We stare at them. I didn’t know what phrases like ‘sky priority’ on the ticket or the ‘PREM’ under my seat number meant, but the single-digit seat assignment gave it away. My eyes see it, but my brain is having issues processing it.
“First Class?” I murmur timidly. “How?”
We turned left toward our new seats. “Axel!” they announce, looking at me like I’m an idiot.
“Damn, Heaven. Never has you opening your legs eveeeer benefited me so much!” Latoya gushes as she settles into the plush leather seat to the right of me with a sigh. “The free meals and drinks, the cabana, and now this posh ass ride home…” she trails off as she starts playing with all the little extras.
“It pains me to say it, but I agree with Latoya. This is awesome.” Keri smiles across the aisle from me. “You need to call him and thank him.”
Latoya interjects, “No! You need to call him and set up another booty call. If he fucks like that and gives gifts like this, we need him in our life.”
I roll my eyes and pull out my phone. I stare at the display for ten minutes and dismay settles in my belly. I don’t have his phone number.
* * *
Axel
“Fuck me, Axel. Right here. Right now. On top of your desk.” Her brown eyes are wild and pleading.
She pouts her slightly full lips when I don’t move. I take in the white body contouring dress, the lack of a bra, spiky heels, and her new hairstyle of sleek bangs and straight, shoulder-length hair. She looks stunning. I look down at the front of my pants to get my sidekick’s opinion. I imagine him saying, “meh” and curling back up on my sac for a nap.
If he’s not naturally interested, then I’m out. Sure, she could come over and rub him or put him in her mouth to get things going, but I’m not into that. I love being able to get hard just from seeing the woman or thinking about the things I want to do to her. She used to do that for me, but not anymore. My brain and sidekick have moved on to the next.
I’d returned from Hawaii six weeks ago. I don’t know why she thought it was a good idea to waltz back into my life after leaving me without a word. After all I’ve done for her, her ungrateful ass couldn’t even be bothered to text me. She’s given me plenty of time to get over her. I text my driver to come up. I’m putting her back on a plane as soon as he arrives.
“Janet, get off my desk,” I order, before turning back to my files. “Why are you here?” I didn’t bother looking up. I continued to flip through the contract for Mr. Pafuti.
“For you, Axel,” she coos with false sincerity. “We were good together.”
I sigh deep because I don’t have patience for bullshit. “No, you are here to see if you can seduce me. To see if I still care.” I shake my head. “You don’t have to hike up your skirt to get the answer.”
“Axel,” she whines as a warning. Just like she used to do right before she had an epic conniption.
“Janet,” I mimic her. I don’t give a fuck what she does anymore. Paulo is on the way to get her. He knows her antics well enough to bring security with him.
“Stop playing hard to get. You still want me.” Her confidence is wavering.
“Not even a little bit.” I hold my fingers so close together they start to turn white.
Her porcelain skin reddens with anger. “It’s because ofher.Isn’t it?”
“Who?” I know exactly who she’s talking about.
Apparently, the paparazzi was in Hawaii as I’d originally guessed. Instead of rushing me and asking me stupid questions all day, they’d laid low and took a butt load of pictures of Heaven and me. They’d even gotten my epic goodbye kiss at the airport on film. It makes me miss her and not miss her at the same time. The photos allow me to see her, but I can’t touch, taste, or talk to her. Periodically, I’d see a headline with us. I’ve saved them all. I was stupid to not get any contact information. I’ve searched for Heaven Lee all over and nothing.
I’d even moved to my second favorite resort for the last week just to change my scenery. I was right. It was no fun without her.
“You know who!” Janet yells, reminding me of her existence. She grabs a magazine out of her oversized Louis Vuitton and flips to the gossip section. She thrusts the glossy page in my face. “The black bitch you’re all over in these photos.”
Damn.Cabana day—the picture in question was the moment I’d grabbed her luscious ass. My sidekick stirred at the thought. See, that’s the attraction I need. The headline read “Surf Mogul Eloped?” I smile to myself, now I’m married? She is steadily gaining a more respectful title. The first one I’d seen labeled her as a secret flame, then a fling, then my baby momma, and now she’s my wife.
“What’s her name?” Janet demands, her voice rising with each word. She is very put off by the smile on my lips.
“NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS!” I yell back. The remnants of patience for Janet clinging for life on the edge of my brain vanished instantly.
Oh, Lord. Welcome to the Janet show. I watch as her face scrunches up to squeeze out tears. Her lips quiver, and the ‘you’re so mean; chant joins the party. I used to grab her at this point to calm her down. I used to try to appease her. I used to tell her that I don’t like to see her cry. If all else failed, I would rip off her clothes and bury myself inside of her.
Today? I lick my finger and flip the page of the contract. She magically stops crying when I grab a Post-it to place a note then flip the page, again. I look up and find her studying me quietly.
