Page 3 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Pilot
The sudden snap of a laptop slamming shut broke my reverie.
“How much longer?”Tanner’s voice carried an edge of impatience.
I checked our position on the navigation system.“About two hours and forty minutes, Mr.Roberts.We’re making good time.”
He exhaled sharply.
“Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”I offered.
Another grunt.“Just focus on flying the damn plane.”
“Always do, Mr.Roberts,” I replied, my tone deliberately light.“Though multitasking is one of my special talents.”
“Is professionalism another one?”he asked pointedly.
“Right at the top of my resume, along with tolerating difficult passengers,” I countered, unable to resist baiting him.
“Do you speak to all your clients this way?”he demanded.Irritation and surprise colored his voice.People probably didn’t talk back to Tanner Roberts very often.
“Only the ones who could use a smile, sir.”
“I don’t pay you to make me smile, Ms.Foster.I pay you to fly.”
“Two-for-one special today,” I quipped, turning my attention back to the controls.“The smile comes complimentary.”
He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like impossible woman before the clicking of his keyboard resumed.
The sky ahead darkened unexpectedly.The forecast had mentioned potential weather systems, but nothing serious.As we approached the cloud bank, I noticed the unusual density.Snow.A blizzard system was moving in faster than predicted.
The first jolt of turbulence hit us like rolling over a pothole on a country road.Then another.The Cessna shuddered.
“Mr.Roberts, please buckle your seatbelt,” I called back.I kept my voice steady despite the plane’s increasing shudders.“We’re hitting some unexpected weather, but we should be through it shortly.”
“Reducing power to stabilize,” Bryce called out, his voice higher than usual as his hands moved across the controls.Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cabin’s cool temperature.
“Steady, Bryce,” I said calmly, taking primary control as the turbulence intensified.“Remember your recovery training.This is just like the simulator, except with better coffee afterward.”
He attempted a laugh that came out more like a nervous hiccup.To his credit, despite the fear evident in his wide eyes, his hands remained steady on the co-pilot controls, mirroring my movements.
“Ms.Foster, is your co-pilot capable of handling this situation?”
Before I could respond, Bryce squared his shoulders and replied with more confidence than I’d heard from him all day, “Yes, sir, Mr.Roberts.Captain Foster and I have this under control.”
I shot him an approving glance.The kid was learning fast.Fake it till you make it was half the battle sometimes.
I adjusted our altitude, seeking a smoother air current as the snow thickened around us, transforming our clear flight path into a swirling white tunnel.The winds buffeted the small jet, but I held her steady, with years of experience guiding my hands.
“Come on, baby,” I whispered to the Cessna.“Just a little turbulence.Nothing we haven’t handled before.”
The Cessna bucked again, harder this time.My lucky pendant pressed against my chest.I didn’t dare take a hand off the controls to touch it.
“What happened to good conditions?”Tanner growled.
“Mountain weather changes fast,” I replied, keeping my tone light despite the concentration required to maintain our course.“These systems can develop in minutes.But don’t worry, this aircraft is built for conditions twice as rough.”
Another violent shake threw us sideways.I compensated immediately, adjusting flaps and throttle with practiced precision.The storm howled around us, ice crystals pelting the windshield like tiny bullets.
“Is this normal?”Tanner demanded.A slight tremor in his voice betrayed his composure.
