FLIGHT OF FANCY

I was terrified of flying and don't know why I agreed to do this job for Lissa. Yes I do, I was broke and desperate for money. Could lissa have loaned me the money to get me by, she could, but I was too proud to take anymore of it. I was used to taking care of myself and have been since I was sixteen. I was doing ok until I met Jesse. He used me then left me homeless and broke. That's where this new job came along. Lissa's family is rich and I mean disgustingly rich. They had several homes and even a private jet. I desperately needed a job and Lissa said they had hired new pilots and needed a stewardess. I had experience being a waitress and figured there wasn't much more to it than that. Boy was I wrong.

I went through about a month-long training with six other people. I learned so much about Jets that I felt like I could pilot it myself. We learned CPR and basic first aid and were also trained on making the client happy no matter what. Which was the hardest for me. I remember many times being a waitress I wanted to dump drinks on my customers. Thankfully for the most part it would be Lissa and her family that would be on board.

It was my first day on the job and I was checking myself out in the mirror. I was not a dress kind of person and this one was a bit short.

"That looks really good on you." Lissa said as she walked up behind me.

"I'm glad I hit the gym before putting this on." I said back to her while I spun around to get another look at the back. She playfully smacked my ass.

"Too bad it's just us for your first flight. Your booty in this dress could land you a husband."

"Liss, that's the last thing on my mind right now is to snag a man." She put her head on my shoulder.

"I know I just want you to be happy again" I leaned my head on hers.

"I am happy." She rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright I'm not as happy as I used to be, but I'm getting there."

I have been staying with Lissa and her fiancé and left their house a couple of hours before her. Once I arrived I went through security and headed towards the tarmac. There it was, a silver jet with black letters on the side "Dragimor inc.", my new job. The jet itself was brand new and absolutely gorgeous, again showing how much money Lissa's family had. Lissa's family was wealthy, yes, but they were the most down to earth people you could ever meet. When I ran away from home at sixteen they took me in. They treated me like their own and helped me to get on my feet. I already felt indebted to them and didn't want any more handouts. Lissa convinced me that taking this job wasn't that, I may be on their Jet, but this was a legit job. One that could help me in the future.

I stood at the bottom of the stairs and took a deep breath. I could do this. As I walked up the stairs, my hands became sweaty. I didn't know if it was because this was my first day or my fear of flying. I know I know, I had this irrational fear of flying, but was going to suck it up, I needed this job. When I got to the top,the door was open and I walked right through it. Wow it was even more gorgeous on the inside, and I could tell Lissa had a hand in decorating.

I knew my area was in the front of the jet to my left when walking in, so that's where I went. I opened the door and was met with the most beautiful man I have ever seen. He was well over six feet tall, brown hair pulled back in a low ponytail, and brown eyes that you could get lost in. I just stood there staring.

"Hi you must be Rose, our stewardess." An accent too, thank god I wasn't wearing any panties or they would be soaked.

"Yes, Rose Hathaway, nice to meet you." I got myself together and put my hand out for him to shake.

"Dimtiri Belikov, one of the pilots, obviously." Looking at his uniform with a smile. He grabbed my hand and it was instant electricity. We were standing there just holding hands looking at each other when we heard someone clear their throat.

"Hey, quit hogging the lady." Damn he had the same accent, not as drop dead gorgeous as Dimitri, but still looked good.

"Hi Ivan Zecklos, nice to meet you."

"Rose Hathaway." I reluctantly let go of Dimitris' hand and reached for Ivan's.

"I hear this is your first time being a stewardess on a jet?" Ivan asked.

"It is. But I've known the Dragomir's my whole life."

"They seem like great people."

They are."

"As much as we'd like to get to know each other, we have a flight to prepare for. Dimitri said.

We were flying out of Philadelphia to L.A. I was happy it was going to be about six hours for my first flight. We were well on our way when I felt my anxiety kick in. I had just recently been prescribed something for my anxiety, but wasn't allowed to take it while on a flight. So I excused myself to the crew area up front so I could sit and calm myself down.

I grabbed myself a bottle of water before I sat down. I don't know how long I was staring at the floor when I heard the door to the cockpit open. I didn't look up to see who it was, I couldn't calm myself down and started to hyperventilate.

"You Ok?" Even with that accent and knowing it was Dimitri I couldn't answer. I just sat there trying to catch my breath. He crouched down till he was at eye level.

"Roza, look at me." I couldn't bring myself to raise my head.

"Hey, it's ok, let me help you through this." He put his hand on my chin and gently lifted it up. God he was so beautiful and this was so embarrassing. The only thing I could do was nod my head.

"So you're going to take some deep breaths with me. Now inhale to the count of four."

I did as instructed.

1,2,3,4. Good now hold that for four counts, 1,2,3,4. Good now exhale for four, 1,2,3,4, and hold for four counts. 1,2,3,4, ok good let's do it again."

We repeated that, till my heart was done racing and I could breathe again.

"Thank you. Where did you learn that?"

"You're welcome, I'm happy to help. My younger sister used to have really bad anxiety attacks. This is what we would do when she had an attack."

"This is so embarrassing, you probably came in here for a break. What can I get you?" I got up way too fast and the world started to spin. Dimitri caught my elbow.

"Sit back down Roza." I didn't argue as he helped me back in my seat.

"Why do you keep calling me Roza?"

"Sorry it's your name in Russian. Sometimes my English slips."

"Don't I like the sound of it, much better than my full name Rosemarie." He chuckled and made his way to the fridge and pulled out a small bottle of Orange juice and handed it to me.

"Drink this, it will help." I grabbed it, took the lid off, and took a couple of sips.

"Thank you, but I'm supposed to be helping you, not the other way around."

"It's ok. I came back here because I needed to stretch my legs. The cockpit isn't really made for someone my height."

"Still, you shouldn't have to be helping me."

"I don't mind Roza." The way he said my name made my knees even weaker than they were.

The rest of the flight went smoothly and we landed at LAX. Lissa and her family had a car waiting for them. Me, Dimitri, Ivan, and Christian were left to get ourselves to the hotel. We would be here for a week, that's why Christian came with Lissa. While Lissa was working I planned on doing every tacky tourist thing I could. But first I needed to get into my room.

I don't know how many times I slipped my card into the slot and the light kept turning red.

"Need a little help?" I recognized that accent anywhere. Could this day get any worse.

"This is so embarrassing."

"Not at all Roza. We all have those days. Let me see if I can get it open for you." I handed him the key card. He put it in and just like that the light turned green. Of course he would get it on the first try.

"I can't believe you got it on the first try. You must think I'm a complete idiot."

"You're not an idiot." He opened the door to let me in. I grabbed my suitcase, rolled it in and placed it on my bed. He stood at the door being a gentleman.

"You can come in if you want, but I don't want to take anymore of your time." He nodded and shut the door.

"You're not bothering me. I was actually coming to see if you would like to go get something to eat?"

"Are you asking me on a date?"

"If you call a date two people hanging out, eating and getting to know each other."

"That's a date, comrade."

"Comrade?"

"Yep, that's your nickname."

"So, dinner?"

"Yes. It's a date."