Kylee blinked. “Me?” She laughs
He nodded. “Rio sent us.”
She climbed the steps like she was in a daze, her pulse pounding in her ears. The moment she stepped inside, she was hit with the rich scent of leather and the soft glow of custom lighting. This wasn’t flying, this was floating in a dream.
A flight attendant handed her a sleek black envelope. Inside was a $2,000 gift card and a handwritten note:
Idaho,
I’ll have a driver waiting when you land. Go buy something that makes you feel sexy.
Something that reminds you who you are.
He’ll take you to where you’re staying.
I’ll be there. Waiting.
♥ R”
Her hands shook as she reread the words. This was real. She was in the sky, in a private jet, with Rio Riot waiting for her on the other end.
And suddenly, every part of her life in Idaho felt very far away.
Kylee’s heart pounded as the sleek private jet’s door opened, the warm Los Angeles sun flooding her senses like a promise or a dare. She stepped down the glossy stairs, the roar of the city buzzing softly beneath the hum of the jet engines fading behind her.
Everything felt surreal: the smooth leather of her carry-on, the sharp scent of expensive cologne wafting from nearby, the flash of cameras somewhere out of sight, like a world meant for someone else.
A driver in a sharp black suit was already waiting, nodding politely as she approached. He took her bags with a gentleefficiency and opened the back door of a sleek black car. Kylee hesitated a moment, the weight of everything pressing on her, the luxury, the secrecy, the pull of something thrilling and dangerous just ahead.
Sliding into the cool leather seat, she glanced back up at the jet one last time before the door closed behind her. The card she’d found in her bag fluttered lightly on her lap:“I’ll be waiting for you. Go get yourself something sexy.”
The city rolled out before her through the window bright, wild, and alive. And for the first time in a long time, Kylee felt the air that taste like fire.
The sleek black car glided smoothly through the bustling streets of Los Angeles, the city’s energy seeping in through the tinted windows as Kylee settled into the plush leather seat. The driver, a polished man with a calm demeanor, pulled up first to a high-end boutique, its gleaming storefront a siren call to anyone who loved luxury.
Kylee stepped out, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. Inside, racks of designer clothes and sparkling accessories awaited her, each piece whispering promises of transformation. She tried on several stunning outfits: a sleek black dress that hugged her curves perfectly, a silk blouse with delicate embroidery, and shoes that made her legs look endless. The driver patiently waited as she picked, changed, and debated, the gift card burning a hole in her purse but inviting indulgence.
Once back in the car, Kylee couldn’t resist calling Kelly. Her voice was breathless, a mix of exhilaration and disbelief. “Kelly, you won’t believe what’s happening. They’re taking me all over the city to designer shops, shoes, everything. It’s like a dream.”
Kelly’s laughter crackled through the speaker, electric with excitement. “Girl, are you kidding me? This is insane! Did you tell Jake you’re coming alone?”
Kylee smirked, feeling a thrill she hadn’t in ages. “Hell no. I told him you were coming, that you won the tickets. So, just go along with the story.”
Kelly whooped on the other end. “Yes! That’s how we do it. Keep him guessing, babe. Keep him guessing.”
The city passed by in a blur of sunshine and luxury as Kylee smiled to herself, the weight of her old life falling away one fabulous purchase at a time.
The car slowed to a stop in front of an imposing mansion nestled behind tall iron gates, its grand facade gleaming in the California sun.
The driver turned to Kylee with a polite nod. “This is where you’ll be staying.”
Kylee’s breath caught. The sheer size and elegance of the place made her stomach flutter with a mix of awe and disbelief. She stepped out, her heels clicking on the driveway as she hesitated at the massive front door.
Before she could gather her thoughts, the door swung open and there he was. Rio, leaning casually against the frame, a slow, knowing smile playing across his lips.
“Idaho,” he said softly, eyes sparkling. “I’m so happy to see you.”
She blinked, still stunned. “This... this is your home?”
