Latin N' Satin

By Herbert Howard Jones

AS A REPORTER FOR CHANNEL 742, ANNA MILNE REALLY WAS AT THE TOP OF HER GAME.
She travelled the world, interviewed the rich and famous and attended all the fashionable parties. From the outside she was a much admired and envied attractive young woman who was really going places. But people who knew her, realised that the one thing she lacked was a stable relationship.

Her significant other, Frank was a likeable enough rough and ready character, but he lacked her class. He was older than her and unfortunately, liked to play the field. He was also inclined to get into trouble with the law which had the effect of putting Anna in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Luckily, she was like ‘Teflon’ and nothing bad had so far stuck to her! In fact, Frank’s somewhat nefarious lifestyle seemed to boost her image and make her more fascinating to the viewers of Channel 742!

But as far as ‘on and off’ relationships go, this one was a loser. Frank had nothing to offer her except long spells of absence, and when he did turn up, very often it was to ask her for money. But this was something she was used to, as she shared an apartment in Cannes with her mother and footed all the living expenses and frequently subsidised her. What her mother did with her own little bit of income from investments was a mystery!

However, Anna wasn’t really concerned about that - she was bitten by the travel bug and was glad of the opportunity to go and meet famous hunky playboy Miguel Cortez at his villa in Monaco to interview him for Channel 742. He was hosting his annual charity event on his large estate which involved inviting locals and celebrities and providing a funfair-like venue complete with stalls, 5-star street food, a circus tent, circus animals and access to a private beach! Plus, there was a chance to go for a short trip on his yacht to one of the glamorous local tourist spots. Not to mention the opportunity to get a close-up glimpse of his collection of classic cars. It would last three days, and to Anna sounded like fun. As far as assignments went, this one really did appeal to her.

The host, drop-down-dead-gorgeous Miguel Cortez, however, had a reputation of being a womaniser extraordinaire, and women were known to fall down at his feet in a swoon! But this was no doubt more to do with the strong drink he would ply them with! However, right from the off, Anna is attracted to him, although she knows she isn’t the first one, and would probably be behind a queue of endless females who had other ideas; such as trapping him into marriage or tricking him into giving them money.

It is also clear to her that he is not above telling a yarn or two about himself and appears to be a practised liar, who might have been living a lie his whole life! When Anna tries to get to know the real Miguel Cortez, she is confronted with one story after another. Even his mysterious manservant, Antonio maintains a pretence which is baffling. Clearly, there is a side to this playboy’s life which he wants to keep hidden. In fact, there appears to be a carefully protected secret which Anna’s reporter’s instinct wants to uncover.

However, despite this, he is popular locally and is part of Monaco’s celebrity circuit which for several days Anna will have a glimpse into. But at what point will professional curiosity evolve into something more meaningful? Will Anna’s carefully controlled attractions for this man actually turn into text-book love? Despite her natural resolve not to be taken for a naïve idiot, is she weak enough to fall for him? To put it another way, is this just a mere physical attraction or is there something more substantial to Miguel Cortez which makes him worthy in her eyes? She will find out in the next few days!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Herbert Howard Jones
• Release date: Sep 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005206420

Herbert Howard Jones

HERBERT HOWARD JONES grew up in Notting Hill, London in the sixties. He went to a boarding school in Norfolk and then local schools including Sloane School where crime writer John Creasy attended near the King's Road. When he left school he got numerous jobs, including as a porter at the BBC London, working as a jewellery assembler in a factory in Hatton Garden and also in a number of roles at a showbiz solicitor's office where he was a trainee legal executive and ran errands for a few of the British movie and music names of the time.He is a creative spirit who also likes dabbling in music and art himself. When he was in the jewellery business he personally made over ten thousand 14 carat gold gate bracelets which was a great learning experience for him. However, he was more interested in media and always wanted to write suspense books with a melodramatic element and so spent years reading them and working on various projects. He is also interested in romantic and fantasy fiction.But meeting people has always inspired him the most and he has had the good fortune to meet quite a few interesting people. He was personally friends with horror writer, Denis Wheatley's housekeeper when she lived in Blackheath, and knew poet John Pudney who lived nearby before he passed. One of the most interesting people that he met was the daughter of the Captain of the Titanic with whom he had tea in her cottage up in Suffolk. Miss Smith was a lady with a big personality and a very interesting home. She was surrounded with Titanic memorabilia wherever you looked. Jones was only a boy at the time and didn't appreciate the significance of all this stuff, but regrets not quizzing her on the catastrophic event which has forever featured large in shipping folklore!PERSONAL MESSAGE:I WANT TO EXPRESS my gratitude to readers who have bothered to download my books. I put a lot of effort into them and also design my own covers, and so it is a wonderful reward to get a download. Every author on this platform will be grateful for them because writing can be a lonely and thankless task. It is only the reader who makes it all worth while, and so thanks very much again.HHJ

