Learning to Love You

3. Shadows of Doubt

Ava Hayes stood in the dusky hallway outside Captain Roberts' office, the weight of Nathan Brooks' revelations pressing down on her like a suffocating fog. She had always admired Captain Roberts and respected him as a mentor and a leader, but now, faced with the possibility of his involvement in misconduct, she struggled to reconcile the image she held of him with the harsh reality Nathan had presented. Above all, Ava had to aid an investigation against him while knowing what that meant for her job. It was all too much for her. Taking deep breaths, Ava composed herself. She had to find out more before she chose who to trust.

With a heavy heart, Ava pushed open the door to the office, bracing herself for the difficult conversation ahead. Inside, Marcus Roberts sat at his desk in his uniform, his expression worn with exhaustion and uncertainty. Ava was surprised he had not changed his clothes. She was lucky since she had the next two days off for the week. Otherwise, Ava would have been tucked away in bed by now so she could have a proper breakfast and exercise before her next flight.

"Ava," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of wary. "What brings you here?"

Ava took a deep breath, summoning the courage to confront the man she had once looked up to with unwavering admiration. "I need to know the truth, Captain. About the allegations against you."

Captain Roberts' gaze faltered, a shadow of guilt flickering across his features before he schooled his expression into one of stoic resolve. "I see you paid the investigator a visit, as I asked. So what does he say?"

"Mr. Brooks said he is investigating you for financial irregularities and falsified records."

Ava's jaw clenched with frustration, her determination hardening like steel. "I can't turn a blind eye to this, Captain. Not when so much is at stake. Tell me the truth, whatever it may be."

"I understand your concern, Ava. But there are things you're better off not knowing."

For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, the tension between them palpable as Captain Roberts wrestled with his conscience.

"Thank you for taking the time to find out the accusations against me. But that is the end of discussion on this topic for you and me." Ava looked at him in annoyance.

"I have an idea what you are accused of. I just want to know if it is true."

With a heavy sigh, he relented.

"I made mistakes," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "Mistakes that I thought were buried in the past, but Nathan Brooks uncovered them. I won't deny it—I falsified records, cut corners to meet deadlines, jeopardized the safety of passengers to save face."

Ava's heart sank at the admission, the weight of betrayal settling like a leaden weight in the pit of her stomach. She had trusted and believed in his leadership without question, but now, faced with the reality of his actions, she struggled to reconcile the man she knew with the one standing before her. Although it might not seem like a big deal to some, but in aviation, safety is the priority. By the explanation provided by Marcus, it was clear that he had ignored the protocols defined by the aviation administration. But what could have led him to make such adverse decisions? Marcus had endangered the security of the passengers, crew, and himself.

"Why, Captain?" Ava asked, her voice barely audible. "Why risk everything for the sake of pride and ambition?"

Roberts met her gaze with a haunted expression, his eyes filled with the weight of regret and remorse. "I thought I could handle it, Ava. I thought I could keep the truth hidden. But I was wrong. And now, it's all catching up to me."

Ava's mind raced with the implications of his confession, the shattered fragments of her faith in him scattered like shards of glass at her feet. But amidst the wreckage of their broken trust, a flicker of determination ignited within her, a resolve to uncover the truth and set things right, no matter the cost.

"We can't change the past, Captain," Ava said, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her. "But we can make amends and own up to our mistakes. You were going to retire soon. This might not be the way you had it planned, but it would look worse if you let time take its course. If this reality had to stay hidden, Mr. Brooks would not have discovered it. I suggest you cooperate with the investigations and step down."

Marcus sneered and shook his head in disagreement.

"It is not that easy. Why do you think I have been quiet all this time? I could have confessed a long time ago. Why wait until the time I will retire?" Ava tried to understand his words, but she seemed to have lost the context. Marcus's eyes widened in shock at his own words.

"What do you mean? They will terminate you anyway. You will be disgraced, what could be worse? What makes you think that brushing this under the rug will work?"

Sighing, Marcus ran a hand through his hair and rested his arms on the table with his fingers entwined. After giving much thought, he looked up to meet Ava's gaze waiting for him impatiently. He had said more than he should have. It was time to close the topic for good.

"I wish you had not stumbled upon this matter. I am partially responsible since I requested you to find out more. But you still have time, forget everything you know and wait for my evaluation and other paperwork to get completed. Let me help you while I can at this designation. As long as I have it."

Ava stared at him in disbelief. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth parted.

"You think your evaluation will have any weightage after what the private investigator has gathered?" Marcus furrowed his brows but stayed silent. Ava got up from her seat and turned to leave. But she stopped and returned her gaze to Marcus one last time.

"Think about my suggestion, Captain. It might not be too late for redemption. Maybe you might not be dealt with too harshly if you help out."

Roberts' eyes turned a shade darker as he clenched his jaw and lifted his chin from his entwined fingers.

"And I recommend you to take my advice and steer clear. You might find a job elsewhere, but if you choose to interfere, I will not be able to help you out any longer."

Ava stood rooted to the ground, shocked by the words of her senior. Did Captain Roberts just blackmail her?