24 The Bridlington - Original Story By Stephanie Poppins

Hello and welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

A romantic bedtime podcast guaranteed to help you drift off into a calm and restful sleep.

Come with me as we travel into the heart of the Bridlington Hotel,

The most prestigious enterprise on the coast of East Riding.

Meet the characters as they go about their everyday lives,

Albeit amongst scandal and intrigue.

Not a day goes past at the Bridlington without something happening.

But before we begin,

Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose.

That's it.

Then let it out on a long sigh.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing and nowhere you need to go.

This is your time.

Feel your shoulders melt away from your ears.

Feel the pressure seep away from your cheeks.

And let all the muscles in your face relax.

As you sink into the support beneath you,

Let the pressures of the day seep away.

The Bridlington.

A series set in an English hotel.

Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins.

Episode 24 The morning sun filtered through the grand windows of the Bridlington Hotel,

Catching in its rays the latest Art Deco armoire delivered direct from France earlier that week.

Thanks only to James Brighton and the rejigging of the maintenance budget,

Now the lobby was beginning to recapture that sparkle it had lost when Harold Cunningham was running the show.

James knew only too well the role of hotel manager came with much responsibility,

But he took it all in his stride.

It was as though he was born for the job.

He stood erect,

Front and centre,

Admiring it all.

This little world of his was gleaming with old money and new aspirations,

A testament to a bygone era of seaside grandeur.

How he loved it every second.

It would take a lot to change that.

He glanced over at the only remaining spanner in the works,

Constance Delaware.

But she was the orangery's problem now.

Their staff could pet and please her,

Run her errands and walk her dog.

The days of him doing that were long gone.

He glanced behind him at Emily.

She was catching up with Jean in the back office.

In recent weeks,

Housekeeping had had a makeover,

And James wanted reassurance it was running more smoothly than it had done when Petra Petrovsky was at the helm.

She had been getting away with abusing and undermining her team for too long,

But now he was happy to say she was gone.

Given the boot,

As Joe would say.

How terrified he had been when he found out.

Having worked for the Petrovskys himself,

He knew firsthand how ruthless they could be.

They wouldn't be happy about their golden girl being relieved from her position.

But James was quick to reassure his friend.

He was hotel manager now,

And putting up with any threats was not something he was prepared to do.

Besides which,

He had the public on his side.

They loved him.

They trusted him,

And he was in the paper every week.

His following had blown up on social media,

And according to popular belief,

James Brighton was now the Bridlington.

And the Bridlington was James Brighton.

It wasn't in anyone's interest to compromise him,

Was it?

Didn't the Petrovskys rely on the success of the Bridlington as much as anyone else?

James allowed himself a small smile.

As long as he remained in the hotel or its vicinity,

He was about as safe as he could get.

He brushed down his new boss suit,

And cast an eye over the proceedings.

It was going to be a good day.

There was a meeting at twelve,

Then lunch with chef,

Interviews for lobby staff in the afternoon,

And his favourite horse was running in the five o'clock.

But wait,

What was this?

It was none other than Jefferson Bailey,

Pushing his way through the revolving doors,

Gucci bag swinging,

Sunglasses clinging.

Oh my god,

What on earth is he doing here?

Mr Bailey,

Welcome back to the Bridlington.

James beamed,

His professional smile just one element of a perfectly executed performance.

Nice to see you,

And how can we help?

The penthouse,

Bailey replied,

And a bottle of Bollinger on ice.

His faint smile spoke a thousand words.

The man was distracted.

There was something going on.

I'll just take a look for you.

James made his way to reception,

Checking that Emily could see what he could.

And sure enough,

After her momentary shock,

She composed herself,

Opened the door to the back office and declared loudly,

Mr Bailey,

How nice.

Emily's ex looked ill amused.

Really?

Emily stared.

Jeff's face was a picture of humility.

Surely not.

It couldn't be,

Could it?

Big gig this week at the seafront.

He began.

Need to be well rested,

You know.

Can't have the old reflexes failing me when I'm mixing.

James smiled to himself,

And Emily gave him a soft dig.

On your own some then,

Jeff.

No ball and chain.

He's working,

Interceded James.

Your posters are all over the town,

Aren't they?

I've heard the pavilion attracts quite a crowd.

Merck's work,

Said Jefferson Bailey coldly.

James gestured to the new porter.

Davis will take your bags up.

Breakfast is served till 1030 if you need anything at all.

Just peace and quiet,

Bailey returned.

And what's all this I hear about you?

You're quite the legend now.

Regular James Bond.

Nothing without my money penny,

James quipped,

Pulling Emily in close.

Bailey looked at Emily for the first time since the night before his wedding to Jemima Charlson May.

Questioning his life choices,

I suppose,

She mused.

She made his eyes sympathetically and knew she'd had a fortunate escape from that one.

But she was a gentle soul at heart and wished him no harm.

James,

Meanwhile,

Tapped away and within seconds secured the best suite available.

It's all yours.

Credit card,

Please,

He said,

Holding out his hand.

Bailey handed him a card embossed with his wife's name.

She doesn't trust him with her money then,

Thought Emily.

And I don't blame her.

The limit on that card will only just cover it.

Just the one night then,

James quipped.

He was no fool.

Yep,

One night's enough when you party like I do.

Emily smirked audibly and they both turned to face her.

Well,

Nothing changes,

Does it,

Jeff?

She said.

And Bailey turned on his heel and left abruptly for the lift without looking back.

I'm not judging him,

She reassured James when he was out of earshot.

