Chasing Clouds

by Annabelle Knight

  Chase snorted and put a hand to his head.

  “Elodie, I don’t want to be cruel, but firstly we’re not together. I told you, I don’t do relationships. And secondly, don’t you think you’re overreacting, just a bit? I know you’re young but let’s not be dramatic.”

  Elodie opened her mouth to speak but Chase ploughed ahead.

  “Look, it’s been great, it really has. But this,” he gestured up and down at Elodie, “this is too much. Wanting to stay over, gate- crashing a dinner with my friends, trying to make me jealous with this Aaron guy. It’s drama that I’m just not interested in. I think it’s time we called it a day.”

  Elodie took a step back, as if his words had taken a physical form and had tried to strike.

  “I don’t understand,” she said weakly, “I’m just trying to warn you about Grace...”

  “I can handle Grace,” he replied quickly.

  Elodie stared at him agog, wondering how had this conversation gone so badly so quickly. She couldn’t believe that an act of what she felt was concern had been blown out of proportion, and now Chase was ending things. It just didn’t make sense.

  Chase gave Elodie a pitying smile and strode off. Elodie stared after him hoping that he would turn around and tell her it was all a mistake, he didn’t. Elodie watched as he disappeared off in the distance and felt as though she’d been kicked as an awful feeling of sadness began to settle in the pit of her stomach.

  Elodie arrived home late that evening, feeling numb. Carla was already in her pyjamas, sat on the sofa with a hot chocolate in hand. Elodie was still angry with her for how she had behaved during their spat but now, more than anything, she was angry at herself for ever allowing a guy to come between them. She wanted to tell Carla what had happened, she really did. But she had sacrificed so much for him and despite Chase’s words she knew that it wasn’t over between them, it couldn’t be. No, she decided that there was nothing to be gained from telling Carla, and besides, she didn’t think she could handle hearing “I told you so.”

  Elodie knew the day would come where she would have to work with Chase again, she had just hoped that that day wouldn’t come so soon. Less than one week later she was sat in the back of Mr Bosford’s car on her way to a flight to Mexico, knowing full well that Chase was piloting the plane. She was dreading it and every time she thought about bumping into him her blood ran cold. She couldn’t help but hope that maybe if he saw her again he’d realise what he’d lost.

  “Everything alright? You seem out of sorts,” Mr Bosford asked Elodie partway through the journey.

  “I’m fine,” Elodie replied, forcing a smile.

  “Boy trouble again?” he asked.

  Elodie felt her jolt in her chest. He couldn’t know, could he? She had found herself becoming suspicious of everyone lately. Every time someone asked how she was, gave a smile or a certain type of look, her heart would sink and stomach would lurch. She felt terrible for not confiding in any of her friends, but they had warned her about him, and until she knew for certain that things were over, she didn’t want to say anything.

  “Nope, everything’s fine,” she said, mustering a jovial tone. Mr Bosford gave a smile that Elodie thought bordered on pity but said nothing more.

  Elodie passed through security easily as always and made her way to the changing rooms. She wanted to redo her makeup and make sure she looked her best; after all, there’s no better revenge than looking incredible. She rounded the corner and almost ran straight into Aaron.

  “Sorry, excuse me,” she mumbled as she moved past him. Aaron said nothing; he gave her a smile, so similar to the one Mr Bosford had given only moments before and Elodie felt a swell of annoyance. ‘Why is everyone looking at me like that?’ she thought exasperatedly. ‘Like I’m some charity case?’

  “No worries, have a good day,” Aaron said agreeably before heading off on his way.

  Elodie was shocked: never had Aaron just wished her a nice day. He always wanted to talk, needed to explain things or was trying to spend time with her in some way; never before had he simply left. Elodie didn’t like how that felt and realised in that moment that maybe she had secretly enjoyed Aaron’s attentions; maybe Steph had been right all along. She shook this thought from her head: she didn’t have time for the intricacies of Aaron.

