"Having a beautiful woman accompany you as a businessman is a plus one, because it'll most likely get you partnerships and deals."
He leaned back as the jet prepared to take off.
"I'm not expecting much, but I'd appreciate it if you gave your best in trying to secure me the best deals."
She adjusted against the hold of the seat belt. "My best, like? Smiling and blinking like a doll?"
He threw his gaze at her again. "You don't need to smile to look beautiful. Just do what you can and leave the rest."
She nodded.
Few Minutes After Take Off...
"So, am I really the only man to tell you that you're beautiful?"
She smiled and threw her gaze at him. "Don't be ridiculous. I've been told that all my life."
"You did seem taken aback when I said it earlier."
"That's because you are the first man to have zero intention with saying it."
She had never been so open to a stranger, but Darren somehow had that effect—and she just felt safe spilling to him.
"All the men in my life have either told me that to take advantage of me or to use me."
He watched her. "Do you have any traumatic experience?"
"Many..." Winter trailed off, her eyes fixed on her jeans. "And sometimes I think my beauty is more of a curse to me than a blessing. If I hadn't been beautiful—like people said—maybe I'd have avoided all those experiences, including the ones born from envy and jealousy."
"Winter."
She looked up at him. Their gaze meeting had her heart skipping. His blue eyes were so distracting and beautiful, and the long lashes caging them...
"Those traumatic experiences are not your fault. They are not because of your appearance, but more because of the people you were surrounded with."
Winter nodded, fighting back the tears. First she spilled her traumatic experiences to him, now she was crying? Just great.
"It's just unfortunate the world is corrupted with vile people—and you are not one of them."
Winter studied Darren, who had his gaze ahead. Beautiful side profile, gorgeous lips, long lashes framing the most beautiful shade of blue eyes she had ever laid eyes on. Dark blonde hair slicked back neatly—and on top of all these, he was a gentleman. A dreamy man. The man of her dreams. Or, as Tessa had put it...
Her gaze slanted to the wedding band of silver on his middle finger. She swallowed. Was he really married?
Her lips parted, ready to ask him the question, but he suddenly loosened his seat belt and got on his feet.
"You must be hungry. Let's go and eat," he said, walking up the stairs that led to another sector.