Chapter 21

Knowing Val LaSalle owns a voice recording of me confessing to sex in the lavatory is like knowing she’s seen the future and knows the exact day of my death. Makes my skin crawl. She hid it deliberately, so she’d have the advantage. Now she wants me to be her first officer as well? Not to mention, have me do the dirty work of tricking Amanda into a confession, and it sounds like others at some point as well.

All the perks in the world don’t seem worth it.

From the DCA crew lounge, I access my Crew Review page on my phone. My overall score is at 68, thanks to Chandler and Derek both. Two heavyweights from one flight, plus a few more random non-VIP ratings put me at the brink of Future Star.

For now all I have to do is keep it there. If Val asks more of me, well, I’ll cross that jet-bridge when I get to it. Business as usual till I figure out my options. Waiting around on reserves all day at the airport does nothing to occupy my mind.

Bzzt! An Aether notification comes in and I jump.

Nervous, much? It’s a last-minute line. Time to get moving. Viva Las Vegas!

* * *

Onboard the wide-body Airbus, Flight 515 to LAS (Las Vegas Airport,) I cruise through the main cabin, introduce myself to crew, and scan uniforms for winged hearts. I want to be on my toes and prepared for anything. In new-hire training we’re told not to think of each other as competition, but rather, as equals with similar goals in mind, but the more I work these longer flights, the more I realize every single one of us craves that Top Nobility team spot. Some of us will do anything to get it. That woman Sofia from my first flight was already suspicious of Val. Now, Amanda is suspicious of me. But no one can prove anything. Except Val.

In the rear galley my gaze falls onto a tiny bit of uniform bling.

Bingo!

Light brown skin, dark hair piled on the top of her head like curled package ribbons, and bright brown hyper-alert eyes.

“Oh, thank God,” she says when she catches sight of my pin. “I’m Geneses.”

Why I felt compelled to wear the pin, I don’t know. Maybe I ain’t ready to contradict Val. Not while she holds that recording over my head.

“Zanne.” I’m short, uninterested. Better if I mind my own business.

“Thought I’d be on my own for this one.” Geneses’ honeyed voice lowers. She steps in close. “I don’t like stressing out in the heat of the moment, you know what I mean? It’s always better to have a lookout. Did you see the manifest?”

“Not yet.”

“Send out some cosmic vibes, mami. I spotted at least three prospects on the first-class manifest. A campaign manager in the Titan’s Club, a hotshot author, and oh! that movie star—you know, the one who plays Aqua Guy’s long-lost little brother—Kai Corbin? He’s a little bit young for me, but I’ll still hold his big trident if he wants me to, I don’t mind, I’m an equal opportunity girl.” She winks. “Unless you want him. I’m not sure if any of them are married, but they’re not traveling with companions.” She gives her shoulders a little roll with what looks like excitement. “I say we scout the overall vibe, plan our attack together, and alternate lavatory usage. Oh, wait, you’re not one of those who likes to stake claim in advance, are you?”

“Not at all.” I smile weakly. She seems nice enough.

“Excellent.” Geneses lays a hand on my arm briefly. “Cause all that hissing and dissing gives me bad juju, know what I mean?”

I nod. “Totally.”

I recheck our surroundings for listening ears. “Can I ask you…” My voice is almost a whisper. “Did you know there’s a recording of your initiation?”

Geneses shakes her head with a pout. “Not of me. No way. I heard Val does that with her team. I’ve been in the club a long time though. You don’t have to be on Val’s team—anyone can be FC.”

“How’d you get…” I gesture to her heart pin.

“This?” Geneses taps the pin. “Grady gave it to me. Pins just mean you’re an ally, lets others know we lookout for each other.”

Nerves prickle beneath my skin and I scratch my arms through my blazer sleeves.

“Wait a minute,” Geneses says, “are you on Val’s team?”

“Not yet. But she’s got my confession on her phone.”

“Oh, yeah, she’s got her eye on you then.” Geneses gives a little click of her teeth. “I’m not surprised to be honest. You’re an obvious choice.”

I groan. “I was coerced.” I glance around again, keeping my voice down. “No one told me I was being recorded.”

