Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

ZAYN

A s soon as she settled into the first-class seat beside me, I could see the wonder in her eyes. She was trying hard to play it cool, but her excitement was written all over her face. She smoothed her hand over the plush leather seat and had to check out the reclining seat. Just as a child would, fascinated by the simplest of things. There was something very humbling and endearing about it.

As she looked around the cabin, her eyes wide with curiosity and awe, I found myself captivated. She was vibrant and alive, a splash of color in a drab world. It was refreshing. In a world where everyone seemed jaded and focused on outdoing one another, she could still enjoy something like a little upgrade in travel accommodations.

Her joy made me smile and feel warm in places that were usually cold and dark.

It felt like we had barely ordered when the flight attendant came back with our meals.

Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed the real cutlery instead of the plastic utensils that had become standard fare in economy class. The real salt and pepper shakers delighted her. "They're so tiny!" she said, giggling. "I can't believe this is an actual meal. This is so wild."

I watched her take her time, savoring each bite as if it were the most decadent thing she had ever tasted. The sight made me smile—seeing someone take such pleasure in the simple things was rare.

When our desserts arrived, a molten chocolate cake served with whipped cream, she stared at it for a few seconds before plunging her spoon into the lava of dark chocolate. Her eyes closed in delight after the first bite.

"Good?" I asked before taking my own bite.

"Amazing!" She took another bite. "I feel bad."

"Why?"

"Because all the people beyond that curtain aren't getting all of this. I got lucky to get the upgrade."

I looked at her. "It's not really luck. I asked for you to get the empty seat."

She laughed softly. "I know. I'm not the type of person that wins the lottery. I don't actually buy tickets, but I don't because I know it would be a waste of money. I don't win things like that."

"You ran into me," I said with a shrug. "I think that's luck."

She started laughing again. "Gee, you think pretty highly of yourself."

I grinned again. "Well, I think you know what I mean."

I leaned back in my seat, watching her out of the corner of my eye. There was something genuinely refreshing about her enthusiasm, something innocent and sweet that made me feel more at ease than I had in a long time. When I caught her looking at me, her cheeks flushed as bright as her hair, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"You don't have to be embarrassed," I said, my tone gentle. "I'm glad someone's enjoying this. These little luxuries tend to feel normal after a while, and it's easy to forget how nice they really are."

She blinked up at me, her eyes wide with surprise and maybe a little self-consciousness. I flashed her a reassuring smile, knowing full well how arrogant and privileged I must sound.

I was all of those things.

"I'm describing myself," I added, my voice tinged with a bit of self-deprecation. "I'm arrogant, privileged, and wealthy—just in case you were wondering."

She gave me a small smile. "I wasn't judging."

"We never had a chance to properly introduce ourselves. I'm Zayn."

"Marigold Reed," she replied, her smile widening.

"Marigold," I repeated, letting the name roll off my tongue. It suited her—bright, cheerful, and just a little bit whimsical. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

We spent the first half of the flight getting to know each other, and I quickly found myself enjoying her company more than I expected. She was sophisticated yet sweet, with a subtle wit that kept me on my toes. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with light-hearted banter and just the right amount of flirtation. She was quick with her comebacks but there wasn't an ounce of malice and rudeness in her. She was one of those people that was genuinely kind. She was the kind of person that talked to you like she'd known you her entire life.

While she was talking about herself, she was also very vague. She wasn't giving me a lot of information about herself. I wasn't sure if that was intentional or just her way of keeping the conversation flowing without stepping into anything too serious.

By the time we finished the bottle of champagne, I was genuinely having fun. We were about to switch to red wine when the pilot's voice crackled over the speakers, pulling our attention away from each other.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We've encountered some minor engine trouble and, as a precaution, we'll be making an unscheduled landing in Lisbon, Portugal. Please remain calm and stay seated with your seatbelts fastened. We'll provide further updates as soon as possible."

Marigold went white as a sheet, her earlier excitement evaporating in an instant. I could see the panic building behind her eyes as murmurs of worry erupted around us.

"What?" She gasped and looked around. "What did he just say?"

"We're going to be landing."

"No, no." She shook her head, her hands shaking as she fumbled with the seatbelt. "He said engine trouble. Right? That's what I heard?"

I could see she was about ready to look for a parachute and jump. It was my job to calm her down.

