Simone Clarke~ Musings of a Loney Girl Abroad in Paris

By Adler Holt

Simone Clarke, Danielle’s best friend from the steamy Glass Towers Trilogy is now the star of her own series. Simone Clarke, Musings of a Lonely Girl Abroad.

Each novella length book stands alone, as we follow Simone while she travels around the world as an "A" List clothing stylist, LOOKING FOR LOVE, in this fun series. You will also get to hear more about your favorite characters and ones you hate from Glass Towers, as she globe trots and blogs about her antics in each exotic destination!!

Each book is packed with humor, romance, scandal, self reflection and of course a little hanky-panky.

First stop is the ultimate city of romance, Paris, France. Find out what adventures are ahead for the loveable Clarke.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adler Holt
• Release date: May 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301038329

Adler Holt

The author's of Glass Tower Trilogy happen to be two longtime friends, who met in the fashion industry years ago. They currently live in two different states and have co-written multiple pieces together but have not published until now.The inspiration of other successful self-published authors has blazed the trail for Adler and Holt, and has led them to the world of E-Publishing.Thus, The Glass Towers Trilogy was created and much more to follow! Please like our Facebook page for more updates!

Book preview

96

Simone Clarke

Musings of a Lonely Girl Abroad

Paris

By

Adler and Holt

Copyright © 2013 Adler and Holt

Edited by: J. West

Cover Art by Adler and Holt

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Find us:

http://www.simoneclarke.com/

http://www.adlerandholt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/simone.clarke.7165

https://twitter.com/simoneclarkego

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the following word marks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Herve Leger, Google, Missoni, Hotel de Paris, Jimmy Choos, Agatha Christie, Elvis, Viagra, Game of Clue, Facebook, Twitter, Rachel Zoe, Christian Louboutin, Coco Chanel, Lucille Ball, Tim Burton, Bailey’s.

Chapter One

February 28, 2012

Hello dolls!

I know it’s been a while since I have made an entry in this blog! So sorry! A lot has happened since my last musings. YES! I am alive, thank you to everyone who sent me messages inquiring about my well-being. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

I have been in a whirlwind and no signs of slowing down any time soon. So, here is a breakdown of what I have been doing for the last two months, and a glimpse into what’s to come. Since I am playing catch up, please forgive me for making this more chatty than usual!

In mid-December, I flew out to New Jersey to style a shoot for the world famous photographer Ernest Schwartz. The concept was futuristic cowboys…by the way, I did not pick the theme so don’t message me about how stupid it is! Despite the screwball concept, I was all set to work when Ernest came down with the stomach flu. He cancelled the shoot and re-booked me for January. So last month, I get there and he has decided to scrap the futuristic part and go for space cowboy. I made the mistake of asking him Isn’t that just an astronaut? He was not amused.

So, since the original shoot was cancelled I was cleared to head on up to Montreal to join my best friend Dani for Christmas and her wedding. Once I arrived, there was no shortage of excitement and craziness all packed into two amazing weeks. I never thought I would hear myself say this, but I actually love cold weather sports, especially when I have a hunk to wrap his warm arms around me. Speaking of hunks, I know many of you have been asking about Garrin. You will have to wait until later in this entry to hear the full update on him.

After a couple weeks of fun activities like playing at a sexy ski resort and celebrating Christmas in mansions, my best friend’s wedding took center stage. Honestly, the wedding was sweet and full of love, but it was the rehearsal dinner that took the cake. LOL! So get this, Marion the scorned Wine Witch, showed up to the rehearsal dinner wearing Dani’s wedding dress. She stole it from the Towers house. She was drunk out of her gourd and wielding a steak knife around to keep everyone away. All the while, she was admitting publicly that she was behind Dani’s attack back in October. It was a scene straight out of a cheesy soap opera. The highlight of her insanity was when she took the wine bottle she was holding and completely ruined the dress by dumping the red wine all over the front. As if that wasn’t melodramatic enough, my usually rather docile best friend reaches out and slaps Marion on the face…leaving behind a rather substantial red welt. I was freaking stunned and never knew that Dani had it in her. She made me proud.

Right after the resounding slap that had must have been heard around the world, the police stormed the restaurant and hauled her away! I heard later that they took her straight to a loony bin where they are administering ‘mental assistance’. She has been deemed unfit to stand trial so not sure, if she will ever be held responsible for Dani almost dying and all of the other terror she inflicted on her. What a total nut job!

So, once the wedding finally occurred and the reception was over. Garrin and I headed back to his place to finish celebrating the New Year. That was when I told him about my new career opportunity. I had not told him sooner because I was not sure I was going to make career or my burgeoning relationship the priority. As much as I care for him, I know he is not THE ONE. So, I am pursuing my career. We are still very friendly and if I find myself in Montreal, I will certainly look him up to hook up.

You may have noticed I expanded the title of my blog, it used to read Musings of a lonely Girl, but I have added a new twist. My new job with the production company and my increasing success with styling celebrities have necessitated my traveling extensively abroad. So, I decided it was time to change it to Musings of a Lonely Girl Abroad, by Simone Clarke!

As I am writing this piece, I find myself distracted by the view out my window of the Eiffel Tower. Yes friends, I am in the city of love….and I am here solo. Big hefty sigh.

