A
CHAPTER 30
MELANIE
THE TEN–HOUR FLIGHT FROM PUERTO RICO TO SWITZERLAND DIDN’T BEGIN ON A
good note. First, all the members of the team chose seats far away from me. Well, Sebastian tried to sit right next to me, one look had him changing directions to stay with his people. I tried not to let it get to me, but hearing the chatter and Lughter on their end, as opposed to the silence on mine, made me feel a bit lonely.
but
I’d been fine with loneliness when I didn’t have an alternative or there wasn’t anything to compare it to, but now there was. To top it off, one of the flight attendants had spilled a glass of wine all over me when the jet had hit a pocket of turbulence. and Mia and Katnissa had immediately burst into laughter, like we were teenagers or something Immature.
Half listening to the attendant’s profuse apologies, I’d gotten up with my duffel and walked to the bathroom with as much dignity as I could muster to change into something else. I was lucky I’d been wearing leather, but I’d had to wash my hair
and face
Now clean and dressed in baggy jeans and a long–sleeved cropped sweater, I stared out the window as I sipped an iced tea with my airpods plugged in. We were only about two hours into the flight, and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I consoled myself with the fact that in two days, give or take, I’d be away from all this drama.
I felt a presence next to me and whipped my head around ready to tell Sebastian to fuck off, then found Jordan studying me with cool eyes. I slumped back in my seat and continued sipping my iced tea, taking out one of the airpods in case he wanted to speak I was polite like that.
“You’re the first woman I’ve had on a private jet who looks so unhappy with her lot.”
I snorted. “And out of how many women would that be?” I asked drily.
“You know what, I don’t even want to know.
As I sipped I studied him out of the corner of my eye. It was the first time I’d seen him in casual wear, though I bet the outfit still cost more than Id earned in a month as a clerk at the stock exchange. Still, the navy blue T–shirt and brown khakis hugged his figure in a way that had me averting my eyes barely a minute later.
“I apologize for the carelessness of my stewardess, if that is what troubles you,” he continued, unperturbed by my comment. I shake my head. “It’s fine. I was going to change anyway, What brings you to my lonely little corner? Bored?” I asked. “Why do you always insist on being so difficult? I am merely trying to make conversation.”
“Yeah, like that’s something you do often,” I replied, sucking on the straw and making that annoying sound that comes when the drink is almost finished. I’m also rude like that.
He cast an annoyed look at the cup in my hand as I kept making the sound.
“If it is another drink you desire I can have someone fetch it for you.” He said. Wow, He was really making an attempt to be polite.
I stopped the sucking. “That would be nice. Thanks.”
He took the cup from me and a stewardess magically appeared. “A refill” is all he said and she was gone. There was a slightly awkward silence until she brought back a fresh cup which I accepted with a smile and she was gone again.
“Is there something going on between you and Blaine?” Jordan suddenly asked, catching me off guard.
“Whoa What gave you that idea?” I asked carefully.
Slat. I did not think this part through. There was nothing going on between Blaine and I, except one really good kiss counted, but it still felt like this was an interrogation.
av too
I’ve seen the body language between you two. Something is up” he answered, looking straight at me and seeing way
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, flashing him a sunny smile. His eyes dropped to my lips for a nanosecond before forming on my face once more. He was quiet again and, thinking that was the end of it, I leaned back in my seat and closed my ey
Then he spoke again, “Is this your plan then? First me, then my best friend?”
CHAPTER 30
My eyes flew open and I stared at him, incredulous “I beg your pardon?”
Why did you approach me that night in Rome, Melanie?” he asked, his voice calm but his eyes telling a different story.
“First of all, I don’t owe you an explanation” he was about to speak but I held up a hand, cutting him off.
“Like I told you, I had a good day and thought to cap it off with some action. You were there and looked like you would be good in bed, so I decided to see for myself. I didn’t even know who you were then, so stop making it seem like this is all part of some elaborate scheme of mine.” I ranted.
“You could’ve picked anyone” he insisted and I threw my hands up in exasperation. I was lucky the cup had a lid, or I’d have doused myself in a drink once more.
“Yes, I could’ve. You just happened to be the most attractive one at the bar that night, okay? And it was just sex. It didn’t mean much” I said.
My God, the man was so paranoid and distrusting, but I couldn’t hold it against him. A man in his position must have many enemies, and I’d gone on to steal from him, even though it was years later.
I looked up at him and found him not quite smiling at me, but not scowling or keeping a neutral expression either. “If I’d known getting a rise out of you would be this entertaining. I’d have started sooner he drawled, cocking an eyebrow
at me
“At least you don’t look as unhappy as you did earlier. Enjoy the rest of the flight, Miss Hayes.” He got up. Speechless and fuming, I watched him walk away. He is insane. I swear he is. He’d just goaded me into admitting he was attractive and good in bed and, foolish me, I’d allowed myself to be played like that. Still, I had to admit that I didn’t feel quite as melancholy as I did before he came to sit with me, even if all we did was annoy each other.
I fought back a small smile, who knew Jordan was capable of pulling me out of a mood. Plus, Katnissa and her gang had been moved to another section so I could no longer see or hear them and I suspected he had something to do with it.
I didn’t see him for the rest of the flight, but I noticed the flight attendants became more attentive to me, to the point of fussiness. They plied me with drinks, finger food, blankets and even offered me a foot massage, which was tempting but I declined.
I watched a movie over dinner, an elaborate five–course affair, and snuggled into the chair which reclined to form a bed, with a clear mind. When the plane touched down in Zurich a few hours later, I was still sound asleep.
CHAPTER 3
