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Helena.
Wiping back tears, my fingers fumbled as I logged into Facetime. She better answer, I swore. This woman better answer.
And in no time, Helena logged on, face smooth and professional, hair slicked back into a bun.
“Helena,” I almost screamed, tears falling down my face. “What’s going on?”
But the woman’s face remained impassive.
“Calm down Joanie,” she soothed. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” I sniffled. “What do you think is wrong? In three days I’ve flown three flights, and unspeakable things have happened.”
The older woman pursed her lips for a moment.
“Unspeakable?” she asked slowly. “My understanding is that you had a good time. Especially given the bonuses that were paid.”
I gaped. Oh right, the money. Forty thousand dollars now sat in my bank account. But my pride was at stake, so I decided to confront her.
“You know what that money’s for,” I whispered, voice ravaged. “You know what it’s for.”
Helena shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t,” she said casually. “We select our stewardesses for their ability to please, and based on the bonus amounts paid to you, the customers have indicated their satisfaction.”
That was corporate-speak for sure.
“You know,” I hissed again. “You know what’s happened.”
But Helena wouldn’t budge.
“I don’t,” she said silkily. “If you’re having problems with your job, just let me know. I can pull you off the rotation and we’ll sub another girl in. Just let me know, Joanie.”
Her voice taunted me, like it was egging me on. She wanted me to quit. This woman wanted me to give up, throwing my hands in the air like a loser.
And I wasn’t gonna give her that satisfaction. Call it perverse, or call me stubborn. But I just wouldn’t give up.
“No,” I said woodenly. “I can finish my flights for this month. It’s no trouble.”
Helena nodded wisely.
“Good,” she said. “That’s what we like to hear from our girls. Now is there anything else, Joanie?” she asked pointedly. “Anything else on your mind?”
I opened my mouth to say no, but then words slipped out.
“If you could send me some more emergency contraception, I’d appreciate it. My doctor’s appointment is in two weeks, so I haven’t had a chance to start with the real thing yet.”
Helena nodded efficiently, noting something on her clipboard off-screen.
“Of course,” she said, voice calm. “Of course, I’ll have that couriered to you right away. And our customers appreciate your precautions, Joanie. Usually, we don’t let the girls on board unless they’re using contraception, but we needed someone to start immediately. So you’re an exception.”
My mouth opened, unable to speak. Clearly, Elite Air had a system going. They knew exactly how to prime and prep the girls for their dirty job.
And soul numb, I clicked off my phone. That hadn’t worked at all. I’d called Helena, seeking solace and comfort. Much use that’d been. The woman was an emotionless robot, someone who knew her priorities. Because she was there to serve the billionaires, not me. She was on their payroll, and not mine.
So my one ally hadn’t turned out to be an ally at all. I was completely alone, the whir of the A/C my only companion.
And with slow steps, I heaved myself up from the bed and into the bathroom. A ghost stared back at me from the mirror. Curls wild and tumbled, brown eyes so big they almost took up my entire face.
