Page 6 of Fated Love with You

Sliding behind the wheel, I drive toward the highway and call Chester.

“Yes, sir?” he answers on the first ring.

“Have someone get to the Whimstery Café on Seventh, and make sure Miss Temple has a first-class ticket on the next flight back to London.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes. Anything else?”

“Find out if Autumn has a passport. If she doesn’t, you’ll need to get her one for the cleanup job in Canada.”

Silence.

“Should I take your lack of a response to mean that you’re on top of it, Chester?”

“Yes,” he says, his voice terse. “I’ll make sure your girlfriend has a damn passport.”

“Let’s not label things yet, Chester.” I smile. “I think it’s a bit too early for that. She has to stop being scared of my lifestyle first.”

“Permission to end this call right now, sir?”

“Absolutely.”

End of Episode 2

Brace for Impact

EPISODE 3

Autumn

The clouds are clogging my window, serving me a static gray view.

This plane is three times the size of Ryder’s other jet, with enough space for over a hundred passengers, not just two and a skeleton crew.

Instead of taking a tour, I’ve listened to Adeline sing while skipping up and down the aisle.

While she gears up for an encore, I head to the front.

I need a drink…

The lone flight attendant is staring at a perfume ad in a magazine, whispering something to herself. Her eyes are red and puffy, and the smile she greeted me with at boarding is long gone.

Why do I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before?

“Hello, Miss Jane.” She slowly glances up at me. “How may I be of service to you?”

“I uh—” I look her over, realizing she can’t be much older than me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Well, of course, I can make another cup of coffee for you!” Her smile returns, and she moves to the galley. “Whipped cream, caramel, and hazelnut, correct?”

“Yes, but… That’s not what I wanted to ask you.”

“I promise I won’t forget about adding a bit of caramel to the bottom of the cup as well.” She winks. “I’ve kept the bottle on a warmer as a reminder.”

“No, please listen to me…”

“Would you like to try a bit of toffee this time?” she asks. “It mixes well with the hazelnut.”

“My question is not about the goddamn coffee.” My words spill out harshly, and she steps back.