Chapter 10

Brittney’s pov

I checked my reflection for the tenth time, smoothing my blouse and second-guessing my outfit.

It was just a work trip.

Just a business meeting.

Just me and Jordan.

Alone.

I groaned, tossing another blouse into my suitcase and immediately regretting it. Was it too formal? Too casual? Too…suggestive?

From the couch, flora let out a dramatic sigh. “You do realize you’re just going to work, right? Not a romantic getaway.”

I shot her a glare. “I know that.”

She smirked. “Then why are you packing like you’re meeting a sugar daddy?”

I grabbed a pillow and chucked it at her and she dodged it easily, laughing.

Flopping onto my bed, I exhaled. “I don’t want things to be weird.”

Flora wiggled her eyebrows. “Weird? or hot?”

I threw another pillow at her. I’m

She caught it, grinning. “Look, I get it. You’re flying to Aspen with your hot CEO, staying at a luxury resort, and pretending that you’re just his assistant. But we both know there’s something there.”

I scoffed. “There’s nothing there.”

She hummed knowingly. “Sure. And I suppose you’re not gonna spend the whole flight pretending you don’t want to look at him.”

I stayed silent

Flora smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

Before I could respond, a car horn blared from outside.

I frowned. “That can’t be my cab, it’s too early.”

Flora peeked through the window and let out a low whistle. “Uh your ride is looking extra fine today.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

She turned, grinning wickedly. “You’ll see. Then without warning, she swung the door open.

And there he was.

Leaning against a sleek black car like he belonged in a magazine, one hand in his pocket, the other tapping lazily against the roof. His dark sunglasses hid his eyes, but I could feel his gaze the moment I stepped outside.

I froze, why the hell as he here?

I glanced at my phone—no texts from him, no updates from the cab company.

My head hammered, but I forced my voice to stay steady. “What…. are you doing here?”

I don’t remember giving him my address. Maybe he got it from my personal data.

Jordan pushed off the car effortlessly, reaching for my suitcase like it was already decided. “Picking you up.”

I stiffened, gripping the handle tighter. “I had a cab.”

He shrugged. “Now you don’t.”

I scowled, my fingers tightening on my suitcase. “I could’ve met you at the airport.”

“And wasted my time?” His brow lifted. “Get in the car, Brittney.”

Flora cackled behind me. “Oh I like this.”

I ignored her, exhaling through my nose as i reluctantly let go of my suitcase. Jordan barely reacted, lifting it into the truck like it weighed nothing.

Flora leaned into my ear and whispered, “he’s acting like a possessive boyfriend. I’m living for this.”

I stepped on her foot.

“Ow! Rude!”

I turned and slid into the passenger seat before Jordan could say anything else. Then it dawned on me, that I was completely alone with him.

-:-:

Jordan’s pov

I knew picking her up was a mistake.

The moment she slid into the passenger seat, lips pursed, posture stiff, I knew I should’ve let her take the damn cab.

But I didn’t.

Because some part of me—some reckless, undeniable part— wanted to be the first thing she saw today.

She crossed her arms, staring straight ahead. “You didn’t have to do this, you know.”

“I know.”

She huffed. “Then why did you?”

I didn’t answer, mostly because I didn’t have an answer.

Instead, I focused on the road, gripping the wheel a little too tightly as we pulled into the highway.

The silence stretched between us. I could feel her presence beside me, the subtle vanilla scent of her perfume filling the car. It was distracting as hell.

After a few minutes, she finally spoke. “So, are we flying private or commercial?”

I smirked, “what do you think?”

She sighed, “of course billonaire

Behavior.”

I stayed silent, trying focus on the road. But then she spoke again.

“Have you been to Aspen before?” Her voice was causal but something about the way she asked made me glance at her.

“Once,” I replied. “Years ago.”

She nodded. “For work?”

I hesitated, then looked away. “No.”

I could feel her eyes on me, waiting for more but I didn’t elaborate.

I didn’t tell her it was with Ivy, I didn’t tell her that trip was the beginning of the end.

“You?” I said instead.

She shook her head, “Never, I’ve never even left New York.”

Something about that admission surprised me. Brittney was sharp, independent, someone who felt too big for just one city.

I smirked. “Well, I’ll try not to let you embarrass yourself like a tourist.”

She shot me a look. “I’ll be working, Jordan. Not sightseeing.”

I leaned back in my seat. “We’ll see.”

~~~

By the time we arrived, Brittney was back in business mode. Profession and detached.

She rolled her suitcase behind me as we walked towards the private jet terminal, her expression neutral.

Good. That was good.

So why the hell did I feel like I was the one struggling to keep things professional?

I watched as she handed her bag to security, smoothing her hands down the front of her blouse. She looked calm, like she wasn’t just inches away from the man who couldn’t stop thinking about her.

I forced my gaze away.

We boarded quickly, and within minutes we were settled inside the jet.

I watched her take everything in—the spacious leather seats, the fully stocked bar, the quiet luxury of it all.

She turned to me. “This is…. Insane.”

I smirked. “You’ll get used to it.”

We took our seats and the hum of engine filled the silence.

The flight attendant brought coffee, setting it between us. As I reached for mine, our hands brushed, sending jolts of electricity surge through my body.

I pretended not to notice, even as my pulse quickened. I turned my head in Brittney’s direction . She looked too calm, like she didn’t want to speak with me.