Shall We Have a Deal?

Romance – general

All rights reserved © 2021 Evelyn Tomson

The characters in the book are fictitious, but some of the places named in the book are real-time places and are described in detail in order to make the atmosphere authentic.

INDEX

1. Sofia – meeting a nice stranger………………………………………

2. 12 years later………………………………………………………………..

3. Catching up…………………………………………………………………..

4. A week together…………………………………………………………..

5. The accident………………………………………………………………..

6. Isabel……………………………………………………………………………

7. Taifun…………………………………………………………………………..

8. The mission is possible…………………………………………………

9. Epilogue

1 Sofia – meeting a nice stranger

Isabel had just arrived and was alone in the big city for the first time. She used to come with her mum usually, accompanying her on her business trips. She would usually schedule an appointment at the eye clinic to check how things are with her lenses. They had really top-notch American technology at No. 22 Klokotnitsa str., in Sofia and were producing the best hard lenses in the country, the so-called DK 100. When she was done there she would go and have a coffee at the Princess Hotel or in the café of the Sheraton and would go for a walk in the center just admiring the beautiful buildings of the embassies or the National theatre Ivan Vazov. She would also go along the Vitoshka Boulevard with its inviting shop-windows, Lavazza smelling cafeteria and get a feel of the bustling life.

She liked her hotel for its affordable prices and central position, just behind the big Central city shop, called TSUM, making it easy for her to go in and out a few times during the day but allowing her also to admire the big city even at night. Right in the heart of Sofia the lights were shining brightly and it was safe to go for a small walk in the evening enjoying the night charm in these peaceful times. Isabel was only 23. She had just taken her final exams at the university and she deserved to treat herself kindly, maybe buy herself something or at least have a coffee and a cake at the Sheraton hotel. There is hardly any person who would not like a place like that – exquisite and elegant, yet comfortable and cozy. So quite often the tourist busses stopped there and outside the café of the Sheraton hotel was the meeting point of many foreign visitors who came to the city or of those who were leaving it. Anyway with plenty of time that day Isabel was not in a hurry to decide what she was going to do first and what would fallow next. So she checked in at the Lyulin hotel at about 2 in the afternoon and decided to rest for an hour in her room and then go out for a walk. On the way to the hotel she had passed by some open-air street stalls where people were selling second hand books in foreign languages and she liked a magazine in English. Its title was “Unique” and on the first pages there was a picture of Sharon Stone doing the catwalk in a stunning champagne-colour dress, so she immediately decided to buy it. She had the habit of always having something to read. And the quality of the magazine was as high-class as its title. Much in tune with the way Isabel felt – happy, fulfilled and triumphant. An important stage in her life had just finished and she was full of hope and expectations of good things to come her way in the future. Time passed quickly and at about 4 she was down at the reception desk, where all guest were expected to leave their keys before going out. She was surprised to hear someone speaking English because the hotel was basic, no fancy furniture or curtains with the exception of its great location. And it was mainly used by civil servants, municipal officers and staff but mainly Bulgarians. The receptionist asked the men if they spoke Russian but they answered negatively and she was at a loss what to do. She was trying to explain something to a group of 3 men, obviously without success. So Isabel though it was ok to intervene and said:

“Maybe I can help you. Look, I speak English”, she said turning to the receptionist. Of course she did not mind. It turned out the men wanted to take their passports for they were travelling to another town.

“Why can’t we have our passports back?”, one of them asked. Isabel translated the receptionist’s answer that according to the policy of the hotel all guest are required to leave a document of identity at the reception desk until they check out and pay. This was not the case, so she was not willing to give them their documents. The three men discussed something in a foreign language and the one who spoke English sorted out the matter within minutes. He was tall, wore an elegant blue suit and looked around 40.

Isabel was also very elegantly dressed in a white long-sleeved blouse with beautiful embroidery and she wore a black semi-long skirt with 4 triangle pleats in 4 parts. She looked “dressed to kill” that day. The design of much of her clothes was specially made for her by her grandmother, who was a dress-maker. So thanks to her smart outfit and her helping out she had made an impression. And the guy who spoke English suggested:

“If you have time maybe we can go somewhere for coffee, so I can repay you for your favour”.

