If You Stay Right Here

Chapter 13

Jaydeen did not remember falling asleep, but she was surprised when Tasha gently nudged her to wake up as they had arrived. She opened her eyes and looked out at the illuminating lights of the Paris night and she smiled as she remembered the first time she had landed in Paris three years ago.

JR and the other hostesses had already left the plane by the time she got up and picked her bags.

“The driver will take you to your hotel” Tasha said.

“Thanks I will see you another time I guess” she said as she walked out.

“All the best” Tasha said with a warm smile.

Jaydeen walks off the plane and finds a car already waiting for her.

“Welcome maam” the driver says.

Jaydeen throws herself on the luxurious bed of the penthouse apartment she had been booked into and just soaked in the feeling of being on a cushy bed as compared to the single, stiff, cockroach infested room she had checked into when she had first arrived in France.

She had left her credit cards and anything that would have helped anyone to track her down because she did not want to be found. She did not want people to know that she was rich either, she was tired of people liking her because of what she had and not trying to know and like her for the person she was. She was tired of pretending, tired of her mother and sister’s constant judgement. She just needed a new start, a fresh one and even if it meant her eating stale bread and sleeping in the cheapest rooms available, it was a chance she was willing to take. But now she was on the opposite side of it, feeling even worse than she had done before because she felt she had been drawn into the world she spent a lot of her life trying to run away from.

“Meeting at 10:30 tomorrow, please dress the part” a message said. It was from JR. Jaydeen scoffs at the insult then throws the phone on her bed and sits up as she stares out on the night skyline. Her stomach begins to growl and she remembers that she has not had super yet. She checks the time then decides to take a quick shower and then go to the hotel dining room to have some dinner.

She is surprised to see JR there this time with a model looking brunette woman. They seemed cozied up. Jaydeen not wanting to be noticed quickly turned to leave and as she is about to get to the door one of the waiters taps her shoulder.

“Sorry maam but that gentlemen asked if you could join him. He said he was expecting you” 

Jaydeen rolls her eyes and turns expecting to see JR but is surprised when another gentlemen.

She squints at him a little surprised then he stands and walks towards her.

Jaydeen watched as this sun-kissed Grecian walked towards her. 

His eyes the green of fresh dew, his lips pale and thin; nose slender and rounded. This dark haired man had a prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck. He had strong muscular arms and the muscles were bulging out of the white shirt he was wearing. He was the kind of man that Jaydeen had fantasised about but the same kind she felt she did not want as she hated to have to compete with other women.

When he opened his mouth to talk, Jaydeen felt her face go red

“Why are you leaving so fast” he said his deep French accent coming out and his voice sounding deep and crisp.

“I, decided to order in, I have had a long flight”

“Really? Please join me, I promise I won’t keep you long” he said and Jaydeen felt herself blush, her tongue tied and unable to utter the reply which she wanted to say which was no.

“This way” the man says taking her by the hand and leading her to a corner, private table. Jaydeen is relieved because at least now she was going to be out of JR’s view.