Chapter 4 Terms and Turbulence

The office door had barely settled from Mr. Cheng's dramatic exit when Eleanor Blackwood reached calmly into her handbag and pulled out her phone-an elegant gold model that caught the overhead lights as she flipped it open.

Her expression shifted instantly-from the sharp, commanding presence she'd shown moments ago to something warm, composed, almost cheerfully conspiratorial.

Then she tapped the screen, her fingers moving with practiced ease over the glass.

"Going live."

Jane blinked, her eyes widening slightly as she realized what was happening. She'd known Eleanor was well-connected, but this-broadcasting to her social media following in real time-was unexpected.

Jayden exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He should have seen this coming. His mother had never been one to solve problems quietly when a more impactful approach was available.

Too late.

Eleanor raised the phone, angling it perfectly to capture both Jane and the empty doorway where Mr. Cheng had just stood. The ring light attached to her phone cast a soft glow over her face as she beamed into the camera.

"Guys," she began with a bright smile that reached her eyes, "you all know me-I only share what matters. And right now, you need to hear this."

Mr. Cheng, who had just regained a shred of composure near the doorway and was straightening his jacket, froze mid-movement. His hand hovered over his lapel as he stared at the phone screen.

"What are you-" he started, his voice sharp with alarm.

Eleanor turned the camera toward Jane, framing her perfectly in the shot. The young pilot stood tall, her uniform crisp, her expression still slightly guarded but undeniably dignified.

"This is Captain Jane Harley," she said proudly, her voice carrying clear through the phone's microphone. "The woman who saved my life yesterday mid-flight-navigated us through severe turbulence, coordinated emergency care before we even landed, and quite literally kept me from having a fatal heart attack. She's exactly the kind of leader Aurelia Airlines needs."

Jane stiffened slightly, caught off guard by the public praise. She'd never been one for attention, preferring to let her work speak for itself.

Then Eleanor pivoted the phone sharply toward Mr. Cheng, who took an involuntary step back as the camera focused on his face.

"But this supervisor," she continued, her tone turning pointed but still maintaining her warm demeanor, "insists someone else deserves the credit for yesterday's heroics. So tell me-what exactly is he trying to hide? Why would we ignore the person who actually kept hundreds of passengers safe?"

A beat.

Then she lowered the phone slightly and looked straight at him, her smile never wavering but her eyes hardening with purpose.

"This is live, by the way," she added sweetly. "And I'm sure a few leaders at Aurelia Airlines are watching-including the CEO, who I happen to have on speed dial. I wonder what he'll think when he sees how his supervisors are treating top talent."

Mr. Cheng's face drained of color, going from flushed with anger to pale as paper. The confidence he'd tried to maintain crumbled away, revealing the panic underneath.

"You old hag!" he snapped, fury overtaking caution as he pointed a shaking finger at her. "You're pushing your luck! You can't just broadcast company business to the whole world!"

He lunged forward, his hands reaching for the phone.

"Turn that phone off!"

Jayden moved instantly-his long legs covering the distance in a single stride. His hand shot out to stop Mr. Cheng, his reflexes sharp from years of piloting.

-but instead of his shoulder, his grip landed on something... loose.

There was a brief, strange resistance-fabric sliding against fabric-

Then-

Off.

The wig came clean off, sailing through the air before landing on the floor with a soft thud.

Silence.

Absolute, complete silence filled the office.

Jane pressed her lips together so tightly they turned white, her eyes wide with surprise but her face otherwise perfectly composed. She'd seen plenty of unexpected things in the air, but this was a first for ground operations.

Eleanor didn't even try to hold back.

She burst out laughing-a full, genuine peal that echoed off the walls. She clutched her stomach, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she doubled over slightly, still holding the phone steady enough that her followers could clearly see the scene unfolding.

Mr. Cheng stood frozen, eyes wide with mortification, one hand instinctively flying to his now fully exposed bald head. The sparse patches of hair that remained were slick with sweat, and his face had turned a deep shade of red that spread down his neck.

For a moment, everything else-power, anger, control-vanished.

Only humiliation remained.

"You-just wait!" he shouted, scrambling to grab the fallen wig from the floor. His fingers fumbled with the synthetic hair as he tried to stuff it back onto his head. "This isn't over! I have connections-people who will make sure you regret this!"

And then he stormed out, dignity trailing behind him like a torn cape. The door slammed so hard the glass in the frame rattled, and his footsteps echoed down the corridor until they faded into silence.

The door clicked shut.

A second of silence hung in the air.

Then Eleanor ended the livestream with a satisfied tap, her laughter finally dying down to soft chuckles as she slipped her phone back into her bag.

"Well," she said lightly, smoothing down her dress as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred, "he just had to make me use social media tactics. I'd planned to handle this quietly over lunch with the board, but some people just don't know when to cooperate."

