“Sure,” he said, slipping it off and handing it to me. He moved easily, unbothered, with no need to perform for anyone. I stowed it away and returned with a tray. “Would you like something to drink before takeoff?” He glanced up to face me. “Do you happen to have Jack and ginger?”
“Yes, we do.” I gave a small smile.
“Great. I’ll take one if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all.” I headed to the galley, fixed the drink, and returned a few minutes later. He was settling in, one arm draped casually over the armrest, watching the quiet bustle of boarding.
“Here you go,” I said, handing him the glass.He took it carefully from my hands and then looked up at me again.
“Thank you. You’re very efficient and fast.” I let out a short laugh. “Well, that’s a way to describe my job.” He laughed a little.
“You seem like you’ve got it down to a science.”
“It’s more like muscle memory at this point,” I said, then asked him, “Do you fly often?”
“Way more than I would like,” he said, taking a sip. “Usually business. But, this one’s a mix.” I nodded.
“So, Paris for both business and pleasure, huh?”
“Well, technically just work, but I’m hoping for a quiet night or two while I’m there.” I didn’t press. Passengers said all kinds of things. Some wanted to talk, some didn’t. He seemed like the kind who didn’t mind a good conversation but wouldn’t want to waste his words either.
“Well, let me know if you need anything else,” I said.
“Will do,” he replied, then leaned back and looked out the window. That was my cue to notice the conversation had just ended.
I moved on to the other passengers and kept serving some drinks. To be first class, there was nothing unusual happening, nothing worth remembering.
No famous people to tell Rose about.
CHAPTER TWO
theo
The ice clinked softlyin my glass as I opened my laptop andtried, once again, to finish the welcome email I’d been rewriting since last night.At least I have the subject line.
Excited to join the team.
And I have a draft. Just three paragraphs of corporate-safe bullshit, all hollow by the way.
I stared at the blinking cursor, my fingers frozen above the keys. This isn’t just another trip. This is the end of a version of my life and the beginning of something that, quite honestly, I’m still not sure I’ve earned. Or want.
I take a slow sip of the Jack and ginger. It’s good. Way stronger than I was expecting. So was the flight attendant, now that I think about it. She was calm, sharp, and quick with clean replies. No fluff, no forced smile.
She was just… present.
That’s rare. Most flight attendants don’t care about you, or care too much. And I get it, they’re doing their job, some of them go above that, and some of them just stand out. Like she did. She didn’t ask for my name, but I guess she could see it on her little tablet as I ordered the drink.
I glanced up for a second, looked around the cabin, and spotted her behind me on the aisle, tucking a blanket over an elderly woman a couple of seats back. She looks like the kind of person who can make even the most chaotic thing easy.
I look back at the screen.
I’m honored to step into this new chapter at Hayes International, and I look forward to…
Nope.
Delete.
My body is in this seat, but my mind is back in every boardroom, every strategy meeting, every well-meaning conversation about legacy and vision that has landed me here. I sigh louder than needed, and the person next to me gives me a judgmental look.
