Overwhelming

Seraphina’s POV

The jet was waiting on the tarmac when we arrived, sleek and quiet under the runway lights. I'd never seen a private jet this close, it was massive.

I still couldn't believe I was now married to one of the wealthiest bachelors in New York city.

Last week, I was feeding on bland overnight oats to survive, this week I was…Mrs. Kingsley. He'd called me that.

I was half expecting someone to pinch me out of this unbelievable dream but that never came.

“Welcome aboard, Mr and Mrs Kingsley,” the air hostess greeted us. “Please make yourselves comfortable. Our flight takes off in exactly twenty minutes.”

She had a clipboard tucked under one arm and a smile that seemed like it was permanently installed on her face.

"Can I get you something before takeoff, Mrs. Kingsley? Champagne, water, something to eat?"

"Water is fine," I said. "Thank you."

"Of course." She turned to leave and I almost called after her to say thank you again, the way I normally would, but I caught myself just in time.

She returned a minute later and set the glass down carefully on the small table beside me with both hands, like the water itself was precious.

"Anything else, ma'am?"

"No, this is perfect. Really. Thank you so much."

She smiled, a little wider this time, obviously surprised. "You're very welcome."

When she walked away I sat there feeling foolish. Victoria would not have thanked her twice. Victoria would barely have looked at her. 

I had spent twenty-seven years on the other side of that exact exchange, refilling glasses, clearing plates, saying ‘of course’ and ‘right away’ to people who never once said thank you back, and now here I was, unable to simply accept a glass of water without my whole body trying to do something nice in return.

I picked up the glass and made a mental note to start being harsher. At least, if I could manage to put out the same treatment I got from the rich and wealthy…

Speaking of flights, this was my first one ever. My stomach was a tangle of nerves and anxiety, but nobody could know that. So I took my seat and fastened the belt quickly. Thank God that wasn't hard to figure out. 

"It's perfectly safe," Adrain said, settling into the seat across from me.

"I know that."

He scoffed. "You don't look like you know that."

“You should be focused on fixing your seatbelt instead of studying me.”

“I still have enough time to do that. We're not leaving immediately.”

Fuck. I'd fastened my seat belts too early. So much for trying to play it cool.

“Well, it's not a crime to be prepared and then wait, is it?”

He didn't respond.

Eventually, the doors of the plane sealed shut, the pilot announced our ascent and Adrian fastened his own seatbelts. 

The engines began to hum. My fear was becoming a real monster now, I gripped the armrests trying to steady myself.

A low vibration moved up through the floor into the soles of my feet, my stomach dropped half a second before my brain caught up with what was happening.

We were moving. The plane was actually moving.

I gripped the fabric of my dress at the knee, twisting it between my fingers. A roar filled the entire cabin, and I felt my pulse nearly jump out of my throat.

My knee kept bouncing and refused to stop even when I pressed my hand flat against it.

This is totally fine. People do this every day. Children and even old women do this. It can't be any worse.

Then the nose of the plane lifted and my entire body went with it, weightless for one horrible second, every rational thought I'd been holding onto dissolved totally. 

I was this close to screaming.

My hands found the armrests and held unto them. I watched my knuckles go pale from too much gripping. The window beside me showed the ground falling away, the runway lights shrinking into a thin gold line. I shut my eyes quickly.

God, is this how I die? Not getting married to cocky Adrian, not by Richard's hands—This.

A whimper broke out my throat. 

I was sure I would pass out the next minute when I felt a large warm hand cover mine. 

I opened my eyes startled.

"It passes," Adrian said. "The climb. It gets smoother. Just try to relax."

His voice was so soothing I never knew he was capable of such tenderness.

But I was really grateful for it. I squeezed his fingers back and mouthed a small thank you.

A few minutes later the plane levelled out, the worst of the climb behind us. My breathing slowly returned to normal and I felt Adrain give my hand one more squeeze before withdrawing.

"Better?"

"Better," I replied quietly.

He unfastened his belts and stood. "I have some work to finish before we land. I'll be in the cabin if you need anything."

I nodded, still shaken from the flight but steadier now. He turned toward the back of the plane.

I sat there a moment longer after he'd gone, listening to the quiet hum of the cabin. For the first time all day there was no one watching me. No Richard checking my posture, no stylist adjusting a pin, no Adrian tracking my movements. 

It should have felt like relief, but mostly it just felt strange.

I unfastened my seatbelt and stood, smoothing my dress and glancing toward the back of the cabin where I guessed the bathroom would be. 

My legs felt unsteady beneath me. 

Can I blame my poor legs? 

I hadn't eaten anything since morning. I hadn't really eaten much in days, and if I was honest, my stomach was too tangled with nerves to hold anything down for long.

I took a step forward. The cabin tilted slightly, or maybe I did. The edges of my vision softened, becoming blurry at the corners. 

I had taken maybe four steps when everything suddenly felt woozy. 

"Mrs. Kingsley!”