I leaned closer, trying to catch the rest of the announcement, but the pilot's voice was drowned out by the anxious chatter filling the cabin. My own stomach tightened with unease, but I forced myself to stay calm. Panic wouldn't help anyone right now.

"Hey," I said, reaching over to gently touch her arm. "It's going to be okay. The pilot said it's just a precaution. They're trained for this kind of thing."

"I don't think you can train to fall out of the sky in a giant metal tube," she hissed.

"They train for exactly that quite a bit. But it's just a minor issue. These planes are built with multiple engines for a reason. It's only as a precautionary measure that we're landing."

"But we're in the middle of the ocean." She glanced toward the window, where darkness cloaked the world outside.

I squeezed her hand, offering a reassuring smile, "Yes, but we're closer to Portugal than you think. It's no different from any other landing."

She didn't seem convinced, her eyes darting around nervously. The calm, cheerful woman who had captivated me just moments ago had disappeared, replaced by this shell of worry and fear. I didn't want to see her afraid.

"Listen to me," I said firmly, trying to draw her attention back to me. "We are going to be okay. We are closer to land than you think, and the pilots have everything under control. Breathe, Marigold."

She nodded, but I could tell she was still on edge. "I need to be in Mallorca tonight," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have to be there by six. This is going to mess everything up."

I glanced at my watch. It was already two p.m. in Mallorca. Even without the delay, it would have been cutting it close. Now, with the unscheduled stop in Lisbon, it was practically impossible.

She wasn't going to make it.

"I get it," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I have a deadline too. But there's nothing we can do right now. Once we land, I'll see what I can do to get us on the next available flight."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and guilt. "Thank you," she said softly. "I feel bad that you keep having to come to my rescue."

"Don't worry about it," I said with a shrug. "We're in this together now. I'd like to get to Mallorca myself."

She managed a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. I could tell she was still rattled, but there wasn't much I could do to comfort her until we were back on solid ground. The seatbelt sign came on. The flight attendants were moving quicker than they had fifteen minutes ago, moving up and down the aisles as they prepared for landing.

There was a bit of turbulence. Marigold gasped, her hand gripping the armrest. I reached over and placed my hand over hers. I gave her a reassuring squeeze, trying to show her that I was just as calm as I had been before the announcement.

The descent was a rocky one. It felt as if the plane was being shaken by an invisible hand, rattling us all within its grasp. That alone was enough to put anyone on edge, let alone someone like Marigold who now seemed to have a genuine fear of flying.

As we descended further, Lisbon came into view through the porthole. The tension in the cabin was palpable. Even the flight attendant, sitting in the jump seat, looked just a little nervous. That didn't exactly instill confidence.

The plane touched down and sped down the runway at a pace that seemed too fast. The roar of the engines and the grinding vibrations beneath our feet filled the cabin with an eerie foreboding.

"Brace!" came the call from the flight attendants and they demonstrated the safety posture. I took a quick glance at Marigold, only to find her already adopting the brace position, her eyes shut tight, a whisper of a prayer passing her lips.

Every soul on board held its breath when the plane thudded harder onto the tarmac. The force propelled us forward in our seats, restrained only by our seatbelts. Marigold gasped at the sudden jerk. Thankfully, it was over just as quickly as it started.

The plane came to a stop.

No one moved for several seconds. I think we were all grateful to be alive and in one piece. I imagined several people were having a conversation with whatever deity they prayed to.

"All good," I said to Marigold.

She exhaled. "All good."

Everyone was eager to disembark. As we gathered our belongings, the reality of our situation began to sink in. The airline staff informed us that there wouldn't be another flight to Mallorca until the following morning.

Marigold looked devastated, her earlier panic giving way to frustration. "I can't believe this," she muttered, more to herself than to me. "What am I going to do now?"

We made our way down the ramp and into the airport. I glanced around the crowded terminal, my instincts kicking in. The idea of leaving her alone in a foreign country, especially when she didn't have any accommodations arranged, didn't sit well with me. I couldn't just abandon the poor woman. I had means. This little hiccup wasn't going to ruin my life, but by the way she was acting, I could see it was a huge problem for her.

"Come on," I said, nudging her gently. "Let's get our luggage. I'll take you to dinner, and we can figure out our next move after that."

She hesitated for a moment, clearly conflicted. "I just need to make a call first," she said, pulling out her phone.

"Take your time," I replied, giving her some space.

While she stepped away to make her call, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of responsibility for her. We were practically strangers, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to stick around, at least until I was sure she was okay.