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“Who is it?” I softly said. I’d finally felt myself beginning to drift into sleep, as the wind whipped along past the upper-floor windows of the house.
“Alicia?” said a familiarly deep, gravel-toned voice. I sat up in bed and pressed the phone close to my ear.
“Mr. Ryder?” I asked.
“Please,” he said. “Call me Jake. I’m sorry for calling you this late, but tomorrow’s Sunday and I wanted to give you as much notice as possible…”
My heart sank. He was no doubt calling to tell me that it wasn’t the right time, that I wasn’t experienced enough …
“… given that I’d like you to leave with us on Monday.”
My eyes practically bulged out of their sockets. “You want me to leave,” I said slowly. “Leave where?”
There was silence, then I heard him speak again. “I’m sorry,” said Jake. “I ought to have been clearer. I’d like to offer you a position with us. You have a six-month probationary period, and following that, you’ll begin as a senior flight attendant. You’ll be working primarily with our private charters. I have a jet leaving Chicago Executive Airport at 8 a.m. on Monday. I’d like you to be there at 6 a.m. to prepare for takeoff. My secretary will send you the particulars. The salary, in particular, is highly competitive.”
I couldn’t believe it. Jake was offering me a job!I was going to be back in the air again!
“That’s … that’s incredible, Mr. Ryder,” I said. “Thank yousomuch. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“I’m counting on it. And, please, call me Jake.”
My heart beat a little faster when I heard that, and I pressed my legs up to my chest. “This is amazing,” I stuttered. “I can start on Monday, sure, no problem. Who’s the client?”
Jake chuckled. “Why,” he said, “it’s me, Alicia. You’re assigned to my private plane.”
OnMondaymorning,beforedawn, I got up and did my hair, my makeup, everything. I wanted to look my best for my first big day. I called a cab, and by 5:45 a.m., I was outside Chicago Executive, a dingy little airport that was a common spot for private charters. The plane itself was beautiful, a HondaJet, silver with red and black trim, which had been flown in from Jake’s private warehouse that morning. It was stationed there, where the pilots were busy conducting their final safety checks.
Inside the cabin, it was warm and spacious, lit beautifully by soft, yellow lights which complimented my skin tone perfectly. “I’m Alicia,” I said, introducing myself to the pilot on the windswept runway in the darkness.
“Hi!” said the pilot. He was a stocky man, maybe sixty years old. “Jim Jennings,” he said. “I’m the flight coordinator for CAA. And Mr. Ryder’s private pilot, when the need arises,” he said, grinning.
“Nice to meet you, Jim!” I said cheerfully. “Who’s on the roster today?” I asked.
“Well, today it’s Mr. Ryder, and his business partner at CAA, Tom McLaughlin,” said Jim Jennings, checking things off on his clipboard as I followed him around the HondaJet’s sleek, gorgeous exterior. “And a potential investor, a Mr. …” he broke off, peering at the clipboard, “Andrews. Stephen Andrews.”
Stephen Andrews? I knew that name. Stephen had been a major investor in airlines over the last ten years.
“Guess I’d better get aboard and get everything ready!” I laughed. “Oh, one more thing,” I said, and Jennings looked up from his safety checks.
“Uh huh?”
“Where are we flying to?” I asked.
Asitturnedout,we were going to L.A., where Jake, his business partner Tom, and Stephen Andrews were going to tour the company headquarters. After I found that out, I decided to get straight into the cabin and start to prepare the plane. I wanted everything to be perfect for Jake’s important business meeting.
My outfit was stunning. I was dressed in CAA’s standard uniform, one which Jake had placed in the flight attendant’s cabin in my exact size. Had he gotten that information from Sam? I didn’t know, but I was delighted by the sea-green blazer and pencil skirt that I’d be wearing aboard every flight for the company. I had an orange necktie, but it wasn’t made of cheap, synthetic material. No, this was made of silk. I felt like a million bucks by the time I’d gotten dressed.
The plane was equipped with everything, so by the time I’d familiarized myself with the manual and the journey plan, I brewed some coffee. There was everything I’d need on the plane to provide an amazing experience for Jake.
By the time he stepped aboard, it was 7:30 a.m. “Glad to have you aboard, Alicia. You got everything you need?”
I nodded. “All except for breakfast foods, Mr. Ryder.”
“Jake, call me Jake!” he said, grinning. “And don’t worry. The pastries will be here shortly. There aren’t many bakeries in Chicago that would deliver at this time of day.”
“This plane is incredible,” I said, taking in a breath as we looked around the cockpit together. I was already aware of Jake standing beside me, of his height as he stood above me, and of the way, he took up three times the space in the cabin as I did.
“I’m glad you like it,” Jake replied. “Come on,” he said, putting his arm gently around me. “I’m sure you’ve been working hard already. Take a seat.”
