anor Blackwood reached calmly into her handbag and pulled out her phone-an

mmanding presence she'd shown moments ago to someth

her fingers moving with pr

ng l

happening. She'd known Eleanor was well-connected, but this-broa

ld have seen this coming. His mother had never been one to solv

la

he empty doorway where Mr. Cheng had just stood. The ring light attached

hed her eyes, "you all know me-I only share wha

doorway and was straightening his jacket, froze mid-movement. H

started, his voic

in the shot. The young pilot stood tall, her uniform crisp, h

saved my life yesterday mid-flight-navigated us through severe turbulence, coordinated emergency care before we even land

public praise. She'd never been one for attenti

ward Mr. Cheng, who took an involuntary s

anor, "insists someone else deserves the credit for yesterday's heroics. So tell me-what exactly i

be

ooked straight at him, her smile never wa

lia Airlines are watching-including the CEO, who I happen to have on speed dial. I

ith anger to pale as paper. The confidence he'd tried t

inted a shaking finger at her. "You're pushing your luck! Y

, his hands reach

hat pho

stance in a single stride. His hand shot out to stop

oulder, his grip lande

ange resistance-fabric

h

f

through the air before landing

le

ete silence fil

with surprise but her face otherwise perfectly composed. She'd seen plenty

't even try

stomach, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she doubled over slightly, still

to his now fully exposed bald head. The sparse patches of hair that remained were sl

hing else-power, ang

iliation

fingers fumbled with the synthetic hair as he tried to stuff it back onto his hea

pe. The door slammed so hard the glass in the frame rattled, and hi

r click

silence hung

d tap, her laughter finally dying down to soft ch

just occurred, "he just had to make me use social media tactics. I'd planned to handle th

alf-laugh. He ran a hand through his hair again, this time with

lliant. And exactly what they'd ne

e instantly, her eyes t

e gestured toward the corner of the room. "Go on-present that banner to m

d propped against the wall. The gold fringe caught the light as he unfolded it carefully

le less rigid. He'd been prepared to play the dutiful son, to go along with his mother's plans as he always did-bu

o Jane, holding the

than usual, carrying a note of

e. She'd expected gratitude from Eleanor, but this-from Jayden, th

ted, reaching

electric pause settled between them. The contact was brief-barely a se

sti

eyes

tightened just a fraction on the banner, in the way neither of them pulled away immediately. It was a moment of recognition-of seeing each other no

de, her smile softening int

loo

son finall

ortable, she stepped in, gently taking Jane's hand in both of hers. H

ermanent captain position. My livestream has already reached half a million views-by mornin

Jayden. She nodded slowly, her mind already racing thr

just heard something very interesting in the hallway while wai

She'd reviewed every policy document related to pro

t pe

nough to make it feel like a secret shared between fr

offers married permanent captains the chance to apply for a fully furnished apartment in the city c

cally, pressing a

ge of becoming permanent... but still single

n swa

a

lly hear her unspoken message. He shifted his weight,

reviewed internal documents-all of them, including the confi

adiction. She patted Jane's shoulder gently, he

ocuments. They're what we call 'targeted incentives'-designed to keep specific people happy

screen. She'd been granted access to restricted sections of the company's system

ew

s the sys

yes w

rtment in the city's most desirable district, covered utilities, even a parking spot in the building's garage. "The location... it's just two blocks from St

citement fading as she read the fi

ria

o married permanent captains-part of the company's "fami

hange in her expr

move

staring at the banner in his hands. "what do you think of my son? He's a good

grasp. She looked from Eleanor to Jayden, her m

l business arrangement. "And you're single too. These days, some people ma

adache forming behind his eyes. "Mom-t

tly. She ignored her son completely, her eyes fixed on Jane's face. "If only I could see my son settled down...

ething that looked almost like hope. She thought of her mother, alone in their small countryside home, struggling to manage on her own. Sh

ita

ou

h

butterflies in her stomach. "I agree. If this is what it ta

ned up, her eyes sparkling with triumph as she grabbed

I knew you were a smart girl, Jane. This is perfect-perfect for

other way, to do anything but enter into a marriage of convenience. But as he looked at Jane'

d

mile form

e door. "We're registering right now-no sense waitin

ognized the Blackwood name-had everything prepared. Signatures on pre-printed forms. Witnesses brought in fr

nat

ume

nes

st lik

yden Blackwood wer

liding the marriage certificate across the desk to them. "Congr

next to Jayden's, bound together by law and circumstance. I

l the weight of it there-more than just paper, more than just a legal docum

e lobby, his camera set up and ready. He adjusted his lens, glancing between the t

them in front of a simple backdrop of white

se before-during the incident in the restaurant, when he'd saved he

her

ing his camera angle. "You're married now-y

Jane could feel the warmth radiating from his uniform, could smell

but friendly. "Let's get a shot that ac

shoulders touching fully now. Both stiffened slight

through his viewfinder. "Now lean in a

liar. Jane's lips curved into a small, nervous smile, whi

rv

consc

ery inch be

... one.

brief

er, something that felt less like obligation and more like possibility. Jane saw something in his amber eyes-care, respect, maybe

n