Chapter 34

Mei-Ling’s office. I’m a volcano of nerves. She tells me to have a seat in front of her desk and I may explode onto the walls. Calmly, I fold one leg over the other while sweat rolls down my back. It’s not as if Mei-Ling’s intimidating, but I’ve always felt the need to impress my manager. Maybe because she reminds me of Pam—she’s been inflight most of her life—and all that natural class tells the story of how comfortable she feels in the world, thriving in diversity. Owning it.

“Zanne, I won’t keep you because I know it’s your weekend,” Mei-Ling says from behind her desk. She’s a petite lady, inky black hair, and never in anything other than a chic power suit since I’ve met her. Her blank expression gives me little to go on. “I wanted a chance to talk to you in person.”

My posture straight, I nod. Oxygen eludes my brain.

“I received LaSalle’s report.” Mei-Ling examines her computer screen. “The passenger who was bitten filed a complaint, which is required if she’s seeking any kind of compensation, or if she wishes to file a lawsuit. Do you want to tell me what happened?”

I run through the details and admit my mistake of misadvising without checking Policy Pages. I don’t bring up Val. Not yet.

“That’s unfortunate,” Mei-Ling says, somber-faced. “The report stated the loose dog attacked another passenger after being let out of its kennel, but didn’t state why it was out, so I appreciate your candor. I know you received a number of poor ratings afterward.”

I almost wish she’d yell at me, scold me, fire me so I can unload, show her the video of Val and Quincy right now… but…

“The passenger submitted a doctor’s letter,” Mei-Ling continues. “It was only a flesh wound, and since the dog was up to date on its shots, there’s no reason for treatment. We’ll refund the passenger ticket, pay the medical bill for one stitch and some antibiotics, and consider this case closed.”

And? I slide my hands under my legs.

“Now, on to your performance.” Mei-Ling moves the mouse over its pad. She angles the monitor for me to better see the screen when a new window opens up. My Crew Review page.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, yours is the fastest climbing score I’ve ever seen.” She highlights my numbers onscreen. “You went up and down quite a bit at first. You hit Future Star, then had the no-show incident, brought it back up, then had the pet incident. And you still managed to glean three more high scores from VIPs. Incredible. You met Quincy Rydell? What was he like?” Her eyes dance.

“Really nice,” I say through my teeth.

“I love that one song, Party in my Hoopty.” Mei-Ling sings a line.

I nod. “Right.”

“Anyway,” she continues, “I’m not going to let the lady with the dog affect your progress, because over all it’s excellent.”

I avert my gaze to the floor. Don’t every employee hope to hear their manager say that? What would Mei-Ling say if she knew just how excellent my service had been all these weeks?

Makes me wonder how Val looks her own manager in the face while they review her collection of accolades and praises.

“I’m content to consider the complaint a lesson in itself, would you agree?” Mei-Ling goes on.

“Definitely.” Today is a clean slate.

She nods. “Good. I want you to spend the next week reviewing policy. I’ll send you some forms to fill out on your free time, as a refresher. I know it’s a lot to remember, but anytime you have a question while on the job, double check Policy Pages. That’s why they’re there. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Great.” She turns her monitor back toward her. “The new quarter is about to begin, and since LaSalle has already filled out the recruit form, all I need from you, is for you to officially accept. You won’t get to announce for another two weeks, but I can get to work on your routing requests as early as today. I know how anxious you’ve been to get a European line.”

My insides twerk at my ribs. Accept. No, I can’t.

Breath in, and out.

Turn it down. I can’t believe I have to do this…

“Zanne?” Mei-Ling searches my face. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Sweat beads at my temples and neck.

She seems to notice my uneasiness and leans back in her chair with a long pause.

Spit it out.

“I’m declining Val’s offer,” I blurt.

Exhale ... There. I said it. Phew. I brace myself for the disappointment, for the wrath. It’s not just about me now—this affects Mei-Ling too.

She’s silent. The air between us grows heavy and awkward and I want to run out of the office.

“I admit I’m surprised by this,” Mei-Ling finally says. “Is it the pressure, because your score indicates you have what it takes—”

“No. I’ve…” I clear my throat roughly, “I’ve worked alongside Val, and… I don’t think we’re a good fit. I’m sorry, I know it’s a good opportunity…”

I pat a tissue to my forehead.