“I haven’t done any big thing, really”, protested Isabel. But the man was patient and asked again: “If you have time, maybe you can show me around the capital”.

Isabel thought about the offer for a moment and then answered much to her own surprise:

“Why not. I have time.”

“I will just have a few words with my team”, said the gentleman. And he stepped outside and spoke with the other two men shortly. Coming back to Isabel he added:

“And now we can go. I have told my team to go to Pravets without me. Are you ready?”

“Sure. I am”, said Isabel and in the next two or two and a half hours she was telling him nearly all she knew about Sofia, the red Rotonda church St. Georgi behind the Sheraton hotel, the small square with St. Nedelya church. They walked past the Presidency and the Mausoleum of Gerogi Dimitrov, then through the park to Ivan Vazov theatre. They watched the pigeons and the fountain in front of the theatre. The day was so inviting, sunny and warm for this time of the year. They continued sightseeing until they came to Sofia university and then made a small semi-circle and returned passing by the Russian church with its 5 wonderful golden domes and by the Art Gallery, which used to be the Palace of Bulgaria’s ex-monarch. Crossing the square they found themselves near the Sheraton hotel again which was very close to their hotel. It was time for coffee and Isabel’s acquaintance suggested for them to go to Sheraton’s café. She was delighted and thrilled at the same time. The café was spacious but many of the tables formed separate booths which made the whole atmosphere pleasant and cozy. Meanwhile Isabel learned that they had come to Sofia on business and that he was the boss.

They chose one booth and while they waited for the waiter to come Isabel was feeling a bit uncomfortable for all she remembered was that the man’s name started with T. but she always had a problem remembering names. For a while she kept wondering how to ask him. And then suddenly she remembered that it had something to do with storms and she said:

“I am not very good at names I am afraid…Is your name Taifun?”

“Yes it is. And you are?”

“My name is Isabel”, she replied.

“I am very happy we met, Isabel”, said her companion and asked “How do you family call you?

“My parents call me Bella. What about you?”

“We don’t shorten names in my homeland. But when I was in America my friends called me Tai”.

Then the waiter came to take their order. Isabel ordered coffee and a cake. Taifun had coffee and some juice. They talked a bit more about where they had studied. He paid her a compliment for her English so none of them paid attention to the fact how quickly time flew. They were involved in a nice and friendly conversation and everyone admired something about the other. Taifun had studied in the USA in the University of Massachusetts, which was an interesting fact in itself. Soon they brought their order and Isabel had a feeling of celebration and happiness surging inside of her. They were talking like old acquaintances not like two people who had only met 2 or 3 hours ago. Taifun shared that he had one sister and Isabel told him she had one brother. They got along quite well and little by little everyone learned about the other, his country, interests and more… At some moment Taifun looked at his watch and said he had some phone calls to make. So they paid and headed to their hotel. Isabel was curious how they chose to stay in such an ordinary place but she thought the emotions of the day were enough so she kept the question to herself. Then they entered into the lobby of the hotel and Taifun said:

“Isabel, thank you for the tour and your lovely company.”

“It was a great pleasure for me too”, she replied.

“Can we meet tomorrow?” he asked, “You are a great company”.

“I will be free around 12”, said Isabel because she had an appointment at the eye clinic in the morning.

“O.K. We can go to lunch together”, suggested her new acquaintance. Isabel smiled and wished him a pleasant evening and then went to her room. The day was so interesting and exciting that she really needed time to herself after so many emotions, talking English for hours and spending time in a luxurious café in the company of such a gentleman. Isabel kept thinking of the day feeling elated and thrilled. It was too good to be true she remember thinking at one moment and the next a disturbing idea crossed her mind: “If only he was not Turkish”. It was no surprise she slept only a few hours that night.

