Globusz^® Publishing 

The New York flight was long, but incredibly smooth. They moved through customs quickly and met Steve in the arrival lounge. Outside light snow was falling, and Macauley was grateful she’d decided to wear the full-length suede coat James had given her for her last birthday. The soft white puffs kissing her cheeks gave her an incredible lightness of being and she felt a huge weight of guilt lift; replaced with a new excitement of things to come.

Macauley breathed deeply, the icy air bit into her lungs and she resolved to put all thoughts of Annah behind her mind. James was right. The police knew where she was and they would contact her as soon as Annah was found

The next forty-eight hours were packed with business meetings. They met with high-level politicians, corporate presidents, major environmentalists and lobby groups. After a televised press conference they returned to the hotel and fled to the privacy of their room, exhausted, but pumped up with success.

“God I’m sick of looking at people in suits.’ Macauley said, throwing her own jacket on the super sized bed that dominated their room. “Whether they’re top designer numbers, or ready-mades, they all look the same. After a while a room full of suits melt into an angry navy and grey sea topped with pink foam.”

James laughed, “Let’s treat ourselves to the theatre tonight.” He said, walking to the mini bar. “We’ll go somewhere really posh so we can dress up like celebrities.” He grinned and mixed them drinks.

“Great idea.”

“What would you like to see?”

“I have no idea what’s on.”

“I’ll check with reception, they’ll know all the best shows’ he held out her drink, “We’ll have dinner at the best restaurant in town, then take off to a first class theatre, and when we get back we’ll play strip poker, or anything else you fancy.”

“Strip Poker, you’ve got to be kidding. I’m sure I can come up with something better than that’, she bent down, she removed one of her shoes and pitched it at him. “Tell you what, I’ll have a nice hot bath while you sort out the front desk, then choose something for me to wear. Don’t tell me where we’re going, just take me there.” Macauley gave him a quick bear hug, “and just in case you forgot, today is our first anniversary. We’ve been dating now for a whole year.’ she winked at him, plucked a rose from a vase and did a Rumba across the room and went into the bathroom. James smiled and thought how good it was to see her looking happy again. Look out lady, you might just bite off more than you can chew.’

“O.K. time’s up. You’ve been in there long enough to wash an elephant.’ James said holding out a towel and motioning her to get out of the tub. He looked down at her Macauley. She was neck deep in bubbles; in one of the deepest baths he’d ever seen.

The room was like something you’d find in a stately British mansion. There was gold leaf trim on all the doors; ornate taps; marble tiles on the walls and floor, with matching columns reaching an incredibly high ceiling. “This place is amazing. It’s like something I’d expect to find in England, not in New York.” Macauley said, taking the towel from him.

He laughed, “You know, for a hot shot researcher you sometimes get your facts pretty scrambled. Don’t you know New York has some of the finest examples of Classical architecture in the world? And if you think this is something, then just you wait till you see the place I’m taking you to tonight.”

“Stop gaping; you look like a tourist.”

“I am a tourist, well tonight I am anyway. I want to drink it all in and enjoy every moment.’ She pointed to the ornate ceiling, “God, just look at that. Isn’t it marvellous?”

“Come on Macauley can’t you just pretend you’re a sophisticated woman. You never know whom we’ll run into here at the opera house. Come along, try to play it cool.’

Macauley bowed formally, her long silk gown cascading onto the thick carpet, “You old hypocrite’, she whispered, “you’ve become a real show pony; prancing around in your finery to impress the passing parade. And to think I thought you were a genuine Aussie bloke; you’re just a bloody snob at heart.”

“Never! I don’t give a damn about what people think.” To prove his point he kissed her passionately in full view of all the other operagoers. “Now who’s embarrassed?” he said leading led her up the stairs.

Macauley sighed and rolled on her side, “This has been a wonderful night. I’m so happy.” James passed her a red wine and lay down beside her, and listened as the soft strains of Vivaldi filled the air. “You know this is exactly the lifestyle I’ve been so scornful of, and here I am, lapping it up, and just loving it.” Macauley said, breaking the mood.

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing I guess, but it does make me question the validity of my own values.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve always believed my lifestyle is exactly how we humans are meant to live; anything else is pretentious and elitist.’

“And now you’re questioning that?’

“A little. You know me James; you understand where I’m coming from. I’ve always thought that simple living is best; when we want too much we’re headed for disaster. Wanting more is usually a barrier to fulfilment.’ She propped herself up on her arm, “How can we ever know our life purpose if we’re never satisfied.’ She rolled onto her back, “God, we’ve talked about this so often and you’ve always agreed that the trappings of wealth often brings people unstuck.’

She sat up suddenly and rubbed a pillow in his face, “But here in this wildly opulent hotel, after an opera and meal that cost a small fortune, I’m reassessing my values.’ She smiled weakly, “Can you guess where this is heading?’ James shook his head, “I’m admitting to myself that it feels good. I like being here; there is no inner conflict.’ She flopped back on the bed, “the scary thing is that I know how easily this could become the norm.’ She shivered, “but it makes me feel like a complete phoney.”

“I disagree. Just because you enjoy a change in lifestyle, that doesn’t make you a social deviate, devoid of social ethics.” He groaned, realising the conversation had moved into hard ground. He knew they would debate the rights and wrongs of western civilisation and its affect on developing nations. He swallowed a mouthful of claret, let the small velvet box fall to the floor and tried to come to terms with the fact that the evening was not going to end the way he’d planned.

When they were checking out, the hotel manager told them there was an urgent call for Macauley. As she picked up the reception desk phone a chill passed through her whole body. She took a deep breath and said, “Hello, this is Macauley Gray speaking.” James didn’t need to hear what the caller was saying; he could see from Macauley’s face the news was bad.