orce, slamming against the wall with a sha

First Officer, re

ife through butter. He stood in the doorway for a moment, his broad frame filling the

inst the table as she slammed her hands down, splashing dark liquid across the polished wood. But Michael didn't even glance at her. Hi

oser and extending his hand. "I've heard great things abo

easuring his sincerity-then gave a small, professional

replied. "I trust you've com

is smile never fading. "Even the on

posure cracked completely. Her face flushed red wit

ctor of Crew Assignments-assured me personally no replacement would be availab

ike steel wrapped in velvet. She'd had enough of Jenny's gam

room, gesturing firmly toward the door. "This is an internal crew m

t of her words hun

se le

inal. No room for argument

ation-before turning back to Jane, her glare sharp with resentment and something that looked almost li

her shoulder into Michael's as she passed,

himself, brushed off his uniform jacket, and tu

e said lightly. "She

ifting back into command mode, her posture straighteni

ty minutes. Complete all final preparations immediately. Maria-update passenger services that we're back on schedule

s and hums. The room snapped back into motion, the earlier tension replaced by f

her handwriting precise and neat as she made final notes on fuel con

re – A

ee's meeting space, by the look of the whitebo

pt

of the overhead lights and the distant ro

rting for duty," he said automatically-his voice carry

sto

answer

looked around the empty room. The table was clear, chairs p

ng

that he'd walked into the wrong conference room entir

ket-three quick vibrations

ch

w tightening as he read

ate working with women anyway. Don't worry, I'll handle this flight. You can go back to your paperwork and y

ng. The message was typical Michael-playful, teasin

tered under his breath, hi

he kind that usually preceded him m

id quietly, slipping his

, his steps purposeful and fast as he headed for the correct c

member, he learned they'd a

rther. He'd missed t

he C

loud bursts that made him fumble wit

imself in the first officer's seat and ru

t of her, her hands resting lightly on the yoke, ready to take control at a moment's notice. The cockpit of the

tructed, her voice steady a

ifted into professional mode. His hands moved across the controls with pr

e primary flight display. "Cross-check circuits closed and confirmed. Al

still focused on the runway ahead as the

environmental control system readouts. "Increasing fresh air flow by fifteen percent as a prec

the tower. She'd been impressed by his attention to detail-something many pil

ps for the first time since they'd entered the cockpit,

earlier playfulness r

the final pre-takeoff checklist. "Though... he's far less approachable than you. He's the k

ow slightly, her

g the instruments to meet his for a brief moment, "he must be excepti

worked with-maybe the best in the company. After we land in LA, I'll introduce you. I think you two

r attention back to the controls as

ea

he flaps and setting the thrust levers to takeoff posit

nts

peed with a steady roar of engines. Then lifted

ght had

e – Grou

ay, Jenny stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass w

chi

as it banked gently to the west. She watched it climb higher and higher,

now, each time watching someone younger or less experienced get the position she felt she deserved. And now Jane Harley-someone who'd only been a

lling through her contacts unt

al

nected on th

the receiver, her voice carrying none of the anger

ice on the other end, her lips

ontinued, her gaze never leaving the spot where the plane had disappeared int

ponded-low, indistinct, but cl

d, her fingers tighte

e it looks like an accident

ck into her pocket. Then looked back at t

into something satisfi

in motion. And Jane Harley