Stars of My Heart

The private plane was quiet and peaceful, with the low, steady sound of the engines filling the background. Emily woke up from her nap with a slight movement. She stretched her arms, yawned lazily, and blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the soft light of the cabin. Sitting in her seat, she picked up her cell phone from the table next to her and checked the time.

"How long did I sleep?" she mumbled to herself, still drowsy.

Noticing Matthew's absence, she looked around, frowning.

"Matt? Where are you?"

One of the flight attendants who was organizing a nearby tray approached with a polite smile.

"Madam, the young master is in the bathroom."

Emily nodded gratefully, giving a slight smile.

"Thank you."

She sat back down and leaned back comfortably, picking up her cell phone again. She started scrolling through her social media feed, liking comments from fans and replying to a few. The distraction was welcome; it helped pass the time while Matthew returned.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the cabin, and Emily looked up. Matthew appeared in the aisle, adjusting the sleeve of his casual shirt as he walked with that relaxed confidence that always accompanied him. His eyes landed on her, and he smiled, tilting his head slightly.

"I see my princess is awake."

Emily rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile that formed.

"Yeah. And while I was here, alone, you were... where again?"

He sat down next to her, letting out a laugh.

"Hey, I told you I was going to the bathroom. Don't tell me you missed me?"

"Not at all, Lancaster." She replied, scoffing playfully, as she went back to fiddling with her phone.

Matthew just smiled, resting his arm on the back of her chair. "Are you messing around on the networks again? Don't you get tired of being so adored?"

Emily laughed, showing him the screen.

"Look at this. Someone said I should launch a fashion line under my name."

Matthew leaned in to peer at the screen, his face inches from hers.

"Sounds like a good idea. An Emily Lancaster line. It suits you."

"I'm still not used to that last name." She laughed, putting the phone aside. "It sounds very fancy."

"It suits you, then." He replied, winking.

The mood between them was light and full of subtle teasing. Emily turned to him, a defiant smile on her face.

"Do you really think it suits?"

Matthew leaned in a little closer, until their faces were very close. "I think so. In fact, it suits me so well that I don't think I'll be able to do it without doing it."

Before she could react, Matthew kissed her. It was a slow kiss, but full of intensity, and Emily, surprised, let herself go. She ended up getting closer, her hands instinctively going to his shoulders as the kiss deepened. Feeling the heat of the moment, she settled on his lap, and their embrace became tighter.

However, a discreet movement to the side caught her attention. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that one of the plane's crew members had passed by, casting a glance before quickly looking away. Emily instantly blushed.

"Matt..." she murmured, burying her face in his neck. "Someone saw."

Matthew laughed softly, running his hand through her hair affectionately.

"So what? We're married. They have to get used to it."

Still, Emily was embarrassed. He, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the situation. With a quick movement, Matthew held her in his arms princess style, eliciting a small cry of surprise from her.

"Matt! What are you doing?"

"Solving your problem, dear. Let's go to the room."

She tried to protest, but ended up laughing, hiding her face in his chest as he carried her down the aisle with firm steps. When they passed one of the flight attendants, Matthew just nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The airplane room was equally luxurious, with a king-size bed and minimalist but cozy decor. Matthew pushed the door open with his shoulder, entering and closing it behind him with his foot. He carefully placed Emily on the bed, as if she were made of glass, and sat down next to her, laughing at her sullen expression.

"You have no shame, do you?" she grumbled, crossing her arms.

"No." He answered simply, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "Besides, what's the big deal? You're my wife, remember?"

Emily sighed, but ended up laughing too, letting herself fall back onto the bed. They stayed there for a moment, enjoying each other's company as the plane continued its smooth journey.

Outside the room, the plane crew tried to keep a serious and professional expression, but it was impossible not to comment among themselves.

"They really do look in love, don't they?" said one flight attendant to another, as they organized some trays.

"Yeah. It even makes me a little jealous." The other replied, laughing.

Despite the comments, everyone kept the utmost discretion, knowing that they worked for a family that demanded the utmost care in matters involving its members.

Even more so if they lost their dream job over a trivial matter.

In the room, Emily picked up her cell phone again, while Matthew watched her with a calm look. She was scrolling absentmindedly through social media, until something caught her attention.

"Look at this, Matt." She said, showing him the screen. "It seems like they announced that the footage will be broadcast live to some journalists in Italy."

Matthew looked at the screen, interested.

"Is this good or bad?"

"Well, I guess." She replied thoughtfully. "But it also increases the pressure."

He put his arm around her, pulling her closer.

"You're going to rock it, like you always do."

She smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I hope so."

They were silent for a moment, just enjoying each other's company as the plane continued to cut through the sky.

"You know, Matt," she began, looking at him. "No matter how luxurious my life gets, what really matters to me is this."

"This what?" He asked, confused.

"Moments like this," she said, with a sincere smile. "Just the two of us, without all the pressure of the outside world."

Matthew was silent for a moment, before smiling too.

"That's why I fell in love with you."

She laughed, hugging him. "You really know how to make a woman feel special, Lancaster."

He kissed the top of her head again.

"Because you are special, Emily Lancaster."

And with that, they settled back into bed.

