"Am I dead?" Bella thought hazily.
Her lashes fluttered, the blinding hospital light forcing her to shut them again. She tried a second, then a third time until her eyes adjusted. The sterile white walls, the faint antiseptic smell it wasn't heaven.
"This looks like a hospital... so I didn't die?"
Relief washed through her chest. Her lips curved weakly into a smile when she realized someone's hand was wrapped around hers, warm, steady, familiar. The faint cologne in the air told her who it was before she even lifted her head.
Chris.
She shifted slightly, trying to sit up, and the movement stirred him awake. His head had been resting on the bed beside her hand.
"You're awake?" Chris's voice cracked, his eyes wide as he helped her sit carefully.
"Sorry for waking you," Bella whispered, cheeks flushing.
"No. Don't apologize." His grip tightened on her hands. "I'm just... so damn glad you're okay." His eyes glistened, the hard mask of control he always wore slipping.
Bella's heart squeezed. She reached up and pressed his hand. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
"What happened, Christal? You scared the living hell out of me."
"I... I locked myself in. It was a mistake. I shouted, but no one heard me." She looked away, ashamed at how helpless she had been.
Chris exhaled sharply. "So it wasn't sabotage? You mean no one locked you in?"
Bella blinked at him, startled. "You thought someone did?"
"After everything you've been through... what else was I supposed to think?"
Her eyes softened. "Chris... tell me you didn't...."
"Well..." he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I fired them. All of them. Except Prince."
Bella gasped. "What? Chris!" She reached for his hand again, pleading with her eyes. "They didn't do anything wrong. They're good people. Please don't fire them because of me."
Chris's jaw flexed. For a moment he looked ready to argue, but her touch disarmed him. With a reluctant sigh, he pulled out his phone. "Fine. Let me call Elliot before the memo goes out."
Bella smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you."
Moments later, the nurses and a doctor came in to check her vitals. Her blood pressure was stable, the nasal tube was removed, and the doctor assured them she could be discharged the next day if no complications arose. Bella nearly cheered inside she hated hospitals with every fibre of her being.
Soon after, her colleagues walked in. Tricia, Yetty, and the rest of the crew filed in nervously, their faces lighting up with relief when they saw Bella awake. They didn't stay long, offering their greetings before shuffling out. Only Desmond and Princely lingered.
"How are you feeling now?" Desmond asked, genuine worry in his eyes.
"I'm fine now," Bella smiled softly. "But promise me you won't tell Alexia or Lilian what happened here."
Princely's lips twisted guiltily. "Ahhh... too late."
Bella groaned. "Prince!"
"Sorry," he mouthed, sheepish.
"And me," Desmond admitted with a helpless shrug. "I may have... let it slip. You know, after someone fired me." His gaze cut toward Chris.
Bella's eyes widened. "Wait. Fired you? Why?"
Desmond smirked bitterly. "Apparently I disrespected him."
"How?" Bella asked, confused.
"I said 'with all due respect,' and he decided that meant I was being disrespectful. So fired."
Princely burst out laughing. "Yup. That's our boss."
Chris pinched the bridge of his nose. "I... may have overreacted. I only said that out of anger." His voice dropped, quiet. "I'm sorry, Desmond."
The pilots froze.
"Did... did Christian Hampson just apologize?" Desmond asked, eyes wide.
Chris shot him a glare.
Princely chuckled, shaking his head. "Wow. Unbelievable. We've never heard him say sorry. Not to anyone. Not even when he's wrong."
"Except his mother," Elliot's voice rang as he walked in. He grinned at Bella. "And you, Bella. Only you."
Bella looked between them, cheeks warming.
Chris squeezed her hand again, his voice low, meant only for her. "You're the only one who makes me want to be... different."
Her heart skipped.
Bella couldn't help but smile at Elliot's words. She loved the way Desmond and Princely interacted with Chris, even though he had once told her he had no real friends.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Chris asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
"I just kinda like the bromance between you guys," Bella replied with a teasing grin.
