Chapter 9 - Reclaiming the Throne
Marcus Bennett stopped in front of Ava, offering a polite, deferential bow of his head that he usually reserved only for members of the board of directors.
"Good afternoon, Miss Carter," Marcus said, his voice entirely transformed from the icy corporate executioner he had been moments before. "I trust your journey is proceeding to your satisfaction?"
A soft smile broke across Ava’s face. "It is now, Marcus. Thank you."
"Your father called me directly from his private office five minutes after you hung up," Marcus explained, chuckling quietly. "He was displeased, to put it mildly. He instructed me to ensure that the aircraft, the crew, and the passengers met his absolute standards before we depart."
"Is everything cleared for takeoff now?" Ava asked, glancing out the forward window toward the bright blue sky.
"Everything is fully cleared," Marcus confirmed. He reached out and gestured toward row two, where Sterling’s expensive leather briefcase had already been removed by a flight attendant and handed off to ground operations. "And seat 2A has been thoroughly sanitized and prepared for its rightful owner."
Ava nodded graciously. She walked down the aisle, her burgundy handbag swinging gently at her side, and slipped into seat 2A. She settled back against the plush leather headrest, looking out the pristine window as the morning sunlight washed over the wing of the aircraft.
Behind her, the passengers began murmuring again, this time with a mixture of awe and whispered realization. Word had quickly traveled through the cabin about who the quiet young girl in first class really was.
The captain’s voice returned over the intercom, sounding much more relaxed this time.
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"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. All operational matters have been fully resolved. We are cleared for immediate departure. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight with Carter Aviation."
The massive twin engines roared back to life, their powerful turbines sending a smooth, reassuring vibration through the floorboards. The aircraft surged forward down the runway, lifting gracefully into the sky and soaring toward the horizon.
