by Kari Shuey
“No?” he asked, amused. “No, what?”
“I’m not getting on a plane with you to fly who knows where.” Abby folded her arms. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea.
“Come on, Abby. Aren’t you up for a little adventure?” Mr. Saxe had used her first name for the first time since they met. His voice held a teasing note of playful banter, one she was slowly getting used to when he flirted with her.
“Don’t you think you could have had the decency to warn me!?” The biting tone in her own voice made her feel a twinge of guilt. “I mean, seriously Mr. Saxe. I agreed on one date with you, and I don’t want to break that promise-”
“Then don’t.” His simple statement was followed by him opening his door and getting out. She observed him walk over to the other side of the car and open her door. Holding out his hand, his expression was expectant. “We have a reservation I had to call in a few favors for.”
Curious yet cautious, Abby placed her hand in his and he helped her out of the car. He pulled her close for only a moment and whispered, “And don’t call me Mr. Saxe. It’s Gavin.” His warm breath had her skin erupt in goosebumps and she pulled away, the unexpected reaction to him unnerving her.
“We’ll see,” was all she could muster in a comeback. A little voice at the back of her head told her to run or get in the car and demand Windsor take her back home. But shouting over that little voice of reason was the nearly chaotic she-devil announcing let the games begin!
Mr. Saxe walked her to the side of the plane but before they could take the first steps to board, Windsor opened his door. His phone was to his ear and he waved Mr. Saxe to his side. Mr. Saxe turned to her, mumbling something about excusing himself and took a few strides to meet Windsor. Abby watched as his concerned expression turned sour. He grabbed the phone and angrily spoke to whoever was on the other end. Abby could only hear snippets, but she did catch a “handle it” and “do whatever it takes”. Once he was off the phone, he shoved the phone back into Windsor’s hands. They exchanged a few words of frustration and then Windsor nodded and got back in the car. Mr. Saxe turned and made eye-contact with Abby. She couldn’t read him, but the seriousness of his gaze pulled a thread from the tapestry of trust she had woven for him. Sometimes it was easy to forget he was a powerful man with an agenda. He may have had a clean criminal record, he might be innocent of this murder… but there was no doubt his life was built on secrets and influence.
Mr. Saxe approached her with a forced smile. He motioned to the plane as if to say, ‘shall we?’. His hand gently rested on the small of her back as she allowed herself to be led up the stairs and into the private plane. There weren’t many seats, so she assumed this plane was specifically for only a few members flying on business trips or something similar. Mr. Saxe chose a pair of seats facing each other over a small table. The crew shut the door and the pilot announced they would be ready for take-off in about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the sole flight attendant came by and asked about drink requests.
Mr. Saxe looked at Abby and back to the attendant. “We’d just like a few waters, please. Thank you, Anita.”
Anita nodded and smiled flirtatiously with Mr. Saxe. It was as if she didn’t realize he was on a date as she let her fingers lightly graze his shoulders while passing him.
Despite the unease she’d felt observing Mr. Saxe, irritation and jealously sparked within Abby. She didn’t understand why, but when she saw this other girl being a little too chummy with her date, it rubbed her the wrong way. Busying herself with looking out the window instead, she chose to remain aloof until the plane started to move. This constant feeling of being pulled in two directions was wearing on her. The concern of his possible criminal involvement and his romantic intentions conflicted with her heart’s desire to give him a chance. Generally a trusting person, Abby was having a hard time putting Mr. Saxe into the category her friend insisted all rich men belonged.
Anita arrived with some ice waters and placed them carefully on the table before them. She leaned down a little more than was necessary to get in closer proximity to Mr. Saxe. He smiled genuinely up at her and thanked her again. Abby watched all of this, internally criticizing the attendant for trying too hard. The pilot announced they were ready for take-off and would be arriving in New York City at approximately 5:50 P.M. eastern standard time. Abby’s head whipped around, and she stared at Mr. Saxe. They were going to New York City?! The plane was already taxiing out to take off, it was too late to get off now. She’d never been to New York before…
All thoughts of the strange conversation with Windsor and the flirtatious flight attendant abandoned her. Abby couldn’t decide whether she was elated or furious at Mr. Saxe for his deception. Not only did he refuse to tell her their plans for the evening, he left out the important part that they would be flying across state lines.
The plane was in the air now, and they were alone. The attendant was sitting in her chair and the pilot was obviously busy with his duties. Mr. Saxe had been staring at Abby for the better part of half an hour, and Abby wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing what was going through her head. This was not the kind of date she had expected. Dinner? Sure. Movie? Made sense. Flying across the country to go to a fancy restaurant somewhere? Never in a million years.
“Are you going to talk to me yet?” Mr. Saxe was not repentant whatsoever. In fact, he looked right proud of himself and his master plan.
Abby scowled back.
“Just wait, this is going to be so much fun.” His smirk was starting to really get to her.
“How do you know?” She shot back.
