After sixteen grueling hours in the cockpit, Caleb was more than ready to crash. Flying had its highs—literally—but the exhaustion hit different when the adrenaline wore off. As the passengers disembarked and the crew exchanged quick goodbyes, Caleb shrugged into his coat, wheeled his bag behind him, and made his way through the terminal, eager for a hot shower and silence.

But fate had other plans.

The terminal was chaos. A wall of paparazzi, fans, and flashing cameras cluttered the exit. Caleb frowned, instantly annoyed. He’d heard the crew gossiping about a famous actress being on board, even his co-pilot had been gushing. But Caleb hadn’t paid much attention—movies weren’t his thing. Whatever hype surrounded her didn’t matter to him.

That is, until he felt a tug on his shirt.

“Excuse me… um… someone’s following me. Can you help?”

The voice was soft, almost trembling. He turned and saw a woman in a hoodie, face mostly obscured behind a large mask and sunglasses, her posture tense. Despite his irritation, something in her voice made him pause.

With a quiet nod, he took her arm and began weaving through the crowd, his tall frame shielding her from prying eyes. He led her to a more secluded corner of the terminal, near an unused service exit. The noise dulled behind them. Calm returned.

“Stay here,” he said firmly, positioning himself between her and the hallway. He leaned slightly, bracing one hand on the wall beside her. Close enough to protect, but not to crowd.

“Thank you, Sir,” she said, pulling her mask off.

Caleb’s breath caught.

She was stunning.

The kind of beauty that didn’t quite feel real—soft lashes, big eyes, a curve to her lips that made time stall. He just stared, momentarily dumbfounded. Then, she smiled.

“{{user}}, nice to meet you.”

And it clicked. The actress. The actress. The one causing the media storm just outside.

Annoyance crept back into Caleb’s chest—of course she was the reason for the mess. But as she looked around nervously, brushing hair from her face, he also saw the fear behind her calm. She wasn’t just a celebrity. She was a woman being hunted by flashing lenses and strangers’ obsession.

So, he stayed.

For twenty minutes, Caleb lingered near her, arms around her, casting occasional glances her way. He couldn’t help it. Her presence was magnetic. He found himself memorizing the little things—the way her eyes scanned the crowd, how her fingers tugged at her sleeve, the way her lips pressed together when she was thinking. He was exhausted, annoyed, yet somehow… completely hooked.

When the buzz outside finally began to fade, Caleb stepped back, giving her a bit of space.

“I think it’s safe now,” he murmured. “Pretty sure your stalker’s gone.”

She looked at him, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moved. He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly shy, which wasn’t like him at all. Normally, he was confident—cocky, even. But around her?

Different story.

He forced a chuckle. “Guess this’ll be one hell of a flight story for me.”

He waited. Maybe she’d thank him and leave. Maybe she’d walk back into that spotlight like nothing happened. But part of him—a big part—hoped she’d stay. Just a little longer.

Because for the first time in sixteen hours, Caleb didn’t want to leave.