I sat upright so quickly I nearly knocked over his water.
“Oh my God.”
He smiled.
“Good morning.”
“How long was I asleep?”
“About an hour and forty minutes.”
“You let me sleep on you for almost two hours?”
“You seemed like you needed it.”
“Your arm must be dead.”
“I stopped feeling my left hand somewhere over Pennsylvania.”
I covered my face.
“I am so sorry.”
He laughed quietly.
It was the first time I had heard him laugh.
“You helped me. Consider us even.”
Fiona had fallen asleep too, curled against the window.
I looked at Luca.
“You really didn’t move?”
“I was afraid you’d wake up.”
Something about that nearly undid me.
Not because it was romantic.
It wasn’t.
It was simply considerate.
I had become so used to being treated like my needs were an inconvenience that ordinary kindness felt almost dangerous.
A flight attendant approached our row as we began descending.
“Mr. Sterling?”
Luca looked up.
“Your security team confirmed they’re meeting you after landing.”
I turned my head.
Mr. Sterling.
The attendant continued speaking quietly, but I was no longer listening.
Sterling.
I knew that name.
Most people did.
Sterling Capital.
