Chapter 57 CHAPTER 57
ALINA’S POV
We rode off to the airport like that. Reached there in no time, Jordan disappearing around the same time too. I could feel my heart just plummet to the bottom of my stomach the moment I took in the surrounding view around me. Confirming we were indeed at the airport, I was at the airport.
“Ohhh,” I groaned silently, getting off the car. Sweating. My fingernails biting into each other despite my attempt to keep cool and all. The subtle roar of engines in the distance didn’t help matters too. If anything occasional whoosh sounds filled the air, signaling planes were leaving. Or landing. Whichever. All I knew right now was my problem. That I felt really hot right now but at the same time so cold. Sweating too, my mind creating more and more images of my impending embarrassment. How it’ll all happen.
I didn’t even know how I would react at the counter or something. I’d never travelled before nor did I need to. But I could imagine right now that they wouldn’t let you pass through without necessary documentation or something, right?
Right?
At any rate, this was going to be my doom. My very doom cause i had nothing.
“Good day, Sir.” a man greeted as we passed through glass doors, going in officially. Floors were polished, white. Soft lighting all around, reception counter at the front but upon reaching it,
“Goodday sir,”
“Sir.”
“Boss,”
“Mr. Wade.”
“Good day sir,”
Were all that followed us. Greetings. They just kept coming as we passed through the door at the counter area, no checking, no questions. Worse as we reached the end of the door we somehow seemed to have come out around a less busy route in the airport. Less normal looking area in an airport.
Every person stood in line around here. Wearing a vest. Smiling their hardest, the floors changing too. Red carpet instead of tiles, and him?
He just moved right through.
WE just moved through them. Myself behind him, doing my hardest not to stare around and bring any more attention to myself than I already doing cause there were eyes on me. Serious eyes. Whispering too. But subtle.
I still caught them though. A habit.
When you’ve spent the greater part of your teenage years been a wallflower you’ll understand.
At the end of the line, end of the red carpet, the plane stood. Sparkling clean and ready. Huge. A man at the front too right before the plane. Waiting.
He was waiting, could be the boarding pass guy. He seemed like the head around here, a professional air surrounding him the more you looked at him.
He most definitely would check documents. Most definitely. But that right there was my cue to panic even more. My feet heavy, throat dry as I held onto my laptop with every step.
“Goodday Mr. Ward.” the man greeted as we finally approached. All smiles.
“Max,” Roman recognized.
“It’s wonderful to have you again, sir. We’re deeply honoured.” he man bowed. Deep.
But Roman only gave a smirk. Patted the man on the back, and then moved on to step onto the air stairs leading into the plane. Just like that. No nothing??
My legs stood frozen to the spot as I watched him leave me. All the dread I’d accumulated before now swelling up inside of me like yeast,threatening to overspill and in the form of a very severe throw up.
THE absolute worst thing that could happen to me right now. The absolute.
‘What do I do?’
‘What do I do? What do I do? What do I do???’ I sang repeatedly in my head. Outright panicking. Especially as the max guy’s eyes fell on me.
He was waiting for it right? Documents. My documents. Which I didn’t have. Not right here, not anywhere.
But before anyone would shame me, I’d rather do it myself. Do it myself and save any left dignity!
“Ma’am, you-
“I don’t have a passp-
“What are you still doing over there??” his voice came. Loud. Cutting me off as I looked up at the air stairs. Cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Why are you standing there?” his eyebrows furrowed,
I swallowed, “W-what?” but even that was weak. “I-I’m- I don’t have-
“Come on up.” he cut me off, pulling out an arm.“Come take my hands.”
Take his hand?
I stared surprised. Speechless. The Max man beside me not even saying a word too. Instead he immediately stepped out of the way even more, as though wanting to give me more room. The others behind him doing the same. Leaving me even more…stunned?
Like what the hell?
“Come on,” he urged again, impatient. Making me face him again. Slowly taking a step forward this time, cautious. But no one stopped me. So gingerly, I continued on the air stairs. Heading to him. Aware several eyes were on me right ow, plus the bastard in front of me.
“Faster,” he wiggled his fingers, I increased my pace. A few moments, then I reached him. He took my hand in his right then, a little caress and just like that, he pulled me up. Taking me with him as he fully entered the plane.
“You’re not getting away that easily.” his voice reached my ears, body rubbing mine. “You’re stuck with me for the weekend, Alina Monroe. Stuck. So don’t even think about running off.”
