Chương 13
“Evelyn.”
Daniel nodded.
He did not ask more.
That restraint had become noticeable.
Olivia hated that she noticed it.
His phone rang.
He answered.
“Nora.”
He listened.
His posture changed.
“Send me her name.”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
He wrote something down.
“Thanks.”
Then he looked at Olivia.
“We have someone.”
“When?”
“Maybe.”
Olivia closed her eyes briefly.
“That word again.”
“Her name is Jasmine Lee.”
“Qualifications?”
“Eight years corporate aviation, current on type, based in Seattle, apparently off today.”
“Apparently?”
“Nora trusts her.”
“That is not a credential.”
“No, but it gets us to the credential check.”
“Call her.”
“I am.”
Olivia’s phone buzzed.
Her face changed before she even opened the message.
Margaret noticed too.
“What?”
Olivia read silently.
Then she handed Margaret the phone.
Margaret swore under her breath.
Daniel waited.
Olivia took the phone back.
“The board agenda was distributed.”
“For tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“What’s on it?”
She looked at him.
“A resolution temporarily transferring contract approval authority over ten million dollars to an executive committee.”
Daniel did not understand the corporate mechanics, but he understood her expression.
“That matters.”
“It guts my authority without removing my title.”
Margaret shook her head.
“It also lets Richard tell investors he didn’t force her out.”
Olivia began scrolling.
“They attached supporting materials.”
“What materials?”
“Travel records.”
Daniel’s attention sharpened.
“Which ones?”
“Flight changes, delays, crew substitutions.”
“Who had access?”
“Operations, finance, executive office.”
“And the board.”
Margaret leaned forward.
“Richard had access to summarized travel expenses, not internal crew notes.”
Olivia stopped scrolling.
“What crew notes?”
Margaret took the phone.
Her eyes moved quickly.
“This.”
She turned the screen toward Olivia.
Daniel watched Olivia read.
The change in her face was small but unmistakable.
“What does it say?” he asked.
Olivia did not answer.
Margaret did.
“An internal note from Martin Keene.”
“About?”
“Chicago to Boston, fourteen months ago.”
Olivia looked up sharply.
“That flight never happened.”
Margaret nodded.
“Because Martin canceled it.”
Daniel stood.
“Why?”
Olivia spoke before Margaret could.
“He said the crew was too fatigued after a schedule change.”
“And what did you do?”
“I argued.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
“Olivia.”
“Twenty minutes.”
Margaret looked at her.
“Forty-three.”
Olivia turned.
“How would you know?”
“You called me during it.”
Daniel said nothing.
Olivia looked back at the screen.
“What does Martin’s note say?”
Margaret read quietly.
“CEO repeatedly challenged captain’s fitness determination and requested alternate interpretations of duty requirements before accepting cancellation.”
The words seemed to remain in the air after she stopped.
Daniel rested one hand on the back of a chair.
“Is that accurate?”
Olivia’s voice became colder.
“I did not ask him to violate duty limits.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“I asked whether another legal interpretation applied because the schedule change was unusual.”
“Did it?”
“No.”
“And after he told you that?”
“I asked him to confirm it.”
“How many times?”
Olivia’s eyes flashed.
“You weren’t there.”
“No.”
“You don’t know his tone.”
“No.”
“You don’t know the circumstances.”
“No.”
“Then stop interviewing me.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
Not anger.
Something more tired.
“I’m trying to figure out whether I can trust your decision-making when you’re under pressure.”
“You’re a contract pilot.”
“And you asked me for more than that.”
The sentence stopped her.
Margaret looked between them.
Olivia’s voice dropped.
“I asked you to get me home.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“And getting you home safely means I need to know whether you hear the word no when it comes from someone you’re paying.”
Olivia stared at him.
The lobby noise seemed distant.
A printer hummed behind the reception desk.
Someone rolled a suitcase across tile.
“You think I don’t.”
“I think you hear it.”
Daniel paused.
“I’m not sure you accept it.”
Margaret looked down.
Olivia felt heat climb into her face.
“You have known me for two days.”
“I’ve seen enough to ask.”
“That is arrogance.”
“Probably.”
“And you’re still trying to work for me?”
“That depends.”
The insult landed before she could stop it.
“Then don’t.”
Margaret’s head snapped up.
Daniel went still.
Olivia heard herself continue.
“I don’t need a pilot who treats every decision as a character investigation.”
His jaw tightened.
“You’re right.”
Something in her chest dropped.
Daniel picked up his flight bag.
“You need a pilot who tells you what you want to hear fast enough that you can keep moving.”
“I did not say that.”
“No.”
He slipped the tablet into his bag.
“You didn’t.”
Margaret stood.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“The Chicago flight.”
“I’ll finish arranging it.”
Olivia’s anger sharpened.
“You don’t have to.”
“I said I would.”
“I’m releasing you from the obligation.”
“And I’m ignoring that for twenty minutes.”
The echo was deliberate.
Olivia stared at him.
Then he walked toward the elevators.
Margaret waited until the doors closed.
“That was stupid.”
Olivia turned.
“Excuse me?”
“You fired the only person in forty-eight hours who has told you the truth without either trying to protect your feelings or take your company.”
“I did not fire him.”
“You told him not to work for you.”
“That is not technically firing.”
Margaret stared at her.
“Do you hear yourself?”
Olivia looked away.
The conference-room door opened.
One of the hospital executives stepped into the hall.
“Ms. Whitmore?”
Olivia straightened automatically.
“Yes.”
“We’re ready.”
The negotiation lasted another three hours.
Olivia recovered enough to save the contract discussion but not enough to close it.
The hospital network requested forty-eight hours to review Whitmore’s governance risk.
In practical terms, it meant Richard’s maneuver had already cost her leverage.
When the meeting ended, Margaret remained silent while packing.
Olivia let her.
They were halfway to the elevators when Daniel appeared from the opposite corridor.
He was no longer carrying his flight bag.
“Jasmine Lee checked out.”
Olivia stopped.
Daniel looked at Margaret rather than her.
“The operator added her to tonight’s assignment.”
“Departure?” Margaret asked.
“Seven fifteen.”
“Arrival?”
“Just after midnight Chicago time, assuming normal winds.”
Olivia said, “Thank you.”
May you like
Daniel finally looked at her.
“You’re welcome.”
