Page 79 of One Night in Edinburgh

At 6:30 p.m., we step out of a taxi onto the tarmac outside the front entrance of the hotel. As it’s still light, and this time we’re not bustling around dealing with pre-event details and issues, we’re able to take in the full grandness of the experience. We gaze up at the impressive entryway, flanked by two tall turrets stretching into the clear blue sky. They make me think of Rapunzel for some reason and I find myself wondering who looked out of those windows in the centuries before. Probably wealthy Scottish aristocracy rather than prisoners.

‘How’s about this then?’ Anna’s in her element. ‘Sorry, Steph, I know you’re not a selfie girl, but this is a definite Insta moment. Come on.’

‘Oh no. Please, Anna. I’m not feeling—’

‘Rubbish.This is for a good cause. Might get us some extra donations.’ She yanks me into the frame she’s already set up on her phone camera and does one of her signature poses, while I attempt a natural smile.

‘How bad is it?’ I wince in anticipation, not really relishing being plastered across her social media.

‘Beautiful.’ She shows me the picture, which I have to admit is quite attractive, with the combination of us being all glammed up and the way the evening sun makes the hotel façade even more majestic and alluring.

‘I actually look all right in that.’

‘You look gorgeous, hon. Don’t let that man wreck your confidence.’ She taps away at her phone finishing off her post, commentating as she goes, ‘Two belles off to the ball. Raising money to give disadvantaged young people the future they deserve. #bignightout. #pleasedonate.’

‘Ooh, I quite like that.’ I clap my hands together excitedly. ‘Imagine if some big celebrity saw it and made a massive pledge.’

‘That’s exactly what I’m hoping for. Shall we go in?’

‘Sure.’ I’m almost reluctant to leave the fresh air and the warmth of the evening sun, but duty calls.

We walk inside and wave to the receptionists whom we’ve gotten to know a little during our previous venue visits, then we take the long corridor into the modern extension where the function room is. As we enter, we gasp with delight. The clinical feel the place had while we were doing the preparations has been replaced by a magical atmosphere, with stunning decor and mood lighting that subtly switches through a spectrum of colours.

‘Wow. This place looks incredible. The hotel staff have done a brilliant job.’ I gaze around the room at the perfectly set white clothed tables with their modern centrepieces and the uniformly dressed chairs.

Unfortunately, the romance of this scene kicks my mind into an unhelpful gear and takes me off down the path of what a perfect wedding venue this would be – and unsurprisingly, all my previous daydreams about Jamie swiftly follow suit. Seems the part of my brain that deals with elaborate fantasies didn’t get the memo that we’ve broken up. I do my best to banish these thoughts from my mind, but not quickly enough to stop them putting a dampener on the whole experience.

‘Put him out of your mind.’ Anna gives me a supportive nudge. ‘This will be your venue for when you meet Mr Amazing. He’ll come, Steph. And when he does, you’ll wonder why you ever gave Jamie so much of your energy.’

‘I know.’ I give a melancholic smile. ‘Just got caught off guard. I’ll go and set up the auction table to distract myself.’

I trot across the huge room, weaving my way between the large tables at which our regular donors and other guests will be sitting in just under an hour’s time. As I reach the front of the room where the AV system is set up, Lizzie bustles through a side door looking incredibly busy. It never ceases to amaze me how she never slows down, not even when everything is perfectly under control. There’s little reason for us to be here this early, other than to set up the prize table and support her.

‘Ah, Steph, you’re here… oh,look at you…’ She stops momentarily and clasps her hands together with delight. ‘You’re stunning.’

‘Thank you. You look beautiful, too.’ I eye her perfectly styled chignon, which has clearly been done in a salon, and her scarlet A-line dress. ‘Shame we don’t have more excuses to dress up like this, eh?’

‘Perhaps we should manufacture a few more opportunities.’ She gives me a little wink. ‘Would you be a love and set up the auction table for me?’

‘Sure. Was already on it.’

‘Wonderful, thank you. Make sure the best items are most visible – especially the ones that offer something that you can’t easily buy. I want our guests salivating over them.’ She looks around the room anxiously, checking nothing is out of place. ‘OK, I’ll leave you to it and get back to checking the food.’

I smile at Lizzie. There’s really no need to check on the food. That’s the hotel’s job. I imagine they’re probably having a challenging time trying to keep her out of the kitchen.

‘Oh, a couple of things before I go.’ She turns back to me. ‘I’m sorry to hear about your breakup. I know you’re upset, but from what Anna tells me, that man sounded like trouble. Seems you’ve had a lucky escape.’

‘Thanks.’ I force an appreciative smile.

‘Also, how would you feel about running the auction? That would free me up to work the room and give my time to our most important donors.’

‘Um… OK, sure. I think I can manage that.’

I immediately feel a nervous swirling in my stomach at the idea of standing up and presenting in front of about two hundred people – two hundred rich and important people.

‘You’re an angel, Steph.’ Lizzie places a grateful hand on my upper arm. ‘Get that voice of yours warmed up and have a practice before the guests arrive. You might want to throw in a little humour while you’re welcoming them.’

‘Wait a minute… you said you wanted me to do the auction, not MC the whole event.’

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