Chapter 263: Wait, You Were Serious?
[Chapter 263: Wait, You Were Serious?]
At an altitude of 37,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, a Bombardier Challenger jet cruised through the clouds at a steady 850 km/h.
Taylor gazed out the window, noticing how the moon seemed much larger than it did from the ground, almost filling half the window, like a giant pancake pressed against the glass. Wisps of clouds drifted by, and the starry sky stretched endlessly. The breathtaking scene compelled her to pull out her phone and capture the moment. Instead of using the default camera app, she opened an app called "Instagram." It was a photography app with built-in filters that enhanced the quality of photos, giving them a more refined look.
Not long ago, Apple had launched the iPhone 3GS, along with the App Store, allowing users to freely download third-party apps. Taylor had found this particular photo app buried at the bottom of the rankings.
As the simulated shutter animation played, the Polaroid filter locked in the image. Taylor immediately got up and walked to the other side of the cabin, where a small table was set up. Across from her, Ryan and Ivanka sat facing each other, a chess board between them.
"You win," Ryan declared, conceding to Ivanka.
Ivanka, who had been on the verge of frustration, suddenly perked up. She had played over a dozen rounds, giving it her all but failing to win even once.
"Yay!" Ivanka clapped excitedly.
"Wait a minute — you didn't let me win, did you?" She narrowed her eyes, sensing that this win had come too easily.
"Of course not. That was a victory earned through sheer intelligence," Ryan nodded solemnly.
"Haha, true! With my IQ, beating you should be a piece of cake," Ivanka agreed.
Ryan mutterred under his breath, 'Pregnancy brain.'
Standing beside them, Taylor checked the time. Noticing that an hour had passed since takeoff, she immediately spoke up. "Ryan, it's my turn now!"
The two women had made a pact before boarding the plane — each would get Ryan's full attention for an hour before switching.
Since it was already 9 PM and they would be resting soon, there wasn't much time left. Ryan didn't object. With a scheduled refueling stop in Reykjavik, Iceland, the total flight time was estimated to be around 11 hours, meaning they would land in France at approximately 2 PM local time.
...
"That went by fast!" Ivanka exclaimed, glancing at the clock. She then looked up to see Taylor settling directly into Ryan's lap, making herself comfortable.
Taylor showed Ryan the photos she had taken — images of the cabin, which had been converted into a luxurious suite, pictures of the flight attendants, and breathtaking shots of the view outside the window. She intended to document her entire European trip on social media.
"Don't post this one," Ryan pointed at a particular photo. The window's reflection faintly revealed Ivanka's silhouette sitting next to him.
If that got out, the jealousy would be off the charts! Best to keep things low-key. As for his relationship with Taylor in the public eye, it would remain as it was — affectionate but no longer overly showy. The public had already had their fill of their romance; it wasn't as much of a draw as before.
Taylor then took a turn playing chess against Ivanka. Even though Taylor was a noob, she still managed to win several rounds against the "pregnancy debuff"-affected Ivanka.
"I'm done! I quit!" Frustrated, Ivanka pushed the board away.
...
Just then, the flight attendants arrived with dinner. Although the food was pre-prepared, it was still comparable to high-end restaurant cuisine.
"Please enjoy your meal," the flight attendant in a blue uniform said with a professional smile.
As she turned to leave, Ryan found himself stealing a second glance.
When he finally looked back, he realized that both women were staring at him, silent and unimpressed.
"I was just admiring the uniform," Ryan explained quickly.
Tonight... maybe it was time to unlock a new "uniform."
The two women caught on instantly, their faces flushing red at the same time.
"You always have an angle," Taylor teased.
"I'm just trying to enhance the service experience. In the end, the ones who benefit are you two," Ryan argued.
"Such a smooth talker," Ivanka rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Ryan, do you think I should buy a private jet like this? It would make travel between cities so much easier. I could fly straight home after a concert and head out again the next afternoon," Taylor mused. This was her first time flying private, and she was quickly realizing how essential it could be for someone with her demanding schedule.
