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“You sound like you’ve had quite the life.”

“When you think about it, everyone’s had an interesting life.” Riley raised her drink in recognition of Arianna. “Maybe I’ll get to hear yours sometime soon.”

I better not blush. Arianna didn’t want to believe she was being flirted with so soon after Elle, but that could have been her hubris lying to her. Was it worse, though, that Riley was another employee of Royal Asia? It wasn’t completely verboten, but they were both women…

“Cheers, Aria.” Riley bowed out of the conversation when she recognized another pilot who had entered the lounge. “I am sure to see you around soon.”

Arianna caught up with her coworkers, keeping yet another secret to herself.

Chapter 12

Elle didn’t want to admit it, but she was positively giddy to see Arianna on her next flight to Singapore.

Naturally, she had kept her end of the bargain and informed her girlfriend that they would cross paths in First Class once again. This allowed Arianna to compose herself and pretend that nothing existed between them when she offered a hot towel and welcomed Elle on board using her most professional English and a poker face that did not betray they carnally knew one another. Elle, likewise, kept her flirtations to herself until they were in the air. Then she unleashed a string of naughty thoughts in the chat window she shared with Arianna, who would see it when she checked her phone during her first break.

“You are abusing the airline’s Wi-Fi functionality,” she teased Elle. “Don’t be surprised if I kick you over to Charmaine for the meal service.”

Elle liked that kind of threat. It meant she was a threat to Arianna’s sanity, something she fully intended to take advantage of when they landed in Singapore and Arianna had her weekend. Elle knew it was a lot to ask, but she had already invited her girlfriend to spend more than one night with her in the Lion Orchard Hotel, where Royal Asia always put up their executives. It’s almost like they’re part of our extended family or something. The airline got deals for their employees staying in the Lion City, and the hotel was recommended in Royal Asia’s brochures.

Until then, Elle had to behave for sixteen hours.

“Here’s your filet mignon, Ms. Sparrow.”

Sure enough, she had sent over Charmaine to deal with Elle’s side of First Class. Only a few yards away, Arianna gracefully moved through another aisle, serving lobster and Waldorf salads to other passengers. Charmaine was charming and good at her job, but she wasn’t Arianna… something Elle had to keep to herself as she graciously accepted her plate and asked for a fresh ginger ale to go with her meal.

She knew that Arianna went on her extended break right after the meal service. The thought of not seeing her for a few hours should have given Elle a mental reprieve to get back to working on her laptop or attempting a nap, but all she could think about was her girlfriend changing clothes and curling up in her bunk for a beautiful rest.

So not fair.

As soon as the cabin dimmed and the last of Elle’s trash was cleared away, she watched Arianna disappear into the employee-only section of the plane and knew she had to strike.

“I’ve always wanted to know what it looks like in one of those cubicles.” Elle maneuvered her hand around her phone’s charging cable as she flirted in their chat. “Don’t suppose you could snap me a shot?”

“Sounds like a compromising of security,” she received right away.

“I assure you, my curiosity is purely sexual. Or romantic. Whichever you prefer.”

“Ms. Sparrow, there wouldn’t be enough room for the two of us in here anyway.”

“That’s what makes it so hot.”

A few minutes later, she received a picture of what looked like a closed-off hostel bed, complete with a mounted TV screen and a ledge for personal artifacts. It looked like she had hastily taken that picture before anyone saw her.

“I thought you guys got business class seats to lounge in?”

“Some planes have those, but not this one. Anyway, who gets to use it is based on luck and seniority. Sometimes I get to. Not often.”

“Aw. I’d trade with you. You’ve got to get your rest to deal with these entitled passengers.”

“You would know about them, huh?”

Elle took her time thinking of how to respond. Long enough for Arianna to change into her loungewear and settle in for a few hours of rest. “How many people are in there with you?”

“At least half the bunks are full at any given time. Why?”

“I like to know what you can get away with.”

“Don’t you dare.”