Falling at 30,000 feets

ols of illumination across the cream-colored walls as Jane Harley walked briskly toward the bank of elevators. Her black leather heels clicked in qu

ere was still a lingering sense of satisfaction in her chest, a

on cutting through the low hum of conversatio

en, her fingers automaticall

dinner as a thank you. She wouldn't take no for an answer-already booked a table a

nuine, the kind that reached her eyes

her blazer pocket. She'd met passengers like Eleanor Blackwood before-k

r gaze-and pa

ed two familiar figures seated at a corner table tucked away from the main dining area. The table was positione

y Bu

in Reuben

ged. Sharpened at the edges, hardeni

t-but Jane knew that look all too well. It was the same one Jenny had worn when she'd convinced their flight school instructor to let her retake an exam she'd failed, when she'd talked her way into the co

y breath that carried none of the a

cou

this-quietly ambitious, strategically charming, and willing to bend rules... or people... to get ahead. And Reuben-well, he

unhurried, her expression calm and composed as if

's teeth ache, "you should've seen Jane today. She was quite the hero-saved that weal

as he leaned back in his chair, clearly entertained by th

tone casual but deliberate, her eyes flicking toward the entrance just as Jane dr

of an empty chair as she looked down at them both. "Interesting phil

ads sna

s suddenly looking garish against her pale skin. She pulled her foot ba

ning as he set his wine glass do

are you d

recorded everything you just said. Every word about transferring my evaluation credits to Jenny. Will you restore my sco

ed uncomfortably like fear. "Jenny is your cousin. Family supports each other-that's natural. Must y

voiding Jane's gaze as she reached for her

th unspoken accusations and

h

ac

e quiet restaurant, making nearb

eek, her palm stinging slightly from the impact. The red mark

room, "is called exploitation. And don't you dare pretend this is about what Jenny 'needs'

onto his, hard

to decide what I do with my

uben's chair scraped loudly against the wooden floor

ed, his voice echoing slightly

but before it could swing forward, a firm gri

. Effortless. Almost e

nches from Jane's face as he stared do

him, "know that violence shouldn't be directed at women. T

ge as he tried to pull his arm free-but the grip

th anger and embarrassment. "This is between me and my

oked down at Reuben with an expression that was calm but undeniably dangerous. His amber e

"I believe I just heard Ms. Harley refer to you as her ex-boyfriend. And even if you were still i

hard enough to make him stumble back a ste

staurant, broken only by the soft clink of silve

er tone cutting through

linary committee's offices? I'm sure they'd be delighted to hear about your

uised, his anger barely contained

have connections-people who owe me favors.

nt challenge before he turned sharply,

ove. We'r

pletely shattered, and followed him without a word, casting one last fleeting look

hey left, hanging in the air like

rner of the room, away from the main dining area and prying

acing through the implications of what she'd just done. Confronting Reuben

oments ago had been sealed outside. A candle flickered in the center, casting warm light across their faces as a server ap

epted a glass of water from the server, her shoulders relax

is eyes across the table. "I had it under

bottle of white wine and asking the server to bring t

in a gesture of introduction. "Jayden Blackwood. Ca

en shook his hand. His grip was firm but not overpowering, his callou

inee captain with

t them alone, "was my mother-Eleanor Blackwood. She insisted I meet yo

you," he added, his expr

er glass halfw

them, the candle flame

flatly, setting her glas

atching her with an intensity that

interested, Mr. Blackwood. Saving lives is my duty as a captain-not a way to gain connections or

hair. "But my mother has a heart condition-stress could trigger another attack. I ca

in every detail-from the slight tension in h

a temporary shield against unnecessary trouble. People like Reuben Linco

s rising instinctively. "A strategic allian

my mother happy and help you focus on your career without constant in

in. "Sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I'm focused on my c

nge contacts with me," he said, pulling out his own phone. "Help me complete this... mission. Otherwi

herself. She'd met Eleanor Blackwood only briefly, but

ng up her contact information. "Fine. But if your mother

exact

ing through the quiet conversation. The

ssional demeanor falling into place

or just announced that you failed the final assessment-all your scores have been marked as unsatisfactory. Only Jenny Burrows met th

around her phone as she stared b

le. "That's impossible-I passed every compone

to argue, but they said the final evaluation was 'revised' this morning. Th

ended wit

ense of what she'd just heard. Reuben had said she'd regret confrontin

g her chair back with a scrape

something came u

ly, rising with her and reaching for

uick and controlled-but urgent, every step carrying the

alfway to the exit. "I have to get back to the off

wd with the same speed and determination that had define

h before pulling out his own phone. His expression had hardened, the easy c

relia's internal security system-one he'd install

r mother, Captain Jane Harley, was just fired five minute

ort that popped up on his screen-details of the score changes, the names of everyone

ised the phone to his ear,

d me the full

ing as he stared toward th