Chapter 5 - The Empty Cabin
The space beside Elise was suddenly clear. The scent of Cynthia’s overpowering perfume began to dissipate, replaced by the crisp, clean air of the cabin ventilation system.
Elise slipped into seat 2A. She settled her tired frame into the plush leather, pulling her seatbelt across her lap with a soft click. She placed her leather tote bag securely in the overhead bin, closed it, and lowered the window shade halfway to block out the gray glare of the Chicago rain.
Captain Marcus and Purser Vanessa were still standing in the aisle beside her row, looking like two school children waiting outside the principal's office after smashing a stained-glass window.
"Ms. Morgan," Captain Marcus began cautiously, his professional pride completely shattered. "Is there... anything we can get you? Champagne? Warm towels? An upgraded meal from the VIP catering cache?"
"No, Captain," Elise said, closing her eyes and resting her head against the headrest. Her skull was still pounding, and the sheer exhaustion was threatening to pull her under. "I don't want champagne. I don't want VIP catering. I want a quiet flight to New York, and I want an assurance that by the time we touch down at JFK, I will have a complete written report on my desk detailing why your purser threatened to throw the company's controlling shareholder off an aircraft without checking a single boarding pass."
"Yes, ma'am. Absolutely, Ms. Morgan," Vanessa stammered, tears of pure mortification welling in her eyes. "I will write the report personally. I'll take full responsibility."
"You already have," Elise said quietly, not opening her eyes. "Now, close the boarding door, taxi to the active runway, and let's get airborne. I have a board meeting at nine tomorrow morning, and I intend to sleep through every mile of it."
May you like
"Right away, Ms. Morgan," the captain murmured, backing down the aisle like a courtier leaving a monarch's throne room.
Within ninety seconds, the heavy main cabin door hissed shut with a pneumatic thud. The engines spooled up from a low whine to a deep, resonant roar that vibrated through the airframe. Flight 247 pushed back from the gate precisely on schedule, cutting through the rainy Chicago twilight toward the eastern seaboard.
