"You did not!" She gasped with two doe eyes.

"Yes, I did," James bit his lower lip in a coy smile. "I've always wanted to figure out the exact mixture, was it cinnamon mixed with honey and mint or..." he trailed off drumming carelessly on a makeup rack as he watched Nicole try out several mint chapsticks.

"You're an unbelievably bad liar, I would've known if you had a thing for me back then. I'm that self-aware."

He puckered a brow, "You where?"

"Yes, I was, and still am. And I know you're only pulling a beautiful woman's leg because it's the most flattering thing to do." Nicole insisted before striding to the lengthy mirror to admire the lip shade but frowned when she saw how bold it made her look.

"I like that one," James said from behind. He stood breaths away almost touching her back as he stared at her now pouty lips in the mirror. "Now I know what it truly was... mint, chocolate mint." Their eyes held each other's, staring momentarily into what seemed like their past feelings-an uncommon yet almost forgotten tiny feeling between them. It felt hopeful and exciting but not as exciting as she felt for a certain someone. At that thought, Nicole snapped her eyes away from his and hurried over to pay for her purchase.

"Don't worry, I'll pay." James offered yet again from behind her.

"You don't have to do that, chivalry or not I can manage my bill. And don't you think it's too ancient of you to act all gentlemanly like we're in the eighties? For one I'm a senior OB/GYN at the state hospital and I earn much more than I can spend."

All the while James slid his black card to the lady at the counter while offering a daunting Nicole a large teasing smile. "I know that Miss Independent but I still love to show some gratitude... for old time's sake."

"What do you think may be causing the delay?" Nicole asked on their way back to the lounge.

"They wouldn't say, I don't blame them for that cos if I were in their shoes too I'd do well to pretend like my multimillion-dollar business isn't going down the drain when the cost of aviation fuel is as good as gold itself."

"You think that's why we haven't departed?"

"Not entirely but it may be part of it." When they got to a seat out close to the towering glass windows James offered her to join him at his semi-apartment while they waited.

"Urhh... I don't think that would be proper. I mean it would be nice but I don't want to send the wrong message."

"Like here? For whom?" James hung his shoulders in wonder. "Nobody knows you here or you're some kinda celebrity I don't know of?"

She scratched the nape of her neck in an awkward pose. "Not me... you James. You're the celebrity."

"Me?... how? Did I grow a million followers overnight or something?" He looked around, searching side to side. "Is there a hidden paparazzi in the corner?"

"It's on the news James, New York's most eligible bachelor James Tallman breaks the record as the youngest CMO at IBM. Do you know what that is?!" She hissed. Not out of anger but shock mock.

"It's bound to be on the news but that doesn't make me a celebrity or some important person for bloggers." And just as soon as he said those words the sound of a camera flash snapped his neck to the side as he noticed quite a few people peering and obviously interested in their lives. "Oh shit, how long have you noticed?"

"Since we bumped into each other," Nicole offered.

James shielded his face with one hand a futile attempt to concede his identity. "Dammit, this is so embarrassing and strange. It's just a tech job!"

"And people of this generation are very much interested and intrigued with tech and the billions that come with it so..."

"I apologize." Nicole was about to respond when a voice that she'd recognized anywhere came to her.

"Nicole..." she twirled as elegantly as she possibly could and stood right in front of Richie. His eyes... dammit! Was an ocean of emotions, heart-shattering emotions as they stared at hers with so much vulnerability and relief that she almost bolted from her spot. She gulped hard as a smile forced its way to her face.

"Hi, Richard," suddenly there was no one there but the two of them, everyone thinned like air as well as the noises. She'd last seen him after their failed dinner date at the bookstore. When she'd shamelessly run away wrapped in his jacket. And speaking of which she was currently tucked away under its warm embrace and when his knowing eyes nakedly raked over her body, casting a satisfying glow in his eyes Nicole felt like the world should open and bury her deep.

Embarrassment was a weak word for it, now the once comfy clothes burned hot splinters into her skin, pushing her to want to rip it off and throw it to his face. Take that!

"Are you okay?" James' sweet baritone drew her out of her daze and a little color returned to her pale face. "You seem unwell."

"I'm fine, James. Thanks." Nicole offered barely managing a word. "I'll just return to my post," she meant her lounging couch. But James lingered stealing wicked glances at Richard like he'd somehow come over and spoilt things for them.

"I can hang out with you if it's alright with you. So that nobody can disturb you," James offered and Nicole went to speak but Richard spoke first.

"Can we talk, Nicole? Just the two of us. A moment?" Nicole noticed his mini travel bag and a jacket in hand, in case of cold. So he was getting on a flight, not that he went over to her house to find her and probably in some miraculous way Stella was home and had given him her whereabouts, now in a picturesque cliche slow-motion he'd boarded a taxi, skipped traffic signs and got to her before she boarded. And now he was here to profess his undying love for her, promise her loyalty, and trust-everything he couldn't in the past and swear to make conscious efforts at being the right man for her until death.

But reality check stepped in. He was in fact on his way to heaven knows where and must've sighted her from afar. Seeing she was already gathering a little bit of attention with James the superstar, it wouldn't have been a tussle for Richard to notice her in a hall full of people.

"You sure?" James muttered as he squeezed her arm before leaving her to her vices.

Not wanting to give him the impression that she was available for talks, Nicole headed to an empty chair Richard rolled behind.

"It's a surprise to see you here. Are you traveling for E__"

"-what do you want to talk about Richard, I don't have all day," a cold distant look crept up his handsome face as soon as she made clear her boundaries.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think I was such a bummer that you'd want so much to get rid of me. Well..." he breathed out with difficulty. "I saw you, here of all places and I thought... 'Hey another coincidence' but no it's not. I thought it was_" his phone blared on top of the table between them, interrupting their moment.

"Sorry, excuse me." But he didn't answer the phone, rather he shut it off and adjusted nervously on his chair. "I was saying that I thought it was fate, that we keep bumping into each other at unplanned times and I want to make_" Again the damn phone blared louder than before.

"Answer it," Nicole nodded towards it. "Just get on with it so we can focus."

"I don't want to answer it, it's not important." He set his phone on airplane mode.

"Another one of your bed warmers?" Nicole teased sarcastically.

"You really think the worst of me don't you?"

She shrugged. "You can't blame me, can you?"

"Hmmm... but you seem to still want me as much as you deny yourself that."

Her lashes flapped in utter surprise at his words. "Whatever made you think that?" She hissed.

"You still have them, clearly don't want to forget what I smell like or how it feels like being wrapped in my arms, Nicole. Don't deny it, I see it in your eyes too," he shifted forward.

Her eyes watered and a forceful scoff left her lips. "The jacket? You're talking about the jacket huh?" Her eyes flew to the material and on impulse, she was up and ripping it off her like it burned. "If this is what made you think I'm craving your toxic love then you've got a lot to learn about me Rich!!" She seethed and flung the damn thing on the table barely missing his eyes. She didn't know where she was headed but she knew it was far away from Richard and his theatrics.