CHAPTER 4

Lisa knew she looked downright evil, but she couldn't bring herself to care. How could Claire wiggle her way into Axel's heart so quickly, when she had been trying so hard for years? She knew the moment he pulled up her profile that his cold heart had taken a solid punch. The cracks in his icy nature were very obvious. He even invited her to join them for lunch!

Anger had made her leave the compartment earlier. She needed a good plan, and fast. She could not let a nobody like her take Axel away from her. Finding out about her basic information was easy. Claire McLennie was born and bred right there in Creek Falls. Her profile was not so interesting in Lisa's point of view.

She had never travelled out, and all the schools she attended were public schools. Her file was inaccessible. Lisa thought that was odd and called her investigator.

"What do you mean, you can't access it?"

"It's exactly as I said." Lisa tried opening the file again with her phone. "It's asking for an encryption key."

"Oh." Her investigator sighed. "It's a classified file. The government does not allow unauthorized access to such files."

Lisa perked up. "Does that mean she has something to hide?"

"Most likely. Want me to look into it?"

Lisa smiled. "Oh, absolutely."

She was in a good mood when she returned to her seat. She tried reasoning with Axel, but he was too smitten to care. There was no way she was going to digest her food with Claire sitting across from her, so she excused herself to go to the bathroom.

She checked all the stalls to make sure they were empty, then she called her private investigator again. 

"How soon?"

"Depends on the extent of the red tape." 

"Get it done as soon as possible."

She hung up and crushed the phone between her fingers. "Claire McLennie, I'm coming for you." 

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Claire didn't know what made her open her eyes, all she knew was that when she did, the guy with the kind smile was standing over her. The sun was setting in the sky, and the sunset bathed his profile in warm shades of orange. His eyes crinkled with a wide grin when she woke.

"Finally. I was thinking I would have to shake you awake."

Claire sat up and wiped the drool from her lips.

"Did you whisper my name?"

His grin widened. "I might have."

"Would you tell me your name so I can whisper it when you fall asleep?" Claire asked, laughter dancing in her eyes.

He threw his head back and his body shook with silent laughter.

"Donald." He stretched his hand out for a handshake.

She laughed and took his hand. "Claire, but apparently you already know that. Did you G****e me?"

He pulled her up gently. "I like to assure myself that whoever is sitting behind me will not impale me with a six foot pole."

The color drained from Claire's face. Let him be joking, she chanted in her mind. He should better be joking. It was too early for her past to resurface, and she wasn't even in New York yet.

"Relax, I'm kidding." Donald hurriedly assured her when he saw her expression. "I like to fool around. Sorry." He smiled sheepishly.

His smile put her heart at ease and she turned to face him. "No, no, it's alright. What's going on?" 

"My boss would like you to join us for lunch."

"Oh." Claire looked back at Mr. Arrogant's profile, then whispered. "Was it your idea?"

Donald smiled. "No, it was entirely his."

Claire shook her head. "I'm sorry, I still don't believe you. He doesn't look like he has it in him."

Donald chuckled. "You say out whatever is in your mind, don't you?" 

Claire flushed in embarrassment. "What's the point of keeping what you feel inside when you could just…say it out, you know?"

"Mm. That's not a bad way of reasoning. But it will only help you to be completely honest if you deal with completely honest people too. Otherwise, you'll get used a lot."

He let Claire go ahead of him towards Mr. Arrogant and Miss Saucy. She paused midstride and grabbed Donald's arm. 

"Your boss. What's his name?"

"Uh, Axel?"

Claire nodded. "And the lady?"

"Lisa."

She let go of his arm. "Thank you. I got tired of calling them Mr. Arrogant and Miss Saucy in my head."

Her eyes widened and she slapped her palm over her mouth when she realized she had said that out loud. Donald only laughed and gave her a gentle push forward. Claire thought he was one of the kindest people she had ever met.

Lisa was having one of those temper tantrums again. She didn't seem to stay without having one. Claire contemplated going back to calling her Miss Saucy, but decided against it. She didn't want to be thrown out of the plane halfway across the ocean.

