Chapter 89: Seeing Something New

Chapter 89: Seeing Something New
Damian Black's POV:

"Would you mind telling me what the ingredients are for this particular drink, so that I can make it for you?" Patricia, the flight attendant, asked my wife Nadine in a decently pleased tone.

"Sure," Nadine said as she finally decided that now was the appropriate time to relax her arms.

As Nadine continued to sit there in her seat, I watched as she neatly interlocked her fingers. Then, as if her motions were done so with precision, she sat back in her chair as she lifted one leg and crossed one knee over the other before neatly and slowly placing her interlocked fingers down over the point of her highest me.

I furrowed my brows, watching this, wondering why she was drawing out and being so dramatic. It was a simple question. Exactly how was the drink made, or how would you like it made, and then just tell the flight attendant so that she could bring it to you. Even now Nadine was choosing to be difficult.

Well," Nadine said first as she kinda closed her eyes and raised her chin before opening them and looking back at Patricia. "First you have to select your best vodka. Pour that in at the same time with sweet-and-sour mix. You have to be sure to add a splash of grenadine to the top before topping it all with a fresh lime wedge and a cherry."

There is a brief pause in Nadine's statement, as I can tell that Patricia is taking a mental note of exactly how Nadine wants her drink creation to be completed.

"Oh, and just so you don't forget," Nadine said as she completely dropped the way she was sitting and leaned forward in her chair, grabbing hold of the arm rails with both hands, when she added, "you mustn't forget the stir stick. To be honest, I prefer a skinny straw. Can you manage that?"

"Don't you worry, ma'am. We have a full bar in the back," Patricia said, bowing her head towards Nadine. "I will do my best to re-create the drink of your choice. I will get right on it and have it back out to you in no time flat." Then just as she turned her attention away from Nadine and back to me, she added, "Mr. Black, is there anything else that I can get for you?"

"No, not at this time," I said as I turned to look back at everyone else in the cabin.

Everyone else took that look that it was time for a business meeting. Everyone was supposed to leave, except Andrew and Mathis, who were to stay here and keep Nadine company. However, just as I was about to turn and walk out of the cabin, I couldn't help but notice the glare in Nadine's eye.

I turned back to look at her over my shoulder, and then it dawned on me exactly what it was that she could be glaring at me about. She was glaring about the fact of how Patricia spoke to me. I was more than willing to bet that was the case.

Patricia was the flight attendant who traveled on all of my flights. She knew exactly how my drinks were to be made and when they were to be brought to me. It didn't matter if I happened to be in a business meeting or not. Patricia knew to keep my business meetings to the utmost secrecy.

She didn't know it at the time, but I even had her tested a few years back. To see if she would say anything. She didn't fail me, and I made sure she knew that. She also knew what would happen if you did. With that, I turned back to look at Nadine and forced a smile before turning my attention over to Andre, who had already risen and was standing there beside me.

"Andrew and Mathis are right there," I spoke up at that moment. "I'm sure if you need anything, they will continue to meet your needs. In the meantime, there is something that I must attend to."

"So what am I supposed to do while you are back there?" Nadine continued to ask another question. "I thought we were supposed to spend time together."

"Why don't you watch a movie?" I asked, raising one hand and pointing to a picture on the wall in front of her.

"Are you blind?" Nadine asked, turning back to look at me in shock as her jaw dropped. "That is none other than a picture frame. How can that possibly be a television. It's most definitely not a flatscreen. See? It even has a picture frame around it. I don't know how much more obvious I can be that it is most definitely not a television but just a plain... old... picture"

Just then, Andre had reached over and picked up the remote that was in the pouch on the side of my chair. He handed it to me, and I showed it to Nadine in the air before turning it towards the TV and pressing a button.

Her jaw dropped again as she suddenly inhaled deeply at the sight of what just happened. It was like she couldn't believe it as the painted portrait itself lowered behind the wall, revealing the TV set behind it.

"I never knew that was back there," Nadine exclaimed as I took several steps closer to her and showed her the remote. "Did you make it do that?"

"Andrew, help her out with this," I said with a bit of reluctance as I turned to walk back towards the back cabin.

"But I thought..." Nadine called after me when I cut off her next statement before she had a chance to finish what she was going to say.

"You thought what, Nadine?" I spoke, and when I said that, I unintentionally snapped.

It was as if we were living in the same house again, as we had all those years ago. When Nadine complained about something she said that I had done, and I, being the brother-now-husband, didn't anticipate my sudden response.

It was in that moment that I relaxed my expression as I took a step closer to her and said, "Look, wife. I want you to stay here. Enjoy the sights. It's not like I can go anywhere. We are all on the same airplane after all. It's not like I'm officially leaving you here by yourself. I'm just going in the back. Your drink will be back in a moment. Now pipe down."