Affair With The Arrogant CEO

A few days after Ethan’s announcement. Isabella and her sister were doing some last minute shopping for her trip to Rome. “Let’s see, I’ve already packed my sunglasses, deodorant, plenty of socks--”

“Sounds like an old lady’s suitcase. Where’s the lingerie in this place?” Hannah looks around the huge mall. “That’d just be money down the drain at this point. We’re going on a business trip to meet up with his fiancee and stay at the Jason’s villa. Not to mention the fact that I’ve been avoiding him since our big fight.”

“You’re avoiding him? But, why?” Hannah asked her. “Cause I have no idea what to say! Last time I tried to confront him, it didn’t exactly went well.” Isabella thought back on that night in her apartment, her face flushing at the thought of him smirking at her from between her legs. “Hah! Details.”

Isabella rolls her eyes, it was clear that Hannah doesn’t understand. “Look, Hannah I need you to back off. I know you’re just trying to be supportive, but this whole thing is hard enough without the extra pressure.” Hannah nods as she smiled. “Say no more. I’ve got your back, even if that means shutting the hell up for once. But you still owe it to yourself to look amazing on that nine hour flight.”

Hannah pulls her into one of her favourite stores. It only takes her few minutes to find a complete outfit for Isabella to try it on. “Imagine yourself relaxing in Tuscany with glass of wine in one hand while a gorgeous man feeds you grapes.” Isabella chuckles, already imagining it happening. “Is that what happens when you wear a trendy outfit in Rome?” She offers Isabella an outfit. “Wear this and find out.” Isabella shakes her head. “Cute outfit, but I think I’m just going to stick with my usual.”

Hannah shrugs it off and hangs the outfit back. “That’s fair. Comfort is an absolute must on transatlantic flights.” Isabella spent the afternoon hanging out with Hannah, trying not to think too hard about the journey she’s about to take.

The next day...

She enters the Grayson’s private jet meticulously avoiding Ethan’s gaze. The flight attendant hurriedly came and welcomed before she got dismissed by Ethan. “I hope the accommodations are to your liking, Isabella.” She looked at him, giving him a tight lip smile and nodded. She looks away and slipped into a seat across the aisle from him, still trying to adjust to traveling in such luxury.

Soon, the plane takes off, and she settle in for the nine-hour flight. It was time to pretend like he wasn’t sitting just few feet away from her.

She flips open a magazine from the airport kiosk. “What has you so absorbed over there?” He interrupts her reverie. “Oh, nothing. Just some mindless reading.” She muttered briskly. “I’m not sure there is such a thing.” She turns to look at him, really look at him for the first time in days. “You’re talking to me now?” She asks and he gives her an amused look. “Last time I checked, you were the one avoiding me. I’ve tried to talk to you several times over the last few days.”

“I wasn’t avoiding you. I was simply getting ready for our trip.” She defended. “I know. That’s why I let it slide. But now that we’re stuck together for a while... let’s just say, I asked the flight attendant to make sure she doesn’t interrupt us for the first leg of our journey.” Isabella glared at him. “What if I don’t want to talk to you?”

“That’s certainly your prerogative. I won’t force you, Isabella.” He assured her and then looked away. She purposefully turn away lifting her magazine to block him out. She flips to the next page and see a full page spread of her at the charity gala, standing near Ethan. “Ohmygod! Ethan, have you seen this?” She could swear her jaw dropped down the floor. “I told you that you were a big hit that night. Even the press thinks so.” She looks at herself again. She still couldn’t believe she was looking at herself standing next to a billionaire like they were a couple. “I can’t believe I made the tabloids. Its a good thing that didn’t let cameras inside the gala. That could’ve been embarrassing.” She heaved a sigh of relief. What if someone caught them that night?

“Would it have been so bad? I’m not embarrassed about anything that happened that night.” He confessed, not regretting what happened between them. “Aren’t you?” She asked , raising a brow out of curiosity. “Absolutely not. I may regret how some things were handled about the fact, but nothing that happened that night. Or the night after, for that matter.” He spoke nonchalantly.