4. Private jet

Serena Vale

~•~

By the time the sun went down, every trace of the life I’d been building with Douglas was gone.

Well, almost gone. I was still packing up my things to move them into Lila’s place. Douglas and I had gotten this house together. It was mine as much as it was his but I couldn’t live there anymore, not when every single corner reminded me of him. I would deal with the legalities of that later.

When I called the florist to let her know the wedding was off, she was confused. She had just delivered fresh flowers in the morning and was meant to deliver some more the next morning. The wedding planner was more than shocked. She revealed we were one of the sweetest couples she had met. Well, I used to think the same too.

Half of the calls I got were laced with fake sympathy. The other half were just hungry for gossip. The only people who cared about how I actually felt were my parents and cousins.

Douglas’ family bombarded my phone with calls but I didn’t respond to any of them. I couldn’t.

I had to turn off my phone while I focused on taking everything of mine out of that house. Thankfully, Lila had a penthouse big enough to accommodate me and my things. I wasn’t in the mood to pack this much to a hotel and she was barely at home anyway.

That night, I didn’t sleep. I just sat by the window, watching the city lights through my tears until dawn came.

By the next morning, people were visiting me at Lila’s penthouse. My friends came over, my parents, siblings, and cousins all wanted to comfort me. It was suffocating.

Douglas was calling me, leaving several text messages, telling me not to fuck this up. The rehearsal dinner had been canceled and people had texted him to know what was wrong, but he still wanted me to show up for the wedding. It was nauseating.

Amidst all the comforting words people kept throwing at me, I came to a decision. Douglas and I were supposed to leave for our honeymoon around seven in the evening. I had booked it as he was okay with anything. I couldn’t sit there and watch everyone pity me because of Douglas’ infidelity, so I packed a new suitcase.

“Where are you going?” Lila asked, standing by the doorway of my temporary room. My parents had just left when they realized I needed space from everyone.

“Liora Bay,” I answered as I zipped up the suitcase. “For my honeymoon.”

Lila blinked. “Your honeymoon?”

“I’ve been looking forward to going there. I won’t let a man ruin that for me.”

Lila bit down on her lip as though she had something to say, but was holding back.

The tickets were non-refundable. The villa had been paid for. I didn’t think I’d have another chance to visit the island anytime soon, not with my upcoming job.

A lot of money had been wasted already with all the things I canceled. I couldn’t let this one waste too. The island was supposed to be our honeymoon. Now, it would just be mine.

That evening, Lila helped me load my luggage into the car anyway. I was in a pair of sweats and oversized glasses, my hair pulled into a bun. I barely ever looked like this outside, but I just didn’t have the energy to put effort into my looks at the moment.

“Text me when you land,” she said. “And please don’t make out with a mysterious stranger on the beach.”

A soft laugh escaped me, the first real sign of happiness since I saw that picture. “I’ll try not to.”

“Good. Because heartbreak rebounds only work in the movies.”

I smiled at her. The truth was that I didn’t even think I was capable of attraction anymore. I’d just broken things off with Douglas twenty-four hours ago. I didn’t have it in me to accommodate another man.

The drive to the airport was quiet. The sun was beginning to set and the skylines were tall and glittering, not caring that my world had just fallen apart.

At the check-in, the agent smiled politely. “I’m sorry, Ms Vale, but your flight has been delayed.”

“What?” Was everything against me or what? “For how long?”

“I’m not sure yet. There’s a maintenance issue. You’ll need to wait until we announce and update.”

Of course. The universe was adding salt to my injury.

I rolled my suitcase towards a seat and slumped down on it. I wasn’t even surprised anymore. It just wasn’t my year apparently.

That was when I noticed him.

A man was seated a few rows ahead, impossible not to notice. He had dark brown hair with dirty blonde tips. He leaned back with the kind is confidence that came from wealth and danger, or maybe both.

His suit was tailored to perfection. His watch gleamed softly under the airport lights. As if he could feel my gaze on him, he looked up.

He smiled faintly, holding my gaze for a few seconds too long before he went back to staring at his phone. I felt my stomach flip involuntarily, a reaction I scolded myself for.

‘Not now, Serena.’

After nearly an hour of waiting, the announcement finally came through the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, flight 233 to Liora Bay has been canceled due to technical complications. Please approach the service desk for rebooking or refunds.”

Canceled. Not delayed.

I pressed my lips together. “Perfect.”

I’d already told all my friends that I was going to Liora Bay alone. I’d told them I needed space from everyone and everything yet it seemed like the world didn’t want me to enjoy a moment of peace. If I hadn’t canceled my wedding, would my honeymoon flight have been canceled too?

“Seems we’re heading to the same destination.”

Irritated, I turned my head, ready to dismiss whoever was trying to strike up a conversation built on my misfortune. I froze when I saw that the man from earlier was now sitting next to me.

Up close, he was even more dangerous. More dangerous in the sense that he was too beautiful. His jaw was too sharp. His eyes were too dark. His gaze was too inviting. There was a small scar near his eyebrow, faint but noticeable. It was almost like it was a flaw put there on purpose to humanize his perfection.

Yes, he was that handsome.

“Liora Bay?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“Yeah,” he smiled. “The name is Ralph.”

I hesitated for a moment before shaking it. “Serena.”

His grip was firm and warm and he held my hand a second too long. “We’re flying private and since we’re heading in the same direction, you’re welcome to join.”

“We?”

“My…” he paused for a second as if he was finding the right words, “-friend is already in the jet. He hates delays.”

I blinked in surprise. “You’re offering me a seat on your private jet?”

“Unless you’d rather go back home or wait to book with a different airline.” He shrugged. “Your call, sweetheart.”

I glanced between him and the number of people disappointed that their flight had been canceled. Every rational part of me screamed stranger danger. But rationality had never gotten me anywhere. I rationalized my ex-fiancé’s actions so much until it bit me in the ass.

Lila had warned me about making out with a mysterious man on the beach, but she never said anything about following one into his private jet.

“I don’t usually accept offers from strangers…” I trailed off.

“Good, that means you’re smart,” Ralph replied, a tinge of an accent in his voice.

“Then why offer?”

“Because you look like you could use a change of scenery.”

It was ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. And yet, a few minutes later, I found myself walking beside him across the private terminal, my suitcase rolling behind him.