Jayden's hand moved instantly-quick and precise, closing around Michael's forearm under the table. His fingers tightened until his knuckles blazed white, a silent warning that brooked no argument.

Michael froze mid-sentence, his smile faltering as he felt the pressure of his friend's grip. He'd pushed too far-he could tell by the way Jayden's jaw was set, by the sharp look in his eyes that he only reserved for serious situations.

Flashback - Jayden's Office

The afternoon light cast long shadows across Jayden's office, where stacks of flight reports and personnel files were neatly organized on his desk. Michael had collapsed onto the leather sofa, kicking his feet up on the coffee table despite the "no feet on furniture" plaque Jayden kept there.

"Wait-" Michael leaned forward, his eyes wide with sudden realization. "So Jane doesn't know you're Aurelia's heir? Or that you're ridiculously rich-like, 'own half the airport' rich?"

Jayden exhaled slowly, spinning his chair to face the window overlooking the tarmac. "I forgot to mention it," he said, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. "When we got married ... there hasn't been a right moment to sit down and explain everything."

Michael stared at him for a long moment-then slapped his knee dramatically, making Jayden flinch slightly.

"Disastrous," he declared, standing up and pacing the room. "Absolute disaster. If this leaks to the press? It'll look like a high-profile marriage scam. The whole 'mysterious heir marries unknown captain' story-people will dig into every detail of your relationship. They'll say she trapped you, that you used her for PR... and Jane doesn't deserve that kind of attention."

Jayden shot him a sharp look, his eyes darkening with frustration. "I know that. That's why I haven't said anything."

Michael immediately backed off with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Forget that part. But you have to be careful-

He leaned in again, lowering his voice to a serious whisper.

"For now, keep it hidden. Trust me on this. You need a private moment-just the two of you. Somewhere quiet where you can explain everything properly. Don't let her find out in public. That would be a disaster-for both of you."

Jayden pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a familiar headache building behind his eyes. "I can't hide it forever, Michael. She deserves to know who she's married to."

"You don't have to," Michael replied, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Just... not here. Not like this."

Jayden hesitated-Then he nodded slowly.

"Alright."

Back at La Mer

Michael suddenly burst into laughter-loud and genuine, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the room. He threw his hands up in the air, his face splitting into a wide grin.

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" he said loudly, his voice carrying across the dining room. "Even if the Chief Pilot isn't here to join us-his wallet definitely is! Tonight's feast is on the company, so eat as much as you want!"

Laughter rippled through the room like a wave, the earlier tension dissolving instantly as pilots relaxed back into their seats. Plates clattered, glasses clinked, and conversations picked up again with renewed energy.

Reuben leaned back in his chair, exhaling in visible relief as he reached for his wine glass.

Jenny lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around her glass until her knuckles turned white.

"Alright!" Michael clapped once, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Everyone dig in! The chef says the lobster bisque is to die for-and I've already tested it, so you know it's good!"

"Yay!" several captains cheered, reaching eagerly for serving dishes. Marco, the burly pilot who'd mentioned being a champion eater, immediately piled his plate high with grilled salmon and roasted vegetables.

"I won't hold back," he said eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement. "Before I became a captain, I was a champion eater in college-won the state pizza-eating contest three years in a row!"

"Take it slow," Sophia teased, passing him a bowl of soup. "Last time you ate too fast, you got sick on a cross-country flight."

"Forget that," a third captain laughed, pouring himself a glass of white wine. "Tonight we enjoy! Who knows when we'll get a feast like this again?"

The room came alive again-warm, bustling, filled with the kind of camaraderie that only comes from shared experiences and mutual respect. Pilots who'd once been strangers now talked like old friends, passing dishes, sharing stories, and making plans for future flights.

Michael turned slightly-his eyes scanning the room until they found Jayden standing by the door, his expression calm but focused.

Caught Jayden's eye.

Jayden gave a small nod-a quick, almost imperceptible gesture. A quiet understanding passed between them: Thank you.

They moved together through the crowded room, Michael chatting casually with pilots as they passed while Jayden kept his eyes forward, his attention focused on Jane sitting at the far end of the table. She was watching the crowd with a soft smile, her hands folded in her lap as she listened to another captain tell a story about a particularly memorable flight.

