Chapter 81: Reputation Proceeds Me

Chapter 81: Reputation Proceeds Me
Damian Black's POV:

It's all somehow different. My mind was wandering over a variety of topics as we made our way closer to the airport. I somehow thought in the back of my mind that being married would make me feel different in a way. However, that's not how I felt at all. It's like I felt a new sense of responsibility. I felt responsible for Nadine on a more personal level.

"Boss," Andre called to me from the front seat. "We are here."

My elbow was leaning over on the edge of the windowsill as my fingers were lightly pressing on the front edge of my chin. I looked up and out the front windshield and saw we were pulling up to the private gate so we could access my personal hangar.

Matthew had pulled up to the security gate, making us the first to pass through. The first vehicle pulled aside, so my vehicle was the first to go through the gate. The guard walked up to the window and looked in the back. He saw me sitting here, knowing precisely who I was. He didn't hesitate as he stepped back and pressed the button, allowing the gate to roll open.

"Proceed," I heard the security guard say through the partially cracked window.

Nobody in the vehicle said anything. However, just as we pulled through the open gate, Nadine turned around to see the other three vehicles pulling in as well. Then she turned around to look at me.

"Ummm, explain this to me," she stated as I turned to face her. "I thought this was our honeymoon, not everyone's honeymoon."

"They are not here for you, other than your own two men who were in the vehicle behind us," I told her as I turned to look out the front window again as we pulled into the hangar and off to the side so that we didn't block the path of my personal jet.

"That doesn't make any sense," Nadine started to complain as she crossed her arms in front of herself.

"What about this doesn't make any sense to you?" I asked as Matthew turned off the vehicle and Andre exited the vehicle.

"Well, if everybody knows precisely who you are, then what is the need to have all these men follow you about?" She asked just as Andre opened up the door so I could step out.

I sat there a moment, breathing in deeply through my nose and holding the breath for a moment before I finally let it out. I wasn't about to explain to her the necessity of having a few extra men around. Yes, she was right about one part. This was our honeymoon. This may have been a vacation for her, but this was going to be a business trip for me. I wasn't about to leave my men behind.

"Just think about them as gophers," I said whenever I reached down between us and unfastened her seatbelt as well is mine.

"Gophers?" She asked as she narrowed her brows, looking at me with her arms still crossed. "You mean like the ones that eat the dirt?"

"No, not precisely," I told her sternly when I reached for the safety fastener of her seatbelt and pulled away from her dress so that it didn't catch on anything. "I mean the ones that go would retrieve things. Gophers. Go for this, go for that. That sort of thing."

"Oh, I get it now," she said just as Matthew opened up her door.

"That will be necessary," I spoke firmly just as Matthew looked at me. He nodded, and then he closed the door again. "You will get on my side."

"I can get out on the other side," Nadine spoke as she spun her head around to look at the now-closed door before spinning her head back to look at me. "I have no issues getting out through another door."

"I am fully aware of that," I told her when I finally stepped out. "However, you are going to get out of my side. Do you understand me? Bride?"

"Well, by all means," Nadine spoke as she started to slide herself across the middle seat closer to my door. "I shall just get out exactly where you tell me to then. Is that what you want, Damian?"

I had to close my eyes and that moment so that I could ignore the fueling attitude that was obviously dripping off of her at this precise moment. I needed to keep a level head. Today was not the day. There were several things I needed to discuss. Especially about the fact of my brother, for all intents and purposes. His incarceration was at the forefront of my mind.

"Let's just get to the plane, shall we?" I asked as I reached my hand inside the open doorway so that Nadine could take it. "We have a lot of places to go. There is a specific schedule we must adhere to. And starting with that means that you need to get yourself onto the plane."

"Fine," Nadine said as she huffed about when she finally reached out and took my hand.

When she was standing outside the vehicle, I offered her my elbow once more to help her to the plane. She was wearing a particular set of heels, and the last thing I wanted was for her to end up on her face on her wedding day. Granted, I would certainly see her on her knees later, but that wouldn't be until we were in a more private setting.

As we made our way toward the jet, no one said anything. All the other vehicles had parked in front of everyone as they exited. Some of my other men were starting to unload the baggage and hold it up to the luggage rack at the bottom of the plane. However, a few select bags were taken inside so that she could access her beauty needs, among other things.

Just as I reached the stairs of the jet, the pilot was standing at the top of the stairs. He saluted me just as I pulled Nadine around the stand in front of me.

"Sir, it is a pleasure to see you again," said the pilot as I looked up at him. "Everything is set, and we are ready to depart once you give the final word." I nodded once to him as he turned his gaze to look at my newlywed bride. "Ma'am, it's an honor."

"Let's get you boarded now," I told Nadine.