‘So who is this mysterious stranger, then?’ I ask my colleague as we stand together in the First Class galley.
‘Are you seriously telling me you don’t know who that is?’ replies Katie, shaking her head.
‘I am.’
‘I suppose you haven’t been flying very long, have you?’ she adds.
‘No, I haven’t.’
‘OK,’ she says, pursing her lips. ‘That hunk of deliciousness is possibly the greatest man alive.’
‘That’s a bold statement.’
‘It is,’ agrees Katie, but she doesn’t seem in a hurry to retract her outlandish remark.
‘I take it you have proof?’
‘What are you, a journalist?’
‘No.’ I smile. ‘But it’s a pretty big statement to make.’
Another stewardess joins us, by the name of Lauren.
‘Izzy here has never heard of Mr Remarkable.’
‘No, that can’t be true!’ exclaims the newcomer to the galley.
‘You know who she’s talking about just by the nickname?’ I say.
‘Everybody around here knows about Mr Remarkable,’ explains Lauren.
‘So how did he get the nickname apart from the obvious?’ I ask.
The girls look at each other and smile.
‘Girl, you have it bad,’ suggests Katie.
‘What do you mean?’ I reply, playing it dumb.
‘We all want to sleep with him, but that’s not what makes him remarkable,’ says Lauren.
‘Isn’t it?’
‘You think that’s how he earned his nickname?’ questions Katie.
‘You mean neither of you have slept with him?’
‘We’ve tried,’ admits Lauren, smiling at Katie. ‘Trust me, we’ve all tried.’
‘Is he gay, then?’
‘He’s not gay,’ says Katie. ‘He’s definitely not gay.’
‘I guess he’s just choosy,’ decides Lauren. ‘I’d sleep with him in a heartbeat, but then I’d still sleep with him even if he didn’t look like a stud muffin.’
‘Now I don’t understand,’ I say, shaking my head.
‘Then let us tell you a little about Mr Henry Hopper,’ begins Katie.
‘I’m all ears.’
‘You heard about the latest episode in the book of Henry Hopper, didn’t you?’ clarifies Katie.
‘You mean buying the ticket for the crying girl,’ I say.
‘Yes.’
‘It’s not the first time,’ explains Lauren. ‘Legend has it that Henry used to fly a lot as a child. His parents were back and forth across the Atlantic, so much so that he pretty much grew up in and around airports and planes. His mother passed when he was a teenager, which must have been hard for him. Then he and his father started drifting apart.’
‘No one really knows how or why it started, and whenever anyone has ever tried to ask he just smiles and discreetly changes the subject,’ says Katie. ‘Maybe it’s the travelling,’ she suggests. ‘It has opened his eyes to the world around and the suffering, or maybe he’s just a very kind man, but he’s the closest thing to a saint I think any of us will ever meet.’
I look at her.
‘You still don’t get it, do you?’ insists Lauren.
‘It was kind what he did for the crying girl, but the man’s father is a billionaire so I get why he would do it.’
‘But that’s the tip of the iceberg,’ Katie assures me. ‘My sister was due to get married two years ago. There was a freak storm and the marquee, everything, was ruined. She was devastated. It was two days before the wedding. Henry happened to be on my flight and must have overheard me talking about it. Next thing I know he’s made some calls and my sister suddenly has a new venue, just like that. He wouldn’t take a penny for his troubles.’
‘OK.’
‘A friend of ours got herself in trouble in Dubai on a stopover. Henry Hopper is in town visiting one of his father’s hotels. Henry goes out for the night. The charges mysteriously get dropped. He flies her out of the country on a privately chartered plane that night. He is a saint. You ask any of the girls and they all know someone with a story to tell about Henry Hopper and they all end the same way. He fixes the problem with little or no fuss.’
‘How come the press has never heard of this?’ I ask. The question is on my lips before I can stop it.
‘He never asks for anything in return except for one thing,’ explains Katie. ‘You don’t talk about it.’
‘Why wouldn’t he want people to know?’
‘He’s a very private man,’ says Lauren. ‘He’s Mr Remarkable. That’s his name. He doesn’t need to have another and people do know. They just choose not to tell.’
‘So you see, Miss Renwick, that’s why I’d sleep with Mr Henry Hopper in a flash, even if he didn’t look like such a handsome devil. He has the kindest heart I have ever known.’
‘So none of you have slept with him?’
‘We flirt and he flirts and it never goes too far,’ says Katie.