"This jet costs at least $30 million. That's a bit pricey," Ivanka pointed out.
"I think it's reasonable. I've already done 30 tour dates and made around $20 million. If you factor in my total annual income, it's about $60 million, not counting my share of album royalties," Taylor calculated.
"How much?!" Ivanka couldn't believe her ears.
She had no idea that Taylor's tour still maintained a staggering 99% attendance rate. Calling her a money-printing machine was no exaggeration.
"Then you should definitely get one. But if you're buying, go big — get a larger private jet," Ryan advised. That way, Taylor wouldn't need to return home every week.
"Deal!" Taylor made up her mind. She snapped one more picture of her dinner plate, complete with the small "Instagram" watermark in the lower right corner.
...
Late at night, Ryan lay in the oversized, ultra-comfortable bed in the private cabin of the jet. Hands behind his head, legs crossed, he relaxed, waiting for the upcoming "performance."
Moments later, Taylor and Ivanka stepped in, dressed in flight attendant uniforms. Of course, these weren't borrowed from the actual crew but freshly laundered spares.
The issue? Both women were tall — Ivanka especially had a curvier figure — so the uniforms fit a bit too snugly. But other than that, everything looked perfect.
Seeing their hesitation, Ryan cleared his throat.
"What special services do you have planned for your VIP guest tonight?"
...
At 2 PM local time in Paris, the plane landed smoothly. Ryan was the first to step out of the cabin. The weather was exceptionally clear, though the temperature was high, making it feel somewhat stuffy.
Taylor and Ivanka followed closely behind, dressed in light summer outfits. Taylor's high-heeled sandals had only two delicate straps securing the top of her foot, with additional straps wrapped around her ankles. Her fair toes were painted a vibrant red, contrasting beautifully with her pale skin, like glistening cherries hanging from a branch after the rain — almost enticing.
Meanwhile, Ivanka, the last to step out, wore completely flat Roman sandals. If Taylor's toes were cherries, then Ivanka's were blueberries. Paired with denim shorts and a blue cropped top, she looked just as stunning as Taylor.
Under the sunlight, their golden hair shimmered brilliantly. Nearby airport staff, as well as personnel further away, couldn't help but lift their heads and take a second look.
On television, the distinction might not be obvious, but in real life, celebrities were undeniably different from ordinary people. Their style, maintenance, and aura combined into an overwhelming presence.
This realization made Elizabeth Olsen waiting at the bottom of the stairs, here to pick them up, suddenly feel a little self-conscious. She lowered her gaze to her loose floral-print T-shirt and ripped capri jeans, wondering if she had dressed inappropriately today.
Just then, Ryan descended the aircraft steps, his gaze meeting hers as she looked up again.
"Must've been exhausting flying all night, huh?" she remarked with a sarcastic smile, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.
Ryan had brought along these two stunning women, and to her surprise, she felt a twinge of jealousy.
Ryan proceeded to introduce the three women to each other.
"I remember you," Taylor said as recognition dawned on her. "You used to run a merchandise stand in the hallway of the bad room, right?"
Ivanka chimed in, mentioning that she particularly liked some of the designs created by Elizabeth's two older sisters.
"Why didn't they come?" Ryan asked.
"Because you, Mr. Busy, didn't bother to check in on them. They've barely had any rest for the past month," Elizabeth Olsen huffed, taking out her frustration on Ryan.
"I wouldn't have been much help anyway. Even if I got involved, I'd probably just make things worse. How about this — you organize a music festival?" Ryan teased with a smile.
"I..." she trailed off, unable to argue, and simply pulled open the car door.
Taylor got into the second car alone, taking their luggage to the hotel to rest before heading to a stadium in Paris for tomorrow night's concert. Meanwhile, Ryan, Ivanka, and Elizabeth Olsen rode together in the lead vehicle, heading straight to Dior's headquarters.