“Girl, I’d be livid, too.” Geneses scrunches up her face, twirling a loose curl that hangs at her neck. “But if you think about it, it’s smart. She uses it to protect herself, and control her team’s performance. She’s got the most to lose, you know—all that money she’s making being Top Nobility? She can take time off and still bank income off her team members if she plays her cards right. Maybe that’s what her plans are with you.” She shakes her head. “But… she can lose her position just as fast, too.”

I feel a headache coming on. I push my fingers through the top of my hair. Val has me cornered—if I do poorly to get off her team, I’ll lose my job. If she shares that recording of me with management, I lose my job. Since she’s Top Nobility, I can’t even be traded to another team unless she chooses to.

“Look, I don’t really know you,” Geneses adds, “but you’re new here, and young. You seem like a good person, so here’s my dos centavos: make nice with Val, play along, learn her weak points and use them to get what you want. But be careful. Sounds like you’re in pretty deep already. If you ask me, somebody ought to have a recording of Val’s confession too—strike up some balance to the power, you know?”

Hmm. She’s right. It could be my only way out.

“But…” Geneses goes on. “Everyone raves about her. And everyone wants on her team. So, ask yourself what it is you really want. Val’s the golden ticket to world travel and higher pay. Just make sure you don’t trade one set of rules for another.”

“Something to think about.” I nod. “Thanks for being so open with me.”

“Anytime. Val don’t own the Mile High Club—she just gave it a shiny new name and slapped some rules onto it to work the system. Don’t forget that.”

Amanda’s judgy face pops into mind. “If a non-member caught us in the act, could we’d lose—"

“Shh, the first rule.” Geneses cuts me off, gesturing across the middle rows of seats where another attendant passes. “Come on, let’s go get our briefing.”

We stroll toward the front of the aircraft and Geneses holds onto my elbow, leaning her head close to my ear. “But you know what, before FC, I couldn’t get no heavyweight ratings unless they were unhappy about something. Now, I get to meet my boyfriend in Vegas twice a week and we have the time of our lives. He’s a professional gambler. Treats me so good.”

“You have a boyfriend?” I almost choke on the words. “How does that even work?”

Geneses nudges me. “You’d be surprised. We have a liberal arrangement. I call him my boyfriend ‘cause he never stands me up, never cancels, and we have so much fun together.”

“Wow,” is all I can think to say.

As a child I thought Mama was narrow-minded and selfish for booting out my dad—he wasn’t bad, he was just messing around. Made me think relationships were a waste of time. I mean, love ain’t supposed to be possessive, right? And most of the time sex don’t have nothing to do with actual love. Fidelity seemed like a mythical concept, and I never used to get why it was so important to Mama when it came to my dad. But I think I do now… she wanted something meaningful—something more than attraction and excitement. A pledge that she was enough. Enough for Dad to forget about everyone else.

My heart squeezes as we step into the first-class galley.

“By the way,” Geneses whispers to me “These double decker Airbuses are my favorite. Have you seen the lounge lavatories yet?”

I shake my head.

I wish I had her attitude. Maybe I’m overanalyzing Flight Club, and Val. In another three months the next quarter will roll around and Val will get me whatever route I want. As long as I somehow address the Amanda situation, and make Val believe I’m her liaison. At least till I can get what I need on Val.

* * *

I once read somewhere that in ancient times it was commonplace for men to have as many as a hundred wives at a time, especially if the men were of royalty. Imagine: the freedom to sleep with that many different people—that’s over three months of having a different lover a day—and be respected for it.

That type of justification is how Val designs her “haute-culture” perspective, as well as explains the chip on her shoulder with regards to double standards. She has a point.

She found out Amanda’s schedule for me and sent me a list of other crews working Amanda’s flights so I could, but I keep putting it off. I’ll have to give Val something next time I see her, but I need time to figure out my plans. Meanwhile, my overall score has stalled out at 71. Four different airports, sixteen hours inflight—Eastern Time Zone to Mountain Time Zone—and back again. Plenty of potential prospects—some that would’ve been too easy even. But I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Inside my apartment, my phone chimes.

