A Billion Dollar Revenge

Carl and Kristen

Carl St. Clair looked at his hand still holding Kristen. What was this enchantment? Glancing up at Kristen, he noticed a spark in her eyes, indicating she felt the same way.

But why? It was just a handshake. He quickly withdrew his hand, fearing being caught off guard.

She was a stunning woman, and he had encountered many women before, so why did he now feel an inexplicable desire for more with her? Why did it seem as though his very soul had detached from his body to connect with hers?

Kristen felt uneasy, all it took was a handshake and eye contact, and she found herself questioning whether what she felt was "love at first sight". She had only encountered it in books. She felt her cheeks heat up.

She didn't know this man, yet her life suddenly felt sane. She had dreaded embarking on this journey to Los Angeles, but now she started to look forward to this.

"Kristen ...erm..." Carl finally spoke up, breaking up the tense silence.

"Our seats aren't on the same lane..." He chuckled to himself. He had never done what he was about to do. He didn't want to sit in his first-class seat anymore. He has never flown anything but first class, but with Kristen, maybe flying economy didn't have to be that bad for the next five hours.

"Okay...?" Kristen replied to him, hoping for something, anything.

"If there is no one seated next to you or if they are open to changing seats, would you object to my company?" Carl asked.

For the first time ever, the fear of potential rejection went through him, but Kristen gazed at him and offered a gentle smile.

"I would greatly appreciate that," she murmured softly.

Carl loved the idea of being seen as a different person. Today, he looked his worst and yet the most stunning lady in the airport paid no mind to his looks. He didn't have anything extravagant nor was his posh entourage around him to indicate his expensive background, but here was Kristen showing genuine interest in him. Carl had never felt such a strong combination of attraction and challenge before.

" So how long were you in D.C.?" Carl asked Kristen.

"All my life, I grew up in Washington" Kristen lied, she had only fled with her aunt to Washington when she was seven years old, but she couldn't reveal that.

"So what's taking you to Los Angeles?"

" I am hoping to get a job at K.R. Tech. Do you know the company?" Kristen asked, trying her best to look innocent.

" Who doesn't know K.R. Tech! That is a big deal!"

Carl couldn't believe his luck. She was coming to work for his company! That meant he would get to see her again, and she would get to see his real handsome self, not this gawky Daniel Ross who sat with her.

"I know! When I got called back for an interview, I couldn't believe my luck!"

"I am glad that you are following your dreams," Carl said to her.

"What about you? Where in Washington do you stay, or were you just a visitor?"

"Yes, I am a visitor. I came to visit family" Carl said. It wasn't really a lie, because he had come to see his father's trusted aide, but he couldn't say that to this beautiful stranger.

"I was just here for two weeks, it was a beautiful stay."

No, it was dangerous, he had spent it looking over his shoulder, wondering if someone would recognize him and gun him down. It had taken a while for him to realize that his disguise was good enough, so he could relax.

"I am glad you enjoyed your stay," Kristen cheerfully said. I would have been happy to show you around.

"That would have been risky..." Call stumbled too quickly, forgetting himself.

"Risky? Kristen asked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Carl had to quickly save the situation. Why would he say that? She was talking to Daniel Ross, a disguised man, not Carl St. Clair. He needed to charm his way out of this. Quickly!

"Yes…risky…your boyfriend could show up and knock me out," Carl said, trying to salvage his mistake.

Kristen blushed.

"There is no boyfriend."

Carl's mouth fell open, no way this lady was without a man. Was everyone in D.C. blind?

"I had one, but we broke up" Kristen continued, sadness showing up in her eyes.

As Carl saw her face change, he wished he could find the i***t who hurt her and beat him blue-black.

Kristen thought about Scott. She still felt stupid, but she knew she had bigger things in front of her, which was finding Carl St. Clair and making him fall in love with her.

Carl was happy to learn that she was single but decided to change the topic because it hurt him to see her sad.

The pair engaged in conversation as the world around them faded into the background, their gaze fixed solely on each other. They discussed topics ranging from the weather to their respective educational backgrounds, sharing preferences for colors, hobbies, and anything else that came to mind.

Initially, Carl attempted to keep the details of his "Daniel" undercover alias, but eventually, he found himself unable to resist opening up and revealing his true self. The only aspect of his life that he chose to withhold for the time being was his personal history; his family and wealth. Perhaps, just perhaps, he would encounter someone who would genuinely value him for who he was, rather than his material possessions.

Kristen was keenly aware of the magnitude of her mission in Los Angeles, so she made a conscious effort to pay attention to the details she shared with this interesting geek with the broken nose and mole.

However, despite her best intentions, she found herself inexplicably drawn to Daniel. His warm smile, captivating eyes, and the profound way in which he seemed to connect with her on an emotional level were impossible to resist.

Kristen tried to deny it, but she knew she was slowly falling for him. But allowing herself to fall in love would only complicate matters further. With the weight of her mission pressing on her mind, she knew that her father's legacy depended heavily on her success. But regardless, for the time being, the charming presence of an IT nerd on the plane provided a delightful distraction, and she was happy to allow it.

The two got on the flight and happily sat next to each other, the Harry Potter book which brought them together laid forgotten in Kristen's bag. They enjoyed each other's company through the flight but none of them knew that they were each other's greatest potential enemies, yet a simple attraction that started in the departure room grew slowly into an undeniable feeling of love at first encounter for these two.