19. Candice

CHAPTER 19

CANDICE

M aybe this is normal for billionaires, but I've never been in a helicopter before, and even less a private one with my family brand slapped all over it. I didn't exactly need transport out here, but Aiden offered his helicopter, and though I probably should have refused because I'm still making my point about independence and this being a business transaction only, I've always wanted to ride in a helicopter. And the opportunity doesn't come round every day, does it?

I watch the outskirts of Olympus City fade into dirt and get dryer and dryer as we fly out further, to the center of the state. I'm transfixed the whole time, staring down at our shadow as it crosses over a landscape that looks barren and inhospitable, though it clearly is not as I spot a few plants and animals.

The pilot yells into my headset that we're coming in to land soon and points towards a body of water that is startlingly lush and green compared to the arid world around it. I won't admit this to Aiden, but I'm really excited to be here.

Not because of him. Because this place looks awesome. He's a necessary evil.

The helicopter starts its descent, and the greenery of trees rushes towards us, growing and growing until the grasses are blowing wildly under the rotors, waving like they're about to get uprooted. The touchdown is a little shaky, but as the engine whirs to a halt, the pilot jumps out and opens the door, offering his hand to help me down.

I take it and thank him, glad that my feet are back on solid ground. Then I look up and see Aiden waiting for me.

He does a little wave, smiling like he's trying to stop himself, and walks towards me. "How was the journey?" he asks, voice raised so he can be heard over the helicopter. He holds out his hand as if to take my bag, but all I brought was a backpack, which I sling over my shoulder.

It's important to play this cool enough that he won't get the wrong idea. "It was fine."

"First time in a chopper?"

"Yeah." I nod.

"Exciting, isn't it? It's so awesome seeing the world so small underneath. Come on, I'll walk you to the hotel."

As we walk away from the landing site, I kick myself internally. I made three promises to myself before I left. One: I would not weaken and start to find Aiden attractive again. Two: I would not let his floppy hair and fake innocence charm me. Three: I would judge him fairly to decide if this could work, but I wouldn't get attached.

I've already broken one and two.

That's okay; plenty of things get off to a bad start. I still have time to recover my senses.

The hotel is only a ten-minute walk away — in fact, the whole settlement isn't that large; and you could walk around the entire lake and still go for a hike. That doesn't stop it being gorgeous. As we get into the village, the paths are lined with rugged trees that sway gently against the calm, bright blue sky.

I could get used to a place like this. It's the definition of tranquil. All I can hear is a few bugs, a few birds, the rustling of leaves. The only traffic noise is one guy zooming past us on his moped. It really makes you remember how big and busy the city is when you come to a place like this where there aren't any advertising billboards or impatient drivers or drunk people screaming outside your window in the early hours of the morning.

If anything, Aiden and I are the anomalies, here to cause a disturbance with our tourism. We are so lucky to be here.

"Thank you," he says, interrupting the quiet of our walk.

I open my mouth and shut it again, not sure how to articulate that I was thinking of saying the same thing. "What for?"

"Coming."

"I'd have to be stupid to pass up the opportunity to come to a place like this," I say, gesturing all around us.

"Yeah," he says, and if I didn't know better I'd say the downcast look he gives me is one of disappointment. "Thank you for coming with me."

I brush off the comment with an awkward smile and grunt of recognition. He sticks out his hand towards me in a way that definitely means please hold it but is subtle enough that I can pretend not to notice. So that's exactly what I do.

Rule four: I won't feel sorry for him, even if he pouts. We're here on business.

"Here we are," he says as the hotel comes into view. The building is incongruously modern and bright and lit up with a neon sign that is nothing short of obnoxious. "After you."

Clinging to the straps of my backpack, I take the lead and slide through the automatic doors. I'm greeted with a blast of cold air so strong it blows my hair into my face. I didn't think I'd need a jacket, but it looks like I was wrong.

The atrium of the hotel is as lavish as the outside: polished white floors and gold trim on the walls. Decorative pillars stand guard next to the reception desk, and the woman sitting there is equally as glamorous, her hair coiled on top of her head and hair-sprayed firmly in place, her makeup so pristine it looks like a professional has done it, and her clothes so crisp they might as well have been ironed onto her.

I'm starting to wish I'd brought better shoes than sandals and sneakers.

Aiden overtakes me to check us in, and I follow, happy to let him take the lead on it. I'm still too busy looking around in awe. There's a whole waterfall in one of the walls. Why?

Before I can really start worrying about the water usage, a woman in a long and flowing green dress with long, loosely braided hair drifts up to us. "Hi!" she says in such an overly sweet way I'd think she was joking if her broad smile wasn't completely sincere.

"Hello?" I say, confused as to why she's approached me.

She takes my hand and shakes it generously with both of hers. Looking closer, I notice that her necklaces are made of shells and feathers, as are her dangling earrings. Her lips shine with pink gloss, and a constellation of freckles dust her cheeks. She's a striking woman, gorgeous in that kind of earthy way. I can so imagine her hugging a tree unironically.

"My name is Juniper," she says, beaming. "But you and Mr. Handsome can call me June."

"Mr.— what?" I sputter.

"He's such a cutie!" she says, carrying on like she's oblivious to my horror. She touches me on the shoulder and continues, "You're so lucky."

I blink dumbly at her. Surely she can't think…?

"You think we're together?" I ask, eyes narrowing in suspicion as hers grow wider in realization.

"You're not? Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. I shouldn't have assumed. Most people who take my weekend program are lovers." She puts such an emphasis on the word lovers that I get the impression she knows something I don't. If Aiden has told them something untrue, I swear I'm going to kill him.

Fortunately, he saves me from any more of June's saccharine platitudes by turning round and holding up a room key between his fingers. "For you, madam," he says, offering it to me.

"Thank you," I say, taking it and slipping it into my backpack.

June claps her hands together, flinging her mane of hair over her shoulder. "Wonderful. I'm sure you're both ready to get going with everything, so if you leave your bags here, I'll get Manuel to take them through to your room. He's such a darling."

We obey, dumping our bags by the desk. As June turns on her heel, beckoning us to follow, I lean in and hiss into Aiden's ear, " Room — singular?"

He shrugs apologetically. "It was the best I could do on short notice. It's a king bed, if that helps?"

"It doesn't."

He hesitates like he has something to add but isn't sure if he should say it, but then does anyway, probably more tersely than he means to. "Well, if we're going to be engaged by the end of the weekend, you should probably be able to stand being in the same bed as me, or room at least."

I open my mouth to snap a hotheaded reply, but June interrupts before the argument can bloom. "Come on, folks. We've got so much to explore!"

Aiden looks at me with pleading eyes, and I glare, straightening up and marching after June. This is all way too much to deal with. But one thing I am absolutely resolute about: I am not going to enjoy myself. Not even a tiny, tiny bit.