Jayden let out a quiet breath, a sound that was half-sigh and half-laugh. He ran a hand through his hair again, this time with more force, as a faint smile tugged at his lips despite himself.

His mother was impossible. And brilliant. And exactly what they'd needed to turn the situation around.

Eleanor caught the smile instantly, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"What are you grinning at?" she asked, narrowing her eyes playfully as she gestured toward the corner of the room. "Go on-present that banner to my savior. We didn't carry it all the way here just to let it collect dust."

Jayden rolled his eyes-but obeyed, crossing the room to pick up the large red banner he'd propped against the wall. The gold fringe caught the light as he unfolded it carefully, revealing the embroidered words AURELIA'S HERO-CAPTAIN JANE HARLEY in thick gold thread.

For once, his usual composure seemed... slightly off. His movements were a little less precise, his posture a little less rigid. He'd been prepared to play the dutiful son, to go along with his mother's plans as he always did-but seeing Jane stand her ground against Mr. Cheng, seeing her remain calm through the chaos... something had shifted.

He stepped closer to Jane, holding the banner out to her.

"Here," he said, his voice lower than usual, carrying a note of something he couldn't quite name.

Jane looked surprised, her eyes darting from the banner to his face. She'd expected gratitude from Eleanor, but this-from Jayden, the man who'd been so reserved when they'd first met-was unexpected.

"Oh-" she started, reaching out to take it.

As her fingers brushed against his to grasp the banner's edge, a small, electric pause settled between them. The contact was brief-barely a second-but it sent a jolt through both of them that neither could explain.

Both stilled.

Their eyes met.

Something unspoken passed between them-brief, unexpected, but undeniable. It was there in the way her breath hitched slightly, in the way his hand tightened just a fraction on the banner, in the way neither of them pulled away immediately. It was a moment of recognition-of seeing each other not as captain and shareholder, not as savior and grateful son, but as two people who understood what it meant to stand firm in the face of pressure.

Eleanor watched from the side, her smile softening into something warm and knowing.

That look...

Is my rigid son finally opening up?

Before the moment could stretch any further and make them both uncomfortable, she stepped in, gently taking Jane's hand in both of hers. Her touch was warm and reassuring, grounding Jane back in the present.

"Jane," she said warmly, giving her hands a gentle squeeze, "this time, you will get that permanent captain position. My livestream has already reached half a million views-by morning, every executive at Aurelia will know exactly who deserves credit for yesterday's flight."

Jane blinked, still slightly dazed from the moment with Jayden. She nodded slowly, her mind already racing through what this would mean for her career, for her future.

"And," Eleanor added casually, as if mentioning the weather, "I just heard something very interesting in the hallway while waiting for you two. About promotion perks for permanent captains."

Jane focused, her professional instincts kicking in. She'd reviewed every policy document related to promotions-she should know about any benefits available.

"What perk?"

Eleanor leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough to make it feel like a secret shared between friends. The twinkle in her eyes returned as she spoke.

"I heard that to retain top talent-especially those with exceptional safety records-Aurelia Airlines offers married permanent captains the chance to apply for a fully furnished apartment in the city center. Right near the hospital, too-perfect for anyone who needs to be close to medical facilities."

She sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.

"What a shame... my Jane is right on the verge of becoming permanent... but still single. All that prime real estate going to waste."

Jayden swallowed.

Hard.

He could feel his mother's eyes on him, could practically hear her unspoken message. He shifted his weight, clearing his throat as he looked away from Jane's face.

Jane frowned slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I've reviewed internal documents-all of them, including the confidential ones for leadership positions. There's no such policy."

Eleanor smiled-mysterious, unfazed by the contradiction. She patted Jane's shoulder gently, her nails clicking softly against Jane's uniform.

"Silly girl," she said, her voice fond. "Core benefits like that aren't always in standard documents. They're what we call 'targeted incentives'-designed to keep specific people happy and loyal. Try searching for Aurelia's internal portal under 'strategic retention programs.'"

Jane hesitated-then pulled out her work phone, her fingers moving quickly over the screen. She'd been granted access to restricted sections of the company's system after yesterday's incident, and she typed in the search terms Eleanor had mentioned.

A few taps.

A pause as the system loaded.

Her eyes widened.

"It... exists," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. The screen displayed a detailed page outlining the benefit-fully furnished three-bedroom apartment in the city's most desirable district, covered utilities, even a parking spot in the building's garage. "The location... it's just two blocks from St. Mary's Hospital. I could bring my mother here... get her proper treatment for her arthritis... she wouldn't have to live alone in the countryside anymore."

Then her expression dimmed, the excitement fading as she read the fine print at the bottom of the page.

Marriage.

That was the condition. The benefit was only available to married permanent captains-part of the company's "family-focused retention strategy," according to the document.

