2. ROSALYN

“Last night was intense,” I say to Carter’s behind. He’s shuffling through his suitcase, looking for another expensive suit to wear today.

“Those are not the only words that I’ll use to describe last night, baby,” he returns to the bed and claims my lips again. I’m still sprawled half naked under the bed sheet and my flight is in 2 hours.

“Care to join me while I shower?” He extends a hand with a sheepish grin on his face. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it’s just a shower. However, after last night, it is bound to go sideways.

But who’s complaining?

Certainly not me.

“Sure.” I take his hand and prepare myself for another round.

“Where are you going?” I ask, slipping on my black stockings. I pair it with a pale brown skirt, black sweater and chocolaty brown overcoat. It’s bound to be cold after last night.

“New York. You?” 

I gape at him. “The same flight that’s in an hour?”

“Yup,” he enunciates, still oblivious.

“We’re on the same flight.”

“Woah,” he remarks. “More time to spend with you.”

“Yeah. Let's get going.”

We check in together. We are exactly on time and the boarding has already begun. Carter hands both our boarding passes to the air hostess standing in a blue uniform.

“Welcome sir.”

She smiles at him and her gaze settles longer than necessary on his face and biceps. Carter receives appreciative glances from women around us and it shouldn’t bother me. Yet, it does. I feel the uncanny need to lace our arms together but I shake my head.

Get a hold of yourself, Rosie.

We’re never even gonna meet after this flight.

Again I feel the tinge of something in my stomach. Maybe we can be friends? He hasn’t asked me for my number yet. Will I give it to him if he does? Of course, I will.

“This is my seat,” Carter points.

“Alright, I'll go find mine.”

The airport staff couldn’t have placed me and Carter any further away from each other. I’m at the extreme end and in case you are wondering, no it’s not even a window seat.

“Passengers are requested to put on their seatbelt,” the crew gives safety instructions and I meticulously follow each of them. I shoot a quick text to mom and Kiara that the flight is about to take off. Then I turn the aeroplane mode on.

“Ma’am,” a crew member says, catching my attention. 

“Yes?”

“We’ve upgraded you to business class. Please come with me.”

“What?” This has to be a confusion, right? Why will they upgrade me out of the blue? Plus, I don't have money to pay for business class.

“We’ve upgraded you to business class ma’am,” she repeats.

“I’m sure it’s a confusion,” I try to explain.

She furrows her brows and looks at a paper in her hand.

“Your boyfriend Carter West asked us to do it. He said you couldn’t get business class because they were full. Lucky for you, we have a vacancy beside him. The passenger couldn’t make it to the airport.”

My mouth almost drops open, until I remember where I am. I don’t want to make a fool out of myself in front of these people.

“Thank you.”

I follow behind her as we pass rows after rows of passengers and reach the business class section. My eyes clash with Carter’s and he grins. He’s looking spectacular in his perfectly tailored suit.

If yesterday’s demeanour was any indication of his riches, then today’s outfit takes it to a whole new level. And now that I know he wears Brioni-

A flush covers my cheeks at the memory of what we did. I try to hide it but Carter notices and gives me an amused look.

“Here ma’am.” She guides me to a seat next to Carter. I bite my lip to suppress a squeal when I see that it's a window seat. I sink in the soft cushions that are so much more comfortable than the economy class seats.

All the while, Carter studies me with the same amused expressions.

“So, girlfriend?” I cock a brow after the air hostess has left.

“I can’t ask them to upgrade someone out of the blue without telling my relation to you. And something told me that rather than referring to you as a woman I slept with, girlfriend would sound better to their ears.”

“Hmm. Good reasoning, boyfriend,” I say teasingly.

“Why this tone?” He’s on the brink of laughter.

“Why not this tone?”

“Women fall over one another to call me their anything.”

“I’m sure they do,” I nod.

“You think I’m lying,” he notes.

“Not lying exactly but-”

I’m cut off as Carter leans closer. His lips are inches away from mine and the intensity of his gaze threatens to undo me.

“Do I need to remind you of how good I am at what I do Rosie?”

My name rolls off his tongue in that posh accent. Under different circumstances. I might have squirmed. But something tells me that this man is looking for a challenge, not a woman he can kick around.

I move forward, leaving mere inches between us. 

“Are any of those women as good as I am at what I do?”

The surprise is apparent on his face, even though he’s quick to mask it.

“Would you like some wine?” The tension between us is suddenly broken by another air hostess.

“Yes, for both of us,” Carter says, schooling himself.

“I’m not going to pay for this,” I say, eyeing the glass of wine in front of me.

“No you won't,” he says, offended. “And you paid for the room.”

“That was nothing compared to this.” Regardless, I take a gulp and relish the liquid going down my throat.

“What do you do?” He asks.

“I’m a Graphic Designer. You?”

“I’m an Engineer.”

We pause for a while but the silence isn’t biting. Rather, it's comfortable. I take another sip of the wine.

“Why are you going to New York, Rosie?” He slowly asks.

“I got a job interview.”

“With whom?”

“SweetHarvest Treats.”

His body tightens. Is it because he does not know about this company? It’s so popular.

“It’s a food processing enterprise. They started with chocolates but now, they sell all kinds of bakery products and packed food,” I explain.

“Oh,” he whispers.

“What about you? Where do you work, Carter?”