Xia covered her eyes with a pair of black glasses, pretending to be asleep. They were at different sides of the plane. She was with Connor at the right side of the plane while Alice and Josh took the other side.

"Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Connor asked. She hasn't spoken a word to him since yesterday. She also avoided him.

"What do you want, Connor?"

"Let's talk"

"Talk about what? Us or you? Don't you think it's too late to start talking about us? It's been seven years since that time. A lot has changed. You have changed and I have changed. We are on different sides of the road now. You are the CEO of a big company and I am just a small fray reporter. I don't want rumors flying around about us"

"I will make sure what you are worried about will not happen. I just want us to be close again. I want my best friend and the woman I loved secretly back"

"I've lived seven years of my life without you. We had our moment and it's over. In the end, everyone has to move on"

"I just want you to give me a chance. A chance to prove that I'm the one for you. Just don't push me away. Let me come to you"

"You are always doing what you want. You will still not let me be even if I reject you. That's how you are. You will still pester me until I agree. Connor, if you mess up that's the end for both of us"

"I won't"

....

Alice was busy texting Natalie on her phone while she sat next to Josh on the plane. There was just a small Gap between them.

"Are you chatting with your boyfriend?" Josh asked after being ignored since they got on the plane.

"What?" Alice chuckled and turned to face him, I was chatting with my sister. She said she had something to tell me once I return"

"I bet she does" Josh muttered meaningfully​.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I thought you were chatting with your boyfriend"

"Do you think if I had a boyfriend he would be so cool Leaving me by the side of a handsome man like you?"

"Huh?"

"No man would be at ease leaving his girlfriend by the side of a rich and handsome man. Oh, what is this innocent and childlike face you are showing me, JSC? You know, your gaze right now is confusing me. You look like someone gazing at his girlfriend softly"

"Do you find me handsome?" Josh asked and Alice flushed.

"You are handsome. Oh, I have to go to the washroom" Alice stood up and Josh grabbed her wrist.

"Do you still think that I am too old for you?" Josh asked with a serious gaze.

Alice's heart fluttered, making her blush. "I never said you were old. I didn't know you that time" she hurried to the washroom.

Splashing water against​ her face, Alice sighed. She leaned against the sink and murmured softly to herself.

"What was all that about, Alice? Don't you ever learn? Don't fall for him. You can't fall for him. It's just going to be another Harry Winchester all over again. Get your head together, Alice. Don't fall for his innocent looks. He might look different and act differently but remember, Harry Winchester was all that and more until you found out about his plans"

After calming herself down, Alice turned and opened the door. She saw Josh at the door.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am fine. Let's go back"

"Alice..."

"I'm nothing like any man you've seen or known before. I am Josh and he is an open book"

"Huh?"

"Just saying. If you ever want to know him better, just come to me. Don't form conclusions about him in your head"

"Him, who?" Alice was confused for a moment.

"JSC. Just saying I know him better than anyone else"

"Okay. If I ever get curious about him, I will come to you" Alice smiled and walked away.

....

When the plane landed, it was already evening time so they decided to wash up and meet for dinner. Xia was inside her room which was next to Alice. After combing her hair, she picked a pair of short jeans and a crop top to wear.

"Can I come in?" Alice asked as she opened the door halfway.

"You are already in. Stop acting like a stranger" Xia said to her.

"Whoa, you look beautiful, Xia"

"You... You've been walking on eggshells around me since we started working together. Why?"

"I... Well, I just thought you needed space... You've been out of it lately especially since that night. Who is Conner to you?"

"I was wondering how long you would keep pretending to not notice anything"

"It's your business. We might be close but I know there are things you would want to keep to yourself. I didn't want to pry even though I was dying to know"

"Tsk. Connor was my senior in the University and also my first love"

"What? Wait, the same one you said you ran away from after he found out about your feelings? How can this... I am speechless"

"I know that feeling. I didn't even know he was from such a powerful family. He always remained mysterious and himself. Even though we were the closest, he never mentioned he was from old money"

"Whoa. He deceived you?"

"Well, he just never mentioned it and I never asked him. I guess I believed​ that was everything I saw about him"

"So, what does he want? He seems to have feelings for you?"

"He claims he likes me but I am not sure I want to go that path with him. Thier family is one of the most powerful family in this City. A lot of people are watching them. I am just a small reporter"

"Aye" Alice sighed. "You know, lately I find myself wanting to get closer to Josh. Even though I know I shouldn't harbor any thoughts on him"

"Alice, tell me the truth. What are you afraid of? I have my reasons but you... Josh is a good man and I'm not saying this because he is my friend. He is not another Harry Winchester. Forget about what that scum almost did to you and live life"

"Josh might be good but, no man would accept it if he finds out that his girlfriend's nude pictures are with another man who can come and threaten her with them at anytime"

"Listen, you didn't know about them. What he did is illegal and if not because he has money and his family made him get away with it, he should have paid for deceiving you"

"Aye, let's stop talking about him"

"If I ever see him, I will kill him"

"No, Natalie already took that spot"

"Then, I will pluck out his eyes"

"Are you done, let's go. I'm hungry"

"Let's go" Xia put on her Blazer and they went out.

Josh and Connor were already seated in the dining room. They had taken an apartment from the resort which had everything they needed in it. There were four rooms in the apartment and the brothers took two while the ladies also took two. Behind two rooms was a shared to terrace which looked like a garden.

"How is it going with Xia?" Josh asked.

"She gave me a chance to prove myself"

"Then, you shouldn't hide the fact that you have a child with Via behind her. No matter what, they are going to meet somehow and it's better to hear it from your own mouth"

"Mm, I will tell her tonight" Connor saw them coming and smiled. "They are here" he stood up and pulled out a chair for Xis while Josh pulled one out for Alice.

"These are all seafoods. I haven't had seafood in a while" Alice said excitedly and picked up a white rubber gloves but Josh stopped her.

"I will do the peeling" he said softly while his hand remained on her hand.

"Huh? Oh, thanks" Alice said, blushing. She turned to see Connor also peeling the shells of the shrimps for Xia.

Josh smiled happily and continued to peel off the shells for her. As they were eating and chatting about random things, a seven year old boy ran towards them at full speed while calling out.

" Daddy, daddy" the chubby boy who looked exactly like Connor ran to him.

"Karl, what are you doing here?" Connor seemed flustered with Josh.

"We saw you on TV and Mom said we should pay you a visit" Karl said.

"Daddy? Are you married?" Alice asked but Xia remained quiet.

"No"

"Yes, my mom said if anyone ask I should say she is married to my dad. Lady, who are you? Why was my dad feeding you?" Karl asked Xia.