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“Thank you,” she says quietly, and hangs up before I can say anything else.
My heart and stomach are somersaulting and I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. One thing I do know, though, is that we’re going to have the best weekend ever.
CHAPTER19
CANDICE
Maybe this is normal for billionaires, but I’ve never been in a helicopter before, and even less a private one with my family brand slapped all over it. I didn’t exactly need transport out here, but Aiden offered his helicopter, and though I probably should have refused because I’m still making my point about independence and this being a business transaction only, I’ve always wanted to ride in a helicopter. And the opportunity doesn’t come round every day, does it?
I watch the outskirts of Olympus City fade into dirt and get dryer and dryer as we fly out further, to the center of the state. I’m transfixed the whole time, staring down at our shadow as it crosses over a landscape that looks barren and inhospitable, though it clearly is not as I spot a few plants and animals.
The pilot yells into my headset that we’re coming in to land soon and points towards a body of water that is startlingly lush and green compared to the arid world around it. I won’t admit this to Aiden, but I’m really excited to be here.
Not because of him. Because this place looks awesome.He’sa necessary evil.
The helicopter starts its descent, and the greenery of trees rushes towards us, growing and growing until the grasses are blowing wildly under the rotors, waving like they’re about to get uprooted. The touchdown is a little shaky, but as the engine whirs to a halt, the pilot jumps out and opens the door, offering his hand to help me down.
I take it and thank him, glad that my feet are back on solid ground. Then I look up and see Aiden waiting for me.
He does a little wave, smiling like he’s trying to stop himself, and walks towards me. “How was the journey?” he asks, voice raised so he can be heard over the helicopter. He holds out his hand as if to take my bag, but all I brought was a backpack, which I sling over my shoulder.
It’s important to play this cool enough that he won’t get the wrong idea. “It was fine.”
“First time in a chopper?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
“Exciting, isn’t it? It’s so awesome seeing the world so small underneath. Come on, I’ll walk you to the hotel.”
As we walk away from the landing site, I kick myself internally. I made three promises to myself before I left. One: I would not weaken and start to find Aiden attractive again. Two: I would not let his floppy hair and fake innocence charm me. Three: I would judge him fairly to decide if this could work, but I wouldn’t get attached.
I’ve already broken one and two.
That’s okay; plenty of things get off to a bad start. I still have time to recover my senses.
The hotel is only a ten-minute walk away — in fact, the whole settlement isn’t that large; and you could walk around the entire lake and still go for a hike. That doesn’t stop it being gorgeous. As we get into the village, the paths are lined with rugged trees that sway gently against the calm, bright blue sky.
I could get used to a place like this. It’s the definition of tranquil. All I can hear is a few bugs, a few birds, the rustling of leaves. The only traffic noise is one guy zooming past us on his moped. It really makes you remember how big and busy the city is when you come to a place like this where there aren’t any advertising billboards or impatient drivers or drunk people screaming outside your window in the early hours of the morning.
If anything, Aiden and I are the anomalies, here to cause a disturbance with our tourism. We are so lucky to be here.
“Thank you,” he says, interrupting the quiet of our walk.
I open my mouth and shut it again, not sure how to articulate that I was thinking of saying the same thing. “What for?”
“Coming.”
“I’d have to be stupid to pass up the opportunity to come to a place like this,” I say, gesturing all around us.
“Yeah,” he says, and if I didn’t know better I’d say the downcast look he gives me is one of disappointment. “Thank you for coming with me.”
I brush off the comment with an awkward smile and grunt of recognition. He sticks out his hand towards me in a way that definitely meansplease hold itbut is subtle enough that I can pretend not to notice. So that’s exactly what I do.
Rule four: I won’t feel sorry for him, even if he pouts. We’re here on business.
“Here we are,” he says as the hotel comes into view. The building is incongruously modern and bright and lit up with a neon sign that is nothing short of obnoxious. “After you.”
Clinging to the straps of my backpack, I take the lead and slide through the automatic doors. I’m greeted with a blast of cold air so strong it blows my hair into my face. I didn’t think I’d need a jacket, but it looks like I was wrong.
