Anya's POV

Paris was going to be an adventure I wasn't exactly sure I was ready for yet.. It happened quickly, it happened spontaneously, and knowing me.. I wasn't exactly the spontaneous type of girl.. I liked my life planned, and even though it was everything but that, I still tried my best to organize my time..

Ever since I met Ash, my perfectionist side somewhat got highlighted again.. I like to think that he managed to bring out the best of me, even though sometimes the best of me wasn't exactly the best.. But I did try to keep thing under control, and everything about this trip was out of it.

First of all, I had one night, one freaking night to pack a bag full of presentable clothes that I was supposed to wear for a business trip in one of the most amazing cities in the world.. Believe me when I tell you, it was not a pretty picture..

I didn't get to spent the night with Ash, like we planned, and instead I had to spent my night going through my half empty closet, and trying to sort out the best of the best from the little pieces of clothes I owned..

Then, I got lucky.. Kristin came in my room, telling the best news I heard that day.. The company was supposed to cover the clothes for the employees, since they had a lot of fashion sponsors, and that should't have surprised me at all..

One of the best things Paris was known for was fashion. The company had all kind of partners, and when I heard the good news, I finally felt like life had given me a break. However, I was supposed to learn by now that good things didn't exactly cross my path.. Like ever.

After spending a whole hour facetiming Jenny, blabbing how I thought this was really going to be my big break in life, Kristin reserved us two tickets for the next day's flight, again making me feel lucky that we actually found place on the plane a night before the flight..

Oh but wait.. It gets better.. As I started getting ready for bed, I got a text from Ash saying that in fact, yes, the company was going to cover the flight too.. With a private jet. Wow, I know.. I should've expected it. No, actually, Kristin should've known all of it.. She worked for the company longer than I did..

We already bought the tickets though, and there was no going back.. It was too late to cancel, and I was not letting so much money go to waste. So, yea, I told her, like it or not, we were using the tickets we bought, and Kristin being my other half, of course agreed.

The only thing left to do was tell Ash that we were not travelling together.. And that last thing left was actually something I didn't think through.. A phone call, at two in the morning wasn't exactly the best idea. However, Ash being the even bigger control freak than me, he was going to hate if he found out that I was not in his private jet tomorrow at 7, and that I was actually going to travel through the clouds an hour later with a different plane.

So being the good assistant that I was, I called him, walking around my room in my oversized light pink t-shirt, like a giant marshmallow, which was actually ripped in at least three places since it was over worn.. The glimpse I got in the mirror from myself, with the messy ponytail on top of my head, and my thumbnail between my teeth was not pretty..

"Pick up the phone, Ash, come on," I whispered to myself, still making nervous circles around the room, looking here and there like I was looking for something that will be my key out of this messed up situation.. And then he picked up. "Ash?"

"Anya, baby, it's two in the morning." The huskiness in his voice told me, that yes, no matter how much I hoped he was awake, I was wrong. He was sound asleep by then, and I was of course the one to wake him up.. "Please tell me you're not dying."

"No, no, no, listen, it's about tomorrow's flight.." I said quickly, having no response from the other line for the next two seconds.. "Ash, do you hear me? Did you fall asleep?" I'm pretty sure he did, 'cause it took him another few seconds before he answered.

"No, I'm listening," His deep husky tone caused this unbelievable tingles in my stomach, like I was so suddenly overwhelmed and distracted by the wish of having him in this room with me in that exact moment..

But I shook off the feeling and continued talking. "Okay, there might be a little change of plans.."

"Anya." The meaningful warning in his voice told me that he already didn't like what he was hearing.. It made me even more nervous.. "Don't tell me you're scared of flying and that you're cancelling on me?"

"I'm not a fan, no, but that's not it." I couldn't even connect the dots on how he got that idea.. But if I tried figuring out Ash at that hour, I would end up insane by tomorrow. I cleared my throat again.. "Kristin kind of, sort of, bought us tickets for Paris before we knew the company was supposed to cover that."

I spoke in one breath, once again instantly nervous by the sudden silence from the other line. "But you cancelled them.." I didn't answer "Right?"

"It was too late for that?" I said uncertainly, hearing the puff from the other line.. "I'm not going to waste that kind of money, Ash. We already bought them."

