has turned my world upside down. Once the agreement was signed, he insisted I give notice on my flat, as well as my supplementary jobs, and move into his townhouse in Chelsea. I managed to st

have been interested anyway! Instead, I requested the holiday leave I am entitled to and let him know that I would be coming back fro

arely spoken, beyond the arrangements to get us to Australia, and even then most of that was done through his secretary. I made the first leg of the journey alone as Alex had already flown out to do business in Sin

I crack open my eyes and am startled to find Alex staring directly at me, with an expression that I can't fa

Alex says, letting out a

y stomach growls embarrassingly. My body clock is all over the place and my stomach doesn't know whether it wants breakfast, lunch or dinner, but at least I have managed to get a decent sleep. I am just ho

ash my face and then slip into a pale yellow sundress, brushing the tangles out of my choppy dark brown bob. I a

pe that's okay?" Alex asks

just dive into my food, I think to myself. Alex attacks his breakfast with equal gusto, sipping on a cup of strong coffee. I

us and find myself twisting my fingers in agitation. I fiddle with the large diamond currently nestling on my

down, Alex. I know you have a lot riding on this. I have done my best to memorise all the info you sent

y know about you already, and you can relax and soak up some sun. We'll work out the details of the ceremony and stuff this week and go from there. You don't have to worry abo

eally don't want to mess it up. You have been so good to me, sorting my

of everything, okay?" says Alex

that, despite its futility, I w

s born there. Since then, I had bought a Lonely Planet guide and marked up the pages of things I wanted to do and see, but I have

le waiting and I feel myself getting a lump in my throat as I watch people greeting each other, often with tears in their eyes. Alex clears his throat and indicates towards a tall, well-built guy with a shaved head dressed in a driver's uniform, holdi

ries when he

ecoming a little stronger. "Shane, this is Olivia, my fianc

front of me. He is tanned and gorgeous with striking blue eyes, ev

eaut," Shane say

ane in conversation. From what I can gather, they are old friends and soon th

o the air-conditioned coolness. Both men pretty much ignore me as they catch up, which suits me fine, as it gives me a chance to take in the world around me. The landscape is so different from what I am used to, and I kind of feel like it is

g at the Crown Perth?" Shane ask

the minute she stepped off the plane," Alex responds with

ane says w

et, the structure so alien compared with everything around it. But now all I can think about is not tripping up and embarrassing myself. As I climb out of the car, I am once again assaulted by the hot, arid air. I head around to grab m

ment ring that Alex presented me with on the plane, on his arm and smile sweetly across at her. I feel Alex shaking slightly and I realise he is laughing silently at the scene unfolding. I look up into his grey eyes and see mirth shining out and I give him a genuine smile, probably one of my first since

t stay. Alex puts an arm around me and guides me back towards the lifts, murmuring into my ear, "We

want. That's what my frien

real, and this is not about romance or even sex. At last, we reach the suite, and when Alex opens the door, I actually gasp as I take in my surroundings. Th

s, and when I go to refuse the look

this is amazing. That

guessing that this view is familiar to him as he seems to know his way around the suite, but even so, he seems as en

s in long board shorts and a T-shirt, his hair still damp from the shower he must have just had. "You should put some cream on," Alex st

oo much. I am not used to this kind of luxury and it kind of freaks me out a bit. But as I eye the bed I can't help but fling myself down onto it, enjoying