sex shop. I also don't understand his lifestyle. Maybe I had a romanticized view because of the movie, bu