5
The single word hung heavy, a guillotine poised to fall.
“…I can.”
“Stop spewing bullshit!” Zoey spat, her face purpling with rage.”Do you even have the faintest clue what it takes to ground a plane? That kind of authority? Forget it! Only top brass in the capital could pull that off! What the hell do you think you are?!”
She jabbed a finger at me, trembling with fury.
“You little bitch, all this talk-are you just trying to weasel out of paying?”
Her voice became a venomous hiss.”Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If that million isn’t in my hands before we land… you won’t be walking off this plane alive.”
In less than an hour, she’d threatened me twice!
Inside my unit, such insolence was unthinkable, even in a nightmare.
Without further ado, I took out my phone in front of everyone.
“Sir, it’s Jane Sterling.”
The voice on the other end was warm, welcoming.”Jane! Didn’t expect a call now. How’d the meeting go? Everything… satisfactory?”
I gave Samuel a meaningful look, let out a cold laugh.
“Sir, the meeting… is complicated. Right now, I need to report an urgent situation.” My voice hardened.”Someone is trying to buy my seat.”
“What?!”
The shock on the other end was palpable, crackling down the line.
“That is a non-transferable, designated position! Are you sure you’re not joking with me?”
I continued calmly.
“Sir, I wouldn’t dare joke about this,” I confirmed, my voice steady but urgent.”The person who bought it—no, the person who took it is now accusing me of shoving her. Demanding one million in compensation.” I paused, letting the weight sink in.”She says if I don’t pay… I won’t leave the plane alive.”
A sharp, unmistakable sound of shattering ceramic erupted from the phone speaker.
“Who. IS. SHE.”
Before I could answer, Zoey snatched the phone from my hand with a triumphant sneer.
“Hey, you’re that bitch’s backup, right?”
“Listen up! I want that million sitting pretty before this plane touches down. Or you can start planning her funeral!”
Silence. Stunned silence from the other end. Half a lifetime of unquestioned authority likely couldn’t compute the sheer audacity.
“So you’re the one who stole Jane’s seat? And now you extort her for a million?”
-1300
52%
Zoey still had no idea who she’d offended and remained as cocky as ever.
“Cut the F**King crap. Are you paying or not?!”
Even through the screen, I could feel my boss’s fury.
“Pay? Oh, we’ll pay,” his voice sliced through the air, each word precise and chilling.”But one million? That seems… insufficient for the insult. How about I pay you 100 million?”
“Consider the cash on its way. Sit tight.”
Zoey was momentarily stunned by the sheer scale of the counter-threat. But bravado quickly reasserted itself. She scoffed, her voice dripping with mocking disbelief.
“100 million? Full of shit! You think money grows on trees?” She leaned into the phone, spitting the challenge.”Fine! You bring it! But bring it in cash! All of it! Let’s see you try, you senile windbag!”
She slammed the phone down, then turned to Samuel, puffing out her chest with smug satisfaction, basking in what she thought was a glorious victory over my “pathetic” ally.
I couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
“Mr. Rockwell,” I said, shaking my head slowly, a mix of disbelief and grim amusement in my voice as I looked at Zoey. “You’ve certainly hired a… spectacular secretary. Insulting my boss like that? I’ve never seen such breathtaking… stupidity. Not in all my years.”
Hearing that, Zoey let out a dismissive snort.
“I don’t care who your boss is. The plane’s taking off soon. Get out now!”
Instead of getting angry, I laughed.
“Really? You think this plane is taking off? Without my consent, this plane won’t move an inch. Believe it?”
As soon as the words fell, someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
“Look! Look outside!”
Heads whipped around. Passengers crowded the windows.
Dozens of armored cash trucks were rumbling toward the airport in a grand procession….
< 6
