Valetta had taken her seat in the very back row. She already had her sleeping mask over her eyes and her headphones on. She had been on countless flights with Marco and often used the opportunity to catch up on sleep. Sabrina, however, was still up and moving around. She had just handed off her luggage to the tall, brunette stewardess who worked for Marco’s pilot and was standing in the aisle when Marco approached.
“Where should I sit?” she asked.
“Sit next to me,” Marco offered, as he plopped down in a chair in the very front row.
Sabrina sat next to him and buckled her seat belt. Marco did the same and a few seconds later, the plane lurched forward, taxiing down the runway. She clutched at the arm rail in surprise.
“I’m really glad you decided to take this job,” Marco said in an attempt to distract her so she wouldn't be afraid of flying for the first time.
“I’m so happy you offered it to me,” she said, twirling her auburn hair between her fingers. She smiled at him, her blue eyes glowing in the fluorescent lights of the plane. “It’s already the coolest job I’ve ever had. I can’t believe I’m on a private jet right now.”
Sabrina's expression of innocent wonder said it all. It was utterly clear to Marco that he had just transported her into a world completely different from her own. And he loved it. He took great joy in the fact that he could treat such a beautiful woman to a piece of the life to which he was accustomed.
“So tell me a little bit about yourself,” Marco said, eager to learn everything he could about his new hire.
“I don’t have anything exciting to tell,” she said, with a frown.
“Nonsense. I don’t believe that for a second. Tell me where you were raised. Tell me something about your childhood. Anything. If we’re going to be spending time together over the next couple of weeks, I want to know who it is that I’m spending time with.”
“I'm honestly not sure what to tell you that I didn't say in the interview,” Sabrina said.
“Okay, well, why don’t you tell me why you wanted to take this job?” Marco asked. “It’s an unusual position, no doubt. I can’t imagine there are a lot of job openings for a traveling assistant. What about it intrigued you?”
“It seemed like a job that I would be good at and when I saw the pay, I knew that I had to try,” she said. “I really didn’t think I’d get it. I figured that there would be a line out of the door with people trying to get the position.”
“Many did apply, but I knew you were the one,” Marco said, with a satisfied smile. “So that’s it, though? You just thought it looked like a good job? Nothing else about it called to you?”
“I need to save up as much money as I can before the summer is over,” she said, bashfully. “And with the amount you’re paying me, I should be able to save enough.”
“Enough for what?” Marco asked.
Sabrina’s cheeks turned a little red. Marco was beginning to notice her shyness.
“I’m trying to save up for college,” she explained. “I know that’s what a lot of girls say they are doing, but I really am. I want to go to school and get a degree. You know, make something of myself.”
Marco listened intently as she spoke. His eyes lit up when she mentioned college. He had often wondered what a formalized education in the States would be like, since his only experience with it had been through movies and stories from friends. His own education had been completely taken care of in Orsino.
“I think that’s wonderful,” he said. “Do you know what you want to study?”
“English,” she stated, clear as day. “I'd like to teach English to people looking to become United States citizens. I love helping others and if I could get paid doing that, then I’d be happy as a clam.”
“I think you’d make a great teacher,” Marco said.
“You really think so?” she asked.
“I do,” he said. “You’re relaxed and you seem patient. I think most other teachers would hear my accent and eat me alive.”
Sabrina laughed and brought her hand down onto Marco’s knee. As soon as she realized what she had done, she quickly pulled away.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
Her touch made Marco smile. There was an obvious connection between them and he could feel it. If Sabrina had been any other girl, he’d have jumped on the opportunity to increase his flirtation with the intention of getting her in the sack. But Sabrina wasn’t just any girl, and Marco didn’t want to treat her as such. So instead, he just relaxed and decided to let things between them play out naturally, without his interference.
After a few moments of silence, Sabrina spoke again. “So what do you do for work, Marco?”
“I’m the…” Marco began, then stopped himself. He'd nearly told her who he was without thinking.
Her brows raised as she awaited his response. He’d nearly let the words “Crown Prince of Orsino Island” slide off his tongue. He’d manage to stop mid-sentence, but Sabrina was still sitting there, waiting for an answer to her question. It had felt so right to just tell her the truth that it was difficult to come up with an answer now. Marco wished that he could tell her who he really was, but he was still a little bit cautious. Sabrina was nearly a stranger to him and for now, the less she knew, the better.
“I’m the... luckiest man alive,” he said.
“Lucky?”
“Yes, well, I just happened to be born into a fortunate situation,” he said. “I'd call that pretty lucky.”
The explanation was vague as hell, but at least he wasn’t lying.
“The luckiest man alive.” Sabrina repeated the words quietly, her eyes still focused on Marco. She blushed and looked down. “I feel like maybe I pried by asking. I’m sorry, Marco. I was just letting the conversation flow. I didn’t mean to offend you. You don't have to tell me what you do.”
“You absolutely did not offend me.” Marco assured her. “In fact, I’m glad you have an interest in what I do. I wish I could explain more about who I am, but I can’t right now. It’s kind of a complicated situation.”
She nodded in response, but Marco knew that his half-assed explanation would only make her more curious.
Now she’s probably going to think I’m a leader of some drug cartel or something, he thought.
Once again, he had the urge to just tell her, but he ignored it. There was too much risk in it. For all he knew, Sabrina could be an undercover journalist.
“Anyway,” Marco said, trying to shatter the awkward silence. “Tell me more about you. Were you raised in the same area where we picked you up this morning?”
Sabrina blushed and looked straight ahead. She seemed so embarrassed by the question.
“Yes,” she said. “My parents have lived there for my entire life. I know that it's a dump. The entire area is pretty bad, but it's all that they can afford. My parents are good people, though. You'll never meet people who work harder or have bigger hearts than they do.”
“I'm sure they're great people,” Marco said. “They'd have to be, to raise someone like yourself.”