During our call, it was clear Rowan knew nothing of what might be going on with Rue’s bosses. Thank fuck. Because the second Rowan catches wind, that’ll be it. He’ll be interrogating them in his office, spotlight in their faces, lie detector test ready…
I shake that thought away. No point worrying over things that might not happen.
Now I’ve got two hours before my flight boards, I should be doing something productive, but I find myself swiping over the last messages in my new group chat.
I send a quick picture of the planes on the asphalt, and even though it’s 3 AM, I note Sylvan’s seen it.
But he doesn’t reply.
I swipe out, trying not to dwell on it as I pull out my laptop and dive into my emails.
***
“Boarding pass?”
I hold it out to the air hostess with my passport. I’m all nervous smiles, like she’s about to tell me I can’t board because I’ve done something wrong.
So when she frowns, my heart races.
“We already called for first class, miss.” She looks at me with a tight smile. “Did you not hear the call?”
“No… I mean, yes, but I’m not in first class…”
She turns the boarding pass to me, and there, in bold black writing, are the words ‘first class’ with my name underneath.
“It says it here.” She sounds bored as she slips it back into my passport and starts ushering me along. “Please hurry up, everyone is already seated in that class.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she’s already talking to the next person. That’s okay, I’ll just tell someone on the plane there’s been a mistake…
There hasn’t been a mistake.
But this staff member isn’t annoyed at my delayed boarding, not when I explain I didnotbuy a first-class ticket. He said sometimes people are randomly upgraded if it means they can sell more economy tickets, which sounds… reasonable, I suppose.
I follow him into first class and keep following him to… there’s an upstairs on this plane?
The lighting is much softer up here, the walls clad in a padded material, and as we walk down the LED-lit path by other pods, I realise something.
“Is this… Is everyone here an omega?” I ask quietly, noticing some ‘do not disturb’ signs on pod doors.
He nods, still smiling. “You’d be surprised how often this happens—an omega being ‘randomly’ upgraded to first class.” He stops at a pod, sliding the door open for me.
Thick fur throws cover a circular chair adorned with fluffy cushions. It’s big enough for three large people.
“This is yours, Ms Monroe. If you need anything, there’s a button on the console where you can make requests. The WiFi code is there.” He points to a small bronze plaque above the screen. “Is there anything I can bring you?”
“Erm…” My gaze darts over the cosy space, noting the mini fridge and a glass of champagne bubbling in the corner. “No, thank you.”
I slip into the seat, clutching my bag for some sense of normalcy as he slides my pod door into place.
“What the fuck…” I whisper, running my fingers over the soft throw.
Then I reach for my phone. I can’t wait to tell Margret. She won’t believe me, she’ll—
My gaze darts to the notification at the top of the screen. I tap it.
Sylvan: I upgraded your seat.
Sylvan: Should I have asked first?
