Once on the small commercial plane reserved for use for the elite positions of the Doulah institution, Hera sat opposite Daman quite uncomfortably. It was already night time and the atmosphere was cool and calm, yet she still felt unnerved.

"May I get you anything else?" asked the air hostess to both Daman and Hera as she set the plates of food in front of them.

"Uh, no. Thank you." Hera let out shakily although perhaps some calm meds wouldn't be too bad, she thought. However it was very unlikely for the aircraft to stock medication of that sort.

"That will be all, Kuraysha. Thank you. Please make sure to close both the front and back door to the cabin. We require absolutely no disturbances."

The professional air hostess nodded her head respectfully in Daman's direction and checked the front door ensuring that it was properly closed before exiting from the back end.

Daman proceeded to lift the domes of the plates of food and poured himself and Hera some water along with another glass of fresh passion fruit juice. His eyes was subtly observing her throughout. She had a lot on her chest and he did not know how to fix it. It was natural for a little uneasiness but Hera's was on another level.

"I specifically asked for Indian food to be served on this flight. I hope it's to your liking." Daman let out a heart warming smile towards Hera's direction hoping that she'd appreciate the gesture.

The array of Indian cuisine had indeed managed to pick up her mood but only a little bit. Hera softly smiled at the dishes in front of her. Chicken tikka, butter chicken with an assortments of naan breads, chickpea stew along with a dry curry of potatoes and cauliflower.

Hera laughed a little as Daman dished up a little bit of everything for them. "I'm so useless with the Indian names. I'm such an embarrassment to my heritage," Hera laughed angelically.

"My caretaker was a lovely Namibian woman - Chantel- whom I adored but the cook was Mr. Patel and boy was he my favourite person in the world. He was like a father to me - more so than my own father was. Mr. Patel was always there at my school events and every night at dinner we talked up a storm," Hera reminisced pleasantly as Daman watched her. "I actually just spoke to him last month. He's now living in the suburbs with Chantel. I always knew they had something going on."

Hera continued to blabber about her life when she was a little girl and about the house staff who held a very special place in her heart. After all, it was them who had raised her. Daman was ever so keen to listen to her talk. He loved hearing her speak and was glad to see her anxiousness easing up.

After their delightful meal they were both served a comforting pot of tea with some honey on the side. A perfect night cap for the rest of the duration of the flight.

After some more chit chat, Hera had mustered up the courage to ask what was really on her mind since she entered the plane. "I meant to ask you, is there some sort of contract that we will need to sign for this... agreement? Or any formalities that need to be processed between us?"

She didn't want to admit it but she was wary of being played again hence the apprehension. It was baffling how past events constantly influenced her thought processes for the present but she couldn't bear to undergo some more instability in her life.

First her whole entire childhood left a lot to be desired and then the incident with Mikael still continue to scar her for each and everyday going forward. Hera was not sure how to process her traumas. It was ongoing trouble for her with tough navigation.

The duke was curious about her question but then again, he could read her like a book. That's what their mystifying chemistry had allowed him to do. As a duke, it was crucial to be a good judge of character and observation was a survival skill in his line. But Hera just made it all the more easier for him.

"I assure you, Hera, that I am an honest man... in most aspects. I'm not your previous partner," Daman said not wanting to say Mikael's name. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. "I will not take you for a ride." Daman said the last part extremely softly.

Hera had thought about it for a minute. Perhaps she was being overbearing but it came naturally to her. Daman had also not given her a reason to distrust him. He's been honest with her since the get go, she thought.

"I'm sorry if you do not feel comfortable without a contract of some sorts or formalities, however it's a risk that I am not willing to take. Should those records ever get into a third party's hands it will be over for both you and me. Everything must be done orally and tacitly."

"Oh, alright. I understand," Hera said softly. She definitely knew where he was coming from and couldn't dispute him on that fact.

The duke nodded his head glad that she understood. He then looked at her with soft eyes. "Why don't you take a catnap, and I will wake you up before we land. There is a blanket in the compartment next to the window."

Hera immediately agreed to that idea. A nap would be good to settle herself. A big lifestyle change was going to happen once touchdown occurred. It would all be good, she constantly told herself. Nothing would go wrong and Daman had everything figured out.

* * *

When they had reached the penthouse building it was the early hours of the morning. Both the duke and Hera were exhausted form their day and now the real show was to begin. They were to live together, act like a real couple and show off to the world.

Daman's phone was constantly vibrating in his pocket but he was putting it off because it was late. He also had a lingering suspicion that the princess of Ajmal wasn't taking the news very well. His grandmother must have let the institution know about his decision and it was now spreading like wildfire.

Happy days.

Hera let out a fat yawn as they stood in the lift and haphazardly covered her mouth in an attempt to be proper. She muttered a faint 'sorry' as the duke watched her although Daman couldn't care less about etiquette. He was brought up to be prim and proper, have great posture, speak fluently and pace himself, but the natural way in which Hera acted made him smile.

"That's like the 5th time your phone is ringing since we landed. Shouldn't you get it?" Hera asked concerned.

Daman fished out his phone and silenced the call. "Not someone I want to deal with right now."

Hera caught a glimpse of the caller I.D and saw the flash of Amaani's name. "She's calling this late? What if it's an emergency like you said?"

The lift finally made a stop on their floors and the doors opened. Daman gestured for Hera to walk first before he followed behind. "It's not an emergency. She's simply pissed."

"Why would she be pissed?"

The duke scratched the back of his neck because he purposely left this part out as well. "As much as Amaani loves sleeping around, she was very keen to marry me." He said stressing the very in his sentence. Amaani was practically lovestruck by the duke but he harboured no such feelings and constantly let her down, however when she caught news that he was fine with marrying her, the princess jumped for joy.

Hera stopped in her tracks and swiftly turned around. Alarmed at what he had just told her, her anxiety picked up again. "No. No. You didn't tell me that part. Why didn't you say anything? I can't do that whole love-triangle crap again. I just can't!"

Daman quickly placed his hands on her shoulder's sensing that her anxiousness was getting the better of her. He quickly pulled her closer to him so that their bodies were touching.

Hera was stunned and for more than one reason. His lies of omission would have been a deal breaker for her and now she was flushed at their close proximity.

Daman placed his hand on her cheek and look down at her tenderly. "You're safe with me."

He merely muttered four words but it was enough to calm Hera. Instead of an explanation that she already knew, reassurance would be better.

"You're safe with me." Daman said again softer and more heartfelt. Perhaps Hera would be a bit of work in the future but he willing to put in the effort. Trust was something delicate and Hera has something on him that he was desperately trying to figure out.