5

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 2Y7 with service from San Francisco to Maldives. We are currently second in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately five minutes time. The approximate time for departure is 10:15am, and we are expected to arrive the Maldives at 16:30pm tomorrow. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts–"

"Why didn't you say you felt cold?" Cole asked me immediately I held my jacket and fastened my belt.

I raised my head to meet his eyes but even as he waited for my answer, his eyes were glued to the retreating figure of an air hostess. I shook my head and cleared my throat noisily.

He glanced back at me, blatantly oblivious to his errors. I gave a soft sigh and answered, "I always say it, but you like setting the temperature low. Also," I gestured at the lady and continued in lower tones, "it would be very advantageous to us if we try to pretend to be in love during this vacation."

"Of course, I know that," he responded.

That includes no messing around with other women, or even staring at them for too long. Everyone here has a phone here, Cole," I pointed out and turned to open the window as I tuned back into the announcement.

"...tronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Delta Airlines. Enjoy your flight."

Soon the plane began to move and I leaned back, prepare to enjoy the royal treatment that came from flying in first class. I looked around at the empty seats and felt a thrill run through me, Cole had paid for the whole lounge in a bid to ensure his privacy and ultimate comfort thus leaving just the two of us in the section.

I reminded myself every day to accept as much as I could, and try not to get my hopes up. Christmas did not come everyday for people like me, and ten months from now, life as a nobody would resume.

Maybe not as a nobody. Five hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money, but compared to Cole's net worth, it was peanuts. So even if the investment deal–the reason for this sham–fell through, he could walk away safely. But not me. The media would burn me to the ground.

After a few minutes, he leaned towards me and whispered, "What if this does not work out?" The plane had just left the ground and my insides still felt funny, so my lips were turned up as I tried to calm myself down by smiling.

I shifted my gaze and looked at him quizzically. His hand was tucked under his chin, the elbow resting on the seat's armrest and I watched as he flipped a loose strand of his gelled hair to the back of his head.

"I do not know. But it is worth a try," I replied, unable to decipher his thoughts. He wore an amused expression, but his black pupils looked so stormy as they threatened to bore into my soul. Hastily, I looked away and heard him chuckle.

With Cole Winston, you never knew.

After a while, I freshened up and patiently waited for brunch to be served. From gathered knowledge, I knew that first class passengers were entitled to four meals in twenty-four hours, a mid-morning snack inclusive.

Soon, a pretty air hostess who looked a bit like me approached us, holding two menus in her hand.

"Good day Sir. Good day Ma. Here are your menus for the mid-day snack. Today, we'll be offering a variety of dishes including–"

I began to nod absently as she talked on, tuning her out the second she put the paper in my hands. Within seconds, I found the one I wanted and pointed at it ready to send her on my way.

But she and Cole were already deep in a conversation that had nothing to do with food nor the flight. I cleared my throat and handed her my menu, maintaining eye contact with her. "I will have this, thank you."

He handed her his as well, turning back to watch her go. I rolled my eyes and rooted out my headphones, quite tired of seeing his actions.

The girl came back after a few minutes, and I could swear her skirt was a inch higher. She bent down to serve us, paying special attention to Cole as she continued to rearrange the setting of his plate.

Ignoring them, I dug into my food and hit play on the K-drama I was watching currently: All of us are dead. I had waited too long for the film's premiere and was still giddy with excitement and quite frankly, way more interested in the meal than their silly flirting.

She sauntered away a few minutes later with a sheepish grin on her face, seconds after inputting her contact details on his phone. The details I watched him save with 'Flight attendant 5'. I shook my head and hissed under my breath at the very unoriginal title, feeling pity for the girls who waited for his call.

I paused episode one, recalling a statement Cole made in his office two years ago. He had just finished from a meeting, when a bouquet of flowers arrived at his desk.

"With Love. From Jane," I read out the card attached to it, and looked at him for confirmation.

"Jane? Oh, the flight hostess," he chuckled and crossed his legs, glancing at the card. He threw it to the side, and handed the flowers to me.

"You can keep them. They are of no use to me."

Back then, I had just started working directly with him so I had no first-hand experience of his dealings with women. So I shook my head and naively replied, "Sir, what about her?"

"It was one night of pleasure and nothing more. If she felt more, sorry for her," he responded harshly and put the flowers in my hand. "Water them, or watch them die. Whichever you want. Now where did we stop?"

Now, I knew this air hostess would end up that way too, falling for the idea of a perfect gentleman who in reality, only believed in one night pleasures.