They took the empty seats beside her-Michael sliding into the chair on her left, Jayden taking the seat on her right. The table was crowded, but there was something comfortable about the three of them sitting together-like pieces of a puzzle that had finally fallen into place.

Michael immediately launched into a story about a flight he'd taken last month to Alaska, gesturing wildly with his hands as he described the Northern Lights he'd seen from the cockpit. Jane laughed, her eyes lighting up as she asked questions about the route and the aircraft he'd been flying.

Jayden sat quietly beside her, his hand resting lightly on the back of her chair as he listened. He watched her face-how her eyes crinkled at the corners when she laughed, how she leaned forward slightly when she was interested in something, how she unconsciously played with the edge of her napkin when she was thinking.

He'd never really taken the time to just look at her like this-really look at her. She was beautiful, yes-but more than that, she had a strength and warmth that drew people to her. He'd known it from the moment they'd met, but now it felt more real than ever.

Jane leaned slightly toward him, lowering her voice so only he could hear over the din of conversation.

"That scared me," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear. "When Michael was about to say who you were-I thought for a second you were the Chief Pilot."

Jayden widened his eyes in mock surprise, his lips twitching with amusement. "Oh? And is that such a terrible thing?"

"You don't like him?" he asked, his voice low and gentle, his thumb brushing lightly against the back of her chair in a small, comforting gesture.

"Not exactly," she said, shaking her head slightly. "I don't even know him-he's always been this mysterious figure at the top of the company. Everyone talks about him, but no one's ever met him. I just..."

She paused, her gaze drifting to the table as a waiter placed a large platter of grilled lobster in the center.

"Let's just eat," she said, her voice brightening as she looked at the food. "I'll tell you later why I was so startled. I've been craving seafood all week."

Her attention shifted immediately to the table, her eyes lighting up as she reached for a serving spoon.

"Seafood first," she said, pointing excitedly at the lobster platter. "That comes before everything else. I've been dreaming about this since lunch."

Jayden watched her for a moment-her face animated, her hands moving with excitement as she piled lobster onto her plate. A faint smile formed on his lips-the kind of soft, genuine expression he rarely showed to anyone but her.

Across the table-

Jenny watched too. Her grip tightened around her glass until her knuckles were white, her jaw set in a hard line. Jealousy flickered in her eyes-raw and unfiltered-as she saw the way Jayden looked at Jane, the way he leaned slightly closer when she spoke, the small, intimate gestures that spoke of familiarity and affection.

Then-

She spoke. Her voice was clear and sharp, cutting through the chatter like a knife.

"Jane," she said, her eyes fixed on the other woman.

The table quieted slightly, pilots pausing mid-conversation as they turned to look at her.

"It's only been a few days since you broke up with Reuben..."

A pause. She let the implication hang in the air, her eyes sliding slowly toward Jayden-taking in his crisp shirt, his expensive watch, the way he sat so close to Jane.

"...And you've already found a new boyfriend?"

The question landed with a thud. Several captains shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Jane's smile faded slightly, her hand pausing mid-air as she reached for her wine glass. She looked up at Jenny, her expression calm but her eyes darkening with irritation.

Before Jenny's words could settle like dust over the table, another captain cut in smoothly-Lena, the seasoned pilot who'd spoken up for Jane earlier. She waved a dismissive hand toward Jenny, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she nodded toward Jayden.

"Ignore her, handsome," she said, her voice carrying clearly across the quieting room. "She's just jealous of Jane's success. Some people can't handle seeing others work hard and get what they deserve."

A few quiet chuckles followed, and several captains nodded in agreement. Even Marco, the burly champion eater, grunted his approval as he piled more lobster onto his plate.

Jenny shifted in her seat, her grip tightening around her glass until her knuckles blazed white. She opened her mouth to retort-but the words died on her lips as a tall blonde captain leaned forward, resting her chin lightly on her hand, her smile playful and warm.

"Hey, handsome," she said to Jayden, her voice bright and friendly. "Are you single? If not... open to a new girlfriend? I'm great with long-distance relationships-and I make a mean breakfast."

