Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Poppy: I just want to get to the fun part now, like my "personal" flight attendant telling me that the amenity kit is something I can keep!
Poppy: I mean, how do they even make money if they give stuff like this for free?
Poppy: And I think it's by some famous designer. I don't even know how to read it. That's proof it's expensive, right? Oh, and it has my initials monogrammed, too!!!
Poppy: Did I mention the champagne's free-flowing?
Poppy: And that I can have a shower while onboard?
Poppy: She also gave me loungewear and slippers!
Poppy: It's like a hotel with wings. It's so surreal.
Valerian: It will be even better when I get my jet back. Give me six months, and I promise you'll be a member of the mile-high club.
Fire burst in her cheeks at Valerian's unexpected reply.
Poppy: OKAY.
Poppy had already hit Send before realizing she had no idea why she had even typed the whole word in uppercase. Aargh!
Maria came by her seat and asked if she wanted to try the buffet spread in the lounge bar.
"Do you mean when we touch down?"
"No, Ms. Cortez. We have a lounge in the back." Maria quickly suppressed her smile as the younger woman clapped her hands over her mouth.
"Seriously?"
This girl was a treasure, Maria thought fondly. Her every reaction was genuine, and she didn't seem to have a single entitled bone in her whole body.
"I can't believe this is all complimentary," Poppy exclaimed as she happily sampled the wide selection of hors d'oeuvres on display. "Can I take some of them home? No? Just kidding."
Maria and the others were still laughing when Poppy's phone buzzed in her pocket.
Valerian: I know. I can't wait either.
A mixture of shock, embarrassment, and helpless desire had Poppy's fingers suddenly turning to jelly, and her phone fell on the carpeted floor with a muted thud. As she bent down to pick up her phone, Poppy heard an unexpectedly familiar voice addressing her.
"It's you, isn't it? The one who works for my ex-boyfriend?"
Poppy schooled her features as she rose to her feet. It was Camelia, of course, and her stomach twisted in unease when she glimpsed the malice in the other woman's gaze. The sooner I'm out of her hair, Poppy thought, the better.
"Hello, Ms. Blanchard."
"Pippi, isn't it?"
Poppy only nodded, having no interest in being baited. But just as she turned away, the other woman's fingers curled around her arm, and Poppy almost winced as Camelia's nails dug into her flesh.
“I saw in the news that Valerian’s here doing business. Are you flying to meet with him?”
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that, Ms. Blanchard.”
Camelia turned to the flight crew surrounding them with an incredulous laugh. “This girl works for my ex-boyfriend. But she’s neither his doctor or lawyer. She only trims his hair every few weeks, but here she is, invoking client confidentiality. Crazy, isn’t it?”
Maria and the others knew they were being expected to laugh. But none of them did.
Camelia’s lip curled when she realized what was happening. “How cute. You’re all taking her side. But would you still do that when you find out this girl has had the hots for my ex even when we were still together?”
Poppy paled. “Ms. Blanchard—”
“If you’re planning to apologize, don’t bother. I even told him he was free to hook up with you. Did he tell you that?” Camelia’s contemptuous gaze raked Poppy from head to toe. “I never imagined he’d sink so low to actually do it, though. He must be so depressed—”
“He’s not—”
“And you think you know him better than I do, when I’ve been with him for years?”
“I only know what I’ve personally observed. And what I saw was a man who’s been tirelessly working to turn things around, not for himself but for the thousands of people relying on him to keep a roof over their heads—”
Camelia clapped her hands in a mocking gesture of appreciation. “That’s very sweet.” She should've known this slut had the same holier-than-thou attitude that she occasionally glimpsed and despised so much in Valerian. "You look up to him while the whole world sees the same things I do. Valerian’s a loser, Pippi. That’s why I threw him away. Valerian’s a loser now. He has nothing to offer—”
"I'm sorry you see things that way," Poppy said softly, "but I'm not with him because of what he can give me."
Vitriol unlike nothing Camelia had ever felt consumed her out of the blue. I hate this bitch so fucking much.
And before she knew it, Camelia had already raised her hand.
Just one slap.
All this girl needed was one solid slap of reality to get her back to her senses and realize what Camelia had known all along. Being good and honorable meant shit in this world.
Her hand started to swing down, but someone caught her wrist from behind.