Bella realised it when she heard the vulnerability in Chris voice that she might really mean more to him than she taught.
She knew Chris confessed to her that he liked her but it felt so soon and unrealistic. She knew Chris was a busy man and he was popular for ladies throwing themselves at him and chasing him around. Bella was scared of the possibility that she could become one of those women if she is to reciprocate his feelings. She doesn't want to be a woman that run after a man even if she likes him so much and she doesn't even like Chris romantically. She doesn't like him as a friend talk less of liking him romantically. She only saw him as her boss. She has never really tried though liking anyone though. She has always belonged to the NBSB (No Boyfriend since Birth) association so doesn't really know how she was to react in this type of situation.
"Can you please sit?"Chris said as he let go of her hand.
Bella sat down because she wanted to hear what he had to say. She knew she couldn't keep avoiding they kissed once, went on a date and even shared a hug.
Bella could not keep denying the fact that their was a chemistry between them. She knew she felt something anytime Chris got closer to her and some how she kinda like it .
She could still remember clearly how his lips felt on hers. His lips was super soft and delicious even though it was her first kiss she still enjoyed it. She was grateful because she totally loved her first kiss unlike some other girls that had gross first kiss story.
"Am sorry I brought you on board unannounced." Chris said bringing Bella out of her fantasy .
Bella noticed she was the only attendant on board which wasn't supposed to be so.
"Why am I the only flight attendant on board?" She asked with a frown
"And who told you that?" Chris replied with a smirk.
"No one it's just that I can't see any other attendant on board." Bella said looking around.
"Well they are on board but they are restricted from this area." Chris said with a smile.
Bella wondered how possible that how.
How? She asked
"I built a reception in this plane for situations like this." Chris replied feeling proud of himself
Bella didn't even realise that there was something like a reception in the plane. Chris comment made her come to the realisation that she hasn't really checked out the beautiful design of the plane.
The interior design of the plane was really exotic. She noticed that the plane had a luxurious office setting so she knew that explains why their was a reception in the plane.
Why didn't you ever ask me why I kissed you?" Chris suddenly asked out of the blue.
"Well, that's because I didn't know how to." Bella replied
"Why did you do it though?" Bella asked
"I missed you and I wanted you to remember me badly so I thought of the beauty and the beast. I thought maybe if I kissed you it'll bring back your memories. I really care about you Bella and am not going to ignore the fact that you kissed me back." Chris ended his statement with a smirk.
Bella became very curious at this point because she remember him saying they've met in the past. She knew Chris had asked her twice if she remembered him. She was certain they must have met truly.
"Are you sure we've met before the accident?" Bella asked studying Chris face.
"Yes we have." He replied.
"Okay when was that because I really can't remember." Bella said wondering if Chris had done surgery on his face.
"You just turned 17 when we first met but you didn't look your age back then." Chris said
"Really?" Bella said thinking Chris was joking
"You didn't look like a 17 year old. It was at a 2015 gala." Chris said with all seriousness. Bella bursted out in laughter when she heard him mention Gala. Chris was wondering why Bella was laughing so hard.
"You think am joking right?" Chris said feeling disappointed.
"I have never been to Gala." Bella replied laughing so hard to the extent that she had tears in her eyes.
"Have never been to Gala Mr Hampson. You have the wrong girl honestly. Am definitely not the girl you've been looking for. " Bella said smiling.
Chris brought out a picture from his wallet and showed it to Bella. It was a picture of the two of them. Bella remembered the red gown she wore in the picture. She knew she got the gown for prom but she never got to wear it because she could no longer find it in her closet. Surprisingly her mum had already prepared another beautiful dress for her.
"They never told you right?" Chris asked her.
"Tell me what?" Bella asked wondering what he meant by that statement.
"Honestly It's not my place to tell you . I really want to be selfish but I just can't bring myself to do that to you." Chris said fondling with his finger
At this point Bella knew something was definitely wrong and she knew a very long conversation was inevitable between her and her mum when I get back to London. A part of her knew that Chris was hurt that she couldn't remember him , she had a feeling that he truly cared and meant it when he said he liked her
The flight landed in New York at exactly 7 p.m. The journey had lasted eight hours, but to Bella, it felt like the longest eight hours of her life. Her mind had been a storm of questions ever since her conversation with Chris. He had answers she didn't, and the silence between them on board only made her suspicions grow stronger.