Laughter rippled across the table, breaking the tension once more. Pilots leaned back in their seats, grinning as they waited for Jayden's response.

But Jayden didn't smile. His expression remained calm, his gaze steady as he looked at the blonde captain-then across the table, where Jenny was watching him with narrowed eyes.

"Sorry," he said calmly, his voice carrying clearly over the noise. "I'm married."

The reaction was immediate.

"What?!"

"You're married?"

"Who's the lucky one?"

"Is she from Aurelia?"

Voices overlapped, curiosity rising as pilots leaned forward, their eyes darting between Jayden and the other guests, trying to guess who his wife could be.

Jayden gave a small nod, his hand moving slightly on the back of Jane's chair. "You'd have to ask my wife," he said, his tone deliberate.

His eyes flicked-briefly but unmistakably-

To Jane.

His hand, resting behind her chair, tightened slightly on the fabric of her dress. A small, almost imperceptible gesture-but Jane felt it, her breath catching for just a second before she subtly tugged at his sleeve. A silent warning: Not now.

He didn't move. His gaze remained steady, holding hers for just a moment before he looked away.

Across the table, Jenny's expression darkened like a storm cloud. She'd been so focused on painting Jane as a homewrecker that she hadn't considered this possibility-and now, her carefully constructed accusation had backfired completely.

She leaned forward again, her voice sharp and cutting.

"How shameless," she said, her eyes fixed on Jane. "Getting cozy with a married man. Is that what you've come to after Reuben dumped you? Chasing after taken men because no one else will have you?"

The room quieted instantly. The laughter died, replaced by an uncomfortable silence that stretched across the table like ice. Several captains shifted in their seats, their expressions turning serious-even those who'd been laughing moments ago could tell this had gone too far.

Jane's gaze lifted slowly from her plate. Her expression hardened, the warmth that had been in her eyes moments ago replaced by something cold and steady.

"Do you know why you'll never become a captain?" she asked calmly, her voice clear and even despite the tension in the room.

Jenny scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Because people like you get special treatment?"

"Because you lack basic respect," Jane continued, her voice steady as she leaned forward slightly. "For your colleagues. For your profession. For the rules that keep us all safe in the air. You spend more time spreading rumors and undermining others than you do practicing your skills or learning from those who know more than you."

"Respect?" Jenny laughed bitterly, slamming her glass down on the table. "Someone who slept her way up shouldn't lecture me about respect. Everyone knows the Chief Pilot favors you-who else would let someone become captain so fast? You probably spread your legs for him just like you're doing with this married man here."

The words landed-

Heavy.

Ugly.

Hanging in the air like poison.

Before anyone could react-

A sharp sound cut through the room.

Smack.

Reuben's hand had already fallen, striking Jenny across the cheek with enough force to make her head snap to the side.

"You're still not done humiliating yourself?" Reuben snapped, his face flushed bright red with anger and embarrassment. He'd sat silent through her accusations, but this final insult had pushed him too far.

Jenny froze, her hand flying to her cheek as she stared at him, stunned. A red mark was already forming on her pale skin.

"Reuben-" she grabbed his arm, her voice shaking, "you're hitting me in front of her? In front of all these people?"

He yanked his arm away, his jaw tight with fury. "Shut up! Haven't you ruined enough already? I told you to stop spreading lies about Jane-she never did anything to you! And now you're accusing her of sleeping with the Chief Pilot? Do you have any idea how serious that is?"

Silence.

Thick.

Uncomfortable.

No one moved, no one spoke-everyone was staring at Reuben and Jenny, shocked by the sudden outburst. Even the waitstaff had paused in their movements, watching from the doorway.

At the far end of the table, Jayden's gaze shifted to Michael. A brief look passed between them-calm, deliberate, a signal that didn't need words.

Michael understood immediately. He stood up slowly, clearing his throat to draw attention away from the confrontation.

"Apologies for the disruption," he began, his voice carrying clearly across the quiet room. "I just got off a call with the Chief Pilot."

The room stilled. Every eye turned to him-even Jenny, who'd been staring at Reuben with tears in her eyes, looked up sharply.

