Chapter 13

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I sit heavily in the airplane seat waiting patiently for take off. I have tried and failed to keep the overwhelmed expression off my face for the fifteen minutes that we've been on here. The completely over the top luxury of the private jet the studio sent for Daniel makes me uneasy. Looking round at the glamorous air stewardess who, as per usual, is fawning all over Daniel, I am well aware I must look ridiculously out of place. I'm almost scared to touch my surroundings in case I damage anything.

The air hostess flutters her eyelashes in Daniel's direction, her enhanced pout being used in full force. Daniel's eyes flit to her briefly before he returns his attention to his phone. I'm right fucking here, I want to say sarcastically. However, instead I beam at her with my biggest, fakest smile. She returns my smile a little awkwardly at being caught out. I then have to fight a giggle when she makes a sharp exit.

Once we are alone, Daniel squeezes his eyes closed. I watch as his fingers pinch the bridge of his nose. I wish I could make him feel better about all of this, but Chris instructed him to accept the generous hospitality of the studio and not to decline their offer to fly him from London to New York for the party to be thrown in his honour. Chris very bluntly reminded him that he would be looking for the studio to assist him in making his dream movie... if he's successful in purchasing the rights. Therefore, she told him to stop being a pain in the ass and get on the fucking plane.

Reaching across the unnecessarily large leather chair, that I feel like a child sat in, I pull Daniel's fingers away from his face. I intertwine my fingers with his, so I can hold his hand. He smiles at me briefly before the plane takes off smoothly.

Once we are in the air, Daniel seems to relax a little, knowing we have a few hours of peace. "Come here." He murmurs, pulling me onto his lap.

I curl up on his lap and rest my head on his chest. Closing my eyes, I smile slightly as I hear the steady rhythm of his dependable heart.

"Which dress did you go for in the end for the party?" Daniel asks curiously.

I lean up to look at him, remembering with a frown the way Daniel had spoken to Robin. "The one shoulder, black number."

"Did I see that one?" He looks genuinely perplexed.

"Yeah, you did. But I think you were mid argument with Chris about this plane." I sigh loudly.

"It's fucking ridiculous though, isn't it? I mean there are only two of us!" He mutters in frustration.

I nod in agreement when I look back to count the other twenty eight empty seats. "They did say they were sending their best plane for you. Anyway, you took me to Lapland on a private plane."

"I know I did, but that was a six seater charter plane to fly three hours, not an enormous fucking thirty seater to fly across the Atlantic!"

"Well, we're on it now... so just relax." I plead with him.

He lifts my chin so he can kiss me softly. "Sorry, babe." He kisses my nose, and then my forehead. "The stupid thing is, before you, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid at all this... now I'm like... what the hell?" He chuckles quietly.

"I'm so glad I'm such a positive influence on you, Mr Weston." I begin to slide off his lap, but he holds me firmly against him.

"You definitely are, Ms Cooper." Daniel speaks so softly against my temple, I'm almost unable to hear him.

"You OK?" I pull away slightly to study his features. He looks like the weight of the world is bearing down on him as his brow furrows deeply.

Daniel just shrugs, but then nods.

I decide to just ask the question that has been burning a hole in my head since we met with Robin yesterday. "Don't you trust Robin anymore?" I blurt out more directly than I intended.

"I don't trust anyone when it comes to you." Daniel responds simply, but the harshness of his expression doesn't alter.

"But... asking her to sign an NDA now, don't you think that's a bit unfair? She knew Georgia, so don't you think she would have gone the media by now if that was her intention?" I'm  so confused by Daniel's u-turn in how he sees Robin.

"I'm not taking any chances when it comes to you and my babies. From now on anyone not directly in our circle signs an NDA... or they are out. You don't want the world knowing about the twins yet, which I completely agree with. Our privacy and your safety is paramount." Daniel's tone is measured, but I can hear his frustration.

"I understand what you're saying, I really do! I get that Chris has made the driver in New York and the staff at the hotels we're going to be staying in sign NDA's. But, Robin?"

"Look... I'm done trusting people! She was happy to sign it when I explained that it was to make sure she didn't tell anyone about the babies. She'll get over it, and her name will yet again be plastered all over the media when you wear one of her dresses... again! It's a win win for her."

I remember her signing it without question, but the hurt in her eyes told a different story. "I just felt bad for her."

"Well, don't. Lizzie... look at me... I know she wouldn't say anything, but it'll help me sleep better knowing we're not going to be caught out by someone we thought was trustworthy."

"OK." I whisper with a sharp nod. If it gives Daniel peace of mind, then who am I to argue?

"How you feeling about going to this facade of a party?" Daniel glances out of the window.

"I still think it's lovely of them to do this for you. I know it's all media attention for the studio and there will be lots of other actors and actresses there, but I still think it shows how highly they think of you." I'm trying desperately to stay positive.

"How much money I make them, you mean!" He laughs darkly. "Have you ever been in a room, surrounded by people... but, felt completely alone?"

Suddenly I'm transported back to a time when I was married to Ed. We would attend corporate parties together, and even though there were often hundreds of other people, I always felt entirely alone. My evenings would be spent following Ed around as the dutiful wife and making polite small talk, but never really paying attention. My thoughts were always preoccupied with whether Ed was happy with me. I shudder uncontrollably when I remember the way I would study his handsome features to see whether there was any flicker of anger beneath his perfect mask. If I noticed even a second of his fury, I would be painfully aware of what was going to happen once we were home.

Daniel must feel me shudder against him, and mistakes the motion for me being cold. He rubs the tops of my arms in an attempt to warm me up. The comforting movement draws me from my memories, and I see that Daniel is staring at me. His azure blue eyes feel as though they can see my thoughts. I decide I don't want to bring Ed into this. "Yeah, I have." I speak much more calmly than I feel.

"I'm dreading tomorrow. People talk at you, not to you! Everyone who will be there has an agenda. Everyone! Whether it be to further their career, work with you, promote something, sell you something, be associated with you... it's exhausting!" Daniel speaks to me, but his eyes are glazed over like he is lost in his own head.

I'm not really sure what to say. "We can deal with it for one night, together." I raise my eyebrows and nod. "OK?" Holding out my little finger, I grin at him. "I'll be right there with you. We don't need to stay late. Just get through it with huge smiles on our faces. Thank everyone for coming and their kind donations to the hospital. Then, we leave all the beautiful people behind, and escape back to our little bubble."

Daniel looks up at me, still sitting on his lap and hooks his little finger around mine. "Deal!"

"Remember pinkie promises are legally binding... wouldn't want you to have to sign an NDA now would we?" I giggle and hear Daniel burst out laughing. The sounds warms my heart, as it always does.

The rest of the flight, we sit in comfortable silence, wrapped in each other's arms. We binge watch Peaky Blinders and relax before the pending celebrity storm hits us full force.

- hey guys!

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So, Daniel is making things formal with people they deal with - do you think he's doing the right thing?

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