Page 8 of The Sun Sister

‘Electra,’ she corrected herself. ‘I must ask you whether you would prefer to take some rest during the flight or would like to use the time to go through a few things with me?’

Given the fact that Zed had been my playmate up until four a.m. that morning, I chose the former and as soon as we were airborne, I pressed the button that turned my seat into a bed, donned my eye mask and fell asleep.

I woke three hours later, feeling refreshed – I’d had plenty of practice at sleeping on planes – and peeped out of a corner of the eye mask to see what my new PA was up to. She wasn’t in her seat, so I supposed she must be in the bathroom. Pulling off my mask, I sat up, and to my surprise saw Mariam’s rear end lifted towards me in the narrow aisle between the seats.Maybe she’s practising yoga, I thought, as she was kneeling on all fours with her head bent to the floor in what looked like a variation of the child’s pose. Then I heard her muttering to herself and as she raised her hands and head slightly, I realised she was praying. Feeling uncomfortable that I was observing her in such a private act, I averted my eyes and went off to use the facilities. When I came back out, Mariam was in her seat, tapping away on her laptop.

‘Sleep well?’ she smiled at me.

‘Yeah, and now I’m hungry.’

‘I asked them to ensure there was some sushi on board – Susie said it was your favourite when you were travelling.’

‘Thanks. It is.’

The cabin attendant was already by my side. ‘Can I help you, Miss D’Aplièse?’

I put in my order – fresh fruit, sushi and a half-bottle of champagne – then turned to Mariam. ‘Are you eating?’

‘I already did, thank you.’

‘Are you a nervous flyer?’

She frowned at me. ‘No, not at all. Why?’

‘Because when I woke up, I saw you were praying.’

‘Oh,’ she laughed, ‘that is not because I am nervous, it is because it is midday in New York, which is when I always pray.’

‘Right, wow, I didn’t realise you had to.’

‘Please don’t worry, Electra, it is not often that you will see me in prayer – I usually find a discreet private space, but up here...’ She gestured around the cramped cabin. ‘I could not fit into the toilet.’

‘You have to pray every day?’

‘Oh yes, five times actually.’

‘Wow, doesn’t that cramp your style?’

‘I’ve never thought about it like that, because it is what I have done every day since I was a child. And I always feel better for it afterwards. It is just who I am.’

‘You mean what your religion is?’

‘No, whoIam. Now, here is your sushi. It looks delicious.’

‘Why don’t you join me while I eat? I don’t like drinking alone,’ I quipped as the attendant poured champagne into a flute.

‘Would you like anything, ma’am?’ she asked Mariam, who had slipped into the seat opposite me.

‘Some water, please.’

‘Cheers,’ I toasted her. ‘Here’s to a successful working relationship.’

‘Yes. I am sure it will be.’

‘I’m sorry if I’m ignorant of your ways.’

‘Please don’t be,’ Mariam comforted me. ‘If I were you, I would not have known anything about them either.’

‘Do you come from a strict family?’