"I'll make sure you get your money back, just-" He stopped for a second, almost like he was getting up from his bed just now.. "You're travelling with me."

"Ash, I'm with Kristin on this.. I'm calling you just to let you know because I know how much you hate last minute changes."

Again, the silence from the other line was obviously frustration. It was a last minute change still, but I couldn't really control everything around me.. Especially not when I was the black cat of my life.. Causing my own bad luck.

But then he finally spoke, and I was wrong.. "We were supposed to be on that plane together." I heard nothing but disappointment in his voice..

The feeling that went through me firstly scared me.. Then it astonished me. I felt this urging need crawl through my chest and stomach to just see him right then, that disappointment reflecting right back on me.. I felt like I fell hard for this man, and I wasn't even aware of it till then. I was just so surprised when that unfamiliar longing went through me, when it only had been a few hours since I last saw him.

I heard myself release a slow breath.. "Well by the time I get in the plane, you'll already be in the clouds, over the ocean.." I tried sounding as hyped as possible, but I was tired of all the drama this trip was already bringing, and I just hoped Paris was worth the frustration.

"You know that was not the point," Again, the way his voice sounded sleepy and deep caused butterflies in my stomach.. I just thought that only the previous night, I had him in the bed beside me, caressing my hair and discussing out little secrets from inches away from me..

Now, he was not even close, sounding disappointed because of me, and making me feel just as bad.. He was right.. Just before we left work, he told me that he liked the idea of getting the chance to travel with me. I liked it too. I thought it was so sweet.. Now, it was all ruined. But still, on the bright side, we were going to spent our weekend together in one of the best cities in the world.

"I know.." I sat down on the bed, finally somewhat calming down.. "I know, I wanted that too. I'm sorry. We didn't think this through."

"No, it's alright, I honestly hope we'll get to spend a little time together on the trip.. I just won't be able to fall asleep now.." Oh.. Right. He always had trouble sleeping.. After everything he went through, of course he did.

"You fell asleep perfectly last night."

"It's not the same. You were with me." He said almost too mechanically, stopping the instant he said that.. Perhaps remembering the same thing I did.. We said we were't let feelings get in the way.. Yet after the very first day, we were acting like we've been with each other our whole lives.. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that.. It's just been a long day today, and ironically, the more I'm tired, the less I can sleep."

He explained after realizing I went silence for a few seconds, but that's not what I wanted from him. He didn't have to explain, because I felt the same way, he was just the one that said it.

"No, I get it. I'm going through some insomnia too. It's been a while since I got some good sleep like last night." I bit down on my lip, and just when I ran out of things to say, thinking it would get awkward, I thought about this other thing I wanted to ask, so i quickly did. "Hey, listen, I was thinking, maybe you could take the book with you? 'Pride and Prejudice'.. I kinda want to read it while we're there.. You know, check for some hints again."

The kind of hints my mother gave me before she died. I thought maybe I would dig something out, read between the lines, and even though this trip wasn't exactly the place to do that, I liked using my time on the plane perhaps, reading.. It took my mind off things for a bit.

"Yea, sure, I will." Silence fell over again. And now I felt bad for waking him up, but I knew I did the right thing telling him. "Good night, Anya,"

And it was that moment I wished we didn't have to say that over the phone. "Good night, Ash." But what was with me? I was going to Paris tomorrow morning! Everything was going to be perfect..

Yea.. Everything was going to go alright. I was going to be the happiest girl on Earth once I'm in Paris.

~

"What do you mean my suitcase had to be destroyed?" I was standing at the baggage reclaim in the Charles de Gaulle airport, listening to this unbelievably boring formal person repeat the same thing for the fourth time.

"Madame White, just like I explained, your suitcase didn't go through our safety scanner and was destroyed. You were supposed to be informed about this back at the J.F. Kennedy airport. In fact, you weren't supposed to be even allowed to get on the plane."

What?.. What? My brain kept repeating the same question, over and over again. Paris welcomed me in the worst way possible. I was definitely not the happiest girl in that moment. I was everything but that. I was shocked, and speechless to what this man was saying..

