“Ending on an exotic island, no less.A whole weekend of forgetting about the world out there and just indulging in all your desires.”Xia nudged her in the side.“I’m happy for you.You’ve been working too hard and deserve the time off.But damn!I’m jealous as hell.I have to work the entire time.”
“Not twenty-four-seven, you don’t.From what Luke has said, the staff get play time once we reach the island.It’s only on the plane that you tend bar the entire flight.”
Xia’s eyes glimmered at the prospect.“Well, there’s one Dom I definitely would flutter my eyelashes at,” she said dreamily as a vision of Rex Oliver in black leathers and vest flashed through her mind.
“Best cast that one aside, girlfriend,” Cheri said knowingly.“According to Luke, the CDS Masters have a very strict code of no involvement with their inflight staff.”
“Well, since I’m not permanent, and only here for the maiden flight as an additional bartender, I don’t fit that criteria,” she said with a stubborn tilt of her chin.
“I’m afraid Rex Oliver won’t see it as such.For as long as he pays you a salary, even for one weekend’s worth of work, you’re one of his staff members.”
“Well, that sucks bear balls,” she grumbled as they approached the stairs where a small group of people were gathered, all dressed in the same outfit she was wearing.“I guess this is my stop.”She smiled at Cheri.“It’s going to be so much fun for you.A masked ball and kink thirty-five thousand feet in the air...what a combination, right?”
“I daresay you will have your fair share of fun.”Cheri adjusted the white mask that covered most of her face and was designed to match the nurses’ outfit she wore.“I’m glad about the mask, though, since I might run into high-powered investors of the hospital.”
“There’s no shame in practicing your kink, Cheri.You taught me that.”
“You’re right, but since the hospital just changed ownership, I need to tread carefully.”She squeezed Xia’s arm.“Don’t fixate on Rex and not play at all.I can’t think of a better way to get rid of all the stress that has been riding your shoulders for the past six plus months.”
“Believe me, if any of those sexy Doms we watched arriving beckons a finger at me, I’d be by his side within the blink of an eye.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Ms.Foster,” a stern voice cut Xia’s intended response short.“Please join us.I don’t appreciate tardiness on this plane, and you are now two minutes late for the preboard meeting.”
“Wow, two minutes,” she muttered under her breath as she joined the team with an apologetic smile at the stern man watching her with unflinching discontent.In the overhead light, he appeared dark and dangerous...almost animalistic.
Xia wasn’t being insolent since coming from the corporate world, she always expected people to respect time schedules.But to be reprimanded for two minutes?On the other hand, that proved Rex Oliver and the rest of the CDS Masters took their clubs seriously and effectively respected their members’ time by ensuring their employees stuck to the rules.Obviously, being on time was at the top of the list.
Frowning, she watched the man covertly.Apart from her dress code, which identified her as one of the inflight personnel, he knew who she was.
How the devil does he know my name?
“I’m Master Coop, general manager of the CDS group.”His deep voice trumpeted over the quietness of the tarmac, immediately silencing the muted twittering of the group.“I will be watching your performance very closely during this trip.As explained to you when you signed your contracts, we have a strict code of conduct and expect all the inflight staff to adhere to all rules and protocols, thereby ensuring the optimal experience for our members.If you break any of the rules, your employment ends immediately, and you will be flown back to Louisiana upon landing on the island.I trust you all took the time to study the folder you received.”
Xia quickly racked her brain.From the research she had done, Cooper Baxter wasn’t just the GM for the group; he was also well known as an Angel Investor who specialized in turning failing companies into successful businesses.She was becoming more impressed by the Club Decadent Skies Group by the minute.She fiddled with her fingers as she listened to the muted complaints about the folder that took them days to work through.
Xia’s shoulders turned stiff with stress.She had only skimmed through the file as her reasoning that she had been in the lifestyle for many years and was familiar with all the ins and outs of BDSM club expectations had been sound.Perhaps she should’ve spent more time with it since the GM of CDS appeared to be pedantic about protocols and rules for a sex club in the sky.
Of course, dumbass.This isn’t about a sex club.This is about being an employee.You should know better than anyone how important that is!
Guilt at how disrespectful she had been toward the CDS group turned her shoulders hollow.She could never thank Rex Oliver enough for suggesting her as a potential candidate to Axel Sullivan, a businessman who was one of the most revered self-made billionaires in the States.Landing the job as the marketing executive for the new Louisiana Aloha Resort Casino was as unexpected as it was exciting...except her employment only kicked off in two months, meaning she couldn’t afford to screw up this gig—another big opportunity she had Rex to thank for.
It seemed he had become her savior, and she repaid him by not taking the inflight staff’s rules and protocol seriously.
Time had come to shake off this constant feeling of failure, especially since her life had taken a turn, something for which she was eternally grateful.Yes, it was two months away, but the money she was earning on this trip would carry her through if she spent it carefully.
Maybe, if she knocked this gig out of the park, Rex might even offer her more opportunities over the next two months.
Her lips twitched into an evil grin.Yes.It’ll give me time to make him see I’m the woman for him...just like I’ve decided he’s the man for me.
Except you’ll be moving to Hawaii for the big part of two years.Not really conducive to catching the man...so to speak.
Xia preferred to ignore the voice in her head.She had made up her mind.Rex Oliver was her future husband.
Come hell or high water...
