CHAPTER SIX:

The interior of West’s private jet was immaculate, leaving Jane speechless but unsurprised. The plane’s cozy interior included throw pillows on the couch, a kitchenette and a spacious king sized bed. Jane was visibly awed as she walked into the plane, seeking 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 suspected might strain her facial muscles.

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

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

Soft music filled the jet, providing a calming atmosphere as Jane attempted to get comfortable, pushing 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 retrieve her request.

Jane let out a breathy sigh as her mind began to wander. Her stomach growled, and she instinctively clutched it, before settling into the plush couch releasing another sigh. Despite her hunger, the idea of eating felt unappealing as her restlessness and anxiety about the trip continued to grow.

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

She turned her head towards his direction and stared at him with narrowed eyes. Liam sat across from her, typing furiously on his phone, his deep frown appearing more pronounced.

Feeling a bit daring, Jane stood up and walked towards him, plopping down beside him on the couch, her body partially leaning against his. Liam’s fingers suddenly halted as 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 gazed down at her with curiosity, an uninvited 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, noticing her plump lips pursed 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 appeared unsettled, clearing 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 steer the conversation in a new direction.

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

“What are you talking about?” 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 breathy 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 swiftly regained his composure, his face falling back into a scowl. He picked up his phone and resumed typing, deliberately 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 slight irritation, she snuggled into their shared couch, rested her head 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 gaze at Jane.

Jane slept peacefully beside him, and Liam found himself drawn to her serene features. Her hair was styled in a messy bun, and her striking beautiful 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 towering over her, his face set in an annoyed 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 an expansive stretch of water, swaying palm trees,with a stunning clear blue sky above and the sweet scent of freshwater and tropical blooms filling her nostrils. The sound of seagulls crying overhead mixed the sounds of waves as a sweet sense of calm filled her. A gentle breeze caressed her, rustling her hair and clothes.

As her feet touched the ground, Jane let out a contented sigh, closing her eyes and inhaling the invigorating ocean air. A moment later, her peacefulness was interrupted by a familiar high pitched squeal, causing her eyes to snap open and her head to jerk sideways.

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 frustrated but detached glance.

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