Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Xander held off until Thursday night to visit Kat. He would have shown up earlier, but he had to wait for the evening dress to be professionally cleaned.

Kat heard a knock at the door, peered through the peephole, and sighed before letting him in.

“Appreciate you bringing the dress over. How much do I owe you?”

“Not a dime,” he replied, stepping inside. “The dress had to be sent out to remove the stubborn stain. I should probably let the Plaza Hotel know they need to clean their floors better.”

“I don’t think it was just the floor. Some of it was from the caviar when I got sick, and it ended up on the floor. I’m sure you’re busy and need to get going.”

“Actually, I’m done for the day,” he said, making himself comfortable without waiting for an invitation. “I’m here to tell you I’ll be picking you up tomorrow afternoon.”

“You think I can just drop everything when you say so?”

His gaze landed on the pile of papers scattered on a small desk that held a computer.

“What’s with all the paperwork? Are you a writer or something?”

“No, I proofread and correct errors for my clients. Not just authors, but also contracts and such.”

“So you work from home.”

“Yes.”

“It can’t pay much.”

“It covers my bills, and I get to work from home. I can’t go out with you because my brother is coming home, and I want to see him.”

“He’s not coming back yet?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m sure he’ll call you and tell you himself. But I told him to take another couple of weeks off. Now, about our date, you might want to pack an overnight bag.”

She could feel her heart pounding and her head spinning.

“What, why?”

“I’m taking you to Paris for dinner, and since it will be late, we’ll spend the night. Don’t look so scared; you’ll have your own room.”

“It’s bad enough that you’re making me go out with you, but spending a night away is out of the question.”

“No, it’s not. You’ll love Paris. I’ll pick you up around three o’clock. I get the feeling you don’t get out much, so it will do you good.”

“What if I refuse?”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’ll leave now so you can pack and finish whatever you’re working on.”

After he left, she picked up a glass and threw it, shattering it into pieces. She was furious at the way he was manipulating her into going with him.

***

Later that night, as she packed a few things for the trip, the phone rang. It was Kurt, and hearing his voice felt comforting.

“Kat, I’m just calling to let you know Clara’s father is coming along and we will stay two more weeks. I meant to call you sooner but we have been busy with the doctors and hiring a home care provider for him.”

“I’m glad he’s doing better.”

“So I gather you made it home from the party. How did it go?”

“Yes, Mr. West drove me home. I didn’t stay long. At first, it was okay, but then all the people and noise made me anxious, so I asked to leave.”

“He didn’t try anything, did he?”

“No, he was a gentleman. I’ll see you when you come back home. Say hi to Clara for me and tell her the dress she lent me is fine.”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him she was going away for the weekend with his boss. He would only worry and think she was doing it to help further his career. In a way, she was, but it was against her will.

***

The next day, she was packed and waiting for him to show up. She had no nice things to wear, only one black dress. It was simple but still nice enough for a fancy restaurant.

Just before he arrived to pick her up she took a pill when she started feeling anxious. She was a nervous wreck about not knowing what he had planned. Would he expect her to sleep with him even though he had said she would have a room to herself?

When they arrived at the place where the jet was waiting for them, she stood frozen.

“Kat, is something wrong?”

“I…I’ve never been on a plane before.”

“This is a jet, a little different from an ordinary plane. Have you ever traveled before?”

“No, never been out of New York.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat. You don’t have to be afraid. It’s perfectly safe.”

Once they were seated, she turned to him.

“This must be costing you a lot of money.”

“Not really, I own this jet. So tell me, what do you think of it?”

“It’s very luxurious, I’m quite impressed.”

“If you think this is nice, wait until you see Paris and the room I’ve booked for us. While we’re there, I’ll show you some of the sites. Would you like something to drink or eat?”

“No, thank you. Oh my god, what’s happening?” she asked, gripping his arm as she looked out the window.

“Relax, we’re just taking off. Once we’re in the air, you can get up and look around if you want to.”

When she realized she was holding onto him, her face turned red, and she let go. But the feel of his hard muscular arm through his suit jacket had her stomach feeling like butterflies were dancing inside her.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax.

“How long till we get to Paris?”