"When you say destroyed," I pressed my hand over my forehead for a second, blinking a few times to hopefully wake up from this nightmare, "and you know, I'm Mademoiselle." I corrected out of nowhere, watching the man nod his head.

"Pardon, Mademoiselle. Destroyed. Gone." Dear Lord, can it get worse than this? Actually, no don't answer that.

I went through my bag for a second, desperately searching through my stuff.. All I had left with me was a pair of sunglasses, phone, wallet, passport.. Laptop, two lipsticks and a magazine.. Well, at least I had something to read. Thank goodness.

I looked back at him. "But, why?" I was starting to talk slowly, like I was about to pass out. This was too much. Even for me. "Why would it,- oh God, why would it be destroyed?"

The first time I set foot in France, and this is what happens?! Paris.. I was in Paris! It was supposed to be the best journey of my life. I was supposed to be in the taxi by then, sipping on a latte and texting Ash that I was on my way to the fancy hotel.. I was supposed to be happy. And lucky. At least enough to get through the damn security with my full belongings.

It had never happened before. Ever. "There are a lot of reasons, Madame, the security is a serious process these days. Maybe you forgot something in you suitcase? Something dangerous, perhaps?"

"The most dangerous thing I had inside was a pair of shoes that I saw on G.B.H." I almost started crying at that point. Those were the prettiest shoes I owned, and even though they said not to bring anything with us, I still put a few clothes in.. Including those shoes. Oh, my poor shoes. "There has to a be a mistake, Sir. Who am I supposed to address about this?"

"I'm afraid that would be me." The guy released a slow heavy breath for the fifth time. "Maybe there was something inside.. Perhaps something that worked on batteries?"

I frowned in confusion. Everything that had batteries was in my bag. "Something with batteries?" I repeated for some reason, watching the guy try to explain decently.

"Something that vibrated maybe?"

"A toothbrush?" And then right after that, this word left me, quick and certain yet so damn reckless. "A vibrator?" Perhaps that's what he was so decently referring to, but either way, I asked that way too loudly for an airport full of thousands of people..

The ones around me turned, making me realize that that word was not unfamiliar to different languages as well.. Brilliant. I closed my eyes for a second. No, God, it can't get worse than this.

Then I got myself together, and after pressing my fingers over my eyes for a second, I looked back at the kind man, once again trying my best to find some kind of an explanation why this was happening.. No, no, I didn't understand..How could it be? I didn't even own a vibrator! Nor a fancy vibrating toothbrush..

And then I tried again. "But when you say destroyed.."

"It was detonated for security reasons."

"For security reasons..?"

"Yes."

"Just-, gone?"

"Oui."

"I-" I was- I was speechless. "What?" I could feel how suddenly my legs went really really jelly, my knees seconds away from giving out on me.

"I'm sorry, Miss White. I'm allowed to let you leave the airport like no signal was activated on you, but your suitcase had to be eliminated. That's all I can say right now." I stared back at his big brown pretty french eyes still having no clue what the hell he was talking about, yet I got the point when I heard the pity in his voice when he continued talking. "Perhaps you would like me to accompany you to your taxi?"

"But-" My inner self was unnaturally calming in that moment, and I was starting to fear my own future reactions.. A mental break down was expected. Very expected. Yet I went mute, released a shaky breath as I looked on the side and turned around, walking away without another word.

I walked towards where Kristin had gotten out, watching her widen her eyes in questioning.. What was I supposed to say? Some of my favorite clothing was unmercifully destroyed the second it touched Paris' ground? No. No, I was not saying that.. Because if I did, it would mean that I was alright with it. And I wasn't..

I was.. I was furious! I was shocked, and pissed, and confused all at the same time. The only thing that somewhat calmed me down was the fact that thankfully, thaaankfully, lord had mercy and stopped me from putting all my clothes in the damned bag. Only two dresses and my fanciest shoes..

Everything else however, including my toothbrush, favorite boots, hairbrush, tampons, my little stuffed squirrel Teddy.. Teddy! I felt my eyes widening as I instantly picked my hand in my purse, going through it and feeling the soft stuffed animal safe and sound. Thank goodness.

That was the only good luck charm I had. Teddy was older than me, and was the only damn thing I had left from my childhood.. If that got destroyed.. I really don't know what I would've done.

