Malik doesn't know why he said what he said. He knows that Edna was surprised too because of the shocked stare she gave to him.
He didn't mean to make her feel uncomfortable, he just wanted to put the woman in her place and although it worked, Edna doesn't say a single word to her.
The plane lifts off the ground and it has been hours since they have been flying and not a single word has he said to her.
Yeah, maybe that wasn't a very smart thing he did there, he told the woman that he would fuck her and he didn't know it would scare her so much.
He lays his head against the headrest and tries not to think about what he has done so much. He glances at her, contemplating if he should apologize now or wait till they get to Rome first.
Edna falls asleep after they have had lunch on the plane and her head falls against his shoulder.
It took him by surprise the first time because even though she did it unconsciously, he still feels it's a good sign that shows that maybe she has forgiven him.
He lowers himself a bit so that she can be as comfortable as she can be. He uses his hand as a pad to support her head so that it doesn't keep slipping off.
She stirs in her slip and her beautiful lips move. He sighs as he looks at her, he is going to remain like this for the rest of the flight if it makes her comfortable, he wants her to be as comfortable as she can be.
He feels someone's eyes on him and he looks up. It's the nosy mother of the little girl. She looks away as soon as she notices his eyes staring back and she gives him her back.
He rolls his eyes and looks out of the window. He hears Edna chuckle in her sleep. Maybe she is dreaming or maybe she just saw what transpired between him and the other lady.
*******
It was a very long flight, but Edna and Malik are now awake as they touch down in Rome.
It's early evening, the sky is red and everyone is trying to hurriedly round up for the day.
Edna and Malik join the rest of the passengers as they wait for their bags to get sorted so that they can leave the airport.
Edna is beside Malik and both of them don't notice the man behind them, the husband of the lady who they had that weird conversation with.
"Excuse me. " He says to get their attention.
It takes a few more " excuse me's" for him to get their attention, but he finally does.
"Hi, I'm John. " He says.
He offers Malik a handshake and nods at Edna. He is carrying his infant in the crook of his left hand and he keeps adjusting so that she is comfortable enough.
"That was Lisa, my wife. She went off to the bathroom. " He smiles at his points. There is something apologetic about his smile.
"Oh, that nice lady. " Edna smiles too. " I will definitely check up with the endocrinologist."
" Please forgive her, she doesn't know that you guys aren't a couple. " John says with a shake of his head.
Edna and Malik exchange glances. They thought that they kept their identity so well from people, but this man recognized them.
" You are Malik and Edna Jackson. " John sees the need to explain. " You are the first son of Mister Jackson and you are his daughter-in-law. "
" We thought no one would recognize us. " Edna laughs and pushes her hair back.
" Well, when you worked in the media department for some years, you kind of recognize your bosses even if they are trying to put up a disguise. "
Oh, that's how he knows them. He has been working with them for some years now.
" How is your bullet wound now? All healed up?" He inquires.
" Yeah. " Edna gives the place where the wound used to be a small rub. " Good as new. "
" That's great. " He beams. " It was nice to meet my bosses again. I hope that you guys have a nice flight. "
Edna and Malik nod and smile as he walks away. Their luggage has been cleared and so they pick them up and walk towards the exit of the airport, not a word yet to each other.
They walk towards the exit and Malik meets Matteo again. He has the biggest smile on his face and he gives Malik a salute. Malik smiles at him and that's it.
" A car is coming to pick us up. " Malik says to her. She just nods nothing else.
They don't have to wait for long before a white Roll Royce pulls up in front of them."
" Wow. I thought we were kind of keeping things low. " Edna comments.
" We were. " He answers. " In New York. "
The driver steps out and shakes hands with Malik and starts to take their things into the car.
Malik is tired and he knows that it's the same with Edna. He wants them to go back to the hotel so that she can rest. He doesn't have anything meeting till tomorrow and so he is going to be able to stay with her for some time before then.
He puts his hand on her shoulder and leads her to the car. He opens the passenger seat and helps her into the car.
He is about to climb in himself when he hears someone calling his name.
He turns around, not knowing what to expect, but he breaks into a small when he sees the happy man walking toward him with open hands.
Leonardo Arrigo. The oil tycoon who he is supposed to meet tomorrow is the reason why he is in the county now.
Even though there is almost a forty years gap between them, they are very good friends. Malik walks over to him and they enclose in a manly hug glittered with laughter, both men are happy to see each other.
"Oh, Malik. I had to rush down back to Rome to keep my meeting with you. " Leonardo exclaims.
"That's such a coincidence because I just got here minutes ago. " Malik answers.
" The United Arab Emirates was a lot of fun, but I had to come back to keep our meeting. "
"I really appreciate that. It has been too long, it's time to have this deal settled. "
" I have a lot to say to you, but I am going to let you rest and we face business tomorrow. " Leonardo says.
" Thank you so much for understanding. " Malik smiles. He is very tired and is very appreciative of him.
Leonardo strains his neck and tries to look into the car. Malik thought that he didn't notice Edna, but it turned out that he did.
"Oh, Malik. Did you bring your girlfriend to Rome? The city of love?" Leonardo laughs.
Malik isn't very happy. He doesn't want the two to meet because even though Mister Leonardo is a good man, he is a total flirt and he wants to protect Edna from him.
"Um, yeah. " Malik says, running his hand through his hair.
He wants to cover this whole thing up with a lie but a good enough one is not coming up at all.

As if to make matters worse, Edna steps out of the vehicle. Malik feels like shoving her back into the car, he is so worked up right now.
Mister Leonard's face lights up and he can't help but stare at Edna. She smiles back, she is used to old men ogling at her for years, his father has literally shoved her in their faces.
"Hi. " Edna smiles and offers to shake him. " Edna. "
Mister Leonardo takes her hand and raises it slowly to his lip as he drops a romantic kiss on it, Malik swallows uncomfortably.
" You are such a beautiful woman, Edna. " He dramatically declares. " I wish I met you in my youth. "
Edna laughs in surprise, but she takes the compliment well. Malik is not laughing, for all he knows, Mister Leonardo might try to woo her before the end of their trip.
" So who is she to you?" Mister Leonardo turns to him. " Girlfriend? Escort?"
Malik runs his hand over his hair as he thinks of a good enough answer.
" This one is kind of hard to explain. " He confesses. " She's um–"
" Finaceé. " Edna grins wildly.
She shoots up her left hand in the air and brandishes a rubber band ring on her finger.
" He decided to propose on the plane and even though we didn't have a ring, he decided to improvise."
He saw her play with that on the plane but he didn't think that she would use it like that. He is trying to look at her, and ask her with his eyes what exactly it is that she is doing, but she is not even looking at him.
"Finaceé?!" Mister Leonardo is both shocked and drilled.
Edna turns to him and nudges him, but he is too shocked to back her up in her lies.
She decides to take matters into her arms and leans towards him and she kisses his lips.
"Play along. " She whispers against his mouth. " You told that woman that you would fuck me and you can't even keep up with this?!"