Chapter 404: Cabin Talk

They walked the last stretch alone.

The noise dropped off behind them. Less crowd. Less suitcase wheels. More glass and quiet floor. Bennett kept her eyes ahead. Lucas didn’t force talk.

Near the private doors, she asked carefully:

"How long have they been around you?"

"Long enough."

She gave a small breath.

"That’s not really an answer."

"It’s the only one that matters right now."

She nodded once and let it go.

Boarding was quick. Final checks. Short walk. Then the jet.

When Lucas stepped inside, the cabin hit different.

Cream leather seats wide enough to sleep in. Dark wood tables with a deep shine. Soft gold lighting along the walls. A long white couch on one side. Thick carpet under his shoes. The air smelled like leather and something faintly sweet. Champagne sat on ice without anyone making a show of it. Crystal glasses. A small screen already showing the flight path. Everything looked arranged for people who never waited.

Bennett watched him take it in.

She had brought clients on jets before, but she still found herself checking his face. Lucas just looked around once, sat down, and got comfortable. No big reaction. No forced coolness either. That settled her more than she expected.

"This works," he said.

She sat across from him, a little smile pulling at her mouth.

"I’m glad."

The engines came alive. Doors sealed. Silvermont fell away under the wing.

After the climb, Bennett unbuckled and crossed her legs. She tried to keep it businesslike, but her eyes kept drifting back to him.

Lucas leaned back.

"So. The seller."

Bennett straightened slightly, like she was happier on safer ground.

"His name is Moretti. He... likes attention. If he thinks you’re too interested, he pushes the price. He also prefers having other people in the room. Makes him feel important."

"Arrogant."

"A bit, yes." She set a slim folder on the table. "He talks a lot before he talks about the actual car. Old history. Old offers. Things like that."

Lucas opened the folder.

"So he likes performing."

"That’s one way to put it."

He glanced up.

"And you’re nervous about him."

Bennett blinked.

"I’m not nervous."

"You sound careful."

"I’m always careful."

"Mm."

She looked down at the folder, then back at him.

"I just don’t want you walking in cold. He can be difficult."

Lucas turned a page.

"Difficult how?"

"Surface level? He talks down to people. Acts like he’s doing them a favor by even opening the door."

"And deeper?"

Bennett hesitated.

"I don’t know deeper. I’ve only handled the normal side of him. Meetings. Prices. Delays. That kind of thing."

Lucas closed the folder halfway.

"So you’ve never seen him angry."

"Not really."

"Good."

She frowned a little.

"Why is that good?"

"Because then he still thinks this is just business."

Bennett studied him for a second, unsure if she should ask what that meant. She didn’t.

The cabin stayed quiet around them. Soft lights. The low hum of the engines. Outside, clouds stretched under the wing.

After a while, Bennett spoke again, lighter but not fully casual.

"They really all came to the airport."

Lucas looked at her.

"They did."

"That’s... a lot."

"For them, it’s normal."

She played with the edge of the folder.

"I’m not asking for details."

"I noticed."

"I’m just saying." She exhaled. "It was noticeable."

"You counted them."

Bennett’s eyes lifted.

"I did not."

"You did."

"I was being observant."

"That’s counting."

Her mouth opened, then closed again. A faint flush touched her face before she looked away toward the window.

"You’re enjoying this."

"A little," Lucas said.

"I was only curious."

"I know."

"It doesn’t mean anything."

"I know that too."

She gave him a look.

"You’re doing this on purpose."

"Doing what?"

"Making it sound like I’m more bothered than I am."

Lucas smiled slightly.

"If you’re not bothered, why are we still talking about it?"

Bennett stared at him, then laughed once under her breath despite herself.

"Okay. Fine. It was surprising. That’s all."

"Surprising."

"Yes."

"Not threatening."

"I didn’t say threatening."

"Didn’t have to."

She shook her head and sat back, clearly trying to reset.

"Can we go back to the car?"

"We can."

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You’re still teasing me."

"A little."

"At least stop looking pleased about it."

"No."

That pulled another unwilling smile from her. She covered it by opening the folder again and tapping one of the pages.

"This one is probably the real piece. The others might be there to create pressure. Moretti likes options on the table even when he’s only serious about one."

Lucas nodded once.

"Understood."

"And if he brings someone else into the room, don’t let it rush you."

"I won’t."

"I’m serious."

"I can see that."

Bennett paused, then added more softly:

"I just want the meeting to go smoothly."

Lucas watched her for a moment.

"It will."

She held his gaze, then looked down again, fingers resting on the folder.

The hours moved in stretches. Short talk. Quiet. More talk. Every time Bennett drifted back toward the airport, Lucas let her hang there long enough to get flustered, then let her escape back into business. She never pushed for real answers about the girls. She circled, caught herself, and retreated.

Somewhere in the middle of the flight, an attendant came through with wine. Deep red in clear glass, set down without fuss on the polished table between them. Lucas took his. Bennett hesitated for half a second, then took hers too. The first sip was smooth, a little warm going down. Neither of them made a comment about it. They just drank, let the quiet settle again, and continued in the same rhythm as before.

She stayed curious.

She just didn’t know what kind of man she was sitting across from yet.

By the time the cabin lights shifted for arrival, the surface of Moretti was clear enough, and Bennett had stopped pretending the send-off left no impression.

It was a five-hour flight.