Chapter Six: Shares

Aria's POV

In The Plane.

I kept gazing out, lost in thoughts with different scenarios running through my mind. This flight was going to last for twenty hours and more. I did the calculations after boarding this private jet.

The air was suffocatingly silent, saved for the sound of punching keyboards coming from Jameson’s laptop, together with my deep sigh once in a while.

Even though I don't wanna think about it. His words kept ringing in my head, what even makes him think that I would fall in love with him?

He sounded so confident saying that as if the reverse can't happen. Besides…. I glanced at him as I paused my thought, his sharp gaze fixed on his laptop. It has been like this since this plane took off.

He looks good to someone like Clara.

Not me.

My face turned distasteful, shaking my head negatively as I turned my head back to glancing at the clouds. He doesn't have the qualities of my ideal type of man.

Amidst my thoughts, my stomach growled angrily. I shut my eyes in embarrassment, this has been happening for a while now.

I didn't have breakfast this morning because of my excitement to leave the country. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, there must be a kitchen around here but I was a terrible cook.

I can't allow my pride to be lowered in front of him. After much contemplations, I cleared my throat to get his attention as I stood up.

“Bathroom.” I muttered, walking past him. He didn't give any sign or hum for an acknowledgement.

Not like I cared, I thought as I made my way down the narrowed aisle.

The soft hum of the private jet's engine filled the cabin, blending seamlessly with the silence around me.

I wasn't going to the bathroom but to the kitchen. Entering the kitchen, I noticed how simple but fancy it looked.

But that wasn't what I was here for. I went to the fridge to check for any instant food I could munch on.

There were packs of cheese, butter, and other items you would expect to find in a fridge but nothing that was ready to eat. It was clear I would have to make something myself if I wanted to eat.

“Ugh, God.” I whined, throwing my head backward dejectedly as I slammed the fridge door closed.

I scrunched my face, my hands on my tummy while my eyes were closed in exasperation. I recalled a few times Adrian, my ex-boyfriend, prepared meals for us. That only happened twice since two years we've been dating.

We can't be strangers.

I gotta talk to him, and I'm sure that he must be hungry but just pretending not to be.

I glanced at the fridge with a sigh before walking out back to the cabin seating area. My soft glare was on his back, still busy with whatever he was doing on his laptop.

Gulping down nothing, “Uhm… I wanted to ask you were hungry,” I tried to sound as polite as I could.

Silence.

That was all I got for the next few seconds. I stepped closer and went back to my seat, turning to him.

“I'm actually very hungry, and I'm a terrible cook just so you know. You can cook and I'll do the dishes, how does that sound?” I suggested, waiting for a response.

His sharp gaze were still fixed on his laptop. He doesn't look like he was going to respond to me.

I exhaled, “It's bad manners to be asked a question and play dumb. I'm trying to be polite here,” It was hard to remain civil.

His fingers halted on the keyboard briefly before he continued typing. Then he said;

“The kitchen is right over there.” His voice was soft, but deep and husky.

I sighed, "Yeah, I know. But if you were listening, I said cooking and I have a distant cousin relationship. So I suggested you cook, and I'll do the dishes.” I repeated, staring at him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like I was disturbing him. Then sluggishly, he passed the laptop to me making my eyes twitch in surprise.

Before I couldn't ask what I was going to do with it, he spoke up.

“Your admission has been accepted and processed. I was handling the process for you because it would benefit me. All that’s left is for you to create a password to activate your student portal so you can access everything you need.” He said everything in one goal, leaving me flabbergasted.

What?

My surprised eyes turned to the screen of the laptop and I skimmed through the content. I hadn't accepted the admission yet due to what happened and all. My lips curled into a warm smile and I turned back to him.

“Thank you so much. I… wasn’t expecting this at all, and… you doing this?” I stuttered, still in disbelief.

The fact that he was doing something kind when he was been aloof, somehow it made the moment unexpectedly heartwarming. I hesitated before I moved to create the password, quickly typing it in before I closed the laptop with a soft click.

I turned back to him, seeing that he had his head tilted back like he was in a deep thought. Just out of reflex, I placed my hand on his forehead to check if he was running a temperature and that might have caused him a headache.

But the moment my skin made contact with his, he jerked away, smacking my hand as if it was a bothersome fly.

“Can't you read the room?” His face was twisted with irritation, his tone dismissive that I nearly rolled my eyes.

“I was just being nice by checking if you were okay. What room do I've to read?” I shot back, unable to hide the bite in my tone.

His eyes narrowed, “You know exactly what I'm talking about.”

“Must you really be rude?” I countered, pausing just long enough to take a breath, “I said ‘thank you’ and I expected ‘you’re welcome’ but when I got nothing, I wanted to check if you were okay. Does that have to be a big deal?”

“We don't have whatsoever relationship for you to care about me.” My chest tightened at his words. I really do not what to go through this right now.

“We're married mister.” I reminded him firmly, “In case you forget that,”

“Married on the outside but business partners on the inside,” He corrected sharply.

“Fine, we're partners. But that doesn’t mean we have to act like strangers, does it? In as much as I’m trying to contain your rudeness, I don’t think it will last much longer.” I stared him down, my gaze unwavering. He raised an eyebrow, unamused.

“My rudeness?” He repeated the words slowly, like he didn’t believe I had the nerve to call him out.

“Yes, your rudeness Mr. Blackwell. Snapping at me in front of your ex-girlfriend, ranting I shouldn't fall in love with you. Was that really politeness to you?” I demanded, but he only scoffed, shaking his head.

“So you hold grudges.” he muttered, more to himself than to me.

“I don't,”

“Of course, you do.” He retorted, his words coming out in a rush, “Makes me wonder if you fvcking have the right to when your parents threw you away just for a mere company shares and now you're trying to act like an important person, huh?” His words spilled out like a venom before he snapped his head toward me.

I bit my lips, taking in the sharpness and the pain behind his words.

“You're r… really an @sshole.” I gritted my teeth, stuttering. Wasn't that too much for a little argument like this?

My heart clenched in my chest and I turned to the window to hide the tears that was threatening to fall, suppressing the sniffles.

He was right though. What right do I've for me to feel important when my supposed parents disregarded me so easily?

Silence engulfed us before he pushed himself away, the sound of his wheels echoing in the stillness. Now I'm in a place where I will be reminded of who I was every single day.

~~~

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