I reached Kristin, having no will to talk or repeat that experience whatsoever. "What happened?"

"My suitcase is gone. Like they said. Poof. Gone. Destroyed. Eliminated. Just non existent anymore." She stared at me for a second.. Two.. My exact reaction..

"And you have nothing else with you?"

I lifted my bag. "This bag, Kristin. That's all I have with me."

"Oh, God." I know! Exactly! "I'm so sorry," I waved my hand like it was nothing, still feeling the heat in my cheeks from that previous damn heartbreaking conversation I had with that guy just a few seconds ago.

"Yea, me too.." We were already walking towards the exit, with me holding my purse as tight as possible, and her pulling her lucky suitcase behind her.

"On the bright side though, the company covers the clothing. Actually, the sponsors do, but hey, you haven't lost that much when you think about it." Oh but I did. It was the only suitcase I had, and the stuff inside were yes, a small amount, but it was the best I had. I never should've brought them with me!

"No, on the bright side I get to,-" See Ash now.. That's what my blabbing stupid self almost started ranting about. Thankfully I cut myself off. "I get to take a nap for the rest of the day today.. I don't even feel like exploring this beautiful city anymore."

My quick correction was unnoticeable to me. She just seemed a bit worried. For my mental health probably. "Come on, babe, get in that taxi." I somewhat heard what she said, feeling her slight rub over my back. "Hey, it's going to be alright. We'll have a blast, I promise!"

And for some reason, I was really doubting it. Because at that point, my only functional lucky charm was no Teddy, or favorite shoes.. It was simply Ash.

~

  Ash's POV

  There was no such word as simplicity written in Anya's dictionary. She was always, and I mean always, either one extreme or another.. Both times very much complicated and never easy to understand..

  But that was what I loved about her. It was the only way out of my misery and darkness, and she was the only one that knew how to pull me out of it. She made me think of things that I never thought I would even have on my mind..

Usually if she was alright, or perhaps somewhere almost breaking her neck in some 5 inch heels 'cause she was the clumsiest person I knew.. Or if she told the taxi driver the right address, cause yes, she was always thinking of at least 10 things and usually did make such mistakes..

  And now I was in my hotel room, checking my phone every few seconds for a text.. I didn't get it.. And there were no words for me to even try explaining how worried that made me. It was ridiculous, I know, but it was starting to become my reality. And I liked the way that reality functioned.

  However, with her having her phone turned off was definitely not something I wanted to get used to. I called her a million times and jumped every time there was a knock on my door.

  Again, after the room service, there was another knock. Going to check, I was really hoping that this time it was her because it was damn frustrating to wait so eagerly for hours now.

  But once I opened the door, I disappointingly saw Sophie flash me a wide smile, and push me aside as she marched in. Alright. I guess that's what I had to deal with now.

  "Hello to you too, Sophie," I tried greeting, but she just walked in the middle of my room, ignoring my word as she looked around for a second.

  "Where's your girlfriend? What was her name again? Ana?" I closed the door, watching how the she ran her hand through her short goldish hair, before crossing her arms over her chest. And by the tone of her voice, she seemed even a bit frustrated with me for some reason, which was confusing since we barely exchanged a word since I got in the hotel.

"Anya. And she's my fiancée." I corrected, walking back towards the couch. "She'll be here any second."

However, with the way she stopped in front of me, she blocked my way towards the couch. "Why? I thought you guys came here together?" I thought we would too.

"Yea, no, she wanted to keep company to her friend Kristin. She was on a different plane."

"Oh. Bummer."

"Why ask?"

She rose her brows, almost like she was kind of surprised from my question, before taking a small step back and looking around the room again.

"Oh well I wanted to talk to her.. You know, get to know her." And that for some reason didn't really sound like something Sophie would want to do.

"Really?" I dragged the word, watching how she puffed and then smiled.

"Yea, really, why is it so unbelievable for you to believe that I want to get to know her. I mean, she is the girl you're marrying. Like, for the rest of your life and all of that." From that sentence, you could tell that Sophie didn't exactly know the process of commitment, since 'all of that' was something she was never going to be ready for.

I was about to say something, but the knock on the door took my attention and I lost focus on whatever I wanted to tell Sophie. I simply turned around and walked to the door..

