ONE BED

NAILA'S POV

The week flew past so fast that I barely got a blink through it.

It felt like it wanted me trapped next to Remy Sterling as soon as it could.

And that was exactly what happened.

Nine whole hours. Nine hours that stretched into eternity, punctuated by the faint hum of the engine, the creak of the seatbelt and the awareness that I was seated right next to Remy Sterling on a plane.

Nine hours. Side by side.

I wanted to quit the job. The thought had crossed my mind repeatedly over the past few days, usually accompanied by Nadya's practical voice in my head.

“You'll be fine, Naila. He's not going to bite. You wanted this job. Yeah, maybe you sent out a lot of letters without doing much research but this is genuinely a great deal for you.”

She was right. It was a job better than I had expected.

And I wouldn't have minded it way too much. But then, I had come to the airport that day and found out my seat was right next to his.

To ensure seamless communication as he called it. I think he just liked seeing me squirm.

The first hour was quiet, polite. The second hour was still quiet but becoming unbearable. By the third, I could feel the tight coil of tension in my stomach ㅡ the part that wasn't entirely nerves. Flying made me sick. My stomach was in revolt.

“Are you okay?” He leaned in after a few hours, dark eyes filled with worry.

I sucked in air sharply and looked out the window, suddenly admiring the sight. “Yes, why wouldn't I be?” I said sharply.

He muttered something under his breath and turned back to his laptop, going through presentations submitted to him.

I tried to focus on something. Anything. The passing scenery down belowㅡ No. That made me sick.

Shit.

Finally, the plane skidded to a stop and the pilot's announcement echoed through the plane.

We had arrived in Zurich, Switzerland.

Finally.

The cold hit my face as I stumbled down, taking in a sharp breath. I still hadn't officially met with the other employees. They weren't on the flight with us. Apparently, Remy had told them they could come at an earlier or later time depending on what they wanted but they should report before 10am.

Some of them were already at the hotel we would lodge in for the month.

Yes, I would spend my Christmas and New year working. How great.

By the time we got the hotel, Remy led me forward to the receptionist, his face blank again.

“Good day, Mr Sterling.” The woman flashed a blinding smile, her back straight and face glowing.

I stared at her, suddenly feeling like a hobo and out of place.

Remy tapped the edge of the table. “Are the other employees lodged in already?”

She clicked through the computer, eyes raking over the screen. “Yes sir. Every employee who checked in has been shown to their rooms. We're left with just two employees who are yet to come.”

He nodded, turning to me. “Okay, let's go.”

I straightened, swallowing. “Yeah, sure. What's my room?”

The woman and Remy stared at me silently like I had grown two heads.

Unease prickled under my skin and I rubbed my neck. “Is there a problem?”

Remy sighed. “Nailaㅡ”

I suddenly had a bad feeling. “What? I don't get a room?”

The woman gave me a small smile that didn't seem genuine. “Of course you do, Ma'am. With Mr Sterling.”

My stomach twisted violently.

What?

I turned to Remy, eyes wide and face pale. “No.”

He shrugged. “It's a suite, Naila. We're gonna be working together closely. The main presentation is short notice, you're going to be in contact with me at all times. Is there a problem?”

I felt faint. The urge to throw up welled up in me and I had to swallow back the bile that crawled up my throat. “No,” I whispered.

Everything was wrong.

How did this only keep getting worse?

Firstly, I met him at the beginning of the month. During my escape for the Christmas season. Now, it was almost Christmasㅡ the time I looked forward to normally. But I was pregnant. And stuck with my ex. Who was the father of my kid.

The concierge stepped forward. “Mr and Mrs Sterling, please follow me.”

The words bounced off the walls of my head. Mr and Mrs?

“Uhㅡ actuallyㅡ”

“Go ahead,” Remy cut me off with a nod to the concierge who took our suitcases. “We're right behind you.”

Was he crazy?!

As the man walked ahead into the massive infrastructure, I turned to Remy, my eyes still blown wide. “What was that?” I hissed.

He was strolling beside me, almost effortlessly may I add. He didn't look at me. Just shrugged and saidㅡ “Calm down. I booked a couples suite for us. Since you're helping me coordinate financial, legal and security papers for the briefing, I needed something spacious for us both to be comfortable.”

I was barely listening. Couples suite?

“You could have gotten a fucking apartment, Remy.”

He turned to me then. “I always lodge here, Naila. Always. Can't stray too far from my employees. Besides, they have great coffee.” He continued strolling forward as though he hadn't made the most stupid excuse known to mankind. “Fear not. Mr and Mrs is just the title reservation. No one is going to address you as my wife.”

Words crawled up my throat, sharp and biting but I held them in, choosing not to press any further.

A few more uncomfortable minutes later and we were standing in the suite.

All I could say was…wow.

The concierge helped arrange our bags while I looked around in awe.

The suite was ridiculously large. Polished marble, a chandelier that probably cost more than my whole apartment and one enormous bed that looked like it would swallow me whole.

My gaze darted to the next object of interest, then I paused.

Waitㅡ

Remy was already thanking the concierge, tipping him as he left the suite.

One bed?

My eyes flew open for the umpteenth time that day. “Remy?” I squeaked.

He was folding his sleeves up, pulling out his laptop already as he kicked off his boots. “Yes, Naila? Is there a problem?”

He didn't even look up. That was the problem

Like we weren't standing in a five star Swiss hotel suite with exactly one bed and a past between us that didn't exactly qualify for sharing a bed.

When I didn't say anything, he looked up, almost confused. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”

No. Worse.

“I'm justㅡ” I gestured vaguely behind him. “I'm trying to locate the second bed.”

He followed my gaze slowly like he already knew that I was talking about and found it amusing. “There's only one.”

I laughed. But the sound came out wrong. Hysterical. “That's funny, you should consider stand-up comedy.”

Remy arched a brow. “I'm serious.”

“So am I!” I snapped. “I'm very serious about not sharing a bed with you, sir. That's completely against work ethics.”

He nodded. Pushed himself upright and tucked his hands in his pockets. “Work ethics, Naila? Employees also don't exactly sleep with their bosses and leave in the morning.”

My cheeks burned. “Don't bring that into this.”

It was the first time he was bringing something remotely connected to the history between us that I wanted to forget. “Then pray tell me, what do you want us to do?”