He looked at her with an uncertain smile. It was a reaction with which Sakura was familiar. She knew that she was beautiful. Her parentage—a British mother and a Japanese father—was a genetic lottery with excellent odds. Sakura had got more numbers in that draw than most.

“Are you English?” Sakura asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“The accent.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“A little.”

She pretended to study the menu as the noise of the engines increased.

“Have they offered you champagne yet?”

“I just sat down.”

“They’re carrying two today: Billecart-Salmon 2006 Vintage Brut and Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. They’re both good.”

“I don’t drink.”

“Not at all?”

He shook his head. “Not at all.”

“That’s a shame. Not even for a special occasion?”

“What would that be?”

“Getting upgraded.”

The man laughed. One of the other flight attendants came by with a glass of orange juice and carefully placed it down on the table attached to his seat. The man took it and sipped. His movements were economical and considered.

Sakura asked for a glass of the Brut Rosé and then gestured back toward economy. “It’ll be a lot more comfortable up here than back there.”

“Much more.”

“Good,” Sakura replied, warming to him. “I’m Sakura, by the way.”

The flight attendant returned with a flute and a bottle of champagne. She showed Sakura the label, removed the cork, and then poured. The man raised his glass, and Sakura leaned across the lowered privacy screen to touch her flute against it. She took a tiny sip. She knew that she couldn’t have too much, but she didn’t want anyone to notice her abstinence.

“Can I ask you a question?” he said, placing his glass down.

“Of course.”

“Is my being up here anything to do with you?”

“Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know—it just seems very coincidental after what happened at check-in.”

She paused before answering, determined to make sure she pitched her reply correctly. After a few seconds, she decided to be honest, or at least after a fashion.

“You were very chivalrous. Everyone else just stood there watching. I thought that was nice of you, so I called in a favour.”

“The porter would have picked it up.”

The aircraft lurched back, causing their glasses to slide an inch.

“But he didn’t. You did.” Sakura anchored her champagne, desperate to pick it up and drain it although she knew that she could not. “I’ve always thought that one good turn deserves another. Don’t you think?”

She gave him a grin as the aircraft settled and reversed into position.

“You got me an upgrade because I picked up your case?” He sounded dubious, but, at the same time, a smile played across his lips.

She shrugged.

“Well, it’s very generous. How did you manage it?”

“I used to fly myself,” she said. “I can still pull the odd string.”