New Year ... New Start ...

[DeliciousMaiden]

Introduction:

This is just a story which starts New Year's Eve and continues from there ...
I have no set route for this story and would welcome ideas and character offers in PM from anyone who might be interested in sharing this story with me.

Those who know my writing will know I enjoy story telling ... plenty of lead up to any romantic / sexual activity and enjoy spending time composing my posts and prefer a writer who will do the same.
I also prefer stories to be 1-on-1 or have a small group of writers ...

Please do not post without invitation ... I'll confirm "casting" if and when I find a compatible writer.
I'm hoping to find someone who will enjoy creating a gentle tale ...

Thank you for reading so far ...

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Kelly Sanderson

New Year’s Eve and Kelly was working. At least she’d had Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and part of Boxing Day off work, but she’d been working ever since. One might think that Kelly was put off by this, yet she actually couldn’t believe her luck!

Kelly hadn’t really wanted to sign up for an entertainment team on a cruise liner and was thrilled to have found a job based in a prestigious London Hotel. Work here wasn’t seasonal as tourists and businessmen came and went with predictable regularity. And during the build up to festivities she had been fortunate enough to secure a regular slot singing in the lounge, not both throughout the late afternoon and the late evening. Accompanied by a pianist, her portfolio of songs attracted an range of clientele.

In truth she preferred the quiet relaxed atmosphere of the leather seated lounge rather than the more modern and vibrant bar area she now found herself in, but her brief this evening wasn’t too onerous. All she had to do was circulate amongst the guests and ensure the staff on duty were aware of any arising dissatisfaction amongst their guests before it had chance to develop. Much as on a cruise ship, she considered, she was there to see and be seen and add to the general celebratory atmosphere.

She reached out and sipped her martini, only the second of the whole evening as she was supposed to be at least partially “on duty”. Looking around, she noted the “younger set” - her contempories - and a growing number of the "maturer" guests were bouncing energetically around on the dance floor to the timeless classics designed to get everyone up and partying. She hid a smile as she sipped at her glass her eyes dragging away from a particularly unco-ordinated gentleman who looked as though he would soon be in need of medical assistance if he did not take a rest soon.

Kelly was actually enjoying herself. She had actually been dancing earlier, before the alcohol started flowing and inhibitions left. Having started the ball rolling and encouraged the reluctant to get up and dance, she was now content to sit and observe the heaving mass. Hopefully would be able to sneak out to the relative cool and quiet of the adjacent reception area or even the lounge where she spent much of her time nowadays …


Kelly Sanderson

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Thank you for all the PMs I've received over the New Year ... I have responded to most, but to anyone I've missed and later PMs I'll get to you as soon as possible ...

Many thanks

DM x

PS:

I have a few more story ideas I'm kicking around ... so hopefully I'll have a chance to write with some of you soon ...

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

My thanks to Chris 44 for agreeing to share this gentle tale with me.

I hope those reading along enjoy.

As ever comments are welcome via pm ...

DM x ​

 

[chris 44]

New Year, New Start.

New Year’s Eve had never been Thomas Clement’s favourite time of year, and this one looked like it would be no different from all the others. As if the dancing wasn’t painful enough for a middle-aged man with the rhythmic grace of a three-legged camel, Tommy found the small talk as empty and meaningless as ever. Not only that, but when he headed back to his table after the statutory, and painful, ten minutes on the dance floor, someone from accounts had pinched his chair…

His eyes scoured the room, searching for some quiet corner, some haven of peace where he could pass the last half hour of the evening in relative peace and solitude. Midnight was approaching rapidly, he looked at his watch; forty-five minutes to go, and he was just considering slipping away quietly and heading home when he spotted the only empty chair in the place. Even then it took him a few seconds to make up his mind. The table was occupied, a young lady on her own. He’d seen her earlier, singing with the band, Kelly something her name was Tommy couldn’t quite remember the rest.

When she wasn’t singing, she’d been working the party guests, dancing, talking laughing. She had a pleasant voice he remembered, that sense of timing he’d always lacked, and the ability to hit the right note. Too talented by far to be singing in a place like this for the company’s New Year party.

He was turning towards the door when the Managing Director came through from the lounge with a large Scotch on the rocks in one hand and a double Gin and Tonic in the other. The G and T. would be for his secretary and Tommy knew it would be a double, just as he knew that their rooms on the second floor would be interconnecting.

“Not thinking of slipping away early are we Mr. Clement,” said the MD, before sweeping past on his way to the top table beside the stage.

“Wouldn’t dream of it sir,” muttered Tommy, as he turned away and headed for the only unoccupied chair in the room.

She looked up as Tommy paused in front of her. ‘Sanderson,’ he thought, ‘that was her name, Kelly Sanderson.' He wasn't at all sure about this.