"He heard everything," Michael continued, his expression serious as he looked directly at Jenny. "The rumors. The disruption of tonight's celebration. The misconduct and false accusations against a fellow pilot."

A beat. He let the weight of his words sink in.

"You're grounded. Effective immediately. Your pilot's license has been temporarily suspended, pending a full investigation by Aurelia's ethics board and the FAA. You'll also be required to attend mandatory counseling on professional conduct."

Jenny's face drained of color. She sank back into her chair, her hand still pressed to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. She'd expected to get away with her accusations-maybe even gain some sympathy. She'd never imagined the consequences would be this severe.

"...This should've happened long ago," a captain muttered under her breath, and several others nodded in agreement.

Reuben didn't stay to see the aftermath. He turned sharply and walked out of the room, his phone already in his hand as he dialed someone-probably HR, to start the paperwork for Jenny's suspension.

Jenny remained-

Silent.

Defeated.

Sitting alone at the table as pilots slowly began to return to their conversations, though the mood was now somber and quiet.

Jayden stood up slowly, his chair scraping softly against the floor. He turned to Jane, his expression softening as he looked at her-at the tension still in her shoulders, at the way her hands were clenched in her lap.

"Let's go home," he said, his voice gentle.

Without waiting for a response, he reached across the table and took her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers-warm, strong, reassuring-and he pulled her gently to her feet.

Jane didn't resist. She let him lead her away from the table, her gaze moving from Jenny's defeated form to Jayden's steady back as he guided her toward the door. The warmth of his hand in hers was a small comfort against the cold weight of what had just happened.

Together, they walked out of the room-Jayden leading the way, his hand firmly in hers, while pilots watched them go with a mix of curiosity and respect.

Behind them-

Michael watched them leave, then looked back at the quieting table with a grimace. He shook his head dramatically, muttering to himself as he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair.

"My God," he muttered, heading for the door. "I'd rather be under a moving car than stay in this room for one more minute. And to think I thought this would be a nice, relaxing dinner..."

He paused at the door, looking back at Jenny one last time before shaking his head and walking out.

The feast was over.

The apartment door clicked shut behind them with a soft, final sound that sealed out the noise of the city. The quiet that followed felt... different. Not the usual comfortable silence of their shared space, but something heavier-charged with unspoken words and the lingering tension from the restaurant.

Jane gently slipped her hand out of Jayden's grasp, her fingers lingering for just a moment before falling to her sides. The warmth of his touch stayed with her, a faint heat against her skin.

"I'm heading to my room," she said, her tone light but carrying a distance that made Jayden's chest tighten slightly. "It's been a long night. Good night."

"Good night," Jayden replied, his voice quiet as he watched her turn toward the hallway that led to their separate bedrooms. They'd always kept their own spaces-

She had barely taken a step when-

"Wait."

Jane paused and turned slightly, her hand already on the hallway light switch. The warm glow from the living room lamp cast soft shadows across her face, highlighting the tired lines around her eyes.

"You still haven't told me," Jayden continued, moving closer to her, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Why you dislike the Chief Pilot."

Jane exhaled slowly, her shoulders sagging just a little as she leaned against the wall. "Reuben told me he abandoned his fiancée for five years," she said plainly, her voice carrying none of the anger she'd shown earlier. "Left her without a word, disappeared to pursue his career. I don't like irresponsible people. That's all there is to it."

Jayden's gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable. He knew the story she was referring to-knew it better than anyone, because he was the one at the center of it. But he couldn't tell her that. Not yet.

"Have you ever considered," he asked quietly, his voice gentle, "that things might not be exactly as you heard? That there might be more to the story than what people say?"

Jane let out a small laugh-light, but without much humor. "Maybe," she said, unconcerned as she pushed off the wall and started walking again. "But why are you so invested in other people's business? He's just some guy at the top of the company I'll probably never meet."

She tilted her head slightly, looking back at him with a faint smile.

"We should focus on our own lives. We have enough to deal with as it is."

Jayden hesitated, his mouth opening to say more-then closing again. What could he tell her? That he was the man she was talking about?

"But-"

"Actually," Jane cut in, folding her arms lightly across her chest as she stopped in the hallway, "I've been so busy with work... with the promotion and everything... I never asked what you do. For a living, I mean."

