ffice. "And don't worry-after I handle this emergency replacement situation, I'll make sur

in deliberate provocation. He'd worked with Jayden

rossing his face before he regained his composure. He turne

said, his voice firm. "Find out what actually w

"Relax. I'll go have a chat with our little... Jane. Make sure she

over the keyboard-but Michael didn't move. Instead, he leaned agains

up at the ceiling as if contemplating a great tragedy. "I mean, I am

continued typi

y, pretending Jayden had spoken. "

simply shook his head and rested his forehead briefly again

matically, pushing

relia's captain assessment on their first try. She did. If she's asking for a new co-pilot,

ading slightly. He knew Jayden didn't hand out praise

"That's not what you said earlier. You were the one talkin

hought. "Circumstances change. Now go and find out what real

surrender. "Fine. I'm going.

e door, already rea

ai

ed, his hand

pe against the floor. He straightened his uniform jacket

the door. "Then investigate. We can't leave three hundred p

ad across Michael's face.

ng. "All qualified first officers are already deployed. Only you and I ar

ring his voice slightly

nyway, don't steal this heroic moment from me. Let me be

pression completely deadpan. Then he simp

the

rked, mimicking under hi

ed sarcastically, rolling h

ce Room

thickly it felt like you

r to departure time, each tick of the clock echoing loudly in

n the table edge, her knuckles white against the polished wood, told another story. She'd already mad

typing rapidly on her tablet, presumably updating passenger services about the delay. The ground support crew member

es pa

place

kles, watching everything unfold with quiet amusement. She'd made herself at home-even poured herself a cup of co

Jane's acro

You've burned your bridges. Th

e light and casual as if they were discuss

ment board. All experienced pilots are already on duty-either in the air or prepar

a small, m

o you?And even if he would agree to fly as a first office

delay it indefinitely-I step in. Management will notice me, notice how I was willing to put asi

r jaw tightening slightl

g across the quiet room, "than accept an unprofessional co-pi

e room. Several crew member

in her first year with Aurelia-leaned forward

she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "The passengers are already waiting

s never replaced crew at the last minute like this. It could reflect badly o

straight and adjusting her unif

ur knees right now... and maybe I'll stay. Maybe I'll even forget this little incident

le

pressed down on her-pressure to keep the flight on schedul

any new messages or updates. Nothing. N

rked too hard for this-too hard to become a captain, too hard to earn the respect o

h

kn

ar

ea

at cut through the

oor o

e room

ackwood s

he same effortless authority Jane did, his chief pilot bars gleaming on his shoulders, his dark hair perfectly styled b

ir feet, their chairs scrapin

oc

bel

ee cup forgotten in her hand,

ng at the empty seat beside Jane. He placed a thick file on the table-her incident report reques

es meeting Jane's for the first time, "Fir

over the room.

disbelief. Aurelia's chief pilot-flyin

red under her breath,