Chapter 126: All about Newton

The next morning, Newton arrived at the airport terminal. He had not slept after leaving Selen’s house, and the quiet heartbreak was settling deep into his chest.

He was a calm, loving guy, but he was completely exhausted by the situation..

He scanned his boarding pass and took the elevator up to the private VIP lounge, looking for a quiet space to wait for his first class flight back to Spain. He had arrived earlier than his flight.

He took a seat in a secluded corner by the windows, staring out at the runway, totally shutting out his surroundings.

"Is anyone sitting here?" a clear voice asked softly.

Newton looked up. A woman was standing near the adjacent armchair holding a cup of what he assumed was black coffee. She was dressed in a sleek navy blazer and trousers, carrying a compact leather flight bag.

"No, go ahead," Newton said, his tone flat. He offered a polite but detached nod and immediately looked back out the window. He was too heartbroken to engage in a conversation.

The woman sat down and took a sip of her coffee. "Tough morning?" she asked familiarly.

"Just a long day yesterday," Newton replied shortly. He kept his eyes fixed on the outside, refusing to ask a follow up question or offer any opening for a dialogue. He wanted to be left alone with his thoughts.

The woman pulled out a tablet and began checking operational logs. Every now and then, she tried to break the ice by mentioning the morning weather or asking if he was traveling for business, but Newton handled each remark with single word answers.

He was completely consumed by the memory of Selen opening and closing her mouth in absolute speechlessness when he asked her how she felt about Clancy.

After about thirty minutes, the boarding sequence for his first class flight was announced.

Newton stood up and reached for his luggage. He looked over at the woman, who was also packing away her tablet. Looking at her pleasant demeanor, a sudden wave of guilt washed over him. He realized he had been rude to someone who was simply trying to show basic kindness.

"I want to apologize," Newton said, his natural warmth returning to his tone. "I am sorry if I was dismissive just now. I have some heavy personal things on my mind, and I have not been in good company." He said to her with a calm tone.

The woman smiled and waved her hand. "Do not worry about it. I recognize a heavy mind when I see one. You do not owe me an apology for needing your space." she said with a smile.

As they walked out of the VIP lounge together toward the departure gates, the shared understanding broke the ice. Newton found himself opening up slightly as they navigated the wide terminal corridors.

"I was looking forward to a brand new Chapter," he admitted quietly, keeping the details professional. "But I realized the structure was completely unstable. The person I care about is still running after her past, and I was just a safety net." He said.

"That is a tough realization," she said, listening with focus. "But it is always better to see an unstable foundation early before the whole structure comes down. Clarity hurts, but it keeps you from flying blind." She added.

Newton nodded, appreciating her perspective. They arrived at the first class boarding lane, where a scanty queue was already forming near the gate agents. Newton prepared to step into the regular line, assuming she would do the same considering she had been using the exact same VIP lounge privileges.

Instead, the woman did not stop at the passenger queue. She walked straight past the first class line, heading directly toward the crew bypass lane and the secure operational security door.

The gate agents did not ask for her ticket or her passport, they immediately stood straight, offering a deeply respectful nod as she approached.

Newton stopped in his tracks, watching her hand over a customized corporate identification badge to the scanner.

"I guess this is where our paths diverge for a bit," she said, turning back to offer him a warm smile. "I am not just traveling today, I am also flying the plane." she said.

Newton blinked in complete surprise. "You are the pilot?" He asked with a baffled expression on his face.

"I am," she said, adjusting her flight bag. "And since I own the layout of this entire operation, I also happen to be the CEO of the airline. Welcome aboard my flight. I will make sure we have a completely smooth ride."

She said to him,

"I will see you when we land then, Mr?" She asked him. "Newton. Newton Martinez" he said and extended his hand for a handshake.

She accepted it and equally introduced herself, "Clara Galileo" she said. "Nice to meet you," he said.

She gave him a final encouraging nod, stepped through the secure door, and disappeared down the jet bridge to prepare the cockpit.

Newton stood in the first class line, his mind completely cleared of his brooding thoughts for the first time all morning, a genuine smile finally touching his face as he prepared to board.

Newton found his place by the window in the cabin, stowing his single piece of luggage in the overhead compartment before sitting down. His phone remained entirely silent in his pocket. There were no updates from the Kent estate, and he didn’t expect any.

The absolute clarity of his conversation with Selen had finalized everything, and he was ready to close that Chapter completely.

He buckled his seatbelt and forced himself back into his regular professional routine, reviewing administrative files. He did not look back, and he did not spend the time reminiscing about what could have been. He focused entirely on the path ahead.

After arriving at the arrival terminal, Newton gathered his belongings and walked off the aircraft. As he made his way toward the exit, he saw the woman from the lounge walking out of the crew briefing module, her flight bag over her shoulder.

She caught his eye and walked over, her demeanor relaxed and friendly. "How was the flight, Newton? Did we keep things stable for you?" she asked with the usual smile she had on her face.

"It was a perfect flight," Newton said, offering a genuine smile. "Thank you. For the ride, and for the conversation earlier. It helped clear my head" he said.

"Of course," Clara replied, offering her hand for a firm handshake and saying goodbye.