Book preview

Latin ‘n Satin

Herbert Howard Jones

Copyright © Herbert Howard Jones 2020

The right of Herbert Howard Jones to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

This is a work of fiction. Opinions expressed in this book do not necessarily reflect the author’s own views.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Cover by Herbert Howard Jones

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

About the author

Other projects

Cover details

Chapter One

The villa in Monaco looked lovely in her eyes, but tanned, shapely redhead Anna Milne didn’t want it to be an excuse to put on weight. There was a danger she might in a residence like this, and its owner Miguel Cortez was known to use it like a spider’s web, trapping the unwary.

According to rumour, if you were a vulnerable female, he would soften you up, break your heart into a thousand pieces and then discard you when he got bored. That was what Anna had heard and it was not what she planned for herself. So she was determined to be guarded at all times. But it was curiosity as well as her professional commitment which drove her on. She was here on assignment as a reporter to interview Mr Cortez and she had mixed feelings about it.

She had heard all the warnings about the man, and it was these which intrigued her. He was supposed to be a lothario like no other. But then, Anna thought, he hasn’t met me yet! He may be rich, handsome, charming and a renowned gambler known throughout the casinos of Monte Carlo, but he was still just another man.

But as she sat at the steering wheel of her light blue Porsche 911 outside the luxurious villa in St Roman, Monaco, she was a touch nervous. Nothing major, because she had met a ton of celebrities in her work as a reporter. Indeed, she was currently contracted to French news channel, Sept Quatre Deux (742), based in Cannes, which was just down the road. However, she had seen a number of tv interviews with Miguel Cortez and he was a bit intimidating. He had a range of business interests and had recently launched his own brand of white wine, called Monte Blanc Parfait. Among other things, she was here to talk about that, and the charity fete that he was hosting on his estate that very weekend.

His villa was on a large piece of land on which he grew white acidy grapes and yet managed to harvest his wine from those. Incredibly, the wine was selling well all over the continent and was an interesting side-line for a gambler. It supplemented his other activities and hobbies, one of which was collecting adoring women and his arms were always being graced by one beauty or another.

Anna knew she was a good looking female and he was bound to try to lure her to the bedroom. In fact, practically any man worth his salt had tried it on her and usually failed. However, Miguel Cortez reputation was par excellence as far as women were concerned and he could ‘pull them’ like no other.

She had even heard that he had never failed to work his charm and they had all fallen like dominoes into his arms. Well, she wasn’t a domino, she reminded herself. She didn’t even like being too near men as a rule. As far as she was concerned, they all needed a good shower for the most part! For Miguel Cortez to succeed in taking her to bed, she would have to be either dead drunk, or dead silly. And silly was not a word she would describe herself as.

In addition, she had never had a proper boyfriend or significant other in the conventional sense. There was a man in her life, Frank, but he was always off somewhere, as was she. Her love and her passion was mainly for her work as a reporter. She also liked meeting exotic people and developing her circle of contacts but hooking up with men played little part.

If Mr Cortez or Senor Cortez, whatever he liked to call himself, tried to smooth talk her, he would have another thing coming. He would soon learn what a refusal was!

She had got out of her car, rang the funny old bell at the gate and was given admittance. She hesitatingly climbed back into her car and slowly drove up the drive to the villa. Then she saw them – some of the famed collection of Bentleys parked at the side of the property. Miguel Cortez was famous for having so many. She nodded to herself in admiration but there was no sight of Senor Cortez himself – yet.

Normally she would come with a small tv crew of two, a camera man and a sound man, but she had simply brought her own camcorder. This was because she only wanted a half hour interview with the man as a filler for a documentary on French wines. To facilitate this she had been invited to stay for three days at the villa, which to her seemed a bit excessive. She climbed out of her Porsche and removed her camera bag from the tiny backseat of her car, when a voice said, ‘Beautiful, a sight like that makes me want to cry!’ It was handsome Senor Miguel Cortez himself.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she replied knowing that he was probably referring to some aspect of her figure. She looked at him and was astonished at how good-looking the man was in the flesh. Photography didn’t do him justice. He appeared to be the incarnation of every handsome movie star it was possible to imagine bundled up in one man. His smile would have devastated any female audience.

