Chapter 36
Elara woke up on a bed.
Not her bed though neither was it the guest room bed at the penthouse either.
This bed was moving. Shaking slightly. Maybe Floating even.
She opened her eyes slowly.
Cream leather seats. Polished wood panels. Soft lighting. Windows showing clouds outside.
Wait. Hold on what the fuck.
No.
This was a plane. Nah with the interior and everything, this was giving a private jet.
Jesus Christ, a freaking private jet.
Elara sat up fast. Very fast. Her head turned, like she’s looking for something. She looked around the bedroom cabin. Nobody. Just her. Alone. In a flying luxury hotel room.
What the hell?
She swung her legs off the bed and stood. Her feet hit plush carpet. She wasn’t wearing the same clothes from last night. The gold dress was gone. Replaced with comfortable leggings and an oversized sweater she didn’t remember putting on. So means she wasn’t kidnapped from the gala.
Elara found her way out of the bedroom into the main cabin.
That’s where she saw him.
Marcus. Sitting in a leather chair. Phone in one hand. Glass of champagne in the other. Looking perfectly relaxed like kidnapping people onto private jets was a normal Tuesday activity.
“Marcus, what the fuck?” Her voice came out louder than intended. “What is this? How did I even get here?”
He looked at her. Then turned back to his phone. Took a slow sip of champagne.
“I’m kidnapping you.”
Actual fear gripped her. Immediate. Her heart started racing.
Marcus let out a weird laugh. “We’re going on a vacation, dummy.” You needed to see your face.
Wait. Hold on.
“Did you drug me?” Elara crossed her arms. “How am I here? I don’t remember any of this.”
10:19 Mon, May 11 ♫
Chapter 36
:
86
55 vouchers
“Well, for starters,” Marcus set his phone down. Gave her his full attention now. “After yesterday’s event, you came home completely exhausted. Took your usual sleep medicine. Went straight to bed.”
“Okay. And?”
“I woke you up at four AM. Asked if you wanted to pack. You mumbled something incoherent and went back to sleep.” He smiled. Actually smiled. “So I instructed my staff to pack for you while I carried you to the car. Then to the airport. Then onto the plane. You sleep like the dead, Elara.”
She was legitimately shocked. Speechless.
“How did all that happen without me waking up?”
Marcus raised his champagne glass. “I wonder.” Pure sarcasm.
Elara racked her brain. Tried to remember anything. Getting home. Taking medicine. Marcus waking her. Being carried. Nothing. Complete blank.
Then something hit her.
“I don’t even have a passport.”
Marcus gave her that look. The one that said are you serious right now?
Right. Yes. It’s Marcus Thorne. Of course he can get a passport in two minutes if he wants. Or probably had it made weeks ago when he started planning this. Whichever!
“Where are we even going?” she asked.
“Santorini.”
“Santorini? As in Santorini, Greece, Santorini?”
Marcus gave her a short look. “Is there another Santorini?”
“I mean, no, but….”
“Then yes. That Santorini.”
Elara sat down in the chair across from him. Her brain was still trying to catch up. They were on a plane. A private jet. Flying to Greece. Without warning. Without planning.
Then it dawned on her.
“Why are we suddenly traveling? With no plan? No discussion? You just kidnapped me onto a plane at four in the morning?”
“We’re eloping,” Marcus said simply.
“Eloping?”
10:19 Mon, May 11 S
Chapter 36
86
55 vouchers
She repeated the word like she’d never heard it before. Like it was a foreign language.
“Elope, Elara. A verb. To run away secretly and get married.”
Shit. The wedding. Today was their wedding day.
“But you said it was just a registry. A simple legal thing.”
“I never said it was in New York,” Marcus replied.
Oh my God.
“Wait, so we’re getting married in Greece?”
“Santorini, specifically. Yes.”
Elara’s mind raced. The wedding. Her mother. Her best friend.
Mimi.
Shit. She was supposed to pick up Mimi tomorrow. Her flight was landing at JFK at noon. Elara had promised
to be there.
She grabbed her phone from the side table where someone had thoughtfully placed it. Of course it was switched off, she turned it on.
The screen lit up. Notifications flooded in. Dozens. Maybe hundreds.
Most of them from Mimi.
**Mimi:** Where are you?
**Mimi:** BITCH PICK UP
**Mimi:** Why is your video trending with you kissing your devilish boss???
**Mimi:** I swear if you don’t call me back I’m flying home early just to kill you
Shit. She’d seen the posts from yesterday. The balcony kiss. The photos.
Mimi was going to murder her. But first, she had to call her mum.
Elara dialed quickly. Her mother answered on the third ring.
“Elara? Baby, it’s early. Are you okay?”
“Hi, Mama. Yeah, I’m fine. Just wanted to let you know I’m going on a work trip. To Greece. With my boss. Company business. I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Greece? That sounds wonderful, baby. Be safe.”
Chapter 36
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
55 vouchers
Elara ended the call before her mother could ask more questions. Before the guilt could creep in about lying. Again.
She pulled up her messages with Mimi. Started typing.
**Elara:** I swear I’ll explain everything when I’m back.
The reply came immediately. Like Mimi had been sitting there waiting.
**Mimi:** Back from?
**Elara:** Santorini. Please don’t kill me.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
**Mimi:** BITCH WHAT THE FUCK
**Mimi:** You’re in GREECE???
**Mimi:** With MARCUS THORNE???
**Mimi:** THE BOSS YOU LITERALLY CALLED SATAN LAST MONTH???
**Mimi:** ELARA I SWEAR TO GOD
Elara locked her phone. Set it face down on the table.
She’d deal with Mimi later. When she wasn’t thirty thousand feet in the air being kidnapped to Greece to marry a man she’d signed a contract with.
Marcus was watching her. Amused.
“Problems?”
“My best friend is going to kill me.”
“Tell her you’re on your honeymoon. That should buy you some time.”
“We’re not married yet.”
“Give it twelve hours.” He stood. Stretched. “There’s breakfast in the galley if you’re hungry. We land in about
six hours.”
“Six hours?”
“Did I stutter?”
10:20 Mon, May 11 ♫
Chapter 36
86
55 vouchers
This was insane. Absolutely insane.
But also kind of exciting in a way she didn’t want to admit. She’s never been out of the country before.
Marcus walked toward the back of the plane. Paused. Looked back at her.
“Welcome to our honeymoon, El.“
Mon,
