ffice smelled like stale coffee, chea

nds clasped so tightly in her lap that her fingers ached. Frank was a heavy ma

onto the cluttered desk. "Do y

t was her pre-flight readiness report. A massive red s

y. "I had a severe personal emergency this morning. I

th irritation. "FAA regulations are black and white. Mandatory rest period was v

it was only by a few minutes! I made the fl

ht. "It's out of my hands, Carr. The numbers don't lie. And with the prom

hit her like a physi

. "I have perfect evaluations. I covered three extra red-eye shifts just last month when we

rs. "The board has made their decision. Based on overall performance metrics

self, her knuckles turning stark white. "Kate? Frank, she doesn't have half

his tone finalizing the conversation. "That's

low murmur of the bullpen suddenly sounding like a roaring ocean

its protective plastic wrapping. Brennen was standing right next to her, his arm

eyes flicked up

ped his arm back, dropping his hand from Kate's waist as if he had be

second, her eyes narrowing slightly at Brennen's cowardly reaction. But as she turned

an a manicured hand over the gold wings embroidered on the blazer's chest. "I heard about your little m

e sa

e woman standing before her-it all snapped a fragile wire inside her brain. She ma

this, Chloe," Kate added, her lo

e silence. "Is that what you call it, Kate? Working hard on your back in the air

nt dead silent. You c

med tears. "How... how can you say that, Chloe?" she choked out, burying her face in Br

apped, her eyes blazing with i

efend his new territory, stepped forward. His face hardened into

n. I'm just calling it exactly like I see it. You two deserve each other.

, desperate to escape

ard on her bicep, digging painfully into her skin. "I

oe yelled, violently yanking

in, the heavy double doors to the exec

face like a thundercloud. Behind him trailed

barked, his voice echoing in the tense room. "Why i

tered like frightened mice. Chloe, Kate, and Br

ut then, he abruptly stopped. His entire demeanor shifted from rage to extr

moved past Finch and s

iolently left

was

t. The stranger she had paid fif

espoke dark suit that screamed unimaginable wealth and power. His dark hair was swept back fla

g brown eyes swept over Brennen and Kate with utt