“About six to seven hours. If you want, you can get up and move around. I have some calls to make, so feel free to look around.”

~This isn’t so bad,~ she thought as she took his suggestion and walked around. She was curious about what was behind one of the doors, so she opened it and went inside. Never in her life could she imagine there would be a bedroom on a plane, though it was small.

“If you’re tired, you can lie down and nap.”

She hadn’t heard him and jumped at the sound of his voice. He was standing so close behind her that she could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck.

“You scared the hell out of me,” she said, moving away from him.

He reached for her hand, pulling her close.

“I could lay down with you.”

She pulled her hand from his grip.

“I agreed to come with you but that doesn’t mean I’ll sleep with you. I’m sure a man like you can have any woman you want so why bother with me?”

“I think you have the wrong impression about me. I do not sleep with every woman I take out. To answer your question, I am intrigued by you. There is something special about you, and I wish to know all about you.”

“There’s nothing to know; I live a boring life.”

“Who has hurt you?”

She walked away and went to sit back down. If only she hadn’t gone to that party with Kurt, she wouldn’t be in this situation now.

“Kat, I wish you would tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

His phone buzzed, interrupting their conversation. He excused himself to take the call, which lasted about ten minutes. When he hung up, he found her asleep on the couch, so he gently draped a blanket over her.

He brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face. Her beauty was undeniable, but her eyes held a certain sadness. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was carrying some heavy burden, and he was resolved to uncover what it was.

She had been asleep for a couple of hours when the plane’s turbulence woke her. The sudden jolts made her sit up and scream. Xander was at her side in an instant.

“Are we crashing?” she asked, panic in her voice.

“No, it’s just turbulence. It’ll pass soon. Nothing to worry about,” he reassured her.

When the plane jerked again, she instinctively wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. He held her close, gently stroking her face.

“You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. I know turbulence can be scary, especially if it’s your first time. But it’s over now. You can relax.”

Even after the turbulence had passed, she remained in his arms. She felt secure there and didn’t want to leave. He didn’t mind her staying; in fact, he liked it. But he couldn’t help feeling a pang of disappointment when she finally pulled away.

“I must seem so childish to you,” she said, looking down.

“Not at all. Even frequent flyers get nervous during turbulence. It’s not a common occurrence, and pilots are trained to handle it,” he reassured her.

She looked up at him, something stirring within her. His blue eyes were captivating, and his smile was disarmingly charming. It was hard to reconcile this man with the rumors she’d heard about him.

“I can’t believe you’re single. You’re attractive and wealthy.”

“You think I’m attractive?” he asked, a playful smile on his face.

“I suppose some women might think so. But there must be someone special in your life. What would she think about me going to Paris with you?”

“There’s no one special. Not yet, anyway. I’ve dated a few women, but they were only interested in my money. I know you’re different.”

“You can’t be sure of that. I could be just like them.”

“I’m a good judge of character. You’re not the type to be swayed by money and material things. That’s why I want you with me. I look forward to spoiling you.”

“This is a one-time thing. After this, I don’t want to see you again.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I want you. All of you. But I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

She was at a loss for words. How was she supposed to respond to that? Would Kurt’s job be at risk if she rejected his proposition?

He could tell she was thinking about her brother and his potential promotion. He knew he was manipulating her emotions, but he was willing to do it if it meant having her. He would treat her with love and respect, hoping that she would eventually return his feelings.

“Now, I want to know about your past relationships. Who were they with and how long did they last?”

“That’s none of your damn business,” she retorted.

“I’ll find out one way or another. You might as well tell me yourself. I’m waiting. Don’t make me investigate you and this man.”

She glared at him, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You’re a bastard.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“I was with Tony Davis for a year. He was a consultant for a construction company. Are you happy now?”

“Not quite. Why did you and this Tony guy break up?”

“Are you serious? It doesn’t matter who ended things or why. It’s been over for two years.”

“All right, you don’t have to tell me now. But you will someday. We’ll be in Paris soon. Try to get some rest. I’ll wake you when we land.”

While she slept, he looked up Tony Davis online. He wanted to know what kind of man Tony was and whether he posed a threat. He wasn’t about to let this Tony guy waltz back into her life.