Eleanor saw the change in her expression instantly.

And moved in.

"Jane..." she began gently, tilting her head toward Jayden, who was pointedly staring at the banner in his hands. "what do you think of my son? He's a good man-responsible, hardworking, and he knows what it means to put people first."

Jane froze, her phone slipping slightly in her grasp. She looked from Eleanor to Jayden, her mind racing to process what was being suggested.

"He's single," Eleanor continued smoothly, as if this were just a practical business arrangement. "And you're single too. These days, some people marry first... and fall in love later. It happens more often than you think."

Jayden rubbed his temple, feeling a headache forming behind his eyes. "Mom-this isn't how we should be doing this-"

"The doctor said I must avoid stress," Eleanor continued weakly, pressing a hand to her chest and swaying slightly. She ignored her son completely, her eyes fixed on Jane's face. "If only I could see my son settled down... maybe this heart of mine could finally find peace... the doctors say happiness is the best medicine, you know."

Jane looked between them-at Eleanor's exaggerated (but still convincing) display of frailty, at Jayden's obvious discomfort mixed with something that looked almost like hope. She thought of her mother, alone in their small countryside home, struggling to manage on her own. She thought of the permanent position that would secure her future. She thought of the apartment that would change everything for her family.

Hesitated.

Thought.

Then-

"...Alright," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. "I agree. If this is what it takes to secure the position and the benefit... I'll marry him."

Eleanor's "weakness" vanished instantly. She straightened up, her eyes sparkling with triumph as she grabbed both Jane's and Jayden's hands, pressing them together.

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed, her voice booming with excitement. "I knew you were a smart girl, Jane. This is perfect-perfect for both of you, perfect for Aurelia, perfect for my poor old heart!"

Jayden stood there, stunned. Speechless. He'd been prepared to argue, to suggest they find another way, to do anything but enter into a marriage of convenience. But as he looked at Jane's face-serious, determined, but with a hint of vulnerability-he found himself nodding slowly.

And yet-

A small smile formed anyway.

"Let's go!" Eleanor declared, already heading for the door. "We're registering right now-no sense waiting around when the city clerk's office is still open."

The process was faster than either of them expected. Eleanor had called ahead, and the clerk-who clearly recognized the Blackwood name-had everything prepared. Signatures on pre-printed forms. Witnesses brought in from the building's staff. Even a small bouquet of flowers Eleanor had tucked into her handbag "just in case."

Signatures.

Documents.

Witnesses.

And just like that-

Jane Harley and Jayden Blackwood were legally married.

The clerk stamped the final document with a satisfying thump, sliding the marriage certificate across the desk to them. "Congratulations," he said, smiling warmly. "Welcome to married life."

Jane looked at the certificate in her hands-her name printed next to Jayden's, bound together by law and circumstance. It felt surreal, like she'd stepped into someone else's life.

Jayden folded his copy carefully, slipping it into his wallet. He could feel the weight of it there-more than just paper, more than just a legal document. It was a commitment, even if it had started as a practical arrangement.

The photographer Eleanor had arranged for was already waiting in the clerk's office lobby, his camera set up and ready. He adjusted his lens, glancing between the two of them with an amused expression-he'd clearly seen his share of rushed weddings.

"Alright, newlyweds," he said, positioning them in front of a simple backdrop of white curtains and fresh flowers. "Stand closer."

Jane and Jayden exchanged a brief, awkward glance. They'd stood close before-during the incident in the restaurant, when he'd saved her from Reuben-but this felt different. More intimate. More permanent.

Neither moved.

"Closer," the photographer insisted, adjusting his camera angle. "You're married now-you can stand a little closer than strangers."

They shifted-slightly-until their shoulders were almost touching. Jane could feel the warmth radiating from his uniform, could smell the faint scent of his cologne-clean and sharp, like pine and rain.

"Closer," he said again, his tone firm but friendly. "Let's get a shot that actually looks like you like each other."

With a quiet sigh, Jayden moved a step closer, their shoulders touching fully now. Both stiffened slightly at the contact, their posture rigid with tension.

"Good," the photographer said, peering through his viewfinder. "Now lean in a little-look like you're about to kiss."

They turned toward each other, smiles hesitant and unfamiliar. Jane's lips curved into a small, nervous smile, while Jayden's was softer, more genuine than she'd expected.

Nervous.

Self-conscious.

Aware of every inch between them.

"Alright... one... two..."

For a brief second-

Their eyes met again. This time, neither looked away immediately. The tension between them shifted, softening into something warmer, something that felt less like obligation and more like possibility. Jane saw something in his amber eyes-care, respect, maybe even a hint of affection. Jayden saw strength and kindness in hers, mixed with a vulnerability that made him want to protect her.

Snap.