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1
Callie
“Ms. Laurel, we have a new request for service.” The unneeded formalities came from Callie’s assistant and were mostly Meg’s way of being a smartass. Megan Gilbert, childhood friend and long-time confidante, stepped beside Callie Laurel with a company smartphone held up for her to see the blinking indicator of a flight request application.
Callie’s heart skipped a couple of beats. This could be it. Their first contract. She tried to remain calm and centered. As the CEO, her reaction set the tone for the entire company.
The first line of the request demanded a 24-hour turnaround. Callie shook her head. That wouldn’t happen. They weren’t a quick-and-dirty company. Hera Aviation specialized in simple luxury with a flight planned in advance. Sometimes it took longer to fuel the planes than twenty-four hours. And they always created an experience for their clients. Well, they would when they got their first contract, but this one wasn’t what they were looking for.
“No.” She tried to leave no room for discussion, but Meg would no doubt try anyway.
“But—”
“No. We have standards, and if we start to alter them, then we’ll become the next out-of-business private jet company.” She’d never let that happen. “Trying to be all things to all people. It never works. They’ll just start to take advantage of you because you let them. I won’t let that happen. Check and see if there are any new pilot candidates in the application after you tell them ‘no’.”
Meg rolled her eyes dramatically. “You know that little speech isn’t all about the company and more about you, right?”
“Just do as I asked, please.” She tried not to let her personal life bleed into work, but sometimes lessons learned outside of business were applicable inside of the business.
Above all, Callie had to remain logical and protect the company, and that included finding that one last perfect pilot. Her standards were high, and she wasn’t ashamed of that. Callie had turned down veteran pilots because of minor infractions and concerns, but when the right one came along, she’d know. They had to have the right heart, the right resume, and above all, the right attitude.
Hera Aviation’s planes were a masterpiece of metal and engineering. Three silver and white Learjets of graduated sizes lined up like soldiers in rank. Callie would never tire of staring at the fleet. But keeping her lifelong dream alive meant the aircraft needed to be flying, not parked in a rental hangar.
Callie gave Meg a lot of credit for helping to make this dream come true. Meg’s marketing and sales plan placed Hera Aviation as one of the emerging sole-owner companies in Denver. The Mile-High City, with its bustling corporate business, ranked sixth on Forbes Magazine’s list of best places for business and career, so it was the perfect place for their endeavor. Plus, getting away from their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, and the shitstorm that had happened there in January made the move to Colorado all that more appealing.
The geography of the location didn’t hurt either. Flying out at dawn with the mountains lit by the rising sun was one of her favorite vistas. The majesty and awe reminded her of her father’s words, “Find beauty in each day,” and now that he was gone, she needed to feel he was still with her.
Greatest Dad on Earth titleholder, Mike Laurel, had helped Callie feel like the most beautiful person every day. On the few days when her positive attitude evaporated like steam on a mirror, he’d be right there to remind her of the other things she excelled at and how a person’s looks meant so little when it came to how that person treated others.
Meg released a long and dramatic sigh. “But?—”
“I said, ‘no,’ and it’s final.” Callie turned toward the office and didn’t look back.
The fall Denver air settled into her, crisp and cool with almost a chill but not enough for a coat. Callie pulled her suit jacket a little tighter around her mid-section.
“Fine. I’ll let them know,” Meg grumbled under her breath. “Callie, wait!”
Callie’s wedges scuffed on the concrete as she stopped and waited for Meg to catch up.
Meg shoved the phone in her face. “They’re doubling their offer.” Her big green eyes widened in emphasis of the money.
They didn’t want to have to rush. That’s how important things were overlooked and last-minute worried her, especially for the first contract. The unorthodox start would always be there in the back of her mind.
But double is double.
Callie shook her head again to clear the thought. “No. It’s not about the money, Meg. It’s about setting a precedent for not being every power-hungry, three-piece-suited jerk’s prostitute airline.”
Meg’s eyebrows rocketed up. “Wow. How poetic. Can I quote you for a brochure, Madame CEO?”
Callie didn’t need to sugarcoat her words. Meg’s job was to work the information into something people would want to read and hear.
Meg cleared her throat. “They can see we’re not booked through the online calendar.”
Oh, right.
Transparency. It was one of the company’s canons. First, clear and accurate details on pricing, availability, and terms. Second, consistent delivery, on-time flights—with Mother Nature’s PMS moods excluded, of course. And lastly, one or two special extras with each flight, where the list of “extras” was tailored specifically to the client with Meg using her wizardry at social media and searching for people on the Internet to get to know them— without knowing them. She was like a bloodhound when it came to finding that perfect small detail to make a flight memorable for the client. At least she would be, if they accepted this job.
No. It’s not the right one.