I am attending back-to-back fashion shows, as it is Paris Fashion Week. During the week, I am styling a few of my celebrity clients who are attending the shows. Next week, I have to check out of my luxurious digs and check into Paris’ version of a Holiday Inn. I have no choice in the matter as the production company is paying for my stay. I am heading up the costume department for a period movie set in 1940’s Paris. It’s a love story...imagine that. I am hoping while I am here to see Dani and her mogul, they are touring Europe. After all, the craziness leading up to their wedding on New Years, they are taking some time to travel and just be in love. I am somewhat of a cynic about love, probably because it hasn’t actually found me yet. At the same time, I do believe there is someone out there for a girl like me. I just have to keep my eyes open and my fingers crossed.

Wow! It’s already time to sign off and head out to my first show of the day; it is a new and promising designer Dione Loli. I hear she likes to use inanimate objects as her design inspiration. I can only imagine what I will have to report back to you later.

Ta ta for now!

Clarke

Chapter Two

Whew! I hope that will put a stop the endless emails asking if it was true that I gave it all up and joined a convent. Sheesh, can’t a girl take a hiatus? I never realized just how much my fans loved me.

Now, off to this wackadoo fashion show. I am so not looking forward to the nonsensical designs of this nutty chick. I know she is whack because I watched her being interviewed by a fashion correspondent and all she could do was make faces at the camera instead of answering the questions. I just don’t get avant-garde fashion designers. I mean, who is paying to buy tops with mini birdcages sewn onto it anyway?

I check my look in the mirror one more time to make sure all is in place. I am wearing a smart pair of black cigarette pants, a low-cut white tissue chiffon blouse tucked in with a black and white hounds tooth print jacket, red patent stilettos and a matching red clutch. I am keeping it simple but chic. Oui!

Once I dab on some more lip polish and ruffle my hair to increase the tousled look, I head out to the elevators. I get on and don’t notice anyone else in the elevator as I am distracted by the text message I just got from Garrin. He is not happy about my decision to pursue my new career opportunity. In fact, he claims that he thinks he is falling in love with me. I just know he loves the idea of us. He couldn’t possibly love me because I don’t think I love him. It wouldn’t work if that were the case. I want to experience the kind of love you see in movies or like what Dani and the mogul have. My sidekick Antonio tells me I have unrealistic expectations about love. I don’t agree. However, while I am trying to find love, I plan to have as much fun on the search as I can!

I place my phone back in my purse when I finally realize I am not alone. I turn my head and notice that I am sharing this elevator with a hottie! Well, well, what have we here? Tall, dark and mysterious. As I am about to turn on my charms, the elevator comes to a ragged stop. Darn! Thwarted again!

I tuck my clutch under my arm and wait for the doors to open. And I wait a bit longer, still not open. I look at the hottie behind me who has not seemed to notice we are still waiting for the doors to open. His eyes are still fixed on the illuminated numbers above the doors. I turn back to the panel and hit the open button. Nothing. I hit it again and then again. Still nothing.

I turn to the stranger again and this time he is literally twiddling his thumbs. Seriously?? He is playing with his thumbs and my panic button has been hit?!

Excuse me! Did you notice the doors are not opening? I think we may be stuck!

He smiles and then says in a thick accent that I have no clue the origin, Yes. Be patient.

Be patient? Well, I am not one for being trapped in confined spaces so my patience is due to run out any second now!

I turn back around and begin punching all sorts of buttons. I notice a red button and pull it. Damn it! That is loud! It is possibly the loudest buzzer I have ever had the misfortune of hearing!

The mysterious man reaches around me then pushes the button back again. The buzzing ceases. He then looks down at me and says, Be patient.

Just as I open my mouth to tell him what I think about patience, I hear a simple little ding, and then the doors slowly open. I turn to look at him and he gestures for me to exit. I step out into the bustling lobby and as I turn back to catch a better glimpse of him, he has already disappeared.

Once outside, the cool air really hits me and runs through as a cold current. Oh! I should have worn a heavier over coat! The valet hails me a cab and as I step down to get in, a gust of wind and rain slap me up against my face.

I am barely in the cab when the driver is grunting at me for my destination. Uh hang on! I pull out my notepad with my ticket and tell him to take me to le Jardin des Tuileries Once again he grunts at me, Huh?

Oh seriously? I show him the ticket and he nods and then enunciates it correctly for me. Whatever, it’s not as if I am French.

Excuse me, how long will it take to get there?

About fifteen minutes. He says with an edge of irritation that frankly he needs to lose. I mean really. It’s not as if I asked him to carry me piggyback. This is no way to earn a tip, that’s for sure.

I pull out my compact and am frightened at what is staring back at me. I seriously doubt fifteen minutes will be ample time to repair the damage done to my hair and makeup but I have to try it. I have wavy auburn red hair that is hard to de-frizz in this rain. No matter what product I try, nothing ever works. I should know I live in the Pacific Northwest where I do believe over two-thirds of the year it either rains or is gray and overcast. My best friend Dani is always trying to get me to cut it off to a shorter more sassy length. I like it being midway down my back. It gives me options, and today I should have exercised my option to stick it in a ponytail. I dig around in my clutch to find an elastic band but only come up with red lipstick and powder for my nose and chin. I look at my eyes and at least