All Because of You (Lakeview #2) by Melissa Hill Page A

have to ensure her wardrobe was well up to the task! 
    Finding the time for all this was another story though. What with leaving the office early yesterday evening, and being out of it for much of the afternoon, she’d be lucky if she found the time to have lunch at her desk for the next few days, let alone factor in an image consultancy. 
    Which made her doubly determined to go and see that time-management consultant Freya had recommended. Her friend had secured someone to help her cope with the time constraints of her forthcoming wedding, and Natalie thought she could certainly do with some of that type of advice too.
    “She’s fabulous, Nat,” Freya had gushed. “She made me break my time down, not into things to do, but into blocks of time. And she reckons I’m way too generous with people, and that I should use my time much more constructively.”
    Yes, Natalie could certainly do with some of that.  
    But speaking of consultants, she thought, saying a quick hello to Danni before going into her office and closing the door behind her, she needed advice from someone in the travel business, and quickly.
    She had it all arranged within the hour. The travel rep had informed her over the phone that at such short notice there wasn’t ‘a monkey’s chance’ of getting availability for her and Steve in her preferred holiday destination, St Tropez, or indeed anywhere in the Cote d’Azur. Instead, for this time of year, she’d helpfully suggested Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
    “Egypt? Isn’t that one of those troublesome places?” Natalie asked, frowning.
    “Well, if guaranteed thirty-degree sunshine, warm waters and unadulterated luxury is troublesome?” the travel rep joked. “Honestly, I’ve been there myself and it’s heavenly. Tony Blair goes there all the time – I think he has a holiday home in Sharm actually.”
    Well, Natalie thought, if it was good enough for the PM, it was definitely good enough for her and Steve. And when the rep mentioned that the place was a treasure trove of beautiful gold jewellery, she nearly burst a blood vessel trying to make the booking. 
    “So, it’s for two adults leaving Saturday ?” the other woman clarified as Natalie gave her and Steve’s details. “And flying first class from Heathrow to Sharm?”
    “That’s right.” The flight and five-star hotel were going to cost her an arm and a leg but what the hell – Steve was worth it. And if, as Natalie hoped, the romantic trip abroad took their relationship to another level, well, then it would definitely be worth every penny!
    He would get such a surprise when she told him, she thought, gleefully calling out her gold-card details. And what man wouldn’t be chuffed with a girlfriend who arranged last-minute luxury holidays abroad, not to mention Chelsea tickets at the drop of a hat!
    That morning before he left her flat to go to work, Steve had casually mentioned that he’d kill to get his hands on tickets for the upcoming Chelsea’s Champion’s League opener in Stamford Bridge. In her line of work, piffling things like football tickets were simple to get, and since the beginning of their relationship she’d been arranging such tickets ( corporate box tickets) on a regular basis. In fact, she did it so often that anyone would think Steve was seeing her just for easy access to the tickets, she thought grinning. But of course they’d be wrong.
    “Your holiday tickets will be forwarded to your address within two working … actually, because you’re leaving at the weekend, it might be best if you collect them,” the travel rep told her.
    “No problem, I’ll send a messenger,” Natalie said.
    “And of course, you do realise that payment is completely non-refundable at this stage?”
    “Of course.”
    “Great. Well, thank you for booking with us, Ms Webb. I do hope to you and Mr Watson have a wonderful holiday.”
    Oh, we will, Natalie thought, as she ended the call, you can count on