Lauren, as expected, right away started fussing with the flight attendant, demanding that the seating assignments be rearranged so that she could be closer to Rayleigh. Fortunately for Rayleigh, she managed to secure a window seat, and since the window seat in the business class is only a single seat in that row, Lauren's plan was effectively blocked.
Undeterred, Lauren continued to press the flight attendant, her demands growing increasingly violent as the staff member politely but firmly refused to accommodate her requests. The commotion was beginning to attract the attention of other passengers, and it was obvious that Lauren's persistent behavior was rapidly spinning out of control.
Finally, the pilot, aware of the commotion, stepped in, his voice serious and firm. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm going to have to ask you to stop harassing the flight attendants and other passengers," he said with authority. "If you continue to cause problems, I'll have no choice but to ban you from this flight."
Rayleigh, who had been ignoring Lauren's behavior, fixed her focus on the pilot. "It's okay," she said. "I don't know her anyway." Lauren was surprised and speechless, her previous superiority destroyed as the words hit her hard.
Rayleigh's cold response was in stark contrast to the passionate, loving woman the doctors had seen just seconds before in the waiting room. Her tone was blunt and harsh, with very little room for misinterpretation. "Just kick her out of the plane if she continues to raise a fuss," she told the pilot. "Don't delay any longer."
The pilot's expression loosened, and he gave a strong nod. "Certainly, ma'am," he replied, leaving Lauren to slink dejectedly to her allotted seat. After seeing that the problem had been obediently seated, the pilot turned and proceeded to the cockpit.
As the plane prepared for takeoff, the tension in the cabin was visible. Lauren, who had been totally rejected and publicly humiliated, sat in stony silence, her eyes gloomy. The other doctors, who had witnessed the entire interaction, exchanged glances with expressions of wonder and discomfort on their faces.
Lauren was not originally part of the team scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., for the conference. However, upon learning that Rayleigh would be attending, she insisted on joining the group. Likely in the hopes of finding a way to get closer to Rayleigh and that some time alone with Rayleigh will give her a chance to get close to her again. Not knowing that, the reason why Rayleigh is joining the gathering in DC is because her girlfriend is in DC.
She paid extra to be seated in business class; she knows how Rayleigh travels. She used to be her girlfriend before she cheated on her with Rayleigh's brother. One she thought was more fun and free turned out to be the biggest scumbag on earth.
As the drama on the plane stopped and Lauren sat quietly in her seat, the senior doctor from the Internal Medicine department who sat next to her leaned in and talked quietly to her. "Look, I'm just saying this to you; I'm not trying to convince you or anything," he said, his tone calculated but stern. Lauren turned to face him, her face full of anger and stress.
"But stop humiliating us," the senior doctor added. "I have no issue if you want to embarrass yourself, but not us. We have a reputation to keep, and the next time you do something like this, I'll make sure you're kicked out of this hospital, regardless of how talented you are."
"What-" Lauren opened her lips to interrupt, but the senior doctor raised his hand to silence her.
"Don't try me, Doctor Lauren," he said. "I can make you leave this hospital willingly. You don't know what I'm capable of."
The weight of his words lingered in the air, and Lauren could sense the threat. She knew better than to misjudge the senior doctor's power and influence, and she was aware that her actions could compromise her position in the hospital, especially when she doesn't have Rayleigh to back her up now.
-
Isla cast her glance across the crowded airport terminal, looking for a familiar face. "What are you looking for, babe?" Chantana, Isla's girlfriend and the pilot of their flight, asked with her gentle voice.
"I'm looking for Rose," Isla replied softly to her girlfriend.
Chantana turned and pointed towards the nearby restrooms. "I saw her going into the toilet over there," she continued.
Isla furrowed her brow. "Oh, she didn't tell me."
Mona, one of their colleagues, joined them. "She told me," Mona continued, eyes fixed on her phone. "She's not coming with us."
"Why?" Isla asked, her curiosity stirred.
