“Wow,” I pawed at the window, the petite private jet shining pristine on the runway, as we made our slow approach.

  “She’s a beaut,” Stenley uttered in awe of his spotless white falcon, its stairs already lowered for entry, while two attendants lingered near. A young man held a silver saucer with a chilled and filled martini awaiting his owner's arrival, while a younger female attendant carried a tray of warmed hand towels for cleansing.

  The car came to a stop near the flying vessel and the doors were opened for us expeditiously.

  I stepped out like royalty, much different from the way I had initially entered the car. Several footmen retrieved our luggage and hustled them to the plane.

  “Might want to be careful with that,” Jack motioned to the big clunky bag of weaponry, that a few of the footmen struggled to lug between the two of them.

  “I’m sure some of its contents are...unkind,” Stenley voiced over Jack, as the two footmen raised their sweaty brows, trying to determine what that ominous statement meant.

  Jack and Stenley laughed heartily, as the two embraced formally. “It’s been too long, my friend,” Stenley said.

  “It has,” Jack answered with warmth. “I’m glad we’ve done something about it.”

  “Oh ho,” Stenley said, ushering us to follow him to the plane, “I’ve been waiting for the day!”

  He approached and delicately snatched his drink. “Thank you, Claude,” he grinned. “He’s only been here for a few weeks, and he’s worked wonders already!”

  “Kensington finally had enough?” Jack smirked.

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  “Up and left one day,” Stenley sadly affirmed. “Not even a word goodbye,” he scoffed. “We don’t speak that name in this house anymore.”

  Jack shook his head, stifling a laugh, as Stenley spotted it and chuckled himself, before removing a hot towel from the pretty young woman. “Thank you, Henrietta.”

  “Henri,” Jack smiled, before taking his own towel.

  “Jack,” She winked.

  “Ari,” I piped in abruptly, stepping in front of Jack, and ushering him up the steps.

  Henrietta shook her head, bemused, brushing away my brash tactics.

  Jack snickered quietly to himself all the way up the steps, while I marched up after him.

  We followed Stenley into the sleek cabin, passing by the locked cockpit and taking our luxurious tan leather seats on the opposite row from Stenley. I took a window seat next to Jack, as he allowed me to pass by him, brushing up against him and feeling his torrid warmth and maybe something more. I blushed as I sat down, trying to toss away thoughts of this overly friendly steward.

  “Drinks?” Stenley offered.

  “I’ll take a gin and tonic,” I said to the nodding Claude, as I slumped into my seat as I looked out the window to admire the view, while thinking about how soon we’d be in Geneva.

  “Very good,” Claude said. “And you?” Motioning to Jack.

  “Nothing.”

  “Come now, Jack,” Stenley said, “I insist!” He near spilled his own drink shuffling up out of his seat in protest. “We are here to celebrate life, love, and friendship. Share a drink with me!”

  “Seems you’ve shared quite a few with yourself already,” Jack joked.

  “Nonsense,” Stenley said, “ bring the champagne!”

  “No,” Jack offered up.

  “Very good sir,” Claude said and whisked himself away in retrieval.

  “This is too much,” Jack laughed, as I joined in with him, before I felt his hand fall on top of mine. It felt so comfortable, like home. As I looked up into his eyes and felt safe, for a moment.

  That safety was breached as Claude suddenly returned with our drinks, a glint in his eye as he handed me my drink and winked. I couldn’t believe he was flirting with me, in front of Jack! He couldn’t be...right?

  Claude followed by handing Jack a glass of champagne and placing down another for Stenley.

  “Excellent!”

  Stenley celebrated triumphantly. “A cheers to life, love, and friendship!”

  “Cheers,” Jack and I looked at each other and meekly clanked glasses before taking some large sips.

  It went down smooth...very smooth. “This is fantastic,” I uttered, before looking over at Claude, a wry smile crossing his face, before he turned to leave the area.

  The engines fired up in the background, while I replayed the moment in my mind.

  Stenley cheered loudly. “Enjoy the flight of your lives!”