Falling at 30,000 feets

Before Jenny's words could settle like dust over the table, another captain cut in smoothly-Lena, the seasoned pilot who'd spoken up for Jane earlier. She waved a dismissive hand toward Jenny, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she nodded toward Jayden.

"Ignore her, handsome," she said, her voice carrying clearly across the quieting room. "She's just jealous of Jane's success. Some people can't handle seeing others work hard and get what they deserve."

A few quiet chuckles followed, and several captains nodded in agreement. Even Marco, the burly champion eater, grunted his approval as he piled more lobster onto his plate.

Jenny shifted in her seat, her grip tightening around her glass until her knuckles blazed white. She opened her mouth to retort-but the words died on her lips as a tall blonde captain leaned forward, resting her chin lightly on her hand, her smile playful and warm.

"Hey, handsome," she said to Jayden, her voice bright and friendly. "Are you single? If not... open to a new girlfriend? I'm great with long-distance relationships-and I make a mean breakfast."

Laughter rippled across the table, breaking the tension once more. Pilots leaned back in their seats, grinning as they waited for Jayden's response.

But Jayden didn't smile. His expression remained calm, his gaze steady as he looked at the blonde captain-then across the table, where Jenny was watching him with narrowed eyes.

"Sorry," he said calmly, his voice carrying clearly over the noise. "I'm married."

The reaction was immediate.

"What?!"

"You're married?"

"Who's the lucky one?"

"Is she from Aurelia?"

Voices overlapped, curiosity rising as pilots leaned forward, their eyes darting between Jayden and the other guests, trying to guess who his wife could be.

Jayden gave a small nod, his hand moving slightly on the back of Jane's chair. "You'd have to ask my wife," he said, his tone deliberate.

His eyes flicked-briefly but unmistakably-

To Jane.

His hand, resting behind her chair, tightened slightly on the fabric of her dress. A small, almost imperceptible gesture-but Jane felt it, her breath catching for just a second before she subtly tugged at his sleeve. A silent warning: Not now.

He didn't move. His gaze remained steady, holding hers for just a moment before he looked away.

Across the table, Jenny's expression darkened like a storm cloud. She'd been so focused on painting Jane as a homewrecker that she hadn't considered this possibility-and now, her carefully constructed accusation had backfired completely.

She leaned forward again, her voice sharp and cutting.

"How shameless," she said, her eyes fixed on Jane. "Getting cozy with a married man. Is that what you've come to after Reuben dumped you? Chasing after taken men because no one else will have you?"

The room quieted instantly. The laughter died, replaced by an uncomfortable silence that stretched across the table like ice. Several captains shifted in their seats, their expressions turning serious-even those who'd been laughing moments ago could tell this had gone too far.

Jane's gaze lifted slowly from her plate. Her expression hardened, the warmth that had been in her eyes moments ago replaced by something cold and steady.

"Do you know why you'll never become a captain?" she asked calmly, her voice clear and even despite the tension in the room.

Jenny scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Because people like you get special treatment?"

"Because you lack basic respect," Jane continued, her voice steady as she leaned forward slightly. "For your colleagues. For your profession. For the rules that keep us all safe in the air. You spend more time spreading rumors and undermining others than you do practicing your skills or learning from those who know more than you."

"Respect?" Jenny laughed bitterly, slamming her glass down on the table. "Someone who slept her way up shouldn't lecture me about respect. Everyone knows the Chief Pilot favors you-who else would let someone become captain so fast? You probably spread your legs for him just like you're doing with this married man here."

The words landed-

Heavy.

Ugly.

Hanging in the air like poison.

Before anyone could react-

A sharp sound cut through the room.

Smack.

Reuben's hand had already fallen, striking Jenny across the cheek with enough force to make her head snap to the side.

"You're still not done humiliating yourself?" Reuben snapped, his face flushed bright red with anger and embarrassment. He'd sat silent through her accusations, but this final insult had pushed him too far.

Jenny froze, her hand flying to her cheek as she stared at him, stunned. A red mark was already forming on her pale skin.

"Reuben-" she grabbed his arm, her voice shaking, "you're hitting me in front of her? In front of all these people?"

He yanked his arm away, his jaw tight with fury. "Shut up! Haven't you ruined enough already? I told you to stop spreading lies about Jane-she never did anything to you! And now you're accusing her of sleeping with the Chief Pilot? Do you have any idea how serious that is?"

Silence.

Thick.

Uncomfortable.

No one moved, no one spoke-everyone was staring at Reuben and Jenny, shocked by the sudden outburst. Even the waitstaff had paused in their movements, watching from the doorway.

At the far end of the table, Jayden's gaze shifted to Michael. A brief look passed between them-calm, deliberate, a signal that didn't need words.

Michael understood immediately. He stood up slowly, clearing his throat to draw attention away from the confrontation.

"Apologies for the disruption," he began, his voice carrying clearly across the quiet room. "I just got off a call with the Chief Pilot."

The room stilled. Every eye turned to him-even Jenny, who'd been staring at Reuben with tears in her eyes, looked up sharply.

"He heard everything," Michael continued, his expression serious as he looked directly at Jenny. "The rumors. The disruption of tonight's celebration. The misconduct and false accusations against a fellow pilot."

A beat. He let the weight of his words sink in.

"You're grounded. Effective immediately. Your pilot's license has been temporarily suspended, pending a full investigation by Aurelia's ethics board and the FAA. You'll also be required to attend mandatory counseling on professional conduct."

Jenny's face drained of color. She sank back into her chair, her hand still pressed to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. She'd expected to get away with her accusations-maybe even gain some sympathy. She'd never imagined the consequences would be this severe.

"...This should've happened long ago," a captain muttered under her breath, and several others nodded in agreement.

Reuben didn't stay to see the aftermath. He turned sharply and walked out of the room, his phone already in his hand as he dialed someone-probably HR, to start the paperwork for Jenny's suspension.

Jenny remained-

Silent.

Defeated.

Sitting alone at the table as pilots slowly began to return to their conversations, though the mood was now somber and quiet.

Jayden stood up slowly, his chair scraping softly against the floor. He turned to Jane, his expression softening as he looked at her-at the tension still in her shoulders, at the way her hands were clenched in her lap.

"Let's go home," he said, his voice gentle.

Without waiting for a response, he reached across the table and took her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers-warm, strong, reassuring-and he pulled her gently to her feet.

Jane didn't resist. She let him lead her away from the table, her gaze moving from Jenny's defeated form to Jayden's steady back as he guided her toward the door. The warmth of his hand in hers was a small comfort against the cold weight of what had just happened.

Together, they walked out of the room-Jayden leading the way, his hand firmly in hers, while pilots watched them go with a mix of curiosity and respect.

Behind them-

Michael watched them leave, then looked back at the quieting table with a grimace. He shook his head dramatically, muttering to himself as he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair.

"My God," he muttered, heading for the door. "I'd rather be under a moving car than stay in this room for one more minute. And to think I thought this would be a nice, relaxing dinner..."

He paused at the door, looking back at Jenny one last time before shaking his head and walking out.

The feast was over.