Is This Your First Trip Together?

They left the mansion and headed for the car. Elena looked around. It was the place where he brought her yesterday, while she fell asleep in the car.

Even then it seemed strange to her that she unexpectedly fell asleep. Now she was sure that Rick had added something to the water she drank.

"Do you even know who you are working for?" she asked Alan who was walking by.

"Sure I do," the young man answered and smirked. "Oh, don't you please look at me with such eyes," he commented on the expression on Elena's face. "If you are trying to find the reasons for my loyalty to this person, you can chill out. Difficult childhood or psychological trauma has nothing to do with it. I just like his way of thinking," he added and gave her a stinging look.

"Then you are the same crazy type," the girl replied. It became clear to her that there was no point in negotiating with this person. At the moment she could only rely on herself.

Alan sat her in the back seat of the car next to Rick, and he sat in the driver's seat.

Rick handed her a box of food and a bottle of water, "I advise you to have breakfast. We have a long way to go."

"Perhaps, I will refuse. It does not inspire me to fall asleep again in your company," Elena replied and turned away.

"Ahaha, nice observation skills! But do not worry, this time there is nothing here. I do not need unnecessary questions when going through customs."

"What? What customs are you talking about?" Elena smelled a rat when she heard his words.

So, when he was talking about the trip, he planned to take her out of the country, didn't he? The girl looked at the signposts along the road, and it became clear to her which way they were going.

"Are you completely out of your mind? I'm not going anywhere with you! I don't even have a passport with me!"

"Well, you don't, and I do. Honey, do not forget that the whole country knows that you are my fiance. And it is quite obvious and logical that we are about to have a romantic trip after the engagement. Don't you think so?" Rick winked playfully, and then his face went dark immediately. He grabbed the girl by the elbow and pulled her to his side,

"Listen here, kitty. Behave yourself, otherwise, your boyfriend will be not the only one who will lose everything. Your dad will be next. To ensure the safety, your best friend will come with us and don't even think about telling her anything, you got it?" Rick threatened.

"For me, only what is in your head is valuable. And if you decide to do something behind my back, then don't you be surprised at the consequences later on. You remember, I only warn one time, and this time was just now." He pushed her and lit a cigarette.

"You are a bastard, Rick. She truly loves you. No need to get Corey involved in all of this," least of all Elena wanted her best friend to suffer in this situation. The man did not respond to her comment and was smoking silently, looking out the window.

The car stopped in front of the airport building. Rick went out, walked around the car, opened the door from Elena's side, and, like a true gentleman, extended his hand to her. The girl looked at him with disgust. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, "Don't be so obstinate, baby. We are live on television now."

Elena looked behind him and saw a camera aimed at her. When she got out of the car, camera flashes blinded her eyes.

"What the hell is with this camera show?" she hissed.

Rick bent down, pretending to kiss her on the cheek, and whispered, "This is just in case that some people do not show up at the airport. Our departure is being broadcast live on the central channel, so smile." He straightened up and greeted the journalists,

"Good morning! We did not expect such an honor," the man smiled broadly, and all the girls standing nearby froze, fascinated by him. Even some men felt their hearts beating faster.

Elena sniffed and turned away in the other direction, which was not left unnoticed.

"Miss Lee, you look a little pale. Are you not happy about the trip?" one of the journalists immediately asked her. Rick clenched Elena's elbow, making it clear that she'd better watch her emotions.

"No, all is well. I just didn't sleep much tonight," Elena replied and smiled tightly.

"Hohoho, this is not surprising, considering how amazing your fiancé is," the journalist commented on the girl's response. She was clearly not thinking about what Elena would have wanted.

"Okay, okay, don't embarrass my beautiful fiancée," Rick pulled the girl to him and led her inside, to the check-in counters. Journalists followed them.

The man had fun talking to the press while they were waiting for their boarding passes to be ready. Elena was standing beside him and silently watching his professional two-faced performance.

"Mr. Stein, is this your first trip together with your fiancée?" one of the journalists asked him.

"Yes."

"No," Elena entered into their dialogue, which put the journalist in a bit of confusion.

"Um, so, is it yes or no?" the journalist asked again.

Rick was about to answer the question, but the girl was ahead of him. She grabbed his hand, pressed herself to him and looked at him with the eyes of the little puppy, "Dear, do you not remember the day when you declared your love to me for the first time?"

The young man looked at Elena with surprise, and then narrowed his eyes, 'Don't you dare to pull something out here!'

Elena squinted in response, as if reading his mind, and then turned to the journalist woman,

"I was 17 years old then, and we were having a rest in one of the castles of Europe," Elena began her story, "I remember it was a cool winter night and he invited me to dance under the moon. Snow was falling, we were dancing, and he declared his love to me. It was so beautiful. Do you remember, dear?"

Rick smiled, trying to hold his irritation, "Of course, I remember."

"Oh, it's so romantic! So you already know each other for a long time?" the journalist was surprised.

"Yeah, you can even say from a past life," Elena smiled.

"Khem, I'm sorry, we have to go to the control zone. Goodbye to everyone!" Rick quickly thanked the journalists, pulled Elena to him, and they went to a secure area.

The girl glanced at his irritated face and grinned. Even if she could not tell everything about him openly, nothing could prevent her from playing on his nerves at least a little.

They passed all the checks and went to the gate indicated on the ticket. Rick found a secluded corner and dragged the girl there. He pushed her hard against the wall and squeezed her throat,

"So you decided to play with me, eh?" he hissed. "Another such a trick, and blame yourself. It is a very bad idea to play on my nerves, kitty. You don't want your girlfriend to become a victim of my bad mood, right?" He let her go and went on to the gate, where Corey was already waiting for them.

Elena saw how her friend lit up the young man with a happy smile, and they hugged each other. And from this picture she became ill. There was an urgent need to come up with something to keep Corey here.

Corey saw Elena and waved her hand. She ran up to her and hugged her, "El, I'm so glad you decided to come with us! You'll see, David will regret it that he did this to you!"

"Yes, I have no doubt," Elena replied and attempted to smile back. "Hey, do you feel good? You look some kind of pale." Corey's face color seemed strange to her.

"Ahaha, do not worry, everything is fine. I just slept badly lately. You know, so much has happened ...," Corey thought for a moment, and Elena noticed that something strange flashed in the eyes of her friend. But Corey immediately returned to her usual carefree look.

'Hmmm, maybe it just seemed to me,' Elena thought.

Corey grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her close, then turned to Rick, "Dear, we will go to the ladies' room for a while. So don't be bored here without us."

"Yes, of course, no problem. I'll wait for you here. Just don't make secrets there without me, otherwise, I will be offended," Rick winked playfully at the girls, and cast an unequivocal look at Elena.

Corey dragged Elena to the toilet, happily sharing her anticipation of the upcoming trip with her along the way. As soon as they entered the toilet, Corey fell silent, went to the sink and began to wash her hands.

"Corey, I still think you look bad. Tell Rick how bad you feel and ask him to postpone the trip." Elena thought that if Corey took the initiative herself, then she could gain some time to think through the plan.

Corey came closer and hugged her friend, then whispered, "I'm pregnant."

. . .