CHAPTER SIX:

The interior of West’s private jet was spotless, leaving Jane speechless and impressed. The plane’s cozy design included throw pillows on the couch, a kitchenette and a spacious king sized bed. Jane was amazed as she walked into the plane, searching for a comfortable spot away from Liam.

“Welcome Mr. West,” the voice of a young air hostess called out. She stood beside the cockpit, flashing a huge smile that Jane thought might hurt her cheeks.

Liam, who still had a deep frown on his face, simply walked away without acknowledging the air hostess which made her smile falter. Jane in return, gave the hostess a warm smile before finally settling into a white couch in the corner.

The plane doors closed, and a few minutes later, it took off, taking flight into the sky towards its destination.

Soft music filled the jet, providing a calming atmosphere as Jane tried to get comfortable, setting aside her growing nervousness.

“Would you like anything Mrs West?” The air hostess asked, startling Jane, who turned to face her.

‘Mrs West?’ Jane thought. The name sounded foreign and she bit back the urge to correct the young woman.

Jane forced a smile and replied, “Water and mints, please.”

“Alright,” the woman replied, nodding before turning to get what she had asked for.

Jane let out a sigh as her mind began to wander. Her stomach growled, and she grabbed it, before settling into the couch and letting out another sigh. Although she was hungry, the idea of stomaching a meal didn’t feel too appealing as her restlessness and anxiety about the trip got worse.

Few minutes later, the hostess returned, placing the mints and water on the table beside Jane. Jane sipped the water, lost in thought on how she was going to survive this family trip with her boss.

She turned her head towards Liam’s direction and stared at him with narrowed eyes. Liam sat at the other side of the aisle, typing furiously on his phone, his frown deeper than usual.

Feeling a bit confident, Jane stood up and walked towards him and sat down beside him on the couch, her body partially leaning against his. Liam’s fingers suddenly halted and his body stiffened in surprise and shock.

“You know, with a frown like that, you’ll age prematurely and get uglier soon,” she teased, still sipping from the water bottle, her body resting against his as her heart quickened.

“What do you want?” Liam asked, clearly irritated.

Meanwhile, Jane clicked her tongue and wiggled, trying to get comfortable beside him on the small couch.

Liam looked down at her with curiosity, an unfamiliar feeling stirring within him. His jaw tightened, and he shifted slightly, trying to make room for her, willing himself to ignore her presence.

“Well, I’m bored, and you’re a terrible host. Apparently, you’re not a jerk to just me,” she said, looking up at him with her head tilted to the side.

Genuinely confused, Liam turned to look down at her, his eyes darted towards her plump lips which were set in a pout, “What are you talking about?”

“The hostess, you barely acknowledged her. Is that how you treat all your employees?” Jane replied.

Liam turned uncomfortable, shifted in his seat and cleared his throat before turning to look away, “I didn’t mean to, though,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

An awkward silence fell between them. Jane mostly found his unusual behaviour somewhat amusing and had expected a snark reply from him, but his genuine unawareness made her avoid continuing the conversation.

“So, what is this trip about anyway?” she asked, attempting to divert the conversation in a new direction.

Liam turned back to her, his eyes locked into hers, his expression unreadable and he paused before speaking, “Well, there’s something about my family… something unusual that might sound strange,” he replied, his voice low and Jane would’ve missed what he said if she wasn’t that close to him.

“What do you mean?” She asked, clearly confused as her brows drew together.

Turning away, Liam stared blankly, clearly contemplating his words, “Hmm, My family has this odd tradition that we’ve kept alive for years. We gather every two years to strengthen bonds, mend relationships and take a break from the business chaos.” Liam said finally.

Jane had no idea what just happened and decided to not push it. She watched Liam expression for a while before turning away.

“Tsk, typical rich people,” Jane replied instead, shaking her head slightly.

Rich people flaunting their wealth was nothing new to Jane, but Liam’s reaction was. As he turned away from her, a low chuckle escaped his lips.

“Did you just laugh?”Jane asked, her eyes wide with surprise, as his frown softened and his lips curved up in an awkward smile.

Liam immediately regained his composure, his face falling back into a scowl. He picked up his phone and resumed typing, intentionally ignoring her and remaining silent.

“Oh c’mon,” Jane sighed, then relaxed back against his tense body.

They both sat in silence, the only sound being the warm sound of jazz music playing. Before long, Jane felt herself get dizzier. Ignoring Liam’s discomfort and very obvious irritation, she settled more into their shared couch, placed her head on the arm rest and soon fell asleep.

Over an hour had passed since the jet took off, and Liam felt the weight of a week's worth of stress on his shoulders, as well as the gentle pressure of Jane's body against his. With a deep sigh and furrowed brows, he dropped his phone and turned to look at Jane.

Jane slept peacefully beside him, and Liam found himself drawn to her beautiful features. Her hair was styled in a messy bun, and her stunning facial features were relaxed in a peaceful expression, her breathing steady and calm.

Liam snapped out of his trance, realizing he had been staring. Shaking off the thought, he glanced away and picked up his phone, sending a text to the one person he knew he could tolerate.

~~~~

A loud thud echoed through the cabin as Jane felt that annoying shove again and this time, it seemed much more forceful than before.

“Are you dead or something?” An irritated voice shouted, followed by another aggressive shove.

“Argh!” Jane cried out, turning and opening her eyelids.

Before her stood Liam, his tall frame standing before her, his face set in a frown as he looked down at her.

“Get your ass up, D****e, we’ve arrived,” he ordered, before walking away.

The confusion quickly dispersed from Jane's mind as she looked around. She realised she must’ve dozed off. Getting up, she retrieved her bag and hurried towards the direction Liam had taken, reaching the plane's exit.

As Jane descended the plane’s stairs into the cool atmosphere, her jaws dropped in complete awe and mesmerization. The breathtaking view before her revealed that she was on a stunning island.

The sounds of waves crashing against the rocks filled the air. The island was surrounded by oceans, swaying palm trees,with a stunning clear blue sky above and the sweet scent of freshwater and flowers filling her nostrils. The sound of seagulls mixed with the sounds of waves filled her with a certain kind of calm . A gentle breeze blew, rustling her hair and clothes.

As her feet touched the ground, Jane let out a happy sigh, closing her eyes and inhaling the ocean air. A moment later, her trance was interrupted by a familiar high pitched squeal, causing her eyes to snap open. She turned and looked at the direction of the sound.

Jane’s eyes fell upon the woman who was walking gracefully towards Liam. With narrowed eyes, an unexplained anger and frustration began to simmer within her.

With an annoyed grunt, Jane approached Liam, giving both Liam and the newcomer a surprised look. She had not expected to see ‘her’ here.

“What are you doing here, Fiona?” Jane asked, her gaze fixed on the woman embracing her husband.