Secrets & Lies

Chapter Eighteen

The couple woke early in the morning and Gia was still feeling nauseated, but the dizziness had abated.  Tea and toast seemed to settle her stomach.  They chatted amiably while getting ready for the airport, trying to avoid the conversation that they would be apart for over four weeks.

    When they arrived at the airport they stood in line together.  They were on the same airline, but of course different flights.  When they got to the ticket agent Alex had Gia check in first.  She had just handed the agent her ticket and passport when Alex interrupted.

"Excuse me do you have any first class seats remaining?" He asked casually.

"Let me check for you sir."  She responded, "We do sir."

"Perfect, will you upgrade my friend's tickets for her entire trip, including the return flight to London." He said.  The agent clicked along on her keyboard for a few minutes.

"The price difference will be £13,846." She stated like this monumental amount was not something he would want to do after she spent several minutes punches keys.

"No problem." He said handing her a black Visa card with an ornate gold heart on it.

"Alex you can't do that!" Gia exclaimed pulling him away from the desk.

"You my darling aren't feeling well and I'm not having you sit in coach all of those hours." He expressed as he caressed her cheek.

"But Alex I can't pay you back." Gia said glancing at the agent who continued to watch the unfolding conversation.

"Don't worry about it.  If I learned one thing from my father it is never fly coach when first class in available."  He exclaimed.

"Alright miss here are your new tickets, boarding pass and your passport." The agent said with a smile toward Alex.

"Thank you." Alex responded taking the documents from her and handing them to Gia.  The agent took the suitcase and tagged it before placing it on the conveyor belt.

"Okay, now for me." Alex said smiling and handing her his documents.  "I would like to change my ticket and fly to Denver in the seat next to my girlfriend."  The agent smiled and began typing away.  It didn't take long for her to get his boarding pass ready.

"Here you are sir, you are both welcome to wait in our first class lounge which is to the right and just down the corridor." The agent said not talking to Gia but looking directly into Alex's gorgeous aquamarine eyes.

"Thank you." Alex said smiling as he grabbed Gia's hand and pulled her along behind him.  Gia found herself feeling  jealous when she saw how the ticket agent was looking at Alex.  He was hers and she didn't like any other woman checking him out like they  wanted to sleep with him.

"Alex you shouldn't have done that." Gia said as they walked away.

"Listen; don't worry about the money I've got more than enough and I thought I explained to you I don't want you sitting in coach when you aren't feeling well." He said.  They walked for a little while passing different shops in the airport.  Gia stopped at a couple of them picking up a few gifts for her family and friends, nothing real expensive, mostly just cute little English items.  When they reached the door they walked inside and showed them their first class tickets and passed into the lounge.  Alex and Gia sat down in some lounge chairs off in a corner by themselves.  Not too far from the full bar, but away from the other travelers.  The ticket price was still weighing heavily on Gia's mind, but she didn't want to offend him.

"Alex do you have money because you were in the military?" Gia asked cautiously.

"No." He said looking away, "Do you want a sandwich or something?" He asked instead jumping up from his chair.  Alex wanted to avoid the conversation that he knew was about to happen.  He wasn't embarrassed by his career decisions he just hadn't told Gia about it.  Gia was pure and innocent and he loved her in spite of the fact that he was sure it would all change once she found out about his secret.