3
“Zoey,” a deep, displeased voice cut in.”You’re my personal secretary. Do you really think brawling in public is acceptable?”
A tall, powerfully built young man strode towards us, flanked by bodyguards who moved with practiced efficiency. He stopped directly in front of me.
“So you’re Samuel Rockwell?” I scrutinized the man before me. I had to admit, my father had decent taste.
The man wore an impeccably tailored suit, his features sharp and well-defined. His only flaw, perhaps, was the look of absolute frost in his eyes as he regarded me.
“Mr. Rockwell, since it’s our first meeting, allow me to briefly introduce myself.”
“My name is Jane Sterling. I’m from…”
“Enough!”
He cut me off with an impatient wave before I could finish.
“We’ve met. It won’t work between us. Get off the plane.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard. I’d gone through layers of bureaucratic approval from my unit just to secure this half-day of leave. I had barely set foot on the plane, hadn’t even finished introducing myself, and he was already telling me to leave?
This was treating me like a complete idiot!
Just thinking about it, my temper flared up immediately.
“You must be Samuel Rockwell, the man my father set me up with, right?”
“You won’t even let me finish speaking before dismissing me. Doesn’t that seem… rather ill-mannered?”
My words drew a scoffing laugh from him.
“Manners?”
“Why don’t you get yourself a mirror? Do you really think you deserve me?”
He gave me a dismissive once-over.”My father must be crazy. Why would I marry… well, frankly, a bit of a delicate vase?”
The cabin exploded with shocked reactions again.
“Wait, she’s Mr. Rockwell’s fiancée? That’s unbelievable!”
“A country bumpkin like her dreaming of marrying into wealth? She should look in a mirror!”
“Mr. Rockwell is every woman’s dream man in Baycrest. I, Sophia Laurent, formally object to this match!”
As the murmurs swelled around us, I was momentarily stunned.
When did I ever say I wanted to marry him?
Even if I had entertained the idea, it would still require approval from my superiors!
“Alright, alright,” I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender, my voice dripping with icy calm. “I’m the vase.
You’re the noble heir. Understood.”
“Since you
find me unsuitable, I’ll I’ll happily leave. Except…” My tone shifted subtly, sharpened with
-: 12.59
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purpose.”…this seat in first class was specifically reserved by my unit commander through the airline. It’s not simply up for grabs for anyone who fancies it.”
Before the words had fully settled, Zoey leapt forward, venomous.
“You insolent little wretch! How dare you put on airs in front of Mr. Rockwell, huh?”
“The entire plane belongs to the Rockwell family. What claim do you have?”
Ah. Now I truly grasped the depth of “brown-noser.”
“Ms. Williams, I just want to occupy the seat assigned to me. Who owns the plane is utterly irrelevant to that request.”
Samuel’s expression soured instantly at my resistance. He whipped out his phone.
“It’s just a first-class ticket, isn’t it? I’ll pay you ten times the price!”
“Here! A hundred grands! Now disappear, before I tire of the sight of you!”
A cold smile touched my lips.
“Well then,” I said, feigning reluctance. “Since Mr. Rockwell is being so… generous, how can I refuse?”
Just as I turned to leave, Zoey’s voice shrieked behind me.
“You little bitch, stop!”
I paused, slowly turning back.
“What? Have you changed your mind?”
A nasty smirk twisted her mouth as she leaned in and whispered something into Samuel’s ear.
The effect was instant. The face of Baycrest’s youngest billionaire clouded over with thunderous fury.
“Sterling!” He thundered, his voice vibrating with outrage. “You dared to lay hands on my people?!”
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