Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 267

Aria's POV

I grumbled as I stepped off the twelve-hour flight, my neck stiff from the uncomfortable position. Aiden had insisted on upgrading Summer's seat, but she'd refused first class. They'd compromised on business class instead, which seemed ridiculous considering she'd booked me into first class.

I stared down at my boarding pass, trying to find my seat number when I heard Summer's voice calling out.

"Aria! Over here!"

I glanced up and hurried toward her. "Are you sure you don't want me to upgrade you? It's going to be a long flight back too."

"It's not my first rodeo," she said, backing away from me like I might force her into first class. "I'll be fine! Call if you need anything!"

I watched her retreat to business class with a sigh before settling into my plush seat. As I adjusted my position, I noticed a man with striking eyes sitting diagonally in front of me, watching me with interest. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place him.

The flight was long and boring. After takeoff, I picked at the gourmet dinner they served, managed a few sips of water, and tried to distract myself with movies on my tablet. By 10 PM, my body clock gave up, and I reclined my seat to sleep.

I only managed about six hours before the announcement for landing woke me. Rubbing my eyes, I took a sip of water while waiting for the plane to touch down. It was around 9 PM local time, and noticeably colder than back in New York. I pulled on my knitted cardigan for extra warmth.

Those six hours hadn't been nearly enough. I stumbled forward in a sleep-deprived haze, yawning so wide I didn't notice when I bumped straight into someone.

"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out, looking up to find a familiar face. "Mr. Duncan."

"Ms. Jones," he replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement. "What a coincidence."

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I wasn't watching where I was going. Did I hurt you?"

"Not at all."

Ethan Duncan looked down at me, and I suddenly felt self-conscious about my disheveled appearance. His almond-shaped eyes seemed to take in everything, making me feel exposed. I shifted uncomfortably, aware I was blocking other passengers.

"We should probably keep moving," I said, gesturing to the line behind us. "I'm holding everyone up."

He nodded without pressing for more conversation. "I'll be on my way then."

I watched him stride ahead with purposeful steps before continuing my sleepy shuffle toward baggage claim. After sending Aiden a quick "landed safely" text, Summer appeared beside me.

"Aria, it's chilly out. Do you want to swap jackets?" she asked, eyeing my thin cardigan with concern.

"I'm okay. Let's grab our luggage—Christopher's probably waiting for us."

Christopher was Claude's assistant, responsible for getting us settled at the hotel. Summer checked her watch and nodded in agreement.

We'd barely exited the terminal when we spotted a tall man waving enthusiastically in our direction.

"Summer! Aria!"

After quick greetings, Christopher drove us to the hotel and got us checked in. This wasn't my first collaboration with Claude, and Christopher knew neither Summer nor I had much interest in hitting the local nightlife, so he left us to rest once we were settled.

Despite my earlier exhaustion, I felt wide awake after arriving at the hotel. I soaked in a hot bath, and just as I emerged wrapped in a fluffy towel, my phone rang. Aiden's name flashed across the screen.

I flopped onto the couch, draping myself over its back as I answered. "Hey, Aiden."

"Made it to the hotel?" His deep voice sent a pleasant shiver down my spine.

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