Falling at 30,000 feets

s reflecting a sky of soft grey and pale blue that looked far calmer than the storm brewing inside. The building gleamed under the morning

ey looked like they could cut glass. Every step was measured, every movement controlled, her dark hair pulled back in a perfect bun that showed not a single stray stra

he nameplate-Mr. Winston Cheng, Senior Operations Supervisor-glinted under the overhead lights, and she coul

-firm, clear, imp

me

as casual,

raft sat gleaming under the sun, ready for their morning routes. Mr. Cheng sat comfortably behind his massive mahogany desk, a cup of coffee in hand-black, no sugar, just the

ont of his desk, her hands clasped behind

raising her volume. "I was the one who navigated us through severe turbulence, I was the one who identified the medical emergency bef

fixed on hers with an expression that was equal parts amusement and disdain. He

flicker of irritation crossing he

ry single one documenting my actions on that flight-suddenly appear on Jenny Burrows' evaluation rep

f the air conditioning and the distant roar

rate care on its saucer. "You and Mr. Lincoln had a fight, didn't y

f her personal life were somehow rel

ttempt to change the subject. "That's between me an

Aurelia Airlines' major shareholders. Not just a figurehead-he has real influence on the board. When he personally

m, cataloging every gesture, every word. She'd worked under him for two ye

back you up... but this matter is too complicated. There are interests at play here that you couldn't po

ere was no warmth in i

rt move. I can even arrange for you to keep your position as tra

ismissive, as if the very idea of

n-but her smile carried something else entirely. Expectation. Confidence.

out her phone. The screen glowed bright against the morning lig

g eye contact,

he room-clear, s

uite the he

hours earlier in the restau

promotion was guaranteed... now you've transferred her credits t

btly, but noticeably. His hand tightened slightly on

he muttered, his vo

d a long time ago to document everything. E

ane could react, he leaned forward and snatched the phone from

she cou

le

red for a split sec

hing more than a discarded toy. "My hands slipped," he said mockingly, a cold smile returnin

arsh sound that made

e corners of her mouth tilted upward into a shar

act, I counted on it. The moment you pressed delete, the file was automatically uploaded to a secure cloud server-and I have multipl

altered-his jaw tighteni

ng a large ceremonial banner that must have been six feet long-deep red silk with gold fringe and tassels that swayed slightly with each step, catching the overhead lig

his mother, his expression a m

is here? You realize this is a corpor

, her silver hair styled in an immaculate chignon. "While your father has been away in Europe handling the international divisions, Aurelia's

r three generations. "I'm going to be there for my future daughter-in-law. She saved my life-she

ond, nearly dropping the banner

uture

ly's lifesaver-who else would I be talking about? We must stand up for her. S

s grip on the banner as other employees pa

bit flashy, don't you think? She's already refused the whole 'strategic alliance'

supervisor's office. "All looks, no guts," she said lightly. "You won't know if it works until you try. Standing here u

et's go. I want to make sure everyone in this building knows exactl

the o

r face just inches from Cheng's, her voice

berate. "Cutting my flight hours, assigning me to the worst routes, questioning every decision I make.

is. "He's made it clear that corruption is the one thing he won't tolerate. If this recording rea

id spreading across the polished wood. "I've been with this company for fifteen years! I know where all the bodies are

mmering resentment. The scent of coffee mixed with the sha

h

force it slammed against the w

ing my li

seemed to glow under the overhead lights, her posture straight and unyielding. Behind her stood Jayden, calm but watchful, still holding the ma

is face paling as

o stand up, knocking over a stack of papers in

cted Jayden might follow up on his offer, but she'd never imagined

with authority as she walked toward the des

being obeyed, "does Aurelia Airlines allow vermin like you to call the shots? To cheat dedicated employe

the distant sounds of the a

st lik

ce of pow

since yesterday,