Mona glanced up from her device. "She's going to meet her girlfriend here. Apparently, her girlfriend is flying from New York to Washington, DC, tonight. Talk about dedication, huh?" Mona explained before returning to her phone and asking, "Are we going to be on the same flight back to Bangkok?"
Chantana consulted her schedule; of course, she will have her girlfriend on board her flights. "No, Isla and I will be flying to Japan tomorrow. We won't be on the same flight back to Bangkok."
Mona's shoulders slumped slightly. "That's great. Just me and Rose, then. I am going to be alone in the city without her. She'll be occupied with her girlfriend."
Not long after, they saw Isabelle emerge from the restroom, her casual yet chic outfit highlighting her curves, making her look extra stunning, and her makeup artfully touched up. Isabelle gave them a kind smile. "Why are you guys here?" she asked.
"Waiting for you," Isla replied immediately.
Isabelle tilted her head, confused. "But I've already told Mona that I'm not going with you. "I'll be with my girlfriend."
Chantana stepped forward, telling Isabelle their plans. "We'll grab dinner and a drink, and then we'll head back to the hotel after."
She smiled further. "Ray's flight isn't here yet; still another 45 minutes," she said, her tone lighthearted. Isla never saw Rose act like this before. Even when she has had a girlfriend or boyfriend in the past, she doesn't want to wait for them in the airport and always asks her exes to go to the restaurant, bar, or wherever they're sitting to have a good time. "I'll be waiting for her and following you guys after."
Mona grabbed Isla and Chantana and pulled them to the restrooms. "Let's wait and make her pay," she remarked with a wicked smirk on her face. "You wait here; we'll go change."
" Isla turned her attention to Rose, who seemed to be complaining a little. "It's a girls' night!" Isla shouted out before heading into the restroom.
The rest of the crew had already left for the hotel prepared by the airline company. On occasion, they would frequently get together for a light supper or drinks, though some preferred to have a rest before the next flight.
-
Chantana had never clearly seen Rayleigh before. The last time she saw the doctor was on the plane, when the passengers began fighting and one was stabbed in the eye, but her memory was unclear. She knew Rayleigh was tall, but the specifics of her appearance had faded with time. However, Chantana had heard Rayleigh's name repeated numerous times, particularly by Mona, during their meals in Bangkok or when they shared the same flights.
As the flight announcement from New York echoed through the terminal, Isabelle checked her phone. Rayleigh had texted Isabelle a picture of her ticket, which was filled with the flight number. But Isabelle's mood soured when she found out that Lauren, Rayleigh's ex-girlfriend, was also on the same flight. "Urgh, the annoying ex is here," she mumbled under her breath.
Moments later, a tall, stunningly beautiful blonde woman who'd really stood up from the crowd emerged from the crowd, her glasses perched on her nose, and she pulled a small suitcase. She glanced around and looked into the surroundings, looking for someone.
Chantana's eyes widened as she saw the woman. "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed, a soft laugh leaving her lips. "She's stunning. The world seems to be moving in slow motion around her."
Isla nodded with a knowing look on her face. "Right? I told you Rose isn't typical Rose on this one."
Before they could even stand up, Isabelle was already running towards the blonde woman, her face lit up with pure joy. "Baby!" she cried, jumping into the woman's arms.
Rayleigh quickly grabbed Isabelle in a close embrace, a happy smile spreading across her face. "My Belle," she murmured, peppering Isabelle's cheek with tender kisses. "I missed you so much."
The other doctors saw the emotional reunion with true delight on their faces. All but Lauren, who looked helpless to believe what she was seeing. Even throughout their own relationship, Rayleigh had never been so openly passionate in public.
One of the younger doctors approached Isla, Chantana, and Mona. "Her friends?" he asked, his gaze moving between the three.
"Yeah, we're waiting to take them for drinks," Chantana said, her tone courteous.
"Can we join?" another young doctor asked, his gaze locked on Chantana.
Isla's pose shifted, and a tinge of possessiveness crept into her words. "Sure, but we aren't single. She's my girlfriend," she added, holding on to Chantana.
Mona, in the other hand, smiled broadly. "I'm single," she explained, her tone friendly.