‘And the legend of Mr Remarkable continues to grow,’ adds Lauren. ‘And that seems to be just the way he wants it.’
‘So he doesn’t have a girlfriend?’
‘No,’ they reply with a collective shake of their heads.
‘And you’re sure he’s not gay?’
‘He’s absolutely not gay, but it wouldn’t even matter if he was,’ says Lauren.
‘Because you’d sleep with him anyway,’ I say.
‘That’s right,’ she says with a nod.
‘Excuse me,’ whispers a voice through the curtains.
Everyone looks at each other. As I am closest, I ease back the curtain.
‘Hi,’ whispers the girl who I first met crying back in the airport in Los Angeles.
‘Hi,’ I reply.
‘I don’t mean to intrude, but I was really hoping to talk to Mr Henry Hopper. I believe he’s the gentleman I need to thank for being on this flight. Do you think it would be OK?’
‘I’m sure it will,’ replies Lauren. ‘Why don’t you just wait here and we’ll let him know that you want to speak to him.’
‘Only if he’s not busy,’ insists the crying girl.
‘Why don’t you go ask Mr Hopper, Izzy?’ suggests Katie.
‘OK,’ I say and set off from the galley, unsure why I suddenly feel quite so nervous. Before he was just some hunk I intended getting some with, but now he is an entirely different prospect and my earlier plan is going up in smoke before my very eyes.
He is quietly reading a film magazine, seemingly unaware of the furore around him.
‘Excuse me, Mr Hopper,’ I say, standing at his elbow. He looks up, and up close those huge brown orbs really are something.
‘Hi,’ he says.
‘I’m sorry to bother you,’ I begin.
‘That’s OK.’ His voice is quiet, but has a resounding depth to it. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘There’s a young lady who’s very keen to talk to you. She would like to thank you for your act of generosity earlier today.’
‘You were with her in the airport, that’s right?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m happy to talk to her, but she really doesn’t have to worry.’
‘All the same, I imagine she wants to thank you,’ I say. ‘It’s what I would want to do if someone had shown me such kindness.’
‘OK,’ he says with a smile. ‘I’ll be right there.’
As I turn to leave, he turns his head back. ‘Miss, I was wondering if I might have another pillow. Would that be possible?’ He is smiling at me, but we both know that he is gently mocking me at the same time and I suddenly realise that it is definitely on.
‘I deserve that,’ I say. ‘The girls were talking and I made an assumption.’
‘What do they say about assumptions?’ He has a relaxed manner, one that is easy to warm to.
‘Can you blame me for jumping to that conclusion? I mean, look at you and look at them. Why wouldn’t I think that?’
‘I was always taught never to judge a book by its cover,’ replies Henry Hopper. The way he is looking at me I can feel my temperature starting to rise.
‘You’re not real, are you?’ I say. ‘This is all a dream. You’re actually a figment of my imagination and in a minute I’m going to wake up.’
‘Probably,’ he agrees. ‘But before you do wake up tell me one thing.’
‘What would you like to know?’
‘Marilyn Monroe slept only in Chanel No 5. What do you sleep in?’
‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’ As I turn away my heart is pounding and my groin feels funny. This is a feeling I have not felt for a long time.
I watch Mr Henry Hopper as he invites the girl to sit down next to him and orders her a drink. He has no airs or graces but listens intently to the girl asking her about her family and I am transfixed. The girls are right. This is no ordinary man. There is something calm and gentle and unbelievably warm about him. It would be easy to fall for him. It would be so easy to fall for him, but that is not the objective so I need to stay strong and stay focused, but boy, joining the Mile High Club with Mr Henry Hopper could be a whole lot of fun.
The girl stays a while. He is the perfect host, but eventually, despite wanting to remain where she is, she realises that she is in danger of outstaying her welcome and quietly returns to her seat in Business Class. I could wait a while, play it cool and seem distant, but my whole body is buzzing and suddenly Mr Henry Hopper is at the very centre of my universe. And anyway, the man specifically requested another pillow!
‘Your pillow, sir,’ I whisper slightly theatrically.
‘And there was me thinking you’d forgotten,’ he replies with that easy smile.
‘Not at all.’ I affect a look of mock-indignation. ‘I take my job very seriously, sir.’
‘I’m sure you do.’
‘You were busy,’ I continue, warming to the subject. ‘I didn’t want to disturb you. That would have been rude.’
‘It would have been,’ he agrees. ‘So you’ve been watching me, waiting for an opportunity to deliver this pillow you have so carefully been minding for me.’
