"Not bad." He continued. "A little less makeup and who knows?"
She was about to let him have it when he abruptly turned and walked away.
He obviously wasn't even on her flight today although he was obviously ready for travel with a small and very expensive designer overnight bag. Well, at least she wouldn't have to spend another four-hour flight with him. Obviously, he just couldn't take rejection and had to come over and do something stupid to get revenge for being turned down.
Other passengers began to arrive so she forgot about the handsome but obnoxious Alex Murray and prepared for the onslaught of travelers.
Twenty minutes later, there was a tap on her shoulder.
"Get up, Melanie," her supervisor Rhonda said, "I'm taking over."
"What's up?"
"You've been reassigned."
"To what?"
"Another flight."
Melanie was surprised. In her six years of working as a flight attendant, she had never been reassigned to another flight at such short notice. There were protocols and procedures, even with Drummond Airlines, where profits were small to nonexistent and everyone was expected to be flexible and pull their weight, as management described it.
"Go see Mitch. He'll tell you where you need to go."
Her stomach tightened. The last person she wanted to see was her ex.
"Do I have to see him?"
"He's the boss. Who else are you going to see?" Rhonda smirked.
For all she knew, it could have been her that he had cheated on her with. Not that she cared really. All she wanted to do was put the whole stupid episode behind her.
"Okay." She said and collected her things.
How bad is this day going to get? Late out of bed. Late to work. Then that asshole Murray and now Mitch. Someone please hit fast forward on this day.
It was absolutely taboo at Drummond Airlines for staff to have romantic relationships, especially if they were at different pay grades and even more especially if they worked in close proximity to each other. She and Mitch had ticked all those boxes.
True love conquers all. She thought and then choked back a sob. She still wasn't over him. That stupid Drummond Airline rule had made them sneak around like illicit lovers until she was sick of it. But it had all been worth it because of their feelings for each other.
Until she found those panties under his bed.
The thought of it still made her blood boil.
"Are you going or not?" Rhonda asked impatiently.
"Oh yeah, sorry. Enjoy your trip to Columbus."
"Thanks. I can't wait."
She took a deep breath and headed towards his office in the Drummond executive lounge. She was nearly there when she saw Alex Murray walking slowly in front of her.