...
"In theory, Dior wants us to design, but they've given us tons of restrictions on styles and imposed a lot of requirements, making it impossible to be truly creative. My sisters' past few designs were all rejected, and even now, some styles haven't been finalized," Elizabeth Olsen explained during the ride.
Ryan had sketched some rough drafts himself, but those were merely recreations based on déjà vu. The real work was handled by the Olsen sisters — he had no real knowledge of fashion design.
He glanced at Ivanka.
"Maybe Dior's just being extra strict?" she speculated.
"Could you contribute to the design?" Ryan asked.
"I... I don't have that kind of talent," Ivanka shook her head quickly.
...
After a while, they arrived at the office — or rather, the studio — where seamstresses were busy preparing sample pieces for the upcoming show. The Olsen sisters stood at the workbench, engaged in a discussion with their design team.
"This won't do. I don't want a simple revision; I want an entirely new design," Mary-Kate Olsen's voice carried across the room.
Ryan walked over and took a stack of design drafts from Ashley Olsen's hands.
After flipping through a few pages, he looked up. "The show is in a few days. Just go with these designs."
"But—"
"It's decided," Ryan said firmly.
"Shouldn't you try negotiating with Dior again?" Ashley suggested hesitantly.
"There's no time for further revisions. These designs will be used for the samples," Ryan shook his head.
He was well aware that Delfina agreed to this collaboration mainly to spite her brother, Antoine. Internally, Dior's departments were unlikely to dedicate significant resources to this collection.
For Ryan, the money he had made from his sketches was just a lucky bonus. He lacked the skill to create a truly outstanding collection, so he was treating this as a one-time opportunity — leveraging Dior's brand for extra publicity.
"You're the boss. It's your call," Mary-Kate said, handing the designs over to the artisans.
...
Afterward, Ryan took the Olsen sisters and Ivanka to a quieter meeting room to finalize the event's schedule.
"The show will follow the usual format — models walking the runway to showcase the designs, a gala dinner, and media Q&A. The whole event should last three to four hours. As for the guest list, Anna Wintour has already confirmed her attendance, along with Delfina representing Dior. Have you invited any additional celebrities?" Ashley summarized.
"Anna Wintour alone is enough," Ryan replied, implying he had no intention of inviting more.
Wintour's daughter was currently a scriptwriter for 2 Broke Girls in Los Angeles, so her attendance was reasonable.
"Will Taylor be attending? I heard she came to France with you," Ashley asked.
"Of course."
"But we're still short on guests. At the very least, we should fill up the seats."
"You must have local connections — some noblewomen or socialites who'd enjoy the event. Let's welcome anyone interested," Ryan suggested casually.
"As for the media, the usual policy applies — whoever wants to attend will have all expenses covered, plus extra gifts. We're budgeting $2 million for this," Ryan decided.
"Isn't that a bit extravagant?" Elizabeth Olsen questioned.
"That's the one expense we can't skimp on," Ryan reminded her. "The designs this time aren't as strong as before, so if we cut costs on media hospitality, we'll just be inviting negative press. Even if they don't praise us, as long as they don't outright criticize, the money will be well spent."
"And the runway models?"
"Karlie will be the finale, followed by that Russian model, Anne, and then Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. These three will also be the faces of all the print ads," Ryan stated without hesitation.
He had invested a lot in Karlie and was finally putting that investment to use. As for the other two, they had proven their loyalty, so it was time to reward them.
"Why those three?" Elizabeth Olsen frowned, pressing Ryan for an explanation.
Her older sisters immediately caught on and nudged her to drop the question.
"Ryan's decision stands," they said.
Ryan smirked. "Because I know them, and they're cheaper. Problem?"
"Of course not," Elizabeth chuckled.
"But you should join the show too," Ryan added, looking at her.
