The Media Baron's Heiress

CHAPTER 22

Tessa texted a message to inform Brad that Seth Kern will be accompanying them to Houston.  She did the math to figure out what time they'd land in Houston.  Three hour flight, Texas was an hour behind New York.  She was starting to get tired by mid afternoon these days.   She wanted to arrive in Houston at a reasonable hour.  Tessa called the chef at Scarsdale and requested a light dinner to be ready by six.  She texted Brad again and instructed him that dinner would be at six, and that his pilot should file his flight plan to depart at eight.  Never mind that it was Brad's jet or Brad's pilot, she was quite comfortable issuing the instructions.

'Oh I could get used to this,' Seth laughed as he flopped into one of the luxurious recliners on the Blakeley private jet.  Tessa smiled.  Seth ran a tight ship, financially speaking.  When he travelled, he flew commercial, business class.  It was an adequate means to an end.  He was also comfortable if their travel agent booked them into three or four star accommodation.  He did not see the need for wasteful expenditure.  The aircraft seat was always good enough, and the hotel bed offered a comfortable night's sleep.  Tessa on the other hand preferred the luxury she grew up with.  She always upgraded to first class and five star hotels at her own expense.

'Welcome Seth,' Brad smiled, 'care for a drink?'

'Scotch will be great, thanks.'

'Darling?' Tessa had three choices as far as Brad was concerned, water, mineral water or a fruit juice.

'I'm fine thank you,' Tessa shook her head.

'Oh look Tessa!' Seth's eye caught the chess board mounted on a shelf that held some books, DVD's and CD's.

Tessa groaned silently and slid lower on her seat.  She was loathe to play a game with Seth.  He always beat her.  She had her pride, she did not want her husband to see her getting a whipping from her boss.

'I actually haven't had a game since university,' Brad laughed, sliding in next to Tessa.  'I'll have a game with you, provided you go easy on me,' Brad invited Seth.

'He's good,' Tessa warned Brad, laying her palm on his thigh.  'He always beats me.'

'It's like riding a bicycle,' Seth grinned setting up the chess pieces, 'one never forgets.'

'Have some faith in me darling,' Brad leaned over and pressed a kiss at her temple.  Her charming husband was putting on a show for Seth, but he was getting her worked up, damn infuriating man.  She should not have looked into his smoky eyes, for he could tell she was begging to be kissed.  He did not disappoint, taking his time and skilfully exhibiting how good he was with those adorable lips of his.

'We're playing chess you two,' Seth cleared his throat.

'Right,' Brad chuckled, reluctantly moving away from his wife.  Tessa bit on her lower lip, and hauled out the glossy fashion magazine she'd bought at the airport bookshop.  She opened the magazine, but her eyes kept going to the chessboard.   She stole a glance at Brad.  His poker face was a mask of concentration.  A smile hovered on Seth's face as he rested his chin on both his index fingers, awaiting Brad's next move.  Tessa thought Brad should sacrifice one of his pawns to protect his Queen from Seth's threatening Queen.  Instead Brad went on the offensive using his Knight and removing Seth's Queen.

'Oh you go Brad,' Tessa spontaneously applauded, much to the consternation of Seth, who had not seen that coming.  Both men looked up in surprise.  They thought she had been immersed in her magazine.

'So much for moral support,' Seth grumbled.

'I'm not married to you,' Tessa quipped.

'Thank you darling,' Brad hugged his wife, and kept his arm around her shoulder.  She liked his arm around her, the warmth emanating from his body heat, his musky cologne that tickled her nostril and the comforting strength his presence always gave her.  Tessa shifted closer to Brad, leaning her head against his shoulder.  It was almost infinitesimal, the way Brad's body responded to her, but she felt it, just as she heard his very soft gasp.  She tried to read her magazine as the men continued with their game, but she was acutely aware of Brad.  Occasionally she flipped a page in her magazine, when it occurred to her that she was taking rather too long studying pictures of ramp models advertising the latest Spring couture.  Silently Tessa beamed with pride as she counted Brad had more of Seth's chess pieces, than Seth had of Brad's.  The sly devil, he may have last played in university, if he was telling the truth, but he obviously still had it in him.