Mr. Saxe got up out of his chair and moved to the one right beside her. “Because I love seeing you squirm. You think you have everything figured out. Well, let me tell you something, not everything is going to go according to plan. I figured that out the hard way – a couple of times. So sometimes you just have to throw your hands up in the air and allow yourself to have a little bit of fun. It’s not gonna hurt anyone, and to top it off… you get to have an experience of a lifetime.” He leaned back, studying her, and she was beginning to feel the effect he had on her deepen. He knew exactly what to say to get her to take pause. It didn’t help he was in a nice tuxedo and the mild essence of his cologne was in harmony with everything else about him. He was the perfect kind of predator. Something about him simply drew her in… and before she knew it, she’d become powerless to resist.
Abby wondered if that was how he viewed her. Was she some kind of prize? A trophy or conquest he could put up on his wall and admire? Could there be something more to this infatuation of his? She’d like to hope so, because with each passing second she was finding it harder and harder not to fall into his trap.
Mr. Saxe interrupted her thoughts, as he did quite often at home. “Why did you agree to come out with me? You are obviously fighting something inside you that you find to be of some value. You could have said no…”
Abby considered him for a few minutes. “I accepted in hopes you’d finally give up and see that we are simply not a match. There’s a reason people like me don’t end up with people like you.”
He chuckled. “And why is that?”
“We are simply too different. We’re from different worlds. Our views of those worlds are polar opposites. I can’t fit in yours, and you wouldn’t want to fit in mine.”
“You don’t have any grounds for those assumptions. Maybe I am drawn to you because you fulfill something within me. Some need. Some desire.” He purred. Leaning in a little closer, he reached forward and touched a curl that rested on her shoulder. “And when I need something… I never give up – so don’t plan on it.”
Chapter 11
The lack of small talk during the first half of the flight made for an excruciating trip. Abby felt put on the spot, and as she studied her travel partner, she couldn’t help but feel he was acting smug. Everything in her being wanted to fight against what he was saying and the way he was acting. She didn’t want h
im to win… if there was such a thing. But that wasn’t her only reason for fighting him.
Admittedly he was charming, disciplined, and respectful. She didn’t feel threatened by him in the slightest which surprised her. Mr. Gavin Saxe was a gentleman. So why was she fighting him so much? She pondered if her reasons stemmed from some kind of intuition or if it was simply a fear of it working – or not working? Abby rolled her eyes at her thoughts again. She needed to stop overthinking this whole thing and allow herself to enjoy it.
Turning to her date, Abby cleared her throat. “So, Mr. Saxe. What made you get into the security business?”
He smiled and put down the magazine he was flipping through. “So we get to start the small talk now?”
Abby rolled her eyes again. “Yes… we have another two hours on this plane, might as well make the most of it.”
Rubbing his hands together, Mr. Saxe gleefully perched his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. He had moved back to the seat facing her a while ago and now they were better able to make eye contact during their conversation. “Alright, if that’s the case, I want you to go first. Tell me about yourself. Family? Friends? Why you work in the cleaning industry?”
“Okay… I have a younger brother who lives in Utah right now. My mother lives just out of Boise. I have a few friends who I used to see at work, and a few friends I keep in contact with even though they don’t live nearby. But I have one best friend I have known since college. She’s a journalist. She recently relocated back to Boise so it’s nice to have a really good friend nearby. My dad died when I was a kid, and I helped out around the house a lot – I think that is why I like to clean so much. There is just something so simple about making things like new that gives me a sense of pride. I’m good at it, so why not? And because I found the kind of company who appreciates my work, it pays well enough.” Abby folded her arms, leaned back, and crossed her legs. “Your turn. Why security? What about your family? And… because I bet Windsor is your closest friend… tell me what you like to do.”
Mr. Saxe’s smile left his face for just a second. He looked to be deep in thought, contemplating how he would answer the questions that seemed so simple to Abby. “Well, I don’t have much contact with my folks anymore. We kind of had a falling out. I do have a brother, but he isn’t in the area. I didn’t plan on going into security… in fact I had planned on joining the army when I was in college, but that didn’t work out. This business kind of just fell into my lap. I like it okay, but it wouldn’t have been my first pick. As for my interests? Well, I used to like the outdoorsy stuff. You could usually find me being active outside on the weekends. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to do that kind of stuff in the last couple of years because the company needs me.” He shrugged. “But that’s being a grown-up I guess.” Looking at her pointedly, he continued. “Windsor is a very good friend of mine, in fact we knew each other when I was considering joining the Army… he did, I didn’t but it didn’t hurt our friendship. As I am sure you are aware, I am not a very social person. I prefer small groups and close friends I can trust. I won’t share my world with just anyone.”
The connotation of that last statement resonated with Abby. Was he telling her that he trusted her enough to open up and share his life with her? Or was he simply giving her a forewarning that if this thing between them didn’t work out then there would be no additional friendship between them?
Mr. Saxe interrupted her thoughts once again. “What are your interests besides cleaning?”