"I don't want to. I don't fit in. Besides, I don't know how to please you, so forget it," she huffed, clearly jealous.
Her sisters exchanged awkward glances, and Ivanka also picked up on the underlying tension.
Ryan smiled. "I did overlook you before. This time, you'll come back to the U.S. with me and stay by my side — with Taylor and Ivanka."
The Olsen sisters' mouths fell slightly open.
Their younger sister's eyes widened.
Even Ivanka looked stunned — after all, she had only moved into Ryan's house a week ago.
When Taylor had joked about Karlie before, she thought it was just a tease. But now? Ryan really meant it?!
"I'm not going! What do you take me for?" Elizabeth Olsen stood up abruptly and walked out of the room without looking back.
...
"Ryan, shouldn't you have discussed this with us beforehand?" Mary-Kate asked cautiously.
Ashley, sitting beside her, added in a soft voice, "Ryan, Elizabeth has always been by our side — she practically grew up with the two of us. Today, we just want to hear what you're thinking."
"To be honest, I don't think she's suited to inherit your careers. If she stays with me, even if she never makes films in the future, she can work as my assistant. In any case, I'll take good care of her," Ryan said.
Elizabeth Olsen had graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts last year, but she had no interest in acting. She had been following her two sisters ever since, but it was clear that path wasn't right for her. Given that, Ryan figured she'd be better off with him — it would be in her best interest.
"Alright. As long as you treat her well, and as long as she's willing to follow you, Mary and I won't stand in the way," Ashley nodded decisively.
Mary-Kate immediately turned her head and lowered her voice. "Isn't this a bit too abrupt?"
Ashley placed a hand on Kate's wrist.
Compared to last year, Ryan's fame and wealth had grown exponentially, and Ashley had taken note of that. Even though Ryan was already engaged, even just being his lover was an investment with a high return. She knew her sister well — Elizabeth clearly hadn't forgotten about Ryan. Otherwise, she wouldn't have rejected so many suitors. Given that, it made more sense to agree.
Of course, all of this depended on Ryan treating her sister well.
"Ryan, I haven't had the chance to ask — Ivanka's here too. Is she part of this collaboration?" Ashley asked.
Ivanka happened to be sitting right across from her. As a socialite, Ashley was naturally familiar with her, though they weren't close. If Ivanka were just a guest, she wouldn't be sitting here, which made Ashley curious.
"Ivanka's personal brand and retail stores will be merged into sTray in the future, and she'll also be taking a position there. I won't keep it from you — she's carrying my child," Ryan stated openly.
"Does her family know?" Kate asked in surprise.
"Of course. Her father and I are allies, in a way," Ryan replied.
The two sisters exchanged a glance. They both knew Ivanka's background. If Ryan could even win over her real estate mogul father… then they were nothing in comparison. Since even Ivanka had agreed, their sister wasn't getting a bad deal.
"You two don't need to worry — I'll take good care of Taylor, Ivanka, and your sister as well," Ryan reassured them.
"That would be ideal. We just want her to live a happy life — we won't push for anything else. In that case, I'll call Elizabeth later and ask where she is. If she hasn't gone far, I'll tell her to come back," Ashley said with a smile.
"Ivanka, how about Mary and I take you on a tour around Paris later?" Mary-Kate offered proactively.
Ivanka could already tell what was going on with that girl's feelings for Ryan, and Ryan's intentions were even clearer. If she resisted too much, it might make Ryan hesitant, but if she really did that, her relationship with him would be over. If she agreed, at most, it just meant adding another seat at the table.
Ivanka nodded. "I've been meaning to explore Paris anyway."
Ryan pulled out a bank card and handed it to Ivanka, telling her to buy whatever she wanted.
"I have my own money — I don't need you to support me," Ivanka shook her head. The amount in Ryan's account was nothing to her.
The three women then left.
A while later, the door opened again, and Elizabeth Olsen slowly walked back inside…
*****
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