The afternoon sun hung over Florence, casting a golden glow that seemed to highlight the city's timeless beauty even more. The view from the plane's windows had already impressed Emily as they descended, but nothing compared to the impact of setting foot on that historic soil. As she stepped off the plane, she felt the slightly warm air, with a subtle scent of history and civilization. It was as if every corner of the place had a story to tell.

"Matt, will you stay here with me for a few days?" she asked as they walked side by side toward the arrivals area.

Matthew, always aware of his surroundings, watched the people who hurried past, carrying suitcases and hurrying to find their destinations. He sighed, his expression turning a little melancholic.

"I would love to, dear. But unfortunately, I can't. I have to go back to the company. These weeks away have already accumulated a lot of work."

Emily stopped walking for a second, looking at him with sad eyes and lips slightly tilted in a pout.

"Oh..."

He stopped beside her, smiling at her expression, and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Don't make that face. I promise to come back as soon as I can."

Emily sighed, still a little frustrated, but took his hand and squeezed it lightly as they walked again.

"Okay. But you'll have to make up for it."

When they reached the baggage claim, the place was busy, with tourists and locals mixed together. Their bags arrived quickly, and Matthew was the one who took charge of pulling them while Emily, beside him, admired the surroundings curiously.

"This all seems so... magical," she murmured, smiling as she observed the airport's architecture, with elements that mixed modernity and Italian tradition.

"And this is just the beginning," Matthew replied, giving her a loving look.

As soon as they reached the airport exit, the sound of horns honking and the constant hum of the city enveloped them. Emily, who seemed to be taking in everything around her, was surprised when Matthew gently pulled her into a hug.

She didn't hesitate to reciprocate, wrapping her arms around him and snuggling comfortably against his chest. For a moment, the two of them stood there, standing amidst the chaos around them, as if the entire world had disappeared.

"I'm going to miss you, you know?" she murmured against him.

"Me too, honey," he replied, squeezing her lightly before kissing the top of her head.

A few minutes later, a black car pulled up in front of them. A man in his fifties, with neatly combed gray hair and impeccable posture, quickly got out, looking slightly distressed.

"Mr. Lancaster, I apologize for the delay. Traffic was more chaotic than expected."

Matthew nodded, his expression calm.

"No problem. Thanks for coming."

He opened the back door of the car for Emily, who stepped in gracefully. Once Matthew had gotten in and closed the door, the driver adjusted the mirrors and drove off.

The scenery of Florence was mesmerizing. The narrow streets, lined with historic buildings with ornate facades, were filled with a mix of excited tourists and locals going about their lives. Emily was glued to the car window, enchanted by every detail.

"This is so beautiful," she murmured, almost to herself. "It feels like I'm in a movie."

Matthew smiled at the sight of her so excited.

"I knew you'd like it here."

"Like is an understatement." she replied, turning to him with a twinkle in her eyes. "When we have some free time, you'll take me to explore every nook and cranny, okay?"

"Sure," he said, taking her hand and intertwining their fingers. "But don't forget that you're here for work, Mrs. Lancaster."

She rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"I know. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself a little, right?"

The car continued on through the streets, until it finally stopped in front of the Uffizi Museum, one of the city's greatest cultural gems. Matthew got out first and walked around to open the door for Emily.

"Miss Lancaster," he said, with a playful smile.

"Always such a gentleman," she replied, getting out of the car and looking at the imposing building in front of her.

The Uffizi Museum was everything she had imagined and more. The majestic columns, the perfectly carved statues, and the air of reverence that seemed to emanate from the place left her almost speechless.

"So, this is where you're going to film?" Matthew asked, walking beside her.

"Some of it, yes." she replied, still amazed. "I read that some scenes will be shot inside the Uffizi Gallery. I can't believe I'm going to work in a place like this."

He smiled, watching her excitement.

"You deserve every opportunity you get, my dear."

Emily turned to him and took his hand.

"Thank you, Matt. For everything."

"Always."

Inside the museum, the grandeur only increased. Emily and Matthew walked side by side, accompanied by a guide who explained some of the processes involved in filming. Emily was attentive to every detail, while Matthew, although less interested in the technical part, was happy to be there with her.

As the guide spoke, Matthew looked away for a moment and noticed an older man who seemed to be watching Emily from a distance. He frowned, but before he could say anything, the guide caught his eye again.

The man, with gray hair and an imposing posture, did not seem intimidated by being there. He held a cane, which lightly touched the ground with each measured step. His eyes were fixed on Emily, as if he were evaluating something.

"Is something wrong, Matt?" Emily asked, noticing his distraction.

"No." he replied, looking back at her and smiling. "I just thought I saw someone I knew."

She dismissed it, returning her focus to the guide, but Matthew still felt a slight uneasiness.

As Matthew and Emily continued their tour of the museum, the older man, who had remained at a distance, silently left through another entrance. He walked with firm steps to a black car that was waiting for him outside.

As he got in the vehicle, he picked up an envelope that he had left on the seat and began to study it. There were documents with photos of Emily, news clippings and other personal information.

The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror, hesitating before asking:

"Is that her, sir?"

The man let out a heavy sigh, his fingers drumming on the envelope.

"Yes, it is her. I just don't understand how this happened."

The driver was silent, but his expression showed curiosity.