Page 14 of The Fool

“Ah-ha,” she says.

“What?”

“Well, I think all three of them would bang you right now,” she laughs, “but none more so than your asshole of a boss. This is why I love being a biker chick, you get to look as sexy as hell but can flip them the bird before riding off into the sunset…or rise.”

“Whatever, I’m done. You ok to get me on Friday morning?” I ask with a frustrated sigh, to which she simply nods. “Cool, I’ll text you with the flight number. Thanks, Leah.”

As soon as she rides off, I start my anxious walk over to the three men waiting for me. Nick and Sam are smiling, whereas the boss who was apparently so interested in me, looks aghast over my choice of clothing today.

“Fuck me, is that you, Beatrice Summers?” Nick calls over at the same time as removing his designer sunglasses. He looks me up and down while emitting a wolf whistle, consequently making me want to go and jump in a hole somewhere. I’ve had more than my fill of being the center of attention in this lifetime.

“Wow, Bea,” Sam says while smiling, “you look so…so different.”

“It’s just a jacket and a pair of jeans,” I mutter with embarrassment, “I wear less when I’m at work. I thought we were expected to dress casually today.”

“Correct, Miss Summers, though I do hope you have packed something more appropriate to wear,” Nathaniel growls at me. “We have a lot of important meetings this coming week, and ‘rough biker chick’ doesn’t really say professional, does it?”

Sam’s mouth drops open at the same time as Nick rolls his eyes and begins wheeling his bag toward the entrance. At least their reaction confirms I’m not reading too much into his attitude; they can see it too.

“Don’t worry, Mr Carter,” I reply with my fake smile in place, “I have packed accordingly.”

“Good,” is all he can answer me with. “Let’s go and check in; we’re running behind now,” he says while looking at me accusingly. Sam’s eyes glare at me with a ‘what-the-fuck-is-his-problem?’expression, but I ignore it and fall into step. We’re soon trailing behind Nathaniel and Nick like little children following their parents.

____

Bea

I was shocked when I heard Cameron had spent out on first-class tickets for Sam and me, but now that I’m here, I am beyond grateful. There’s space to stretch out all your limbs, as well as complimentary champagne. Nathaniel and Nick seem to take it all in their stride, but Sam and I can’t help but grin with giddy excitement. Let’s face it, I’m never going to experience this ever again, so I might as well make the most of it.

“Beatrice, darling, do you mind sitting with me?” Nick asks with a seductive grin plastered on his face.

“Er…”

“No!” Nathaniel snaps. “I need to talk to you about strategies, Nick. Miss Summers can sit with Sam.”

I frown over the fact that I am always called ‘Miss Summers’, but the men are referred to by their Christian names.

However, I’m secretly relieved that I get to sit next to Sam, so I let it go. I think I would have felt uncomfortably intimidated sitting next to either Nathaniel or Nick during a long-haul flight to London. Without further ado, Sam and I take the opportunity to leave our bosses behind and take our seats on the other side of the cabin.

“Thank God,” Sam says what I’m thinking, “we can talk freely over here. No watching what we are saying in front of the managers!” I bulge my eyes in complete agreement with him. “Plus, your boss is a real jerk when he’s around you.”

“Is it that noticeable?”

“Oh yeah, everyone on our floor knows he’s a real piece of work with you,” he says matter of factly. “Lucky you!”

“Yeah, lucky me indeed!” I reply with a long, sad sigh.

As soon as I sit down in my luxury plane seat, I take out my phone to switch it onto flight mode. Before I do so, I notice an unread message from Finn and scowl at it. I’m still peeved at him for ditching me last night, especially after I had told him about Nathaniel being such a dick of a boss. Leah had wound me up even further by ranting on about friends needing to have your back. Ben tried to defend Finn, but only because he’s secretly hoping that I’ll end up with him. He knows he can trust him. However, after I told them what Nathaniel had said to me afterward, not even he could defend Finn’s actions.

I feel like a dick for leaving you last night. I can’t believe you’re talking about the same person when you tell me about Nate. He’s such a cool person. I’m sorry though, I was a crap friend. Forgive me? X

I’m not ready to forgive him yet, especially when I see Nathaniel rabbiting away to Nick with his smug face and over-the-top hand gesturing. Instead, I sneer at his message and feel even more pissed with him.

No!

Halfway through the flight, Sam has gone to sleep, and I’ve taken out one of my favorite books if only to calm my nerves after reading Finn’s text message. A seventeenth-century play might not be everyone’s choice of literature, especially when trying to ease your stress, but it’s always been my source of comfort. It had been one of the last plays I had studied before my life went downhill, back when I had hopes and dreams. I scored one of my best marks for an essay I had written about its dark humor and how it compares to that of Shakespeare. I’m so deeply engrossed, I don’t immediately notice Nick standing over me, smiling in his usual charming way.

“There she is,” he grins with his white, straight teeth. He really is quite handsome, but far too flirtatious for my preference. “Apologies, but would you mind switching seats for ten minutes? Nate wants to run through what he needs you to do during our trip.”

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