CHAPTER 1

Claire was having a wardrobe battle with her best friend.

"It's a special day!" Danielle pulled a bunch of clothes out of their shared wardrobe and added them to the tall pile on the bed. "Don't go dressing like the poor kid from an almost non-existent town."

Claire sighed. "But I am a poor kid from an almost non-existent town, D."

Danielle threw up her hands in exasperation. "Okay, here's what we are going to do." She picked up a sleeveless blouse, a pair of corporate trousers and a blazer. "You are going to look like an accomplished young lady who has gotten her degree and is now on her way to work at the conglomerate of all companies, Lyn Corporation."

"Fine. Let's have it your way." She collected the clothes and headed for the bathroom. "I don't feel it though."

"What?"

Claire paused, her hand on the doorknob. "I don't feel like an accomplished lady. I feel like a terrified little girl running away from a monster."

She entered the bathroom and pulled the door shut. Turning on the faucet, she let the hot water wash over her, and she willed it to take her worries away. It didn't work, but it helped her dissect every thought.

This job opportunity could not have been presented to her at a better time. She knew she could not go back home. She had come to college to escape home in the first place. Now, she wanted to leave everything behind. A fresh life was all she needed.

Five minutes later, she was out of the shower. By the time she returned to the bedroom, Danielle had her moving boxes packed and stacked in the corner.

"I'm going to miss you, C."

"I know. Me too." Claire smoothed out the last creases in her outfit. "What do you think?"

Danielle shrugged. "You look…smart?"

Claire chuckled and her eyes brimmed with tears. Danielle gave her a look. 

"What part of "it's-a-special-day-no-crying-is-allowed" did you not understand?" 

Claire sniffed. "Yeah, that part." 

Danielle pulled her into a hug. "You're ready, Claire. Don't ever doubt it. Now go out there and show the world what you've got." 

Danielle drove her to the airport. Since it was their last day together in person, they chatted about any and everything.

"Don't forget to put the cap of the toothpaste on after using it."

"D!" Claire laughed, "I only forgot once!"

"Still," her friend hummed, drumming on the steering wheel with one hand, "you tend to forget little things like this. Try not to leave the back door unlocked, okay?"

" I know, I know. We went over this, remember?"

"Who's the one who forgets stuff?" Danielle glanced at her before focusing on the road. "I'm going over it all again, just to make sure."

So they did. The drive was filled with laughter as Danielle dredged up one embarrassing memory after another. It was when they arrived at the airport that Claire realized her friend was just distracting her.

"Nice job, D, saving me from myself."

Danielle gave her a wink. "I don't know what you're talking about." She popped the trunk open. "Have a safe trip. Call me as soon as you land."

Claire pulled out her suitcase from the trunk as Danielle alighted to give her one last hug.

"You know, you didn't have to book a First Class ticket for me."

Danielle rolled her eyes and crushed her to her bosom. "Consider it my parting gift to you."

"Aren't you coming inside to see me off?" 

Danielle opened the car door. "If I come in with you, sister, I'm not letting you get on that plane." She blew her a kiss, entered the car and drove off.

Claire stood watching her taillights until the car disappeared round a bend. She shut her eyes against the cascading wall of tears, wiped the strays from her cheeks and entered the lounge. For a small airport, the crowd was huge. Everyone seemed to want to travel today.

Squeezing herself between the mass of moving bodies, she headed for the terminal. Her flight was in three hours. Danielle had packed her a sandwich, so she looked for a corner where there were fewer people. There were no seats left and she stood with her back to the wall, pulled her suitcase between her legs, and munched on her sandwich.

Somehow, even after always tasting Danielle's cooking, her friend always managed to surprise her. Today, the sandwich was dripping with some unknown sauce. Danielle must have discovered a new recipe. She was always doing that, hunting for recipes.

A loud commotion drew her attention. The crowd had gathered at the terminal, and everyone was talking at once. She moved towards the crowd, wondering what was going on. Her phone buzzed in her coat pocket and she pulled it out.

"Hey D."

"What's going on, Claire?"

Claire could tell she was very upset. "What are you talking about?"

"I just got a refund for the ticket I bought for you. Your flight has been cancelled."

"What? No, hold on. Let me check."

She hung up and walked to the counter.

"Excuse me." 

She tried to attract the attention of those at the counter, but everyone had a phone pressed to both ears and were trying to talk to the crowd all at once. An old woman was yelling in the crowd, so Claire turned to listen to what she was saying.

"How can they be so heartless? My daughter has just given birth. I need to get out of here on this flight. What fault of mine is it that she booked a First Class ticket?"

Claire walked towards the woman. "Your ticket was cancelled because it was First Class?"

The woman held her with both hands. "They say some company guy just came and needs the entire First Class compartment for himself!"

Claire could not believe her ears. " They cancelled our flights because someone needed the whole space?!"

The woman drew Claire close and whispered conspiratorially. "They say he is very rich and owns a lot of companies."

"So?" Claire drew her eyebrows together. "That makes no sense. Why didn't he book the whole compartment earlier and save us all the trouble of getting up early to board a flight that isn't leaving with us in it?!"

Her voice was rising and attracting stares from people, but Claire couldn't care less. This was her life they were talking about! She needed this job, and missing an interview or going late did not sit well with her. People around began nodding in acknowledgement of her statements.

The airport staff knew that a fight might break out, so they called Claire aside to speak to her.

"Miss," the man whose attention she had tried to attract initially was saying, " you need to understand. This is no ordinary person and…"

"What did he offer you?"

"Excuse me ma'am?"

Claire balled her hands into fists. "I asked, What. Did. He. Offer. You?"

The man regarded her with a condescending gaze. "You think he paid us off?"

"I know that is exactly what he did," Claire returned the stare.

"Listen here now, young lady…"

"Where is he?"

"Madam! You can't…"

"Where is he?" She roared.

The man pointed to the VIP exit.

"Which of the cars?" 

"He brought the whole convoy, ma'am."

Claire gritted her teeth in frustration. "Which of the cars?"

He pointed to one at the very center. The car door was open, and one leg encased in a shiny loafer was visible from where she stood. Claire headed to the parked car, ignoring the protests of the staff behind her.

When she was about a foot away from the car, her phone buzzed again. Danielle had sent her a text.

@dandyelle

Sorry C, all the tickets are sold out for all the flights today. You have to wait till tomorrow. Should I come pick you up? Xoxo.

No D, Claire thought. I'll handle this myself. A security man blocked her approach. 

"This is a restricted area ma'am."

Claire pursed her lips. "I need to speak to your boss."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but you can't move any closer."

The look she gave him could have burned concrete.

"You need to get out of my way sir, or I might hurt you real bad."

He gave her a skeptical look. "Sure. I am soooooo terrified."

Claire gave him a sweet smile. "I killed my own father. Don't think I can't do it again."

He looked like he didn't believe her, but his hand went to his gun. 

"What is going on?" A smooth velvety voice drifted to them from the open car door.

Keeping a close eye on Claire, the security man explained the situation to the man inside.

"She wishes to speak to you, sir."

"Well, why don't you let her?"

"Um, sir, I don't think that is a good idea, " he cast a furtive glance at Claire and lowered his voice. "She seems to be a little… eccentric." 

"She looks fine to me." The smooth voice returned with an edge to it.

While they were debating the issue, Claire marched right up to the security man and shoved him aside.

"He asked to speak to me, so stay out of my way for your sake."

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the obnoxious being responsible for her troubles, and felt as though the wind was knocked out of her.