Chapter 26
Revea
“Want me to nip over to the house in a few days?”
“No,” I say, too blunt. I quickly add, “No need, Rue. Margret’s got it covered. She lives closer than you, and I’ll only be gone for seven days.”
“Okay… if you’re sure.”
“Yep.” I let out a relieved sigh, hitching my carry-on higher over my shoulder. Phew, that was close.
“And while I’ve got you on the phone and you can’t use work as an excuse… what’s going on with you and my bosses?”
“Seriously, Rue?” I finally make it to my terminal. Most of the seats are empty because I’m a few hours early. “They might be your bosses, but whatever is or isn’t going on has nothing to do with you.”
He grumbles something unintelligible. “Just… tell me they’re treating you right.”
If he means tipping me into my first-ever heat spike and all four of them giving me an orgasm that I’m still having vivid flashbacks from, then yes, they’re treating me pretty well.
“Rue, keep digging, and I’ll stop answering your calls.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll stop.” He sighs. “See you at Rowan’s next Sunday to facetime Mum and our dads?”
“You know it. Bye, Rue. I’ll text you. Love you.”
“Bye, Re-Re. Be safe. Love ya.”
Rowan already called this morning during my taxi ride here. He’s been working crazy hours recently, hunting down omega traffickers his team has recently gained intel on.
During our call, it was clear Rowan knew nothing of what might be going on with Rue’s bosses. Thank fuck. Because the second Rowan catches wind, that’ll be it. He’ll be interrogating them in his office, spotlight in their faces, lie detector test ready…
I shake that thought away. No point worrying over things that might not happen.
Now I’ve got two hours before my flight boards, I should be doing something productive, but I find myself swiping over the last messages in my new group chat.
I send a quick picture of the planes on the asphalt, and even though it’s 3 AM, I note Sylvan’s seen it.
But he doesn’t reply.
I swipe out, trying not to dwell on it as I pull out my laptop and dive into my emails.
***
“Boarding pass?”
I hold it out to the air hostess with my passport. I’m all nervous smiles, like she’s about to tell me I can’t board because I’ve done something wrong.
So when she frowns, my heart races.
“We already called for first class, miss.” She looks at me with a tight smile. “Did you not hear the call?”
“No… I mean, yes, but I’m not in first class…”
She turns the boarding pass to me, and there, in bold black writing, are the words ‘first class’ with my name underneath.
“It says it here.” She sounds bored as she slips it back into my passport and starts ushering me along. “Please hurry up, everyone is already seated in that class.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she’s already talking to the next person. That’s okay, I’ll just tell someone on the plane there’s been a mistake…
There hasn’t been a mistake.
But this staff member isn’t annoyed at my delayed boarding, not when I explain I did not buy a first-class ticket. He said sometimes people are randomly upgraded if it means they can sell more economy tickets, which sounds… reasonable, I suppose.
I follow him into first class and keep following him to… there’s an upstairs on this plane?
The lighting is much softer up here, the walls clad in a padded material, and as we walk down the LED-lit path by other pods, I realise something.
“Is this… Is everyone here an omega?” I ask quietly, noticing some ‘do not disturb’ signs on pod doors.
He nods, still smiling. “You’d be surprised how often this happens—an omega being ‘randomly’ upgraded to first class.” He stops at a pod, sliding the door open for me.
Thick fur throws cover a circular chair adorned with fluffy cushions. It’s big enough for three large people.
“This is yours, Ms Monroe. If you need anything, there’s a button on the console where you can make requests. The WiFi code is there.” He points to a small bronze plaque above the screen. “Is there anything I can bring you?”
“Erm…” My gaze darts over the cosy space, noting the mini fridge and a glass of champagne bubbling in the corner. “No, thank you.”
I slip into the seat, clutching my bag for some sense of normalcy as he slides my pod door into place.
“What the fuck…” I whisper, running my fingers over the soft throw.
Then I reach for my phone. I can’t wait to tell Margret. She won’t believe me, she’ll—
My gaze darts to the notification at the top of the screen. I tap it.
Sylvan: I upgraded your seat.
Sylvan: Should I have asked first?
Sylvan: Sorry.
Sylvan: Are you mad?
Sylvan: Because I’ve already upgraded your hotel room.
Me: I’m not mad! I’ve only just looked at my phone…
I tap the side of my phone in thought, staring at my half-written reply. If he paid for this, he at least deserves to see the outcome.
I sink deeper into the large, comfortable chair, stretching out my arm with a smile. I take a quick selfie, then send it into the chat, finishing the message with:
Me: Thank you, alpha.
The seatbelt sign dings just as he responds:
Sylvan: Please send more pictures.