Opening it, for the first time that day, I smiled genuinely. Anya. Finally. However, the smile she tried making out failed, and then she simply wrapped her arms around me in an instant. I didn't even get to complain why she didn't call me.

And that simple gesture shut me up the very second, so effortlessly making me lose whatever though I had on my mind and let that sweet feminine scent of Lavender drown me, pulling her close as physically possible. I wanted to tell her that Sophie was inside, but I suppose she saw her and perhaps that's why she acted out a hug.

However, the slow mute 'ohh' she released after a few seconds, told me that she had no clue we were not alone. "I'm so glad I'm finally here." I heard her mumble as we pulled away, watching her put away a stand of that midnight darn hair, those wild blue eyes looking towards the room as I made space for her to walk in. "I had the worst day,"

And then her voice faded when she saw Sophie. "What happened? Why didn't you call me?" My questions didn't seem to take her attention, she just stared at Sophie for another few seconds, before she glanced at me.

"Yea, I had a little trouble at the airport. Hi Sophie," Oh. She just said her name right. It was a shocker since Sophie was either Sally or Shelly, or sometimes even Sue for her.

I don't think it was much of an act when I pressed my arm over her shoulder and rubber her upper arm slightly.. It was becoming nothing but instincts and I was glad we had the whole engaged act going on, cause I would've never been able to treat her as my assistant after the things that happened between us. I mean, it was Anya. She was so much more than that.

"Hey," Sophie frowned before continuing with the questions we were apparently both wondering about. "What happened at the airport? Did Paris not welcome you right?" Again, a statement only Sophie could say out loud.

Anya glanced at me for a second but I was expecting an answer too. "Yea, um- They had problems with my luggage. It took a while," She looked at me, pressing her hand over my chest once again as an instant, or perhaps she was in the act we were supposed to keep up with in front of Sophie. Either way, I didn't mind having her close to me. It was soothing finally having her in my arms, yet I feared to admit it. "And my phone died, I'm so sorry I didn't call.."

I kissed the top of her head, loving the way I could show the closeness in front of other now too. Just in Paris though. That was where we were supposed to act like we were engaged..

"It's alright, I figured it out,"

And then again, Sophie was there to make suggestions that always sounded cheerful.. For some.. And I'm afraid Anya was not always the cheerful type, especially when it wasn't her day.

  "Yea well, anyways, Anya, I came here looking for you since I'm eager to show you around Paris, of course if you haven't visited before,"

  I saw how Anya smiled, and it honestly surprised me seeing a genuine smile, but I suppose Paris could fix everything?

   "I haven't actually. London is as far as I went in Europe." And then the next thing was Sophie's famous hand squeeze and the grin that stretched from ear to ear.

  "Great! I'll pick you up later today. I'm sure your boss won't mind if his assistant is away for the day. All your seminars are tomorrow morning, I checked." She spoke quickly, laughing at the part of me being Anya's boss, which was not far from truth honestly, but the whole quick rambling was something Anya wasn't used to yet.

  She just nodded her head and I could tell that she didn't get half the things Sophie said, but still acted as supportive as possible. Surprisingly.

  "Okay, yea," Though the confusion on her face was clear. Jet lag hit her pretty hard. "You said today?"

  "Oui!" And with that, she tapped my shoulder and went for the door, keeping her little bag squeezed in her arms as she left the room.

  Anya then took a step aside, proving that the whole nice, cuddly her was an act. She puffed loudly, taking a few steps forward and popping down on the couch. The way she ran her hands through her hair told me that yes in fact she was not even slightly happy with how her day was going by so far..

  She then looked at me with her hands still pressed against her forehead and released another sigh. "What did I just get myself into?"

  It was actually interesting to watch her suffer by such little problems, when it was really effortless to fix them. I laughed and sat beside her, feeling how she pressed her head against my shoulder and kept quiet for a few seconds.

  "It's official. This day cannot get any worse."

***

  Can it tho? Let's wait and find out after the little tour with Sophie 😂

  But yea, what do you guys think? Is Sophie as good as she's showing herself as?

  We'll be figuring out a lot of things in the next chap, trust me.. Soon babes! Kisses, 😘