Jemima's such a cow.

A marriage of convenience is all she deserves.

But I get the feeling all's not quite sunshine and roses with the newlyweds.

I wonder if she's found out.

East Riding is a small place.

James felt a familiar prickle at the back of his neck.

He hated these kind of conversations.

But Emily had been on the wrong side of Jefferson Bailey one too many times.

Both him and her mother.

So she got a free pass.

He turned away slowly looking for a distraction but this was not what he had in mind.

Constance Delaware had emerged from the orangery.

Her lips curved in that knowing smile he'd come to dread.

What does she want?

Your manager now,

Emily reassured him.

There's nothing she can do to you.

James,

Darling,

Delaware purred,

Gliding towards him with measured steps that clicked against the marble.

He was transfixed by the small feather that bobbed up and down the side of her soft felt hat as she walked.

Separate lives already,

I see.

Now there's a surprise.

Pardon?

James was shocked.

How did Delaware know Jefferson Bailey?

They were generations apart.

From what he knew,

They didn't move in the same circles.

His fingers tightened around the pen in his hands until his knuckles went white.

Is there anything you don't know,

Mrs Delaware?

You learn an awful lot about people in the casino,

She returned.

Her eyes glittering like chips of ice.

Such a lovely establishment.

The Bridlington Bellagio.

You know it well,

James.

Last night,

Bailey was at the roulette table and I was surprised to see he wasn't alone.

James felt his blood run cold.

She was doing it again.

Oh,

Don't play coy,

James.

It's beneath you,

She sighed.

The picture of casual cruelty.

I suppose his wife should be pleased he prefers the company of men to women.

Her words hung in the air like poison and James looked round the lobby to ensure no one was within earshot.

What do you want,

Mrs Delaware?

He said firmly.

The same thing I've always wanted,

Darling.

Respect,

Attention and acknowledgement.

According to my dear friend,

Lady Perklington Smythe,

I am the most valued guest at this establishment and I'll ask you once again not to forget it.

Then she swept away towards the lounge.

Something floral and cloying hanging in the air.

James waved it away and counted to 10.

Then 20.

Then 30.

Would he never be free of this old bag?

And there was his phone to save the day.

With any luck,

It would be Chef.

You get that,

Said Emily.

I'll make sure Delaware gets special treatment today.

That should shut her up.

James walked away,

Eyes glued to his phone.

But this wasn't a text from Chef.

It was a text from Jefferson Bailey himself.

How did he get my number?

James found a quiet corner and sank into premium leather,

Intrigued.

Surely this wasn't a proposition.

He couldn't think of anything worse.

Bailey was a million miles away from anything remotely attractive.

He couldn't be less like Chef if he tried.

His hands trembled as he read.

Bailey wanted him upstairs.

Did he know something?

But what could he know?

James was intrigued in spite of himself,

And he made his way to the lifts immediately.

Minutes later,

He found himself face to face with a man he'd blackmailed into leaving Emily alone.

But what did he want?

It shouldn't be anything good.

Take a seat.

James smarted.

He wasn't expecting civility.

He looked at the bottle of Bollinger.

It was already half empty.

Delaware had clearly got to him.

She was turning his double life into a weapon to use against him.

James recognised the signs.

Hadn't she done the very same thing to him?

But why?

And how strange this old woman was so obsessed.

With the lives of every generation but her own.

The letter started three months ago.

Bailey began.

Polite at first,

Then increasingly explicit about what she knew and what she expected in return.

Money mostly.

But also favours,

Introductions,

Access to events she could sell at discounted rates.

She's a wily one that Dame Delaware.

Of course,

I didn't play ball.

I underestimated the witch.

I'll be the first to admit it.

And now here I am.

So your wife knows then?

Not yet.

But Lady P's threatening it.

She and Delaware are old friends.

It compromises the East Riding set,

She says.

We used to get on.

But Emily's mum's shown her true colours now.

She showed her true colours when you both tried to force Emily into a marriage she didn't want.

James was getting impatient.

This sob story was very one-sided and he didn't really see what it had to do with him.

As hotel manager,

He had better things he could be doing than shooting the breeze with a bloke who spanned vinyl for a living.

Bailey wriggled restlessly in his chair.

OK,

Well,

I'm sorry about that.

Look,

It seems we've been here before,

Said James.

I had Emily to protect,

Of course,

And she didn't deserve yours and Lady P's plans.

So I stand by that.

But let's look at what's going on now.

I know you've confided in me because of who I am.

But I don't see how that changes anything.

I want you to talk to Emily on my behalf.

What's she got to do with it?

Is common knowledge Lady P's contesting her right to inherit?

And?

Bailey leaned forward,

His hands gripping the arms of the Chesterfield.

I want to expose her for what she is,

A blackmailer and a manipulator and a parasite.

I need your help.

James' mind was working at 100 miles an hour.

If you wane in court,

She'll release everything.

Your reputation will be in tatters.

It's the threat of it,

Said Bailey.

That's what I want,

To make her squirm like she makes me squirm.

I'm sick of living in a lie,

But I can't afford not to.

This pressure has got to go away.

It's too much.

Lady P's only got the power if I give it to her.

I'm going to come at her so hard she doesn't know what day of the week it is.

James considered his options.

So,

You want Emily to help you out,

Even though if you have your way,

She probably won't benefit from it at all?

Well,

It shows unwilling,

Said Bailey confidently.

And the more pressure on her mother,

The better.

That's what I say.

Now,

Are you going to tell Emily about this or not?

I'm not going to tell her,

James.