Chapter 678

Natalie registered and noticed her seat number had changed; it wasn't the one she'd chosen. Company policy dictated Austin would be in first class, while she and Hank were in business class. Usually, Austin asked them to purchase first-class seats, but this time only one remained.

After checking their luggage, Hank noticed Natalie's stillness. "What are you thinking about, staring at your ticket?" he asked.

Natalie showed him the ticket. "Is this a mistake?"

Hank read it. "Airlines don't make these kinds of mistakes. Someone upgraded your seat."

Did someone? Natalie was confused.

Hank patted her shoulder. "You're lucky. Maybe someone canceled their flight after we booked. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten an upgrade even if you'd wanted one."

Natalie considered this a plausible explanation. She considered herself lucky; she often won at cards. She put it out of her mind.

When Austin learned of the upgrade, he grinned. "Hank, ask if there are any empty seats; maybe you can get an upgrade too!"

Hank agreed. "Shit, how could I have been so slow?" He immediately called the airline, only to be disappointed. "No empty seats," he announced. "It's only a three-hour flight. I'll nap; we'll be there before I wake up."

Natalie suggested, "Hank, sit in my seat."

Hank had been extremely busy arranging the event and dealing with numerous people; he was far more exhausted than she was.

He waved his hand dismissively. "I'm tough. I can handle an overnight train in a hard seat. This is nothing."

They chatted for a while before boarding. Natalie sat down, looked beside her, and her heart sank. Austin was in the seat in front of her. He looked back. "Later, I'll switch seats with whoever's beside you."

"Okay," she replied.

A few minutes later, someone sat down beside her. Preoccupied with her phone, Natalie didn't notice until they were settled. She glanced over and gasped.

"You..."

It was Jeremy!

He grinned. "Surprised?"

Natalie, flustered but trying to appear calm, managed a smile and a shake of her head. "Not at all." She hadn't been lucky; Jeremy had upgraded her seat. She should have known.

Austin suddenly turned. "Hi, can I switch seats with..." He stopped, noticing Jeremy, his gaze lingering on him before settling on Natalie. "I'll sleep now. Call me if you need anything."

Natalie hummed in acknowledgement.

Jeremy's gaze, when it met Austin's, turned icy. Their interaction seemed calm, but an undercurrent of tension was palpable. Natalie, however, remained oblivious, her own anxieties weighing heavily on her.