The question hung in the air, simple but loaded with meaning.

Jayden stiffened slightly, his jaw tightening as he looked away for a moment. Memories flashed through his mind-images of cockpits, of controls he'd spent years mastering, of the day the medical board had told him he could no longer fly.

"Captain Blackwood... your hand injury is no longer physical. It's psychological. The tremors you're experiencing under stress are a sign of deeper trauma. We recommend grounding you indefinitely. Consider therapy-you need to address what happened before you'll be fit to fly again."

His fingers unconsciously flexed at his side, remembering the way his hand had shaken during his last flight.

"Not convenient to say?" Jane asked, bringing him back to the present. Her voice was gentle, not accusatory-just curious.

Jayden looked back at her, his expression calm despite the turmoil inside him. "...I'm currently unemployed," he said, the words feeling heavier than they should have.

A pause. He watched her face, waiting for judgment-but it never came.

"But I used to be in the same field as you," he continued, his voice steady. "You transport people... I transported cargo."

Jane blinked, processing his words. So... a courier? she thought, though she kept the thought to herself. She'd always assumed he worked in some kind of logistics, but she'd never asked for details.

Then she nodded, her expression softening with understanding. "That's fine," she said simply, stepping closer to him and lightly patting his shoulder. The touch was warm, reassuring.

"I was just promoted," she added, a small smile touching her lips. "My salary has doubled-I can support both of us for now."

Jayden looked at her, surprised. He'd expected her to be disappointed, or at least concerned-but her face showed nothing but kindness.

"Take your time finding something," she added, her voice warm. "No pressure. You should do something you actually enjoy-something that makes you happy, not just something that pays the bills."

She turned to leave again, her hand already on her bedroom door handle.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go get some sleep-I have an early flight tomorrow-"

"Wait."

This time, Jayden reached out before she could move away-his fingers closing gently around her wrist. His touch was light, not restraining, but firm enough to make her pause.

Jane turned back, her eyes wide with slight surprise as she looked at him.

Jayden reached into his coat pocket, his hand closing around the small velvet box he'd carried with him all night. He pulled it out, flipping open the lid to reveal what was inside.

A delicate necklace caught the light-silver chain with a small pendant shaped like a compass rose, inlaid with tiny blue sapphires that sparkled like stars.

He stepped closer, his movements slow and intentional as he lifted the necklace from the box.

Carefully-

He placed it around her neck, his fingers brushing lightly against her skin as he fastened the clasp at the back. The metal was cool against her neck, then quickly warmed with her body heat.

"This is a belated wedding gift," he said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper as he stepped back to look at her. "I heard husbands are supposed to give gifts... regularly. I wanted to get you something meaningful."

Jane's eyes widened slightly, her hand rising instinctively to touch the pendant. It was lighter than she'd expected, but it felt solid-real.

"...Thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion she wasn't quite ready to name. "It's beautiful. I love it."

Jayden smiled-a small, genuine smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. He reached up, his hand hesitating for just a moment before brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead, tucking it gently behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her temple for a second, warm and gentle.

"Good night," he said, his voice soft.

"...Good night," she replied, her gaze locked with his for a long moment before she finally turned and opened her bedroom door.

She walked into her room, closing the door softly behind her.

Jane sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers still resting on the necklace. The pendant was warm now, matching the temperature of her skin.

Her thoughts drifted as she stared at her reflection in the small mirror on her dresser, watching the way the sapphires caught the light from her bedside lamp.

He's trying...

Trying to act like a husband. Trying to be someone she could rely on. Trying to make their marriage feel like more than just a piece of paper and a practical arrangement.

A small smile formed on her lips as she traced the compass rose with her finger. He'd said it was meaningful-and she understood why...The compass felt like a promise-of finding their way, of staying on course.

Then... shouldn't I try too?

The thought lingered-warm and unfamiliar, like sunshine breaking through clouds after a long rain. She'd spent so long focusing on her career, on proving herself as a pilot, that she'd never really considered what it meant to be married. To be part of a partnership.

And for the first time since their marriage-

It didn't feel like an arrangement anymore.

It felt like something real.