Beyond the spotlight

One hour after the plane had taken off, the purser finally gave the orders to start serving the guests on the plane.

“Jasmine, you are in first class today. Bella will help you out,” Zara, the purser, said.

“But it's my first day,” Jasmine replied, shock evident on her face.

“Then you better not mess up,” Zara shrugged. She instructed the rest, and they were soon sent out.

Jasmine and Bella made their way to the first-class cabin, their steps lighter as they approached, and their voices softer as they spoke.

It was all part of the training. One complaint and they could lose their jobs. They both knew that.

They quietly approached the seat, ready to ask the perfunctory question before moving on, when Bella froze upon seeing its occupants.

Jasmine quietly pinched her sides, urging her to ask so they could move on. If there was one thing she had learned, the people who booked first-class tickets hated being disturbed, and even worse, they hated lurkers.

“Bella!” She yelled quietly by her side, even pinching her to draw her back to her senses.

It worked.

“Sorry about that,” Bella said, clearing her throat as she came to her senses. “Would you like to order anything? Water? Champagne? Food?”

She listed off.

“None for me thank you,” a deep voice replied, not bothering to look up from his laptop. Typical workaholic.

“Same here,” the other added.

Bella nodded before walking away. Jasmine followed quietly, glad to be finally away from the suffocating atmosphere.

They made their way to their private space, before Bella finally burst into excitement.

“Did you see who that was?” She yelled quietly, looking around to ensure she wasn't drawing any more attention than she should.

“No,” Jasmine replied. Too unbothered to care. “Why? Is it someone I should know?”

“Yes!” Bella yelled excitedly. “That was Eric Gray.”

“And I know him because?” Jasmine trailed off, packing some orders.

“He's only the biggest star of the era!” Bella yelled excitedly. “Name any of the five famous movies produced in the last five years, and I can assure you he is in it.”

“I can't name one,” Jasmine replied. “I barely have enough time for myself, I certainly don't have enough to spend watching movies.”

“Have you been living under a rock?” She asked, incredulously. 

“Maybe,” Jasmine shrugged. 

“Look at the bottle in your hands. That's his face on it,” Bella said. “He's the face of every and any product you can think of.”

“Oh.”

“You are killing me here, girl,” Bella exclaimed.

The curtain was pulled back at that moment, and Zara’s disapproving glare was trained on them. 

“And you are killing our guests with your chattering,” she said, halting every discussion. "You are being paid to work and serve the guests. I suggest you get to it.”

“Yes ma'am,” the girls replied.

With one last look at Bella, Jasmine left to fulfill orders made.

It was a fifteen-hour flight, and they were expected to make rounds at least three times before landing. 

A few hours passed, and soon it was time to make the second round. After deciding to split the responsibility, they both went to do their jobs.

This time it was her turn to ask the “star of the era” what he wanted.

“Excuse me, would you like anything?” Jasmine asked, her face spotting a welcoming smile like she had been taught.

“Yes,” the one with his head lowered answered. “Get me a bottle of water and some painkillers please.”

Jasmine nodded, releasing a small sound of acknowledgment. “And you sir?” She asked.

“Just champagne is fine,” Eric replied, his voice hypnotic as he smiled at her.

Jasmine nodded, leaving to fulfill their orders. She returned a few minutes later, their orders ready. 

As she left, she felt eyes on her. Unlike the usual degrading or sexual looks she was used to receiving, this one felt different. Respectful even. But she didn't turn back.

“You are still staring,” the lowered head said, seeing Eric's action through his computer screen.

“I can't help it. She's beautiful. Graceful,” Eric said, a wistful smile on his face. “That is hard to see in this day and age, Alexander.”

“Sometimes you make me think you are older than I am,” Alex said, finally raising his head and looking in the same direction. Curious to see who had caught Eric's attention. “And it's Alex, not Alexander. Only my parents call me that.”

“Right,” Eric replied, an awkward smile spilling from his lips, but his attention still trained on where Jasmine disappeared to.

“At least you finally looked up from your screen.”

“I guess you could say I'm curious,” Alex replied, not denying the unsaid accusation.

“Hmm.”

“Are you ready for your next movie?” Alex asked. 

“You should know by now that I'm always ready,” Eric replied.

“Good. You have new ambassador deals coming your way. I've asked Jason to filter the best and send them over. When everything is settled, I'll call you over.”

Eric nodded, pulling his seat into a comfortable position as he prepared to sleep.

Taking that as his cue to keep working, Alex hunched over his laptop again, working through the next few hours.

Bella checked in next, failing to arouse Alex's curiosity again, and Eric's attention.

A few hours later, the plane landed, and they all alighted. Eric and Alex made their way to the arranged car, speeding off to their next appointment.

The flight attendants alighted after. They had a two-day rest before they were required to report back. 

Jasmine turned on her phone, and notifications instantly popped up. She could barely read the words before a call came in.

“Hello,” she said quietly.

“Hey sis!” a younger voice said over the phone. “I figured your plane would have landed by now, and I was right, and…”

“Get to the point Addy,” Jasmine replied, cutting her ramblings short.

“I was wondering if we could have a meal together,” came Addison's timid voice.

“Sure,” Jasmine replied. “When?”

“How about tomorrow at sunset Café?” Addison asked.

“Okay,” Jasmine replied. She hung up, not giving her sister the chance to say anything more.

All it would take was one wrong sentence and all hell would break loose between them. As she left for the hotel, she couldn't help thinking back to the feeling she felt earlier on the plane.

Who could have been looking at her like that?

Jasmine had barely dropped her luggage in her hotel room, when she collapsed on the bed out of exhaustion.

She spent the next few hours catching up on sleep. She finally had a good job that was paying well, but it certainly didn't come easy.

While she slept, Alex met up with other investors and potential partners, striking business deals, and Eric attended some brand shoots.

“Rumor has it, he's so rich, he's basically doing this for fun,” one of the make-up crew whispered as they watched Eric pose for the camera.

“There are so many rumors, but none have ever been confirmed,” her partner replied. “He’s just absolutely perfect.”

“I know right!”

“I want to have his baby.” they sighed dreamily.

The shoot went on for the next few hours, capturing Eric’s beauty from different angles. He was perfect. Every pose was mastered, planned. Every action is practiced to perfection. He was a star for a reason.

A star that had only ever been involved i