‘Yes, but when you say it like that it makes me sound like some creepy stalker,’ I admit.
‘That would be a shame.’
‘What would be?’
‘If you were a creepy sex stalker then I’d be stuffed, well and truly. It’s not like I can get off, is it?’
‘You want to get off?’ I ask, eyes widening. ‘I think I can help you with that.’
‘You do, do you?’ he asks with a conspiratorial air.
‘I can, but just for the record,’ I continue, ‘I never mentioned anything about being a sex stalker.’
‘Was that me just dreaming, then?’ he asks.
It is so definitely on. I can feel my stomach tingling with desire and my nipples are starting to get itchy. Yes, I want this and I’m pretty sure so does Mr Gorgeous himself, but hey, there’s no need to rush this. In fact, maybe I should slow the moment down just to be sure. That way I can get him good and ready.
‘You should be so lucky.’
‘I feel pretty lucky,’ says Henry Hopper, ‘and I was always led to believe one good turn deserves another.’
‘I did bring you a pillow, that’s true,’ I comment. ‘So what good deed will you do for me?’
‘I can think of a few.’ The way he looks at me leaves me in no doubt at all as to where his mind is heading.
‘You want to get down to it right here?’ I ask. ‘I know First Class offers a great many privileges, but I’m not sure where that sits in relation to earning extra air miles.’
‘There is a certain club I have always wanted to join,’ remarks Henry Hopper.
‘You’re not in that club?’
‘No.’
‘That can’t be true,’ I retort playfully.
‘Here we go again. You’re making assumptions, and what did we agree about assumptions?’
‘I’m shocked!’
‘Wait a minute!’ says Henry Hopper. ‘You’re shocked that I’m not in the Mile High Club, not because I’ve asked you to join?’
‘Yes,’ I reply simply.
‘OK.’ He can barely keep the grin from exploding all the way across his face Cheshire cat style.
‘I have a question.’
‘Just one?’ he says.
‘Why ask me? You fly with beautiful women all the time. You could have your pick of any of the girls here. They’ve admitted as much to me, and yet you never do, so what’s different about now, or is this just some elaborate ruse you’re playing to amuse yourself?’
‘It’s not a ruse, I promise,’ says Henry. ‘I wouldn’t trifle with a girl’s emotions in such a way. I may be many things, but I hope I am not cruel or callous. As for why now, that’s pretty easy to answer, and I assume nothing. We’re just bantering, but you may still change your mind because talk is cheap and I wouldn’t blame you since it could have grave consequences for your career.’
‘You’re not a screamer, are you?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘That’s not a definite answer. Any screaming could be a real problem here.’
‘It would be bad form,’ agrees Henry.
‘That was nicely avoided.’ I steer the conversation back in the direction I want it to head. ‘Why are you making this offer to me and why is it happening now?’
‘Do I really have to answer that question? Because it almost sounds like you’re fishing for compliments.’
‘What can I say? A girl needs an ego boost every once in a while.’
‘Even one as beautiful as you?’ asks Henry Hopper.
I blush. Such a simple yet eloquent sentence and it’s not a line, and now my heart is hammering against my chest. I really want this far too much.
‘I can’t work you out, Mr Henry Hopper. Are you really a player in disguise?’
‘You asked me before why I haven’t slept with any of your beautiful companions and the reason is very simple. I don’t mix business with pleasure.’
I frown.
‘The Atlantic is like my office,’ he explains. ‘I spend a lot of time up amongst the clouds and it would just be awkward, and who wants that?’
‘So what you’re hoping is that I get the sack or you never intend using this airline again, which will inevitably lead to me getting the sack anyway.’
‘No, I just can’t keep my eyes off you. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.’
‘Now you’ve gone too far,’ I say by way of reproach but my body is starting to feel hot and heavy and very soon my mind is going to shut down and I’m not going to be able to resist, and screw the consequences. ‘You’re a bad boy, aren’t you?’
‘The question is do you want to find out?’ he asks.
The devil laughs and right there I know that I am going straight to hell, but I figure the ride could be a whole lot of fun.
‘I think the bathroom is that way,’ I say, nodding my head in the direction of the First Class cubicle.
‘I guess it’s game on, then,’ remarks Henry Hopper and just the thought of being locked in a confined space makes me go dizzy. I’ve got it bad. I’ve got it real bad. I feel nervous and giddy and suddenly I am transported to secondary school and behind the bike sheds with Jason Cooper. It brings a smile to my face. It’s definitely time to scratch that itch.