"For the last time, I'm asking you. Tell me where are you taking me?" Lily demanded, her voice sharp with frustration.
Chris, lounging in his plush leather seat, barely glanced up from his phone. "It's a surprise, Lily. Relax and enjoy the ride."
Lily huffed, turning to stare out the window of Chris's private jet. The clouds drifted by, serene and oblivious to her anger. The plane's interior was all sleek luxury – polished wood, cream leather, and gleaming chrome. But even the opulence couldn't soothe her irritation—because he was taking her somewhere without even telling her about it.
'This son of a gun,' she cursed silently, shooting daggers at Chris with her eyes.
But beneath her annoyance, a plan was forming. She'd overheard him on a call earlier – this was some kind of business trip. 'Fine,' she thought, a smirk playing on her lips. 'I'll use this chance to gather intel on his business. Two can play this game, Mr. Eaton.'
Despite her resolve, the gentle hum of the engines and the comfortable seat soon lulled Lily into drowsiness. As her eyes drifted shut, she couldn't help but appreciate how ridiculously comfy everything was. Damn! That version of the private jet was only available for ultra-billionaires—even her father, despite being a billionaire, didn't have that model.
In her light sleep, Lily's ears picked up snippets of another phone conversation. Chris's voice, low and controlled, drifted through her semi-conscious state.
"Is it so... The weather in Stockholm is good, so we won't have a problem."
Lily's eyes flew open, shock jolting her awake. Sweden? They were going to Sweden?! It would be her second time since childhood. Memories of missing the northern lights flooded back, along with a spark of excitement at the possibility of seeing them this time.
'No,' she scolded herself. 'Focus, Lily. Your goal isn't to enjoy yourself. It's to gather intel.'
But before she could dwell on her mission, the plane shuddered violently. Lily's heart leaped into her throat as she was jolted from her seat, the comfy cushions suddenly feeling like a trap. Chris was on his feet in an instant, striding purposefully towards the cockpit.
Another bout of turbulence rocked the plane, and fear gripped Lily's chest. The luxurious cabin now felt claustrophobic, with danger lurking in every shadow. Without thinking, she unbuckled her seatbelt and scrambled after Chris, her earlier anger forgotten in the face of potential disaster.
As she reached the cockpit door, Lily could hear raised voices inside. She pressed her ear against the cool metal, straining to make out the words over the roar of the engines and her own pounding heart.
"...weather's deteriorating rapidly, sir," the pilot was saying, his voice tense. "We need to make an emergency landing. It's not safe to continue."
"Dammit, we don't have time for this!" Chris's voice, usually so controlled, had an edge of frustration. "Isn't there any way to push through?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Eaton, but it's too risky. We've got to find a safe spot to set down."
There was a moment of tense silence, broken only by another stomach-churning lurch of the plane. Lily gripped the wall, her knuckles white.
Finally, Chris spoke again, his voice tight but resigned. "Fine. Do what you have to do to keep us safe."
Lily stumbled back as the cockpit door swung open. Chris's eyes widened in surprise when he saw her, then narrowed with concern.
"Lily? You should be in your seat with your seatbelt on."
But Lily couldn't move. Fear had rooted her to the spot, her mind racing with terrifying possibilities. What the hell was happening? Were they going to crash? Die in some remote wilderness?
"Chris," she managed to choke out, hating how small and scared her voice sounded. "What's going on?"
Before he could answer, another violent shake of the plane sent them both stumbling. Chris's arm shot out, steadying her against his chest. For a moment, Lily forgot to breathe, acutely aware of his warmth, the rapid beat of his heart against her cheek.
"It's okay," he murmured, his voice rumbling through his chest. "We're just making an unscheduled stop. Everything's going to be fine."
But as the plane began its descent, engines roaring and metal creaking ominously around them, Lily couldn't quite bring herself to believe him. All her plans, her anger, her determination to uncover Chris's secrets – it all seemed so trivial now. At that moment, clinging to the man she was supposed to be outsmarting, all Lily wanted was to make it safely back to solid ground.
