The moment Airam stepped off the plane, her phone was out.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The airport decor, the huge glass walls, the art hanging from the ceiling, everything amazed her. She sent the pictures to her family with a voice note:
"We landed! Look, I'm in Homalia. Beautiful, right?"
Before stepping outside, she quickly connected to the airport WiFi for one last upload. Then she walked into the warm brightness of Homalia, sunny skies, clean air, and buildings with breathtaking architecture.
Her heart fluttered. So this is what traveling feels like?
But when she spotted Harry waiting by the exit, she instantly frowned and veered to the opposite side.
She lifted her phone and pointed it at random scenery, trees, the taxi lane, the fountain, anything to look busy and avoid him. Harry glanced her way but didn't approach. He simply stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching the stream of people walk by.
Then the black Rolls-Royce Phantom slid up to the curb in front of him.
Glossy. Silent. Intimidating.
The driver stepped out immediately, bowed slightly, and opened the back door.
Airam's eyes widened. What in luxury heaven...
She walked toward it purely on reflex, admiring the shine, when someone placed a hand gently in her path.
"Wait... that's the boss's ride."
Jeff from the office smiled apologetically. "You can't ride with the boss."
Airam blinked. "Why? I work here too."
Jeff laughed softly. "Yeah, but he's… Harry Johnson."
Before she could reply, the Rolls-Royce door closed, and the car glided away, Harry inside, expression unreadable as he glanced briefly at her through the tinted window.
Airam folded her arms. "Why must he ride in a Rolls-Royce while we ride in a bus? Why? Does the universe think I'm allergic to luxury?!"
Jeff chuckled. "Relax. The hotel is sending a shuttle for us."
Airam rolled her eyes. "Soon I'll ride my own Rolls-Royce. Mark my words."
Just then, a colleague hurried toward her, dragging her suitcase behind.
"Airam! Where were you? I was looking for you everywhere on the plane."
Airam shrugged casually. "I got upgraded to first class."
"WHAT?!"
Three coworkers turned simultaneously, jaws dropping.
"No way!"
"You?!"
"How did..."
Airam waved them off and boarded the bus without explaining. The driver took her suitcase, and she grabbed a window seat.
The ride to the hotel was full of chatter...everyone pointing at landmarks, gasping at the city views. Airam joined in, but her mind was still on the black Phantom.
When they arrived at the hotel golden marble floors, chandeliers the size of planets, Airam's jaw dropped again. But the feeling didn't last long.
She got to know she was given a standard room, which wasn't a problem because it was still bigger than her room back home. The problem was when she found out that Harry was staying in a Presidential suite.
Of course.
She watched Harry take a private elevator to his floor while she and the others waited for the crowded one.
Heat flared behind her eyes, not sadness, not envy… but fuel. "One day," she whispered to herself. "One day soon, nothing will be too expensive for me."
She pulled her suitcase tighter and lifted her chin.
Homalia was beautiful.
But her ambition was even brighter.