Page 27 of Mile High Ruin

I insulted him, poured champagne on him, let him kiss me in a restroom, and spent the rest of the journey avoiding eye contact because I apparently lose all professional judgment around silver-haired billionaires with control issues.

The safest possible outcome is never seeing him again.

I tell myself that several times while we finish clearing the cabin.

It doesn’t help.

Camille insists on taking me out that night.

I object initially because I’m exhausted, jet-lagged, and still deeply aware that I have just completed the strangest assignment of my career, but she dismisses every excuse and tells me that sitting alone in a hotel room replaying the day will only make things worse.

Unfortunately, she’s right.

So three hours later, I’m standing inside a crowded club with music vibrating through the floor and a drink in my hand, wondering how private aviation somehow turned into this.

The place is elegant without being pretentious, all low lighting, dark wood, mirrored walls, and people dressed like they expect to be photographed without warning.

Camille looks completely at ease.

I don’t.

She leans toward me. “You’re thinking about him.”

I nearly choke on my drink. “I’m not.”

“You’ve been quiet for ten minutes.”

“That doesn’t automatically mean thinking about Vadim.”

“It does tonight.”

I stare at her. “How much do you actually know about him?”

Her expression changes slightly. “Not much.”

“You’ve flown him before.”

“Yes.”

“So you must know something.”

“I know what he drinks. I know he hates delays. I know Anton handles security, Marek enjoys provoking him, and Iosef usually works through most flights.”

“That’s service information.”

“That’s most of what I need.”

I swirl the ice in my glass. “What about who he is?”

Camille watches me for a second. “I don’t ask.”

“That sounds healthy.”

“It is.”

I look at her. “You really don’t know anything else?”

She shrugs. “He owns several companies. He travels constantly. People become very attentive when he enters a room. Nobody who works around him likes discussing him.”