Stuck?
Running off??
He thought… he thought I wanted to run off? I mean I wanted to, but- not for the reasons he seemed to be thinking about though.
But then again, what just happened?
How come we didn’t get checked or anything? I didn’t get checked. That lady I called repeatedly told me all week how impossible it was but now…
Now I was in a plane. A real plane after bypassing security.
It was him, wasn’t it?
He bypassed security and took me along with him. Bypassed counter checks, documents, everything, had nearly the entire staff greeting and bowing to him instead of asking questions.
How was this even possible? Just how influential was he? Who was he??
“Welcome back, Sir!” A cheerful voice cut me off. Loud. Instantly pulling my attention from my thoughts.
A flight attendant.
An overly cheerful flight attendant.
“How have you been, sir? We’ve missed you.” she continued, smiling brightly in a hot red uniform that seemed a bit too small for her. Nice legs though.
“Hello Felicia.” he recognized her, pulling us to a stop. My eyes noting how the lady seemed to glow upon his words, “We meet again.”
“We do, Mr. Ward.” she flushed a bright pink, simply excited. Not once paying a glance to me though. Women.
It was clear these two were more than just flight attendant and client. Or at least that was the vibe she gave off.
Plus, flight attendants weren’t usually so cheerful, were they?
Oh well, none of my business. There were better things to focus on. Like the outright spaciousness that was in front of me. Wide cream leather seats with polished armrests seated comfortably on equal sides, windows large and round, light filtering in softly. Another set of deeply comfortable seats, polished cream tables in between already having a bottle of wine, glasses and clean napkins ready to go.
Big screens at the center, soft white carpert underneath my feet. Several other sections shining and waiting to be found through the hallway that led down from where I stood.
This wasn’t a normal plane. This was different. Even the air was different, the lighting…everything was different. Like a curated mini luxury house or some sorts.
“Surprised?” I turned to my side. Him. “You’re surprised.” he repeated, confused. “Don’t be, this is one my toys. Come sit.”
Huh?
Wait.
Toys? ‘One of’
So they were more?
More???
I looked around just then. Making sure to take in everything now with even more clean eyes. My senses heightened.
I could smell the money. The richness, the sheer luxury practically embedded into every corner of my environment. It was hard to believe this was still a plane. But looking back at the opening we came in from…it was all real.
He was all real.
Roman.
How did he get such money? Such wealth.
“Wow,” my mind could only conceptualize. Steps slow and now very cautious. Very much aware as slowly I approached one of the seats. Suddenly feeling out of place and tensed.
“Felicia?” My eyes turned to him. Watching as he sat majestically, crossing his legs, every move clean. Perfect.
Rich.
“Serve the special dish the chef spoke about. Alongside that wine.” I heard him mutter to her. Her eyes lighting up like a child, nodding eagerly as she hurried off while he relaxed on his seat. Pressing down a button on the side, his seat easily reclining a little to an even more comfortable position. I checked mine too, seeing similar button. But just as I was about pressing it, I paused. Realizing something.
This was likely his everyday reality. Wasn’t it?
Bypassing checks and everything, getting served, using this sort of…plane. It wasn’t a big deal to him, was it?
I spent the the entire week before today panicking on how to ensure I could travel but…he didn’t. he didn’t panic at all, that wasn’t his reality, it could never be his reality.
It was just me.
“You’re on my property now, Consultant.” his voice flowed easily to me. My eyes fixed on him, watching as he spoke with his eyes closed. Relaxed. Very relaxed. “The flight’s not for another hour. An 18 hour trip. This is my private plane, I brought you here…so relax. Feel free.”
Wow.
Feel free…
Only that I didn’t exactly feel free. I felt… I didn’t even know how I felt. He was my ex…he’s done well for himself, so well. Look around us.
Whereas me?
I could’ve most likely be scraping scraps had I not gotten his Oxygen project.
That does something to you, you know.
Worse I had nowhere I hide myself, to ignore everything or just pretend.
We worked together. We were on this trip together, we would see the suppliers together, come back together, everything together for the rest of this weekend.
It wasn’t exactly exciting news for me right now you know.
But one thing was certain…
Roman wasn’t the same Roman I knew.
He was a whole different person right now, a person I shouldn’t exactly be playing with, should keep away from.
He was no ex of mine.
Be clear on that, Alina.