Chapter 34

LAYLA

I finally make my way onto the plane and we are the last van to arrive. This time I luckily get to sit next to Rita as we are already together. I quickly look around me if I can find Jason as I really do not want to look into his face at this moment.

I can not believe that he got into a fight because he could not find me. I wonder what was going through his head but I actually do not want to know. Then without knowing, I realize that I am thinking about Jake.

I thought I made it clear to myself that I should not think about him and that I would never have a chance with him. But I can not stop myself from wondering whether he is on the plane yet or not. I wonder if I'm going to see him walk through those doors.

I wonder if he is going to say hello. I shake my head once more because I should really stop fantasizing about him. He is clearly on another level and like I saw the night before that he has other priorities.

The world is at his feet and that is the way it should be. He is not a Superstar because he sat at home with his girlfriend but he is a Superstar because he worked hard and talked with his fans.

As I take a seat in the plane I keep on staring at the door but soon the seat belt light goes on and I realize he must have been on the plane already. I feel kind of sad because I really enjoyed looking at him when he walks past me.

Today's flight is going to be a lot longer than what it was the first time. This time we will be sleeping on the plane and we will only be arriving tomorrow morning. Australia was never been on my bucket list but I never thought I will get to travel.

I bought myself a book about Australia just to catch up on some history and if I have time, to do some prepared sightseeing. I open the book as the plane starts to lift up from the ground and start to read all the things I never knew.

JAKE

Stacy agrees with me that Layla should take Laura's position and we quickly finalize some other business about some of the staff. I like to keep in touch with my staff and know who is working for me.

As the plane leaves the airport I look out of the window one last time greeting Paris for a wonderful time. The fans here were remarkable and the show was a success.

Then Stacy leaves my room and I start to think of things that I can do so that I can see Layla. I know that she is on the plane but I would like to know for myself that she is on the plane and safe. Unfortunately, I do not get to mix so much with the staff and today's flight is going to be extra long.

Then suddenly I have a great idea. Every time somebody new becomes a crew member, I like to have a one-on-one chat with them. Just to find out whether they are happy with the job and to get to know them personally.

Usually, when somebody new comes into the group they have some perceptions of me because of what they have read in newspapers or seen on YouTube. So, I would like to just break those perceptions before they think otherwise.

I guess now would probably be the best time to have this chat with Layla and this way I can know that she is on this plane. I stand up and get the attention of Mark.

"Could you maybe get miss Pierce to come and see me?"

"Sure. I will send her in right away"

As he walks away I get his attention again.

"...and Mark, I will do the itinerary with you after this"

"Great. I will see you now"

LAYLA

Just as we are in the air for a little while my stomach starts to turn. I suddenly remember that I forgot to take my pills for the flight. I realize that I put them in my hand luggage in the overhead compartment. This is going to be a bit of a mission because Rita is sitting on the aisle side.

"Rita, could you maybe just stand up? I need to get something from my bag? I am so sorry"

"Oh, that is no problem. Let me just get out of your way"

"Thank you so much"

I am just about to open the compartment when I hear someone calling my name.

"Layla? Layla Pierce?"

I turn around and see that man that peeked into my room that one time, looking for Jake. I remember how Rita told me that he was the manager for Jake. I quickly drop what I was doing and then turn to him.

"Yes, that is me"

"Please come with me"

I want to turn around and just get my pills out of my bag but I realized that he seems to be someone important. I need to keep my cool and just concentrate on my balance, maybe, just maybe, I would not throw up.

He waits for me to come with him and then I quickly walk with him.

"Please follow me"

I do as he asks me to and then as we get to that door which I thought was the bathroom the last time, I realize where we are going.

"Jake would like to see you"

Suddenly my stomach that I am trying to keep under control now has millions of butterflies in them. My mouth immediately starts to get dry and at the same time, I have to act as normal as possible.

Mark opens the door for me and I walk unsurely into the room. I do not know what I would find. Then I see him sitting next to the window staring out of it. But then Mark says to him.

"Miss Pierce is here as you requested"

Suddenly his eyes fall on me and it softens.

"Thank you, Mark"

Mark closes the door behind us. I look back at the door and I realize it is just me and him in this room. He then stands up and gestures to the seat across from him.

"Please have a seat"

I nervously take a seat because I am almost sure that he is firing me. He must have not liked my outfits.

JAKE

I do not know how she gets it right but every time I see her she looks even more beautiful than the day before. She does not just make me look good but her own clothing style is almost perfect.

Her beautiful black long hair is loose and playing beautifully on her shoulders. As she takes a seat across from me I am almost certain that I see her hands tremble. I start to wonder why she is nervous and then I take a seat across from her.

"You must wonder why you are here?"

"Just a little, yes"

"There are a few reasons why but let us start with a congratulations"

LAYLA

I listen to what he has to say while I am trying to keep my hands from shaking. He says that he wants to congratulate me. I can not help but frown and then I say.

"Congratulations? For what exactly?"

"Well, the job of my stylist is yours if you want it?"

JAKE

I have never offered a job to anyone. Usually, I would just tell them that they got the job and they would freak out but for some reason, it is different with her. It is almost as if I want to know if she wants to be with me.

If she says yes then part of me would feel like she wants the job to be close to me. I am not oblivious about the fact that she just wants the job because of the money but I would like to think that she would also want the job because she wants to be with me.

I hold my breath without realizing and then she says.

"You mean I have the job?"

"I mean if you want the job it is yours, yes. Do you want the job?"

She takes a minute just staring into my eyes then she bites her lip and smile. I feel a sudden thrust of desire shooting through my entire being.

"Yes, it would be my honor to be your stylist. Thank you"

I feel myself breathing again and some sort of happiness starts to grow in my heart. I have not been friends with happiness for these past couple of months but it seems like there is hope that I might be happy again.

Now that I know how to control the wolf in me, I might be able to get a bit more closer to Layla. Then a thought shoots through my mind, what if she does not feel the same way that I feel about her?