For several seconds she just stared at him taking in his classical manly contours; all wrapped up like a box of chocolates in a dark brown elegant jacket and trousers. Gold jewellery adorned his neck wrists and hands. His face was also perfectly tanned underneath a head of dazzling blonde hair, rakishly pushed back and yet falling perfectly into place.

He was clearly used to be stared at, and so he stared back running his eyes over her toned figure in an approving way. She was wearing an expensive but simple one-piece cream dress which allowed air to circulate on this hot day. She imagined that he was probably already making plans for her.

‘You’re actually five minutes early, Miss Milne,’ he said with a smile, his accent strong and daring.

Despite herself she could feel a warmth rising up inside her and tried to dismiss it from her mind. ‘Better early than late. I have never been late for anything,’ she declared.

He nodded. ‘Good. Actually, I’m a big fan of yours.’

She nodded. ‘You’re too kind Senor Cortez,’ she replied even though she thought his remark was slightly disingenuous.

‘I would not have agreed to this interview if they were going to send anyone else,’ he said. ‘I don’t like that Marie, who does the sports sometimes…what’s her name?’

‘Marie Rixi,’ Anna said. ‘She’s now our editor come producer, a Parisian with a big mouth. She said I should give you some advice!’

His face broke into a wide smile. ‘About what?’

‘That it’s time you settled down.’

He came closer to her, his expensive cologne strong in the heat of the midday sun. ‘Just say the word baby! Just kidding!’ He laughed out loud.

She held out her hand. ‘Well, at least we’ve been introduced.’

He took her hand and shook it gallantly. His grip was like a body builder’s, but his palms were perfectly dry. It was the handshake of a virile man. ‘Yes, and I sincerely hope you will stay for a few days and take in my little vineyard, plus there is a white beach just over that hill there.’

‘Alas, I’m sensitive to the sun,’ she replied.

‘Don’t worry, we’ve got some great sunblock!’ he said with a smile.

Anna’s heartbeat went up a tick at the thought of parading herself before him on a beach in the sparkling sun. But it wasn’t why she was here. She frowned; he was moving to fast and getting away from the point, which was to get a good interview. Playing with the playboy wasn’t on the agenda.

But despite her high intentions and firm resolve, she had to admit to being tempted by his offer but only in an academic way. If it came to it, she would be ready to refuse him because she never mixed business with pleasure. In fact, she rarely had pleasure at all; with her it was business all the way.

‘So can I offer you a drink?’ he said with an endearing smile.

She nodded. ‘I could use a drink, but let you assure you that is the only thing I could use.’

He frowned and then smiled again. ‘Ah, I see what you mean! My reputation truly has gone before me. You have heard that I admire women and have lots of girlfriends.’

‘Rumours do circulate!’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘So I gather!’ He smiled again but Anna could see that the smile, charming as it was, lacked warmth and came from a cold calculating heart.

She pursed her lips. Already he was trying to reel her into his web. ‘But of course, I’m here strictly on business!’

He nodded and shrugged. ‘Hmm, perhaps I should have granted this interview to that other channel?’ Then he laughed. ‘I’m just kidding! No business is fine; I love business.’

She wrinkled her forehead. If she didn’t moderate her tone just a little the interview might end up being a damp squid. ‘What I mean is, I like to get as much in as possible.’

‘I like your turn of phrase,’ he replied with a wink.

She went red but it was hard to detect under her tan. ‘You know what I mean.’

He nodded. ‘Indeed I do. So where would you like to start? With a nice cool glass of vino I bet?’

‘Your own brand, I presume,’ she said.

‘But of course. Where’s your baggage? If you’re staying for a few days, where is your stuff, your bags and whatever?’

‘All in the boot, I’ll bring them in later,’ she replied with a smile.

‘As you wish, or I’ll get Antonio to bring them in for you.’

Anna laughed. ‘You rich guys always seem to have a flunky called Antonio. I bet he’s a bit of a hunk too.’

Miguel Cortez’s eyes almost jumped out of their sockets. ‘Antonio? A hunk? Wait to you see him.’

Anna nodded and Miguel led the way up the steps of the cream coloured villa. Anna took in the relaxed but rich ambience of the place which would have suited her nicely if she had a spare million or two. ‘Lovely place.’

He smiled as he walked slightly ahead. ‘My view from here is also nice,’ he said staring at her chest.

Anna tried to keep business-like, but it was obvious that he was already sizing her up. She wished that she had worn something a little less skimpy. ‘I was under the impression your villa was pink,’ she said.