Mei-Ling focuses on her monitor, her fingers clicking over the keyboard. “I understand. It must seem like things are moving at Mach-speed for you and someone like LasSalle can seem intimidating. I remember what it was like to go from a small community to global. It’s overwhelming. Let me just see something here…”

Click, click, click.

Thoughts spin through my mind. This is not how I imagined this moment at all. I was supposed to accept, supposed to work an international line and return to the bayou all sophisticated and world traveled.

“Okay, perfect.” Mei-Ling says to herself, still typing away. “Here’s what I can do… since you’re technically still on reserves and team-less, I can pull you for a European line that just had a spot open up. Temporary, mind you. A flight attendant’s score has dropped and she’ll be bumped from the route, which gives us a unique opportunity. Until a permanent replacement is arranged, I’d like you to fill in a couple of weeks. After that if you decide to decline Val’s invitation, case closed. It’s your choice. But I’d hate to see you miss your chance—your goal—before experiencing an international long-haul.”

My pulse revs beneath my skin like a jet engine. “You’re letting me work Europe?”

Mei-Ling’s face brightens. “Temporarily. Consider it a motivational opportunity. Your passport’s still current, right?”

The pages of my never-before-used passport are still crisp and iron-flat. “Yes.”

“I think this will be really good for you,” she continues. “Since you’re based here, what I’ll have you do is must-ride to Jacksonville as a non-rev, and then work the flight to Zurich, there and back, day on, night off, day on. So it’s a bit more traveling, but it’s a start, and in two weeks you can give me your final decision on whether or not to join LaSalle’s team. How does that sound?”

Dang, she really wants me on Val’s team. Val was right—it looks good even for the management. Is it wrong to accept this opportunity when I already know I’ll decline Val’s offer?

“I won’t be on the Maui route anymore?” I ask, fingers drumming over my knees.

“No, but international lines pay more. I can see about putting you back on the Maui route if you decide you’re better suited for it and decline LaSalle’s invitation. Honestly, this type of opportunity rarely happens, so if I were you, I’d take it while I can.”

She’s right. I’ll work my butt off and be relentlessly helpful and catch the eye of another team leader… wait… oh gosh…

“Um, Mei-Ling,” I say weakly. “Can you tell me who’s getting bumped off the Zurich route?”

She studies the screen for a moment. “Mm, looks like, Sofia Werner. Do you know her?”

The crick in my neck returns with a vengeance. I wince. Why did it have to be Sofia?

“Um, no, not really,” I finally answer. “I met her once before. She was jump-seating. Are you sure she has to be pulled, she really loves that route?”

Mei-Ling studies the screen. “We can’t go into details about other crew members without them present, but you can see from her Crew Review page as well as I can that her ratings have consistently dropped. You know Aether’s philosophy—our customers are always right.”

Booting Sofia out of the route she loves—something I managed to pull off from gaming the system—is not the kind of person I am. But if it ain’t me, it’ll be somebody else. That’s how Aether operates. If I don’t take my chance now, I’ll always regret it. Too much is at stake.

“Yes.” I nod eagerly. “I’ll do it.”

“Okay, I just need to finalize some details and you’ll be on your way.” Mei-Ling’s fingers fly over the keyboard.

I wipe my forehead, pull out my phone and text Pam:

It’s happening. My first gig to Europe. When can you talk?

* * *

Onboard the double-decker Airbus at JAX (Jacksonville International Airport), I join my first international crew briefing before boarding. The purser informs everyone I may need extra assistance as the new girl, which wouldn’t be so embarrassing, except for the fact Grady Banks works this line too. He watches me from across the way, his expression unreadable. I haven’t seen or heard from him in almost two weeks. I have no idea what Val told him.

I made it a point not to wear my pin. Other than Grady’s, I don’t come upon any unexpected winged bling onboard, so that’s a relief. Just me and a normal working crew. No Flight Club.

Doesn’t take long to see the mood onboard is different than with domestic flights. All sorts of nationalities and cultures make up the passenger manifest, and I learn Zurich is a popular connecting city. Many will continue on to other European destinations, as well as Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Since it’s an overnight flight, once we’re airborne, mostly everyone wants to sleep. Our meal service is finished in just over an hour, and since it’ll be around 9 am local Zurich time when we land, the pressure is on for passenger shut-eye. A brand-new day awaits across the pond.