Donald and Claire exchanged glances, then he walked ahead of her and coughed discreetly. He announced their presence and Lisa left the compartment almost immediately. Claire was glad. Having to eat with her wearing such a hideous expression would surely have been bad for her digestion.

She had overheard some of their conversation. She never really had strong dislike for people, but she could feel herself start to really not like Lisa. She was so full of herself, and didn't care that others were humans too. She knew she should not be happy that Axel was giving her the cold shoulder, but Claire was. It ticked off one box on her very short list of the things she liked about him.

Axel surprised her by passing her a plate of the most delicious looking sweets she had ever seen, and she ticked off another box. If things kept up this way, she would end up even tolerating him.

"There is no way this is plane food." Claire blurted out.

Donald smiled. "We have our flight chef."

Claire nodded and took a big bite. She literally had to suppress her a moan when her taste buds exploded with the wonderful flavors that filled them. She sighed instead and Donald's smile widened.

"That good?"

Claire shook her head. "Are you kidding me? It's not good. It's wonderful!"

Donald winked at her. " I guess you'll be joining us for every plane ride from now on?"

Axel choked on his food and started having a coughing fit. Claire wondered why Donald was giving him a funny look, instead of helping him. He looked like he would burst out laughing any minute. Axel was wearing his usual frown, though. Claire guessed he was not as amused. He pulled out a plain handkerchief and daintily dabbed at the sides of his mouth. 

Claire didn't know why the plain handkerchief attracted her attention. She looked at his wristwatch as it caught the golden light of the setting sun. It was a simple watch with a plain band and an even plainer face. His suit was plain. There were no extraneous decorations. 

Her eyes travelled to his dark hair, cut and combed in a simple way. Not a hair was out of place. Yet, Claire knew there was nothing simple about Axel. He radiated power and he certainly looked like a man who couldn't be toyed with.

When her eyes met his, she felt herself get lost in their bluish intensity. Back home, she had seen a few blue eyed men. But none of them could boast of deep blue eyes that could assume an even darker shade as his did that moment. He was watching her closely, carefully, as though figuring out what she was up to.

"Done checking me out?"

She could not get enough of his voice. He rarely spoke, but when he did, she couldn't help but listen. His voice was like velvet. It lightly brushed over her skin and left her with goosebumps at its soft feel. She needed to get out of here, and fast. She did not trust herself to not do anything foolish at that moment.

He was frowning more intensely now, probably wondering why she had not answered a direct question. The truth was, she felt hypnotized. That was funny, coming from her, seeing as she did not believe in any of those stuff. She decided to deflect.

"Why do you always frown?" 

She knew her question surprised him. He did not react physically, but Claire saw it. The shutters closed in his eyes. He was wary, and she knew it. What she wanted to know was why. Why would he become guarded when she asked a simple question as that?

Donald coughed lightly. When she turned to him, he lifted a finger and wagged it in her face.

"Don't even think about it."

Claire giggled. "Think about what?"

"I know what you wanted to ask." He inclined his head a certain angle, slumped his shoulders and tried to mimic her voice. "Why do you always cough?"

Her eyes widened. "I do not do that!"

"You're going to tell me that wasn't on your mind?"

"That's not what I'm talking about!" She waved her free hand about in the air. " I didn't do that…shoulder thing. And I don't croak like that!" 

Donald threw his head back and roared with laughter. "My God, you look adorable! And positively livid!"

Tears formed in his eyes from laughing so hard and Claire pouted. "That's not fair."

She pushed her plate aside and folded her arms across her chest.

Donald lifted his hands. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry," he said, then fell into another bout of laughter.

She huffed and glared at him until he stopped laughing.

"Fine, fine." He sniffed and straightened. "I'll stop teasing you now."

Claire gave him a side-eye.

"I'm serious! Punch me if I tease you again."

Claire cracked her knuckles and gave him an evil smile. "Oh, trust me, I certainly will!"