  Chapter 17

  It was days until Elodie began to feel a little more like herself again, and even though she had barely exchanged two words with Carla and Steph since their falling- out, all ill- feeling slipped from her head entirely when she found herself welcoming on board none other than Alex Walker, owner of Alpha Whiskey and founder of En Mode magazine. She still couldn’t believe just how sour things had become. The notion that she should apologise reared its head several times a day, but she just couldn’t seem to find the right time or the right words to say. Not for them to tear Chase apart for no real reason. They had never been supportive of her boyfriends. They’d never given Tom a chance, and look how that had panned out; and now they were doing the same thing to Chase. However, given her new circumstances, their fight had been pushed to the back of her mind.

  Mr Walker was an older man in his late fifties with salt and pepper hair and a closely cropped beard to match. Elodie liked him at once; he had kind eyes that seemed to smile, even when his mouth didn’t. He asked her how she was finding Alpha Whiskey and she told him, not untruthfully, that she was enjoying it very much. He asked her if the staff had been welcoming, if she was settling in well and if there was anything she ever needed all she needed to do was ask.

  The flight went swimmingly. Mr Walker was journeying to Mexico with some friends and all in all there were six of them on the flight. This was one of the first flights Elodie had been on where it really hadn’t felt like work. She found Alex Walker fascinating: he was really charismatic and had an air about him that made her feel instantly comfortable. Mr Bosford had once told her that he was a ‘stickler for the rules’, which had made Elodie nervous about meeting him, but now he was here in the flesh she felt far more relaxed. He talked about his work, the magazine and all the passion projects close to his heart at length, and Elodie found it very difficult not to admire the man for all that he had done for others. He genuinely seemed like a lovely man. The twelve- hour flight flew by, although not long enough to stop Elodie’s feet from hurting. The heels she wore as part of her uniform did pinch after a while. She stood behind the bar and slipped them off, just for a moment of respite.

  “I couldn’t trouble you for another, could I?” Mr Walker said to Elodie as he approached the bar. Elodie slipped her shoes back on effortlessly and took the glass. Mr Walker had been exclusively drinking soda water and lime, aside from one glass of Champagne, which he had used to toast one of his guests’ latest ventures. Elodie poured his drink and handed the glass back to him. He took a sip and thanked her.

  “Is there anything you’d change?” he asked out of the blue.

  Elodie’s first thought was that at that particular moment there were a lot of things she’d change, but she didn’t think he was speaking about her personal life.

  “I’m sorry?” she asked politely.

  “About Alpha Whiskey. I’m always keen for suggestions. After all, it’s you guys that make the company what it is,” he said warmly.

  Elodie thought hard. She hadn’t been there that long and certainly wasn’t in a position to criticise the company. Maybe Mr Walker wanted reassurance about his company in the same way she had wanted it about her relationship.

  “I don’t think so, all the staff get on well, the passengers are always happy and on a personal note I’m extremely grateful for all the incredible experiences offered to me here,” she replied.

  “The experiences are amazing, aren’t they?” Mr Walker echoed. Elodie nodded; of that there was no denying. “Well, how about if I offer you one more?”

  Elodie raised her e
yebrow, not entirely sure what he was getting at but hoping beyond hope that it wasn’t anything dodgy.

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said truthfully.

  Mr Walker was quiet for a moment and then, to Elodie’s amazement, produced an envelope from his breast pocket.

  “I keep a few on me. You never know who you might meet in my line of work.” He opened the envelope and several crisp white tickets with gold leaf writing on peeked out. He plucked out one ticket and handed it to Elodie.

  “Here you go, keep this safe. It’s a top- tier ticket. That means VIP admission, Champagne, goody bags and access to every part of the show. They don’t come better than that, so look after it and don’t go showing it off; otherwise, everyone will want one.” He smiled warmly when he saw that she was lost for words.

  “I can’t believe it, I thought you only gave these out as rewards or something?”

  “I give them out to people who I think could use it. No offence, but despite the top- notch service and Hollywood smile, I think you look a little sad. Hopefully, this will go some way to cheering you up.”