By midnight on my EST watch, lights have been dimmed, and pillows and blankets pulled out. I head up to the upper deck lounge for some down time, until my rest period comes up.

It’s hopping like an upscale tavern. Grady chats flirtatiously with a nice-looking guy. I’d guess he’s European by his pale skin and flushed cheeks, and that hip outfit that screams urban fashion. Grady and I still haven’t acknowledged each other, but once he notices me near the bar, he makes no disguise of it. He swiftly pads over.

I shift my gaze, unsure if I should scat, or stay put, but he approaches so fast, I lose the choice.

“So, I’m gonna need you,” he says close beside me, his voice both anxious and polite. He gives a faint nod toward the guy near the sofa.

I stare blankly.

“And then I’m gonna need a fan,” he says, “because I’ve got the fever for the flavor of Andrin. He’s a tirrgel right out of the oven, isn’t he? I mean, he’s not a VIP or anything, but…hot and sweet and…”

Grady notices my expression.

“What?” he asks. “Is he your BTDT? Oh no—”

I shake my head. “Don’t you know?”

His brow furrows. “You mean that bit about you declining Val’s recruit?” He touches my arm. “I thought it was an exaggeration. You mean it’s not? Zanne, what’s the dealio?”

“What’d Val tell you?”

“Girl, Val does not take rejection well. She said if it comes to it, she’ll have you show up at her next team meeting in Boston, let everyone have a say in how to ensure your confidentiality. That’s the biggest problem, you know? I just figured the two of you got into some kind of row and fangs were bared. I didn’t think you were really considering bailing. You’d be such an asset.”

Obviously, he doesn’t know about my collateral. No shock Val neglected to explain that bit.

“Well I am,” I say. “I don’t want to be under Val anymore. I want my affairs to be private, between only my lovers and me, not the subject of club fodder, or funds for someone else’s retirement.”

Grady flicks a brow.

“Sorry, no offense,” I say. “I just know what I want—what I don’t want.”

“More power to you, hon. But listen, Val is the shit, okay? And you’ve pissed her off. When someone like you comes along and tries to take away her control… well, she won’t make life easy for you.”

“I’m not taking away her control, I’m standing up for my own.” I shake my head incredulously. I thought if anyone would understand it would be him.

Grady leans in close, a hand to his chest, “Don’t repeat this, okay? But I’ve seen it happen with her before. You have what she wants, and you’re keeping it just out of her reach. She’s not the type of person to back down.”

Okay, what the hell is he talking about?

“But I found her,” I say. “Not the other way around. She doesn’t need me, she’s got everything. She is everything. I just want an exit.”

Grady sighs, his expression a condescending-like sympathy. “Think about it. Why do you think I vouched for you that first day we met?”

It doesn’t even matter. Not that I know what he’s talking about anyway. “What do you think will happen now?”

He shrugs. “You know too much. There has to be a viable strategy we all agree on, to protect FC, and the team. It’ll stir up a big debate, you can count on that.”

I want to tell Grady about the collateral I have on Val, but he’ll probably want to see it. And even if he can be trusted to keep it on the down-low, by me sharing it, I become every bit as derelict as Val.

Can’t I please just get on with my aviation career?

What if Val’s team is like the swamp—you can remove the flight attendant from her top status, but she’ll be forever branded by a reputation that someone else decided for her. Instead of the person she always aspired to be.

“Has anyone ever quit FC before?” I ask Grady.

His lips twitch over his clean-shaven chin. “Not that I know of. Hey, I get it if you don’t want any more prospects, and I hate to even ask… but I could really use you as lookout right about now.” His head jerks just as Andrin glances our way. “Any other time I’d stand here all day and chat about your fall from disgrace, but Andrin makes my palms moist, so my heart isn’t in it. Say you’ll be lookout for me. Please.”

It could mean more collateral for me. But Grady’s been cool with me. And even though I’d rather not be his accomplice, he seems really into the guy.

“No problem,” I tell him.

Grady shivers. “You’re an angel. I’ll give you a thumbs up when we’re close to going in.”