Abby thought for a minute. She didn’t really have hobbies in the traditional sense. She had a few things she enjoyed, but her life was rather boring. She liked her job, she kept up on current events in the news, and she liked to spend time with Lori when their schedules matched up. Beyond that, she didn’t do much for herself. She wasn’t high maintenance, in fact most of her hairstyles revolved around ponytails and messy buns. She didn’t spend money on getting her nails done because her work prevented her from being able to keep them nice. The more she thought about it, the more she realized just how boring her life had become. “I don’t know. I guess I like to be outside every once in a while… but I’m not a runner or anything. I guess I like to read, and lately I have been enjoying cooking for you. It’s sad, really. My life is quite dull.”
“If it’s any consolation, I think you are the furthest person from dull that there is. We just need to find those little things that make your heart beat a little bit faster. Something you can have a passion for.”
Hearts beating faster… passion… he was describing the way he made her feel whenever he chose to be forward with her. He had to be aware of his effect on her. Otherwise he would have given up a long time ago. She raised her eyes and was surprised to find him staring at her again. He was becoming more brazen with each passing day. Just enjoy the attention, she tried to tell herself. No one has ever openly admired you before. “Thank you,” she mumbled.
The rest of the flight, they shared different experiences from their childhoods. Times when they got caught doing something, they knew they shouldn’t be doing. Moments when they triumphed over something that seemed impossible. Abby was surprised how similarly they had been raised. What was the difference that made him a millionaire and her a member of the middle class?
She found she was enjoying his company more and more. He was doing a good job at putting her at ease, all the while throwing in an occasional curveball that would make her feel on the spot. She got the feeling he was doing it solely to see if she would turn as red as her hair.
As the plane descended and pulled into the tarmac, Abby grew anxious with anticipation. They had finally arrived in New York City. She’d never been to the East coast and she didn’t know what to expect. Turns out she wouldn’t be discovering the city anyway. They exited the plane, got into another car and the driver took them directly to the restaurant.
The driver pulled up in front of a large building that said The Waldorf-Astoria in gold lettering. Mr. Saxe got out and opened the door for Abby. As Abby stepped out of the car, she took in the city for the first time. She had thought Boise was a bustling city, but now being in the Big Apple she knew better. The roads were lined with cars and taxies. People filled the sidewalks strutting with purpose to their destination. Looking up, Abby couldn’t wouldn’t have been able to imagine how the buildings would tower over her if she didn’t see it with her own eyes. They both quickly walked up to the entrance where a doorman waited. They walked up a flight of stairs and as Abby took in the beauty of the building, she wished she’d picked out a more formal dress.
Mr. Saxe leaned over to her and whispered, “You look amazing.”
He must have realized she was feeling out of place, what with the grand piano and double staircases. Mr. Saxe placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her over to the maitre d'. Abby was so focused on everything around her, she didn’t hear the conversation the two had. She anticipated they would be shown to their seats in the main dining area, but instead, they were guided to a private room. As they passed the tables and chairs, she noted that the high back chairs were upholstered. She imagined this was the kind of place little girls would dream of going for a tea party brunch.
Their private room was large enough to accommodate a party of at least 12, but they had it set up for two. The table, prepared with a candelabra, beautiful china, and linen napkins, was breathtaking. Mr. Saxe pulled out her chair and motioned for her to take a seat. He sat across from her and picked up his menu. After a quick glance, he looked over at her. Abby was still speechless.
“Abby, are you alright?”
He’d said her name a handful of times, and it still sounded foreign to her. And saying his first name didn’t feel right either. And no, she wasn’t alright. This was not the kind of first date you took someone who you barely knew. Billionaire or not. You take them bowling or to an arcade… or a movie for goodness sakes. But instead of saying all those things, she blinked and nodded. Picking up her ow
n menu, she didn’t know what to choose. It all seemed too fancy.
“Mr. Saxe, this is a bit much, don’t you think?”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Abby. Please, call me Gavin. I don’t want to be referred to as Mr. Saxe tonight. For the love of all that is holy, accept that we are on a date and try to pretend we are on an equal playing field. And in response to your question, no, this is not too much. I don’t get to go out often, and for once I have the company of a beautiful girl with whom I am infatuated. I want to enjoy myself, so you should too.”
The waiter entered their room and asked for their orders. Mr. Saxe ordered a Chicken Milanese with the salad. Abby didn’t know what to do, so she said she’d have the same. She didn’t agree to calling him by his first name, but rather resolved herself to not use his name at all while on the date. It just didn’t feel right to call him Gavin… but she couldn’t put a finger on why.
The meal was divine. A light Caprese salad was brought to the couple first, followed by the main course. The chicken was encrusted with lightly herbed breading and Abby couldn’t help but notice how the dishes complemented one another. She was so in shock over the place he had taken her, that the dinner went by in a blur.
When they had finished their meals, she anticipated their driver would take them back to the airport. They’d have a long flight home and they would sleep off the jet lag tomorrow. She was wrong. The driver dropped them off in front of a theatre. Abby looked over at Mr. Saxe, a look of irritation and disbelief readily apparent. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Mr. Saxe shook his head. He got out of the car, again opened her door, and lead her into one of the longest-running productions on Broadway. “I thought you would find it a little funny,” he whispered in her ear. “You know, because I’m this monster who lives alone and kills people… and you are the beautiful and unsuspecting heroine who falls for me.”