"What bromance?" Chris, Elliot, Princely, and Desmond said in unison, scoffing.
Bella gasped dramatically. "Ah ah, were you all waiting for me to say it before you denied it?"
They rolled their eyes at her, which only made her giggle harder.
"How long have you been working with Chris?" she asked, turning her attention to Elliot.
"Nine years," Elliot answered, calm as ever.
"Nine?" Bella's eyes widened. "And you still behave like strangers?"
Chris smirked. "What do you mean strangers? Elliot's like my elder brother."
Bella glanced between him and the pilots. "And you two?"
"Almost six years now," Princely said.
"And you've been his personal pilots since then?"
"Yes," Desmond confirmed. "But we all knew each other before. High school." He said it with a sly smile.
Bella's jaw dropped. "You... all went to the same high school?"
Chris's expression instantly darkened, and Bella decided not to push it further.
Her stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension. "Can I get some food, please?"
Chris stood without hesitation. "I'll go."
He and Elliot slipped out, heading to one of his favourite restaurants in Paris. Chris didn't even realise how hungry he was until the smell of roasting meats and fresh herbs hit him. The waitress, recognising him instantly, lit up with a professional smile.
"Bienvenue, Monsieur."
Chris nodded curtly and ordered, "Deux portions de Pot-au-Feu. Sortir, s'il vous plaît." Two portions of the hearty French stew, take-out.
Minutes later, they were back in the car with the food neatly packed. Chris's impatience gnawed at him the entire ride back.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Bella's phone buzzed with a video call. She answered to see Alexia and Lilian's faces filling the screen.
"Hey buddies," Bella greeted cheerfully.
"When will you stop scaring us like this?" Alexia said, her tone more motherly than usual.
"Your next flight with Mr Hampson, we'll follow you personally," Lilian added with a half-smile.
Bella chuckled. "Relax. My schedule changed last minute. I barely had time to tell Mum before leaving this morning."
"Talk about being Christian Hampson's girlfriend," Lilian teased.
Bella rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched.
"So when are you back? Your mum's wedding is just days away, and the dresses still haven't arrived," Alexia pressed.
"They're supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Can one of you pick them up? I don't think I'll make it in time."
"What about Aunt Vera?" Lilian asked.
"I want it to be a surprise," Bella said.
"Hmm. Could I change the address to my house then?" Alexia suggested.
Bella hesitated. "I don't want Bianca to know I'm in the hospital. She'll tell Mum, and I don't want her panicking."
Alexia winced. "Oops. Too late. I already told her."
Bella's eyes narrowed. "Seriously, Alex? Where did I even find you people? You can't keep one secret!"
"She called me! She was worried when she couldn't reach you. I thought you were with me, so I slipped."
Bella sighed in frustration.
"Anyway, where's the boss's boss?" Lilian asked, changing the subject.
"He went to get me food," Bella admitted with a small smile.
"Awww. That's sweet," Alexia said.
"I love love," Lilian chimed in, grinning.
"One day, somebody's son will love me like that too," Alexia added wistfully.
Bella noticed the sharp glances they kept throwing at each other. "What's going on between you two? You've been side-eyeing each other since the call started."
"Well..." Lilian started, but Alexia cut her off.
"She was talking about you. Don't even deny it."
"I wasn't!" Lilian shot back, her voice rising.
"Yes, you were. You've been shading her for weeks," Alexia said, her tone icy. "I know you sold her out to the media."
"Alex!" Bella exclaimed, her eyes wide.
Lilian went quiet, her expression unreadable.
"You trust people too easily, Ella," Alexia continued. "That's your biggest problem."
"Enough!" Bella's voice cracked. "I hate it when my friends fight especially about me."
Lilian gave a bitter laugh. "You know what? I'm not doing this." And with that, she ended the call.
The screen went black, leaving Bella staring at her reflection, stunned.