Chris barely spoke after that. He buried himself in his laptop, his sharp features lit by the glow of the screen, while Bella tried not to think about the photograph or the words he'd left hanging in the air. She told herself she was angry...angry at him for keeping her away from the other attendants, angry for making her feel things she wasn't ready for. But deep down, she knew it was more complicated than that.
Thankfully, her phone saved her. She distracted herself with downloaded K-dramas on Netflix until sleep claimed her.
When she woke, she wasn't on the plane anymore. Instead, she was lying on a king-sized bed in a luxurious hotel suite. Panic shot through her as she sat up and checked herself clothes still on, untouched. Relieved, she stepped out of the room and found Chris still working, his gaze fixed on the laptop. He barely glanced up when she walked past.
She mumbled an apology for falling asleep, but he only gave her a distracted nod.
Later, she discovered the crew had been checked into a five-star hotel, each with their own room. For once, Bella felt grateful for the perks of working with Hampson Airways. Even better, Alexia and Liam were on the same flight. That meant they could keep planning the beach proposal for her mum. Just the thought brought a smile to her face.
Nadia, one of the attendants, had studied Tourism at NYU, so she quickly volunteered as their tour guide for the night. By 8 p.m., everyone Bella, Alexia, Liam, Nadia, Lillian, and the pilots, Desmond and Princely met in the lobby. After a quick dinner at the hotel restaurant, they piled into a borrowed car and set off to explore New York City.
Their first stop: the Empire State Building.
Bella had seen pictures all her life, but nothing compared to standing at the base of the towering structure. It soared into the sky, one hundred and two stories of steel and light. Riding the elevator to the 82nd and later the 102nd floor, she gasped at the breathtaking views the city glittered beneath them like a sea of stars. She and her colleagues took dozens of photos, laughing as they posed against the glowing skyline.
Next came Times Square. Nadia insisted it was a must-see, and she was right. Bella's senses were overwhelmed by the sight of giant billboards, flashing neon lights, and the endless press of people tourists, performers dressed as Spider-Man or Mickey Mouse, artists sketching portraits in minutes. At night, the place pulsed with life, and Bella couldn't help but be swept up in its magic.
After an hour of exploring, they headed to a Broadway show, losing themselves in the dazzling performance for two hours. By the time they ended their night at a Lower East Side bar, dancing and sipping drinks, Bella felt lighter than she had in weeks.
For the first time, she realised how fun it was to be part of a group of friends. School had never been like this for her. she had always been the quiet girl, focused on her studies. Bianca had been her only real friend, the one person who had coloured her teenage years with laughter and loyalty.
Thinking of Bianca now made her smile. She remembered her best friend's panic when she discovered she was pregnant, and the relief when Austin, her husband, reacted with joy instead of anger. Bella's heart warmed at the thought of Bianca's growing baby bump. She couldn't wait to meet the little one. She was already planning a surprise baby shower. something Austin himself had secretly asked her to help with.
But for now, her focus was on the weekend. On her mother's proposal. Vera had no idea what was coming, and Bella couldn't wait to see her face when Joe knelt with the ring.
Still, as she lay in bed later that night, her thoughts refused to rest.
She remembered the first time she had ever been part of planning something special. it was helping Bianca get ready for the 2016 gala. Bella had been only Seventeen then. She remembered the red dress she had bought, the one she never wore. The memory of that dress sent a shiver down her spine.
Chris's words echoed in her mind. "We met at a gala in 2016. You had just turned eighteen."
But she had no memory of going. No memory of celebrating her eighteenth birthday at all.
"How did I end up at that gala instead of Bianca?" Bella whispered to herself. "Why can't I remember?"
Her chest tightened. Something didn't add up.
She grabbed her phone and dialled Bianca, hoping for answers. No response. She tried her mum, then her brothers. still nothing.
Frustration bubbled inside her. Only one person seemed to hold the missing pieces, the one person she didn't want to depend on but couldn't avoid anymore.
Chris.
She needed him to help her solve the puzzle, no matter how much it scared her.