  He raised his glass at Elodie and turned to rejoin his companions. Elodie honestly felt as though she could cry. She opened the drawer behind the bar and vowed to keep it safe, hardly daring to believe her luck. She felt so undeserving, but extremely grateful.

  They landed a little while later. Elodie had stowed the prized ticket in a drawer behind the bar for safekeeping, not wanting to leave lying about and risk it getting dog- eared. Both she and Gareth waved the guests off the plane before readying themselves for departure. They had just one night in Mexico before they returned home. Elodie was halfway down the steps when she realised that she’d forgotten the ticket that Mr Walker had given her on board. She made an excuse to Gareth and turned on her heel to retrieve it. She had been the last to leave, so the plane was deserted and eerily quiet. She walked to the bar area, opened the drawer where she had hidden the ticket and accidentally dropped it to the floor. She bent down to pick it up and suddenly heard a voice, small at first but growing louder. Elodie wasn’t sure why, but she stayed crouched down behind the bar, in an effort to go unnoticed.

  “I’m here for one night and one night only.” She heard the unmistakable tones of Chase echoing around the plane. “Oh come on, I’ve missed you. Look, let me send a car for you, where are you staying?” He paused as the person, Elodie assumed a woman, replied. “You want to go for a drink first? Jeez, I’d love to but I’m really tied up with work at the moment, it’ll probably be late when I get in. But you’re the first person I thought of, the only person. Tara, babe, I’ve missed you. I need to be honest with you, I know I played things terribly but, honestly, it’s you that I want. Things were just so much better when you were by my side. Look, don’t say no, just think about it.”

  Chase finished his conversation and Elodie felt him moving closer towards the bar, towards her. She braced herself, preparing to be discovered at any moment. She heard him lean against the bar; she could almost feel him hovering over her and then he spoke again.

  “Did I wake you?” he said softly. Elodie was confused, had he seen her? Did he think she was taking a quick nap or something? “I’ve been thinking, I think you need to give me another shot. I can’t stop thinking about you. Come on, I’ll be home tomorrow. Let me take you out, treat you like the princess you are.”

  Elodie realised he was on the phone again, to someone else this time. Someone back home by the sounds of it.

  “Come on, I screwed up, I admit it, but it’s you that I want, Jess, please. I’ve got the next fortnight off work and I want to spoil you. I’ve been thinking and things were just so much better with you by my side, it’s you I want. Look, I’ve got a new car and I’d love to take you for a spin. Come on Jess, baby, please. Let me send a cab for you.” There was another pause. “That’s my good girl.”

  He wrapped up the call and Elodie heard the sound of ice dropping into a glass. Elodie chanced it and glanced upwards; she saw his arm reach out above her and grab a bottle of whisky from a nearby shelf. She heard the glug of the liquid being poured and could do nothing but listen as he knocked one back and then another. Elodie could feel the backs of her legs beginning to burn under the strain of the uncomfortable position she found herself in. Heart pounding, she let out a near- silent sigh.

  ‘Tara and Jess?’ she thought. She hadn’t a clue who Tara was – clearly, someone else caught in the whirlwind of Chase – but Jess, she knew who Jess was. Chase must have been whom she was talking to that night they met up for a drink. The guy who was a bit weird, who was messing her about. Elodie was surprised to feel, not hurt, but anger. How dare he treat women like this? Elodie could have kicked herself there and then. How had she not seen him for what he was? She knew why, of course: she had chosen not to. She had seen what she wanted to. She’d seen success, his good looks, his charm and, more than anything, she’d been swayed by how he made her feel: wanted, desired and incredibly sexy.

  ‘Oh God,’ she thought, ‘he’s played me. Carla and Steph were right.’