‘Pink!’ he said in jocular outrage. ‘Pink! No, actually you’re right it was, pinkish, but I had it repainted last year. The old colour offended my neighbours.’

Anna smiled at his joke.

They climbed the seven or eight broad steps into the large open plan building and a serving woman in a black and white uniform greeted her with a smile. ‘No bags madam?’

‘Tell Antonio to go get them and to get madam’s car keys,’ Miguel said.

The serving woman disappeared. Miguel gave Anna a long steady look. ‘I am trying to figure out what a beautiful modern woman like you would drink, other than my wine.’

‘Perrier?’ she replied.

‘Is that what you were drinking at that bash, the one featured in all those glossy magazines?’ he enquired.

‘You mean at Rio Kline’s birthday party?’ she asked with a frown. Rio Kline was a famous fashion model who frequently threw very expensive parties in amazing locations. Anna had been invited to cover the event.

‘No, I meant after that horrible court hearing – the murder trial,’ he said. ‘And you had a reception afterwards and it was all in the papers and magazines!’

Anna was shocked that he knew about this and thought it insensitive of him to bring it up. It had been an embarrassing event in a dark period of her life. Her on-off boyfriend, Frank had been acquitted of all the terrible charges that had been brought against him and they celebrated in a hotel. Unfortunately it was photographed by the national press. But that was a good few years back. Was Miguel trying to establish a hold over her already? ‘You asked what was I drinking?’ she said stumbling over her words. ‘I can’t remember.’

‘It was terrible,’ he said looking her in the eyes. ‘What happened, the whole thing. Bad for your career I would say!’

She shrugged wanting to change the subject. ‘Stuff happens.’ Taking a deep breath she looked around the plush interior of the villa. Everything was black and white veined marble and gold. ‘Lovely place,’ she repeated.

He nodded and led her through to a lounge to a long semi-circular couch in front of a huge window. ‘I expect something like that is hard to forget,’ Miguel said.

She gave him a sharp look. Was he still going on about it? No, she would never forget the upset that the incident had caused and the trial and the press attention. But her boyfriend Frank had been found innocent of the murder he was accused of. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a case of mistaken identity, a common thing apparently. But it was a wonder that the French media networks still employed her services.

What was true, was that the relationship with Frank had been an unhappy one and he had often verbally assaulted her in drug-fuelled rages. The relationship just couldn’t last. It accounted for some mental scars which would never go away.

Miguel stared at her. ‘As I say, something like that is hard to forget about.’

She nodded wanting to change the subject. ‘Look I’m here to talk about you not me!’

He bade her to sit down while he went to a small bar and made their drinks which he brought over. ‘So you were talking about my reputation,’ he said.

‘No, I think you were,’ she said with a smile taking her wine. She gave it a sip. It tasted like strong but cheap champagne. ‘Hmm.’

‘You like?’ he said sitting next to her.

‘Yes,’ she replied but she wasn’t being entirely truthful.

‘And it suits you,’ he said observing her. ‘You look the part, a beautiful woman sipping white wine in a fine villa!’

‘I appreciate your kind remarks,’ she said.

‘No I mean it,’ he said his eyes rivetted on her cleavage. ‘Your beauty is an adornment to this house. I think a life-sized portrait of you on that wall would be just perfecto!’

She glanced at the St Christopher around his neck. ‘You’re very famous for your kind compliments to the ladies. Alberto Motti, a famous friend, said I’d need to watch you if I ever met you!’

‘You know Mr Motti?’ Miguel said surprised.

‘I interviewed him only the other month,’ she answered. ‘A wonderful artist. His work reminded me of the enigmatic and powerful work of a young Dali. Now that is what I call art!’

‘I adore his large canvases,’ Miguel said. ‘I really need to do some more art investing.’

She smiled. ‘Yes.’

‘So what else did Alberto say?’

‘Mr Motti gave me some advice,’ she said. ‘He said you are cunning and only after one thing, so if I ever stay overnight, I need to put a chair under the handle of the door!’

Miguel laughed as if it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. ‘He’s terrible! Well guess what, – he’s here, as one of my guests, but don’t worry I won’t quote you!’

Anna gulped. Alberto, here? He did tend to pop up when she least expected him. ‘Oh dear!’

Miguel patted her arm. ‘Don’t worry.’

Anna nodded and sighed as she studied Miguel’s fine almost Grecian-like profile which was worthy of any sculptor. She could see that he had never had a skin blemish in his life. ‘I hope Alberto is wrong about you,’ she said.

