Chapter Eight
Jaxon was glad that he could convince her to eat. He couldn't believe that he had apologized to her, something he had never done in his whole life.
His mood lightened as he went into his office and sat on the sofa . "Sit," he said. Carmella sat down awkwardly at the couch farthest from him. He served the club sandwiches onto two plates and pushed one towards her. He served the pomegranate mocktail into two glasses and served her one.
"Thank you," she said, and sat quietly to eat.
"I will be leaving for Paris tonight. You have to pack your stuff and accompany me for two days. Be ready by 7 o'clock in the evening. I'll come to pick you up from your house," he informed her.
Carmella's jaws dropped. She would need to goto Paris with him tonight? How would she ever ignore him if she had to travel with him? He would take the pains to pick her up from her house?
"Ok, sir," she said although she knew that she would have a tough time convincing her family to agree. Jaxon noticed that she was reticent and quiet. In fact she didn't even look up at him in the eye, keeping her eyes focussed on her food. He might have hurt her more than he had intended to.
She got up to leave after finishing her food. "Thank you sir, I need to get back to work, " she said picking up her disposable plate and tumbler. He nodded and she went away.
Jaxon released the breath that he had been holding. He had been waiting to see her jade green eyes but she didn't look up once. Feeling disappointed and guilty, he went back to work.
The whole day was very hectic since he had to finish two days work before leaving for Paris. Carmella was also busy, running to the conference room and back, as he held meetings with all the department heads. It was only work, work and more work. By 5 o'clock in the evening, she was free to go home and pack for her trip.
"Dad, mom, I need to leave tonight for Paris with Mr Craddock. It's a two day work trip. He'd pick me up on his way to the airport," she said, looking at them, expecting them to over react.
"Oh, he could have informed you a day in advance, " said her dad.
"An emergency might have cropped up at the last minute," she told him and he nodded.
"Ok, take care, dear," said her mom.
Carmella released a breath of relief. Thankfully she got her permission without any drama. She quickly took a shower and started packing her suitcase. She packed all work clothes and ofcourse her necessities and pajamas to sleep in. She was ready in a pair of denims and a red top and a matching jacket. Her mom had already forced her to have an early dinner as she kept fussing about this sudden trip.
Carmella wasn't at all excited to go. Jaxon's words had hurt her badly and no apology could undo the pain that those cruel words had inflicted upon her innocent soul. She had led a protected life and never had a boyfriend in her entire life. It was only studies, eat and sleep or read books. Her best friend whom she loved, River Ann Wilson had left Vegas when they were thirteen. She didn't keep in touch as she loved Tyler and he didn't reciprocate her feelings.
With Tyler marrying a bitch called Meredith and moving away to his own house, Carmella had become all the more lonely.
Jaxon was very excited that Carmella agreed to travel with him. For two days, he could be with her but would he display his feelings? Never. His trusted chauffeur Bobby Browning, who had been with him for the last ten years, drove him towards Carmella's house. Jaxon had taken her address from her employee folder.
He was five minutes late already. Parking the Mercedes, Bobby went upto the house to get Carmella as Jaxon watched from inside the car. She came out with a single suitcase and a man, a few years older than her. He hugged her and she hugged him back.
Jaxon's blood boiled as he watched their interaction. Was the man her fiancé? Did they live together? He couldn't stay inside any longer. Opening his door, he walked out of his car and strode towards the couple. Carmella saw him and her eyes went wide. "S sir?" She stammered. She thought he had sent his chauffeur to collect her.
Tyler looked back and saw the great Jaxon Craddock, striding towards them angrily. He stretched his hand forward towards the celebrity designer at their doorstep. "Hi, I'm Tyler, " he said. Jaxon glared at him.
"Hello," he said in a cold voice. "Ms Parker, get into the car. We're getting late," he growled angrily.
Carmella smiled at Tyler and hurried towards the car. She opened the passenger seat to avoid sitting with him.
"You will sit at the back with me," he growled and she did as he told her to.
He came into the car, occupying the entire place beside her. The car looked so small as his huge frame sat sprawled in a dark faded pair of denims and a white tee shirt, his muscles and veins bulging out, from under the short sleeves. His cologne filled her senses as he sat close to her, his shoulders almost touching hers.
She didn't want him to get any wrong ideas, so she scooted to the far end, almost crushing to the door.
"You live alone with your fiancé?" He asked her in an indifferent tone as he typed on his mobile.
Carmella was taken aback by the sudden question. "Which fiancé?" She asked, confusedly.
"How many do you have? Of course I meant the one you were hugging. Some Tyler, " he said impatiently.
"I don't have any fiancé. Tyler's my older brother, " she informed and looked out of her window. What has gotten into him? He wanted to be formal and professional yet he asked personal questions and invaded her personal space all the time. He really was getting too much to handle these days. She sighed.
Jaxon looked at her. So she was just hugging her brother? What had gotten into him that he overreacted at the minutest of things? This wouldn't do at all.
The rest of the time, Jaxon barked orders onto his mobile phone and Carmella sat quietly looking outside the windows as they headed towards the airport.
After 15 minutes, they reached the airport. He led her towards a different terminal where a sleek silver jet was waiting for them with the JC Group's logo engraved upon it. Its design was both ergonomically and visually appealing and she liked it immensely. Her family also owned a jet and she was used to flying privately.
He led her to the jet and she sat on a seat opposite to him. "Your dad should be owning a jet too, right?" He asked.
"Yes, " she answered.
It was a twelve hour flight and they would have to sleep after the take off. "We have a meeting tomorrow, so immediately after take off, you would have to rest," he advised and she nodded. Where would she sleep if there was only one bedroom?
She could lie on this seat but for so long she might get cramps in her neck. They waited for the takeoff and afterwards she went to freshen up. Returning from the lavatory, she saw that Jaxon was already in the bedroom. She sat down and reclined her chair to sleep. Lying down, she was about to close her eyes to sleep when Jaxon appeared before her, hands on his waist as he glared at her.
"Why can't you come into the bedroom?" He asked impatiently.
"I'm fine here, sir. This seat's quite comfortable, " she said, trying to sound convincing.
"What's wrong with the bedroom? This jet can easily accommodate 5 people, " he informed her.
"I'm sleeping here sir. You can use the bedroom, " she said stubbornly.
"You're wasting precious time. Come into the bedroom, Carmella, " he growled.
"No sir. Please understand, " she said, looking at him at last.
"Understand what?" He asked in confusion.
"I don't want to give you any false notion about me, sir. Please leave me alone. I'm not your type and believe me I have no wish to throw myself at anyone. I never have and I never will. I might be a billionaire's daughter but I'd rather sleep on the floor than jeopardise my dignity. So let's leave this professional between us, " she said with conviction looking straight at him in the eye.
Jaxon was taken aback by her words. No one had ever spoken to him in this manner and he was stupefied by her convictions. "I apologized, didn't I?" He asked softly.
"I'll sleep here," she said closing her eyes so that he left her alone.
Suddenly she felt herself hoisted up as he scooped her up in his arms, bridal style and strode into the bedroom. "Can't you forgive me, huh?" He asked quietly, looking into her wide eyes.
