Her question made him look up to give her his undivided attention. “What made you think I’m upset? Maybe you’re repenting for having missed it!” He focused his eyes back on the laptop screen, satisfied with the embarrassed flush on her cheeks.
“You are disgusting!” She got up angrily and sat down at the far end with her back towards him. The attendant served her breakfast and approached him with his.
“Is there anything else you need, Mr. St. James?” she asked with a dazzling smile on her face.
“No, thank you.” He kept his laptop aside and concentrated on his food, yet the attendant hovered around him.
“I’ll get you some water, Mr. St. James.” She returned in a minute with only a bottle of water for him.
“Thank you. That would be all.” Christian felt uncomfortable in the presence of the new cabin crew. His old staff never disturbed him at all.
“How’s the coffee, sir? I made it, especially for you.” She gazed at him expectantly while Skylar turned to give him a death glare. Christian noted the attendant hadn’t even provided her with a bottle of water.
“It’s good, thank you.” He didn’t need to look up to know she was still hovering around him.
“Then will you recommend me for your next trip? I like to work for you. I am very hardworking, sir. I can do anything you want me to.” She leaned in, gazing at Christian, hoping he would take the hint.
“Get a bottle of water for my fiancee if you want a job here.” His tone was firm, loud, and clear as he stood up with his food tray and walked away towards Skylar. The shocked attendant brought a bottle of water for Skylar and hurried away, realizing he wasn’t interested in her.
“Thank you,” said Skylar, puzzled by Christian’s behavior. She had expected him to enjoy the attention and flirt with her but he didn’t. He sat beside her while Skylar gazed at him with disbelief.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re falling for me already?” he asked with a smirk, making her blink and look away. This time she didn’t have any retort ready for him. She smiled and ate her food in silence. Her heart raced even thinking about the way he had turned the woman down. So was their relationship real? Were they really engaged? Wasn’t it just a contract marriage for two years?
Christian watched the dazed look on her face with satisfaction. It was an unusual feat for her to stay silent and not spew out a sassy retort. He wanted to know what was going on inside her head.
“You didn’t answer me, Skylar.”
“I choose not to.” She smiled and busied herself with her burger.
“Why? A guy needs to know where he stands with his fiancee.” Christian couldn’t help the impish smile on his face.
“I don’t know. Somehow, this engagement doesn’t look like a fake one to me. Are we still going for a contract marriage or not?” Christian gazed into her stormy eyes, wanting to tell her the truth. This wasn’t a contract marriage at all. By the time it would be over, he would make her fall for him. During this tenure, he would show her how much he loved her, always had, and always would.
“Whatever you want, Skylar. If you want a real one, I will love to marry you forever. If you want a contract marriage for two years, then we will go for it.” Skylar noted a deep longing in his tone as he looked away with a sad smile and concentrated on his food.
“What do you want?” she asked him instead.
“That’s inconsequential, don’t you think?” Skylar frowned at his answer, totally confused now. His words echoed in her head, confusing her further. He didn’t say a word more and went back to his laptop while Skylar flicked through the pages of a glossy magazine. However, nothing registered in her head. What could he mean? What did he want? Did he want an actual marriage? Why with her and not with the woman he loved? Did someone hurt him badly? Was he heartbroken or something? Maybe he considered her a rebound! A million questions erupted in her mind, and she wondered how to get the answers.
“Does grandpa Ben visit you often?” she asked, seeking a way for him to open up to her.
“Yes, once in three months, but you have nothing to fear. He has his own group of friends. They usually spend time at their club.”
“Oh, that’s nice to know. So, do you too go to his club?”
“No, I don’t get the time.” Skylar nodded, but her heart wanted to know more about his hobbies and interests.
“Oh, so are you a workaholic with no hobbies?” Christian shook his head and closed his laptop to hold her curious gaze. This was the first time she showed an interest in him. It took his breath away! He wanted to blurt out everything about himself. He wanted to confess his feelings for her, too.
“No, I love to travel but not on work trips. I used to play squash on a professional level at the same club until a month ago. Tell me about you. Apart from enjoying yourself with your group of friends, what do you do?”
“Nothing much. So, why did you leave playing squash?” She couldn’t help the curiosity bubbling inside her. There seemed more to the guy than just met the eye.
“I couldn’t keep up. The business and the training were taking a toll on my health. There’s a personal reason too.” Her ears pricked with interest and she waited for him to confide in her, but he didn’t.
“What personal reason? You can tell me. We’re engaged, after all,” she coaxed, making his eyes glitter with amusement.
“I will if you give me a kiss.”
“Oh, I don’t want to know.” She turned away from him and concentrated on the magazine again.
“Are you scared to kiss me? You know your heart wants to.” She shook her head vehemently.
“No, my heart doesn’t want it. And I fear nothing!” she muttered, giving him a glare, but her gaze fell to his lips for a fraction of a second. He didn’t miss it and his eyes sparkled even more with excitement.
“It does. Prove me wrong then.” She shook her head and got up to escape to the bedroom.
“You can’t escape me. I’ll seek you out every time.”
“I’m not escaping you at all. I want to use the washroom there.”
“We will reach in twenty minutes. Be here before touchdown.” Skylar went inside, glad to have ended the discussion. Would he really have kissed her if she hadn’t escaped?
After a few minutes, she joined him, feeling refreshed. Strapping the seat belt on, they waited to reach their destination. Skylar felt apprehensive about her life now. She would go to her new home, where she would have to spend the next two years, if not more. What if she didn’t like the place?
“Stop!” His voice made her turn to give him a confused look.
“What?” she croaked.
“Stop chewing your lips unless you want me to kiss them.” It worked, and she immediately stopped, but Christian groaned with agony. Her soft, plump, and dewy lips looked so tempting he had to fight hard to restrain himself from devouring them.
“Stop staring!” she hissed at him, acutely aware of his gaze glued to her lips.
Christian chuckled and looked away. “I know you’re as affected as I am. Admit it, Skylar. It will make you happier.”
“You misjudge me a lot. I’m not at all affected by you.”
He just shook his head, disbelieving every word she said. They reached their destination and the jet came to a halt. After collecting their luggage, they emerged from the terminal.
“Hello, Samuel,” he greeted his chauffeur, who had come over to pick them up.
“This is my fiancee, Skylar Carnell.”
“Skylar, this is Samuel Jones. He’s been with us for the last ten years.”
“Yes, ten years and nine months, to be precise. I used to work for Mr. St. James, his grandpa. Welcome to LA, Ms. Carnell,” said the middle-aged man, helping them load their luggage in the car.
“Thank you,” said Skylar, returning his smile. She liked the man instantly, which was weird. She hardly liked anyone at first sight, that too, someone associated with grandpa Ben. Later, Samuel drove them toward Christian’s home! Or was it their home?
The car drove on towards Venice Beach and she watched with wide eyes. She had come here twice with Alyssa to stay at her grandparents’ house when in college. With her parents too, she visited the place around twenty years ago! But she had no memories of that trip. After all, she was just two.
“Do you live on Venice Beach?”
“Yes. Do you remember it? This should be your third visit, right?” Skylar’s eyes widened, and she gaped at the man.
“How do you know that?”