Leaving the lounge, Matthew and Margot Robbie, accompanied by lawyer Amal Alamuddin, sought out the flight crew to express their gratitude and exchange a few words.
No one wanted to experience such an incident, but the crew had performed admirably under pressure.
What Matthew didn't expect was that this formal meeting turned into an impromptu autograph and photo session. The crew members, many of whom were fans, couldn't resist the opportunity.
Matthew obliged without hesitation, maintaining his easygoing demeanor.
Once the meet-and-greet ended, Matthew stayed in the airport terminal while Amal's assistant reached out to the rest of the film crew. Soon, news came back: everyone from the production team was safe, with no injuries beyond mild shock.
"The airline is willing to discuss compensation," Amal reported in a VIP lounge. "But the negotiations won't begin for at least two hours."
Matthew nodded. "You handle it."
The airline had shown willingness to negotiate, and Matthew wasn't one to press unnecessarily hard.
Amal took the assignment in stride. Over the years, she had handled many international matters for Matthew, most of which were routine. His star power had also helped her establish herself as a formidable international attorney.
While she made calls nearby, Margot sat silently on a sofa. From the moment Amal arrived, she'd kept her observations to herself. She'd seen Matthew interact with other women before, especially on set, but there was something about this lawyer's confident demeanor that set her on edge.
Though she had firmly committed to being Matthew's girlfriend after their ordeal, the reality was daunting.
Hollywood wasn't small, but she figured it wouldn't take long before she started running into the countless women Matthew had dated.
Even someone as easygoing as Margot felt a headache coming on. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to punch Matthew in the face.
Unfortunately, she knew she couldn't win in a fight against him.
Back in San Diego, during American Sniper's promotional tour, she had seen firsthand how Matthew, unarmed, had taken on multiple U.S. soldiers in close combat and left them all conceding defeat.
Matthew's hand-to-hand combat skills were probably on par with Australia's fiercest kangaroos.
Amal approached Matthew and lowered her voice to discuss something Margot couldn't hear. Whatever they talked about, Matthew nodded in agreement.
Margot withdrew her gaze, knowing she needed to adjust her mindset. Otherwise, she'd end up wanting to fight every woman she encountered.
And in Hollywood? That would mean taking on nearly every young, beautiful actress.
Not to mention the fashion world—if she ever went backstage at a Victoria's Secret show, she might need a sledgehammer.
Perhaps she'd buy a baseball bat, storm into the dressing room, and start swinging at the angels. One swing per angel.
Of course, that was just her venting internally. Even in her most frustrated moments, she couldn't seriously consider such theatrics.
On the plane, she hadn't thought about these complications. Their life-or-death experience and the whirlwind of emotions had clouded her judgment. Now, reality was sinking in.
What was the plan? Say goodbye at the airport? Impossible—they were officially dating now.
Ignore Matthew's history? That wasn't her style.
Margot could overlook his past indiscretions, but fidelity in their new relationship was non-negotiable.
Given Matthew's reputation, the odds of him staying loyal weren't promising.
Margot realized she might spend much of their relationship hunting down other women—or rushing from one confrontation to the next. She'd need a supercar to keep up.
With a sigh, Margot realized that maintaining this relationship would be far harder than falling into it.
She looked at Matthew. For this to work, he would have to meet her halfway. She couldn't fight off every admirer he had.
Margot knew she needed to have an honest conversation with Matthew. Soon.
More of the crew trickled into the lounge. Whether they had flown first class, business, or economy, none of them were injured. It was a miracle.
The production team still needed to reach their next premiere destination, but no one wanted to push people who had just survived a near-death experience. Matthew offered options: anyone unwilling to fly could stay in London temporarily, but surprisingly, everyone chose to continue the journey.
With that decided, Matthew instructed his team to arrange for a private jet to take them to Madrid.
The reasoning was simple: surviving one airplane malfunction was a fluke. The odds of it happening twice in a row were astronomically low.
Amal returned, briefing Matthew on logistics.
"The earliest departure is tomorrow morning," she explained. "There are no available flights tonight, and the private jet won't be ready until then."
With the Madrid premiere scheduled two days away, Matthew agreed.
"Alright," he said. "Make the arrangements."
An evening TV interview had to be canceled, and the rest of the logistics fell to his team.
Amal leaned closer, her voice soft. "Matthew, do you have a place to stay tonight? If not, you're welcome at my house."
Matthew glanced at Amal. She exuded sophistication and confidence. In the past, he might have accepted such an offer without hesitation. But things were different now.
"No, thank you," he replied calmly. "I'll stay at a hotel."
Amal nodded, understanding, and walked off to handle the next steps.
Matthew turned his attention to Margot, sitting on the sofa nearby.
"The hotel's booked," he told her, sitting down. Taking the water bottle she handed him, he unscrewed the cap and took a sip. "The private jet leaves tomorrow morning."
Privately, he resolved to expedite his plans to purchase a personal jet. These delays wouldn't happen again.
"Do you need some rest?" he asked.
Margot shook her head. "I'm fine. Wherever you go, I'll go." She hesitated briefly, then added, "That lawyer… she seems close to you."
Matthew saw no point in hiding anything. His history was an open secret in Hollywood.
"That was a long time ago," he admitted. "For years now, she's been just my lawyer for international affairs." He paused, realizing this relationship required transparency. "Earlier, she invited me to her place tonight."
Margot raised an eyebrow, her tone direct. "Did you want to go?"
Matthew looked her straight in the eye. "I said no." His voice was steady. "I know what's appropriate and what's not. Maybe my past was messy, but I didn't have a girlfriend then. Now, I do."
His smile softened. "I have you."
Margot's gaze held his, her expression unreadable. She thought of her mother's advice: Love isn't always fireworks and drama. Sometimes it's just two people trying their best to make it work.
"Matthew," she said slowly, "I want to say I trust you."
Matthew squeezed her hand gently. "Time will prove it."
With Amal leaving to meet the airline representatives, the lounge was now filled only with the American Sniper crew.
Matthew clapped his hands to grab everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he called out.
All eyes turned to him, curious.
"What's up, boss?" Tyrese Gibson asked with his usual cheer. "I don't see any new faces here."
Matthew didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stood and pulled Margot to her feet, lacing their fingers together.
"I want to introduce someone to you all," he said with a smile.
The room fell silent, confusion spreading among the group.
"Uh, boss?" Tyrese scratched his head. "We already know everyone here."
Matthew's smile widened. "This is Margot Robbie," he said, his tone warm and proud. "And as of today, she's officially my girlfriend."
Stunned silence followed.
For a moment, no one moved. Then the shock hit, leaving everyone—from Sean Bean to Tyrese Gibson—gaping.
Margot, ever the confident Aussie, stood tall beside Matthew, giving the group a friendly wave.
"Hi, everyone," she said, her tone casual but firm.
The room erupted in cheers, congratulations, and disbelief. Matthew, the notorious bachelor, had a girlfriend.
And Margot? She braced herself for what would undoubtedly be a whirlwind ride.
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