‘He’s always wrong!’ Miguel said with a funny expression on his face. ‘But I might make an exception in your case and climb through your bedroom window tonight!’ he laughed loudly again.

‘I hope not!’ She studied his radiant smile and the rubious red of his lips. The man was just too good-looking for his own good. She focussed on his eyes, originally thinking they were brown. But she could see a hint of green in them like a pair of dark emeralds. He moved his body subtly nearer to her on the couch and she held her breath.

‘If I were an artist, I think you would be my muse,’ he said.

Anna nodded again. He was coming on a tad too strongly. She wanted to talk about his collection of Bentleys. ‘Thank you.’

‘But,’ he said. ‘You are too classy for the likes of me!’ He stated this with almost a sad expression.

‘Too classy? Me?’ she said. ‘I’m from the back streets, senor, well practically!’

‘I like your jokey modesty,’ he said. ‘But such beauty as you possess could never belong to a man like me.’

‘Oh, right,’ she replied. She wasn’t going to argue with him. It was a relief that he had reached this conclusion so early on in the game.

‘Therefore, contrary to what you may have heard about me, you can relax,’ he said told her.

Anna took a sip of her cool wine. ‘To be honest, I did initially turn down this assignment because of what people were saying.’

‘People!’ he said in alarm. ‘First it was Motti and now it’s people!’

‘You know what I mean, the gossipers that you get in my profession,’ she explained. But, she thought, at least I’m safe for now.

‘Well I’m glad you agreed to do the assignment after all,’ he replied. ‘And you don’t have to put a chair under the doorknob.’

She shook her head. ‘Of course not.’

‘As if I would take such liberties!’ he said.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable Anna took another sip of her wine and noted that Miguel had already finished his. The turn of conversation had been largely an awkward for her as he was touching on a funny subject. For a second or two her mind drifted.

Her experience with men had always been varied but quite limited at the same time. Opportunities had been there, though she had always shrunk away from them. But still, it amused her that he didn’t consider her worthy of pursuit or whatever that phrase was that he used? About having the kind of beauty he couldn’t possess? Now what kind of an old fashioned, out of touch remark was that? Perhaps he simply wasn’t attracted to her.

If she was honest with herself, she was definitely attracted to him from the off. Or was it simply the weather making her feel warm in his company? Normally the smooth Spanish types didn’t appeal to her, but this one was different.

He had a likeable quality about him which was almost hidden under his fiercely handsome exterior. It would have been an interesting challenge to see how he would have attempted to seduce her. Would he start with the wine and sweet talk, like he was doing now? Perhaps he was already doing it in plain sight? He might be cunningly trying to put her off guard.

However, he did have a reputation and his cunning might be part of the secret of his success with women. It was claimed in various quarters that he had bedded over three thousand women! But surely there weren’t enough hours in the day.

There had even been a billionaire’s daughter who attempted suicide when she was thrown over, not to mention a well-known Egyptian singer. Bloody fools, Anna thought. Miguel is a catch but not that great a catch.

At that moment, an older man shuffled into the room wearing a t-shirt and shorts. It turned out to be Antonio, not the hunk she had anticipated. ‘I’ve come for madam’s suitcase,’ he said.

‘Ah, Antonio, let’s all take a walk back to her car and get the lady’s stuff. Actually, I’d like to take the car around the block if that’s okay? I’m terribly fond of Porsches. Particularly the 911 range.’

Anna got to her feet relieved the awkward initial meeting was over. ‘It would be my pleasure Senor Cortez.’

‘Miguel please! Antonio get madam’s bags please.’

Miguel let her go ahead of him and they went back out to her car. The vehicle was not locked, and Antonio removed her luggage and camera bag from the cramped rear seat. Anna took the camcorder bag.

‘Would you kindly show Miss Anna to her room, where she’ll be staying for a few days,’ Miguel said. ‘Meanwhile, I’ll just take the car for a little spin if that’s okay?’

Anna handed him the keys and he climbed into the driver’s seat like an excited schoolboy. He started the ignition and drove the car noisily around in a cloud of dust and then down the long drive and out onto the main road. For a second, Anna had a moment of doubt. But for a man who owned a huge collection of Bentleys, driving a little Porsche would not be a problem.

‘This way, madam,’ Antonio said as he led her back into the villa. He was holding her considerably large suitcase. ‘Staying for a few days I understand?’ he asked.

‘A week at most,’ she answered.

Antonio led the way upstairs. ‘He’s a sly one!’ he suddenly said.

Anna was shocked that Miguel’s manservant could be so forward with her. ‘Oh,’ she answered.

‘No woman