My manager. For a split second, my heart drops. I’m reminded how quickly it can all come crashing down. Sucking in a deep breath, I answer.

“Zanne?” Mei-Ling asks on the other end.

“Yes?”

“Are you ready for some good news?”

What? My hands tremble. “Sure.”

“Your recent score was so close to Future Star status,” she says. “that we went ahead and pushed you over. What’s four little points, right? Congratulations!”

“Um, whoa, that’s incredible! I mean, thank you!” My breath hitches.

“I’ve gotta hand it to you,” Mei-Ling says. “We were beyond concerned when your ratings dropped from your first flight. I wasn’t sure we’d see you make it off probation, much less through the summer, but you’ve set a new record—fastest rising score in Aether’s history.” Her voice is so bubbly, so proud.

My knees turn to jelly and I have to steady myself with the kitchen counter.

“I’m very impressed,” she continues. “I wish all our crew were as dedicated and ambitious as you.”

Deep breath. “That’s so sweet.”

“Keep it up and you’ll be a Rising Star by summer’s end. Possibly even have a shot at Team Leader down the line. What’s your secret? I’d love to share your insight with the others.”

I clear my throat. Dang, this feels all kinds of rotten. “I dunno, uh, I guess I really made a point to pay attention to customers’ needs.” My voice is still scratchy. “Relentlessly helpful, I mean. That’s what it’s all about. Like my godmother taught me.”

My neck feels like it’s breaking into hives. I scrape my nails across it, up and down, side to side.

“Absolutely.” Mei-Ling’s voice beams. “I was looking over your reviews and some of these are so astonishing—VIPs, celebrities, even a congressman.”

“I’ve been really lucky on my flights.”

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

“I don’t think luck has any part to play here,” she says. “It’s a result of hard work, and I applaud you. On behalf of Aether Airways, I’d like to thank you for your diligence and excellence.”

My neck’s on fire, probably bleeding by now. I strain to project my voice. “Thank you.”

“Now for the fun stuff… Your record-breaking Future Star status means I’m expiring your termination warning early.”

Thank the stars.

“You’ve proved you deserve to be interacting with our best customers. Along with that, you’ve earned the next level in pay, so you can expect to see that in your upcoming paycheck. And… best of all, I just received a call from the Top Nobility team leader, Valentina LaSalle—she’s got her sights on you, which is no easy feat. Isn’t that great? Keep your score where it’s at, or higher, and she’ll recruit you to her team. I know Europe is your routing of choice, so you should know, once you make her team, you’ll be well on your way.”

My head spins. It’s all happening so fast—everything I wanted, but…

“Mei-Ling, is that the only way? I have to make the Top Nobility team?”

“Or one of the Notable teams, at which point you’ll go on a waiting list for a spot to open up on a European line. They all stay pretty full, so you probably wouldn’t get anything permanent, but possibly reserves while you work long-haul domestics on a permanent basis. For now, though, I’m going to move you to a temporary base part of the week, so you can keep Reagan on reserves, and work a steady long-haul line the rest. We want our best crew working our highest profile flights. How does Maui sound?”

“As in, Hawaiian Island, Maui?” My voice is now a strange blend of vibrance and frailty.

“The one and only. You’ll travel back and forth Reagan to Maui three times a week, have a hotel base in Maui, work one day on, have two days off in Maui, then one day on, two days off in DC. Back to Maui, and so on. That way you can become familiar with the island on your days off. Familiarity will better help you answer questions from passengers who’re traveling there for the first time. That is, if you’d like. You’re always free to turn down any offer.”

Pam’s always raved about Hawaii. I’ve always wanted to see it. But…

“Zanne?”

“Yes. My answer is yes.” I’ve come this far.

“Wonderful,” Mei-Ling says. “I thought you’d agree. Grab your grass skirt, ‘cause your first official route begins Monday. They’re ten-hour flights, so rest up. I’ll send out your hotel and schedule by this afternoon…”

She continues with more details and I run my fingers through my hair. Unbelievable. If nothing else, maybe some island air will clear up these rashes.