The following day Isabel went to the eye clinic and just as she had anticipated – everything was fine there. The doctor advised her to renew her lenses every two years and she left the clinic feeling satisfied. Isabel had plenty of time before the meeting also so she took a tram and got off at the Central shop and went in to buy her favourite lipstick Classic 237 and even bought herself a beautiful velvet skirt that had all the colours of the autumn trees. Then she returned to the hotel, changed into a purple dress with a Greek neckline and 10 minutes before 12 she was absolutely ready. Taifun was already down in the lobby when she came. He wore a very elegant grey suite with a light purple shirt and a beautiful tie. He gave her a beautiful smile and greeted her:

“Hello, lady.”

“Hello, Sir”, replied quietly Isabel, smiling back at him. She suggested that they walked along Vitoshka boulevard and she was sure they would find a good restaurant on their way.

“How was your day?” asked Isabel.

“My team returned from Pravets and we had a short meeting and discussed a few things.”

“Is this your first visit to Sofia?”, inquired she.

“I have been here before. But when you travel with a team you really go off the beaten track which means we follow routine: meetings, lunch, meetings, dinner and then we get into our cars and drive back home. It is the first time I have the chance to go sightseeing and be at leisure. It is lovely we have met”, said Taifun and Isabel could not help feeling flattered.

Very much like the previous day the conversation went on fluently and they walked and talked like good friends, each finding something to ask the other one, so they walked and talked until the end of the pedestrian part, from where the famous National palace of Culture could be seen. Then they made a semi-circle and started to come back. At the same time they were looking for a restaurant. There were several options but Isabel didn’t have much experience, so she was relieved when Taifun asked her.

“Do you like Italian food? Nico’s Tratoria is full of people, so it must be a good place.” He suggested. Isabel nodded in agreement. They both turned to be great fans of spaghetti and the famous Tiramisu dessert. Isabel was surprised because she always tried to win her brother over but he always stayed firmly addicted to pizzas. So she was very happy to find a male representative who was not a pizza fan but was just like her – a lover of spaghetti. A small coincidence but it really made Isabel’s heart sing with joy. When it was time to pay she offered to contribute but Taifun said it was out of question. He invited her, so he owed her much. “I have learned so much in the time span of those 2 days about your country and capital, it will be fair to offer you payment. You are an incredibly good tour-guide!”, he added. He paid with a card, something that she was seeing for the first time. But she kept her surprise under control. After all he had travelled a lot, business required it so it was natural to be among the first to have a bank card. After some more walking along Vitosha Boulevard they came to the same café and when Taifun said he would like to have coffee, she accepted the offer willingly. So they turned the corner and entered in the same refined and luxurious atmosphere of the Sheraton café. It was past 4 o’clock and they both needed coffee. Isabel was not tired but she had more questions and it was a good excuse. None of them was in a hurry. They exchanged their phone numbers. She gave him a small souvenir, something he did not expect form a stranger. And Taifun gave her his gold-plated pen. Then at some moment Taifun looked at Isabel more seriously and asked:

“Where would you like life to take you next?” Isabel thought she had not understood his question. So she replied:

“Pardon? I don’t quite understand your question.”

“I like your manners, your fluency in English. Would you like to work for me? “Isabel, I know it may seem too soon, but I like you so much. I can offer you a lot. I am absolutely impressed by you. I can come, speak to your parents….I will give you time to think about it.”

Isabel was flattered, happy, overwhelmed…But she was prejudiced too. So she did not want to inform her family. She decided right then and there.

“I am sorry, Taifun. But my answer is No.”

“If you are afraid, I can understand you”, he said.

“I know you only since 2 days… she said and sighed. Then she thought to herself: If only you were not Turkish … and she went on,

“You can’t understand me, but it is stronger than me. The things from the past…I can’t explain it without hurting your pride and your dignity. Please accept my answer and let us part as friends.”

He stood silent for a while and thought to himself: …’If it was the historical past….she was right. But still she was so gentle, kind and intelligent. But he also had a principle. An offer once made is never repeated again.’ Then he said:

“As you wish. But I will not make you an offer again.”

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