  She had the fleeting sensation that she needed to have it out with him, to spit him a few home truths and let him know what she now thought of him. Angry tears burnt her eyes; she rubbed them, determined not to shed one here on his account. But the more she thought about it, the more she felt differently: why should she give him the satisfaction? Chase seemed to thrive on female attention. Why should she give him any more of it? She had a strong urge to call Jessica, to show female solidarity and to warn her not to get back into bed with Chase. What was it she had said at the bar? ‘If he calls I come running, I can’t help myself.’ Elodie felt an unpleasant cocktail bubble inside her: hurt, with a dash of anger, a splash of humiliation and garnished with a wedge of shame.

  She heard Chase’s glass clink as it was set down on the bar and his footsteps fade as he left. She waited a few moments, her heart beating fast. She didn’t know what to do. Should she phone Jess and warn her? Should she mind her own business? There were pros and cons to both. She stood up and, picking up a new glass, poured herself a measure of whisky before knocking it back. She was going to need a little Dutch courage to break the news to Jessica.

  The phone call with Jess didn’t go well. At first, Jess had denied any involvement with Chase; she’d laughed it off and told Elodie she was being crazy. Then, when Elodie pressed her, she retracted her earlier sentiments and said that it was none of Elodie’s business and finally resorted to telling her that Chase had told Jess everything. About how Elodie was practically stalking him, gate- crashing private dinners and turning up to his house with a suitcase. By the end of it, Jess had painted Elodie as some tragic woman, obsessed with an older man and whose jealousy had led her down a dark path where she was determined to slander Chase to anyone who would listen.

  Elodie had been in total shock. How could he twist things so much and, moreover, how could Jess believe him? Elodie had tried to explain, but Jess just wouldn’t listen. Eventually, Jess had hung up the phone and Elodie had stared at hers in disbelief.

  She let out a low sigh. She had less than twenty- four hours in Mexico and she would be damned if Chase was going to spoil them. Elodie felt very alone as she disembarked. She wanted to tell Carla and Steph what she had overheard but she just couldn’t. Her stupid pride had been hurt and she was still smarting from it. Elodie thought that maybe being on her own wouldn’t be that bad. Some alone time might be just what she needed. She headed off to her hotel; she was going to use this time to think things through, to really try and figure out what she wanted. She spent the night completely by herself: she switched her phone off and made the most of the hotels fabulous facilities. She took herself swimming, choosing the indoor pool as there was less chance of bumping into anyone there, and had an in- room facial provided by the spa team, which was nothing but heavenly. She enjoyed a quiet bubble bath in absolute silence and la
ter watched an old black and white Hollywood film that made her cry. She went to bed that night feeling that she may have squandered the opportunity to see Mexico, but she had made the most of her chance to spend some time with herself. As Elodie fell to sleep she couldn’t stop her mind from wandering to Jessica. She really hoped that Jess wouldn’t fall into Chase’s mantrap again.

  ‘Why wouldn’t she listen to me. God, it’s so annoying when someone won’t let you explain yourself,’ she mused as she let sleep claim her.

  Elodie managed to successfully avoid everyone the following day – everyone, apart from Mr Walker, who was walking behind her when he saw her dive behind a large cactus- laden plant pot in the main concourse of Mexico City Airport in order to avoid a run- in with Chase.

  “What are we hiding from?” he asked sidling up next to her, a bemused smile on his face.

  “Mr Walker! Oh, nothing. I was just, errr, I was just getting something from my shoe, a pebble,” she said lamely, standing up and wiggling her foot about as though she had just relieved herself of some discomfort. “What are you doing here? I thought you were staying in Mexico.”

  “I was.” Mr Walker looked at her as though maybe she had overstepped her mark, but continued anyway. “Something’s come up and I need to get back home, so I’m hitching a ride with you guys – if that’s OK with you, that is?”

  Elodie blushed; she hadn’t meant to sound impertinent, she was just shocked to see him especially since he’d discovered her crouching behind a plant pot. Elodie watched him disappear towards the private lounge area. Once he was out of sight she gave the place one last look around and, when she was sure it was clear, headed off to security so she could board the plane. Gareth was already on board, clipboard in hand checking off all the jobs that needed to be done before passengers could board.