Milan stepped inside first, his cool gaze sweeping over the cabin before landing squarely on Jade. Enzo was right behind him, smirking faintly as he took in the champagne and the prepared space. Thiago paused just inside the door, pushing his sunglasses down his nose to give her an appraising look.
“Well,” Milan said smoothly, his voice calm yet commanding. “You’re early, and the cabin looks immaculate.”
“Impressive,” Enzo added, his tone teasing. “Maybe you really can keep up with us.”
Jade swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. “I—I just wanted everything to be perfect.”
Thiago grinned, tilting his head. “Careful, Jade. You’re setting the bar pretty high for yourself.”
The three men exchanged knowing glances as they moved deeper into the cabin, leaving Jade standing there, clutching her hands nervously.
Here we go.
Jade took a deep breath, steadying herself as the three men made their way further into the cabin. They looked effortlessly sharp, as though they’d just stepped off the cover of a high-end magazine. Each man radiated his own kind of intimidating charisma that made her feel both out of place and strangely drawn in.
Milan, with his dark navy suit pressed to perfection, exuded cool authority. His piercing blue eyes flicked around the cabin approvingly before landing back on Jade, his lips twitching in what could almost be considered a smile.
Enzo followed behind him, looking a little more relaxed. He wore a crisp black button-down, the sleeves rolled just enough to show hints of the tattoos curling along his forearms. He moved with a lazy confidence, his dark gaze scanning the space before stopping on her, his smirk widening.
Thiago, the last to enter, brought an edge of roguish charm with him. His dark hair was tied back neatly, his sunglasses now perched casually in the pocket of his fitted gray blazer. He gave her a quick once-over, his lips curling into an easy, mischievous grin.
They all look so good, Jade thought, biting the inside of her cheek to keep her face neutral. She cleared her throat, clasping her hands in front of her.
“Good morning, sirs,” she said, forcing her voice to stay steady and professional. “Welcome aboard.”
“Morning, Jade,” Milan replied smoothly, his gaze lingering on her for just a second longer than necessary. “Everything looks well prepared.”
“Very polished,” Enzo added, moving past her to take a seat. “Nice touch with the champagne.”
“Glad to see you didn’t oversleep,” Thiago teased with a grin, dropping into a seat near the window.
Jade blushed at the comment, but she quickly brushed it off. “I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for your trip.”
“It is,” Milan said firmly, nodding as he took his seat across from Enzo. He gestured toward the champagne tray. “Pour us a glass, will you?”
“Of course,” Jade replied quickly, grateful for something to do to distract herself from the weight of their gazes.
She carefully picked up the tray with the champagne flutes and moved gracefully between them, handing each man a glass in turn. She could feel Enzo’s eyes on her as she leaned forward slightly to place his flute on the mahogany table in front of him.
“Thanks, Jade,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth.
“Anytime,” she replied, trying not to meet his gaze directly as her cheeks warmed.
Once the champagne was distributed, Jade moved to her designated spot near the galley, stealing a quick glance at the three men as they settled in. Milan had already opened a folder, skimming through some paperwork with a focused expression. Enzo reclined in his seat, swirling his champagne lazily as he watched the world outside the window. Thiago leaned back, legs stretched out in front of him, already looking like he was prepared to nap.
Captain Harris’s voice crackled through the intercom. “Good morning, gentlemen. We’re cleared for takeoff. Please remain seated as we get underway. We should have clear skies all the way to Paris.”
Jade’s pulse picked up at the word Paris. She hadn’t even allowed herself to process it earlier. I’m on a jet to Paris with three powerful men who could probably buy half the city if they wanted to.
The sound of the engines roaring to life snapped her out of her thoughts. She took a steadying breath as the jet began to move, gliding smoothly down the runway. Through the small windows, she could see the tarmac slipping away, the world outside shrinking as the plane picked up speed.
She gripped the edge of the galley counter for balance, resisting the urge to look nervous. This wasn’t her first time flying, but there was something about being on a private jet—where everything felt so much closer and quieter—that made the experience feel surreal.
From his seat, Thiago cracked one eye open, noticing her grip. “You’re not scared of flying, are you?”
Jade turned to face him, quickly shaking her head. “Not at all. Just… not used to private planes.”
Enzo chuckled, tipping his glass in her direction. “You’ll get used to it. Stick around long enough, and you’ll start rolling your eyes at commercial flights like the rest of us.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jade replied, forcing a small smile as the plane lifted off the ground, soaring smoothly into the sky.
A few moments later, when they’d reached cruising altitude, Captain Harris’s voice returned over the intercom. “We’re at 35,000 feet. You’re free to move about the cabin now. We’ll arrive in Paris in approximately six hours. Enjoy your flight.”
Milan looked up from his papers, his sharp gaze landing on Jade. “Jade.”
She straightened instinctively, her hands brushing down the front of her uniform. “Yes, sir?”
“Bring me a coffee when you have a moment,” he said, his tone polite but firm.
“Right away,” she replied, moving swiftly toward the galley.
As she prepared Milan’s coffee, she glanced toward the cabin, catching glimpses of the men in their seats. Enzo had already leaned his head back, closing his eyes in a way that looked both relaxed and calculating, like he could be asleep but was also listening to everything. Thiago was tapping something into his phone, his expression faintly amused as he sipped his champagne. Milan was back to his papers, perfectly composed and focused as always.
Jade took a deep breath, steadying herself. You’ve got this, she thought. She poured the coffee into a delicate porcelain cup, setting it carefully onto a saucer. Balancing it perfectly, she walked back toward Milan.
“Your coffee,” she said quietly, placing it on the table beside him.
He glanced up briefly, offering her a small nod. “Thank you.”
As she turned to head back, she caught Thiago watching her with an unreadable look, though the corners of his lips twitched slightly, as if he was holding back a comment.
“Nice job, Jade,” Enzo said suddenly, his voice breaking the brief silence. “You’re already fitting in.”
Jade blinked, startled. “Thank you.”
“You’ll see,” Enzo continued, his grin turning sharper. “This is just the beginning.”
Jade nodded, her heart racing. She stepped back into the galley, exhaling shakily.
Six hours to Paris, she thought. What did I just sign up for?