Frankie’s Choice

Chapter Nine

Frankie was still staring out of the oval window of the chartered business jet when Tim Hunkstone brushed past her seat with his off-and-on-again girlfriend Sammi following along behind unsteadily on absurdly high heels. The two of them went past the bar area and past the toilets and past the cheap seats where Alberic and the bodyguards were sitting and into the private suite at the rear of the aircraft. Frankie twisted around to watch them go and had just enough time to glimpse the luxurious queen-sized bed in the suite before Sammi pushed the door closed.

To her great surprise, Frankie realized she didn’t really care. For nearly two years she’d been fantasizing about Tim Hunkstone and imagining herself with him. He’d warmed many of her nights and quite a few of her afternoons as well, but now when he was literally just a few meters away, the fact that he was going to spend an hour or so behind closed doors with Sammi seemed somehow irrelevant. Frankie thought that if by some unlikely magic the door opened and Tim beckoned her in to join them she’d probably do it, but otherwise she felt indifferent.

Which was very strange.

Less than a month ago, she’d have willingly given up a kidney to be where Sammi was now. Frankie knew she should be burning with jealousy and scheming furiously to displace the pop singer in Tim’s…