Chris carefully guided Lily back to her seat, his strong hands gentle as he strapped her in. Lily's heart raced, but not just from the turbulence anymore. Chris's face was mere inches from hers as he tightened her seatbelt, and she found herself inhaling his cologne – a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him. It was intoxicating, and for a moment, Lily forgot to be scared of the landing.
As the plane began its descent, Chris took her hand in his. His touch was warm, and reassuring, and despite herself, Lily clung to it. The landing was rough, the plane bouncing once, and twice on the runway before coming to a stop. Only then did Lily realize she'd been holding her breath.
"We're okay," Chris murmured, giving her hand a squeeze before releasing it. "Let's get out of here."
Lily and Chris got down from the plane to see a world of white. Snow blanketed the landscape as far as the eye could see, broken only by the dark smudge of distant trees. A biting wind whipped at Lily's hair, and she shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her.
"Where are we?" she asked, teeth chattering.
"Somewhere in northern Finland," Chris replied, scanning the horizon. "There's an inn about a mile down the road. We'll head there until the weather clears."
Lily frowned, glancing back at the plane. "Can't we just stay back on the plane? It's warm, at least."
Chris shook his head. "There's a maintenance issue they need to sort out. It's not safe to stay onboard. Come on, it's not far."
Grumbling, Lily followed Chris as they set off towards the inn. At first, she was furious – at Chris for dragging her on this mystery trip, at the weather for derailing their plans, at herself for getting into this situation in the first place.
But as they walked, the anger slowly melted away, replaced by awe at the breathtaking landscape around them.
The air was crisp and clean, filling her lungs with each breath. The snow crunched satisfyingly under her boots. In the distance, she could see the Northern Lights beginning to dance across the sky, ribbons of green and purple weaving through the stars. Despite the cold, Lily felt a warmth bloom in her chest. It was beautiful here, wild and untamed in a way she'd never experienced before.
By the time they reached the inn, Lily's cheeks were flushed with cold and exertion, but she felt more alive than she had in months. The inn was a cozy wooden structure, smoke curling invitingly from its chimney. Inside, a fire crackled in a stone hearth, and the smell of something delicious wafted from the kitchen.
Lily approached the front desk, ready to ask for two rooms, but Chris beat her to it.
"One room, please," he said smoothly, sliding his credit card across the counter.
Lily's head whipped around, her earlier contentment evaporating. "Excuse me? We need two rooms."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "There's no need to waste space, Lily. We're married, remember?"
The innkeeper, a plump, friendly-looking woman, beamed at them. "Oh, how lovely! We have a beautiful room with a view of the lake. Perfect for a romantic getaway!"
Lily opened her mouth to protest, but Chris was already accepting the key with a charming smile. As they climbed the stairs to their room, Lily's mind raced. Why was he insisting on sharing a room? What was he playing at?
The room, when they entered, was admittedly beautiful. A large bed dominated the space, covered in plush blankets. A window overlooked a frozen lake, the Northern Lights reflected in its icy surface. Under different circumstances, Lily might have been thrilled.
But now, all she could think about was Chris's motives. Was this why he'd brought her here? To get her alone, vulnerable, in a remote location? Her muscles tensed, ready to fight if necessary.
"Relax, Lily," Chris said, seemingly reading her thoughts. He dropped his bag by the door and moved to the window, his back to her. "I'm not going to try anything. This is just the most practical solution given our circumstances."
Lily wasn't convinced. "Of course, you are trying to take advantage of me," she yelled at him. "You could have just left me in that pink cage of a room, but you didn't… Why the hell did you bring me here?! Tell me the truth now—"
Chirs almost smiled looking at the cranky version of Lily, enjoying how cute she looked even in her angry state - like a child throwing a tantrum for a lollipop.