“Excuse me,” he said, indicating the empty chair, “would you mind if I sat down for a while, this seems to be the only spare chair in the place.”


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Kelly thought longingly of the quieter and cooler lounge, but knew that it was this group of revellers who needed her attention.

“Excuse me,”

The polite hesitance of an unfamiliar voice drew her attention instantly.
Kelly raised her gaze and met the uncertain smile of the “uncoordinated gentleman”

“… would you mind if I sat down for a while, this seems to be the only spare chair in the place.”

She followed his gesture to the empty seat beside her and smiled reassuringly.

”Not at all … please do … “

She responded hoping to put him at his ease as she added;

”It is pretty crowded in here … “

As he sat down, her eyes drifted over to the top table where she watched a middle aged man and a younger woman in a steamy clinch.

”Everyone seems to be having fun … “

She commented lightly as her glance took in the dancers, the groups who stood about the room and those who were propping up the bar. Her head turned towards her companion as she introduced herself.

”I'm Kelly by the way ... "

She offered her hand to him in greeting.

"I don't think we've met before, though I saw you dancing earlier … “

Seeing his reaction to her comment, she wondered if, despite appearances, this was not quite his kind of occasion.

”… are you enjoying your evening … ?”

She queried, her question prompted by genuine concern, rather than “duty”.

 

[chris 44]

New Year, New Start.

The look on his face suggested that he probably hadn't been enjoying the evening all that much, at least not until now. A fact his next words would soon confirm.

"Not really,” he said. "I've never been a great one for partying."

His eyes followed Kelly's across to the top table and smiled when he realised she was watching the M.D. and his secretary.

"Unlike some... " he added, and the smile on his face quickly turned into a laugh as he looked back at Kelly. She was an attractive young woman and looked even better up close than she'd done on the stage. That lively sparkle in her eyes, and the way her dark hair tumbled over her bare shoulders was something he could appreciate as much in middle age as he'd done earlier in his life. Probably more if he was being honest, and for a moment or two, he found himself wishing he was back in his mid-twenties again and the realisation made him feel uneasy. He was nervous, and didn't want her thinking he was just some dirty old man looking for a quick thrill, and changed the subject before the idea had chance to take root.

"Would you mind if I got you a drink?"

He turned and signalled to one of the waiters. Even if she didn't want one, he certainly did. The session on the dance floor had given him a raging thirst. There was no point in fooling himself; he was far too old to interest a woman like Kelly, far better he enjoy the pleasure of her company while he had the chance. God knows; the chance to share some pleasant female company was a rare enough occurrence these days.

"I enjoyed your set earlier," he went on as they waited for the waiter to reach their table. "Do you sing here on a regular basis, or is this gig a one off? A New Year special?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Not really, I've never been a great one for partying."

Kelly smiled remembering his dancing exertions earlier.

"Unlike some... "

She watched his face as he eyed the couple and found herself sharing a laugh.
She’d seen many different types of “couples” in her line of work and had learned early on to refrain from even passing comment on peoples’ … “arrangements”. No one could accuse her of being indiscrete …

"Would you mind if I got you a drink?"

The offer was unexpected.

”That’s very kind of you … just a lemonade ... with ice if that’s ok..?”

Unlike many who tried to encourage her to let them buy her expensive cocktails or flashy wines, Kelly was happy that he accepted her preference without comment.

”That’s really kind of you … too much alcohol can damage the vocal chords … “

She grinned, referring to her singing role, rather than her less official role in keeping things ticking over that particular evening.

"I enjoyed your set earlier. Do you sing here on a regular basis, or is this gig a one off? A New Year special?"

Kelly chuckled.

”You’re not staying here …?”

She looked at him more closely trying to recall if she’d seen him here as a resident.

”This is a … seasonal extra …. “

She explained pausing as the waiter arrived and letting him place the drinks order.

”I’m employed on the entertainments team, but as a singer.
My regular “spot” is in the lounge bar …. mid-afternoons and early evening …
I’m also available for additional bookings … via the hotel’s entertainment portfolio … there’s a selection of entertainment available for private and corporate bookings and in any combination…”

She sipped her lemonade and glanced across at the DJ, a guy she knew vaguely.

” … it’s not uncommon to start with a singer and follow that up with a DJ later … “

She eyed him watching him drinking and wondered what his ideal style of entertainment would be ….

”I usually head off afterwards, but …. as it’s New Year’s Eve … and transport is dire … I thought it easier to stay on and work the whole holiday ….”

She admitted.

”Things seem to be going well at least … “

She glanced round appraisingly and then returned her attention to her companion.

”How about you? Is this your ideal way of seeing in the New Year…?”

She asked lightly, yet wondered what he was doing here if he wasn’t actually enjoying himself …