"Your order is ready ma'am." The sales girl said for the second time.
Nika was distracted. She needed to get her mind off Leon. She was having second thoughts of cancelling her flight.
What if I'm making a big mistake?
Nika did not believe in second chances but she felt like making an exception for him. He meant a lot to her. She couldn't just throw away what they had shared.
Maybe he's just going through a phase ...
"Are you going to collect the coffee or what?" The girl snapped impatiently.
Nika snapped out of her thoughts. She turned to see a long line of irritated faces behind her. Embarrassed, she took the cup of coffee and dropped the money on the counter before walking away .
"Attention passengers, boarding starts in ten minutes!"
Nika stared at her wristwatch.
Why didn't he come after me? Wasn't he bothered at all?
Do I really mean nothing to him?
Her thoughts spiralled as she looked around the airport hoping to catch sight of his familiar blonde hair and large frame amidst the crowd. She wanted him to stop her. To apologize. To fix everything.
After five long minutes, reality settled in. He wasn't coming.
The realization hurt.
What had she done wrong? She wasn't the one that cheated—he was. Yet, here she was, waiting like a lost puppy.
"Screw it!!" She muttered and dragged her bags to the departure gate without looking back.
After completing all necessary checks, Nika settled into her first class seat. She ran her fingers down her hair nervously, pressed her legs together and fiddled with the hem of her suit.
She glanced around. Her row was empty except for the man in the next cubicle, who seemed too absorbed in his phone to notice her.
"Please fasten your seatbelts." A flight attendant said to both of them.
The man finally looked up from his phone.
For a moment, Nika forgot how to breathe. He was effortlessly, almost painfully handsome.
His jet black hair fell neatly at the sides, his bangs perfectly in place. His sharp jawline and defined features gave him a commanding and intimidating look.
He glanced at her briefly.
She quickly turned to the window, flustered.
He definitely caught me staring.
"Get me a drink. Macallan M. Two glasses —mine and hers."
Nika turned, surprised.
Why was he ordering a drink for her?
Moments later, the flight attendant returned with a silver tray. She poured both drinks and handed one to Nika, before leaving with a polite smile.
"Call me if you need anything." She smiled at him in a flirty way.
Nika looked at the drink hesitantly before she raised the glass to her lips. The glass lingered on her lips for a while.
"It's not poisoned, you know?" He said with a faint smile.
"And how would I know that?" She shot back.
"You're not very trusting, are you?" He took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Vadim Severin. CEO of The Severin Estate Holdings. " He extended his hand for a shake."A pleasure."
"Anika Vertrova, heir to the Vertrova Consortium"
She shook his hand but instead of releasing it, he lifted it slightly and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
Her cheeks flushed.
Then Leon flashed through her mind.
Her expression fell. She pulled back and picked up the newspaper to distract herself, pretending to read.
He didn't fail to notice the change in her facial expression but he let it slide. He didn't want to interfere, not now at least.
Nika eventually slept off. Vadim watched her vigilantly throughout her sleep like one would watch over their treasure.
He found it amusing how a grown up like her, would curl herself up and sleep comfortably in an airplane without a care in the world.
He studied the way her hair fell loosely on her face and how each breath she took shifted it away. He almost reached out to touch her—
But he stopped.
He didn't want to startle her.
The landing gear thumped gently beneath them. Nika stirred awake, blinking as the warm cabin lights brightened. For a moment she forgot where she was, then she saw Vadim's steady gaze.
"You slept well," he said simply, loosening his seatbelt as the plane slowed down the runway. "You must have been exhausted."
She straightened quickly, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Sorry… I didn't mean to fall asleep." She said nervously.
"No apology needed." Vadim reached for his phone and slipped it into his coat pocket. "The company was pleasant." He offered her a bright smile, flashing his perfect dentition.
Nika swallowed. She wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she reached for her handbag instead.
When the seatbelt sign turned off, the flight attendant approached with a polite bow. "We've arrived, Mr. Severin… Ms. Vertrova. Welcome."
Passengers in first class began to stand. Nika rose carefully, smoothing her wrinkled blouse. Vadim stood too, towering slightly over her. As they waited to exit, he slipped a sleek black card from his wallet.
"I don't usually do this," he said, offering it between two fingers, "but you're interesting, Anika Vertrova. If you ever want to talk business… or simply talk." He placed the card in her palms.
Her breath hitched, not from excitement, but from nerves she refused to admit. She took the card. It was heavy. Real metal, not paper.
She pulled out her own business card, thinner and white with gold edges. "Likewise," she replied, her tone back to its usual calm. "If you ever need to reach me."
Vadim accepted it with a subtle nod.
They walked out of the aircraft together, though not side by side. Both silent, both aware of the other's presence.
When they stepped into the arrival hall, a familiar voice called out:
"Ms. Vertrova!"
Her personal driver, Yuri, hurried forward. He bowed slightly before taking her bags.
Nika turned back to Vadim. "Well… this is me."
"Of course." His eyes scanned her face, unreadable. "Safe travels, Anika."
"Thank you. And you too… Vadim."
She climbed into the back of the sleek black Maybach. As the door closed, her eyes drifted to the window.
Vadim was still standing there, hands in his pockets, watching the car pull away but not in a clingy way. More like he was analyzing her, memorizing something she didn't understand yet.
Nika looked down at the metal card in her hand.
She wasn't sure why, but holding it made her chest tighten.
Maybe this trip would distract her from Leon.
Maybe it wouldn't.
But one thing was clear:
Her life had just taken a turn she didn't see coming.