Learning to Love You

7. From Pilot to Detective

Ava sat at her desk in her office at the airline's base, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she navigated the labyrinthine depths of the company's database. With Nathan's guidance over the phone, she accessed information that was meant to be off-limits to anyone outside the upper echelons of management.

"Alright, Ava," Nathan's voice crackled through the phone. "You're doing great. Keep digging. We need to find something that can tie Marcus to his crimes."

Ava nodded, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread as she combed through file after file, searching for any trace of wrongdoing. She sifted through financial records, passenger manifests, and flight logs, her eyes scanning the screen for any discrepancies that might reveal Marcus' true nature.

But as she delved deeper into the archives, Ava's heart sank as she stumbled upon something much graver than she had anticipated. Buried within the depths of the database was a record of a tragic incident—a passenger's death on one of Marcus' flights, the result of his refusal to divert the plane to an alternate landing site in the face of inclement weather.

Ava's breath caught in her throat as she read the details of the incident, her hands shaking with disbelief and horror. She couldn't fathom how Marcus could be responsible for such a callous disregard for human life, how he could prioritize his agenda over the safety and well-being of his passengers.

Before she could process the gravity of her discovery, Ava's senses went on high alert as she heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway outside. Panic surged through her veins as she realized that someone was on their way to the office, their unexpected arrival threatening to derail her investigation and expose her unauthorized access to confidential information.

"Someone's coming. I am hanging up."

"Stay calm, and do not let them see your screen."

She hung up and placed her phone in her pocket. With a glance over her shoulder, Ava hastily closed the file on her computer screen and pretended to be engrossed in her work as Marcus entered the room, his presence casting a shadow over her like a specter of doom.

"Good evening, Ava, I thought I heard someone in here," Marcus said, his voice dripping with false charm. "What brings you to the office today? I thought today was your last day off for this week."

Ava forced a smile onto her face, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to maintain her composure under Marcus' piercing gaze. They shared the next week's flight, so their schedule was the same for this week. Obviously, he was aware of her work calendar. "Oh, just catching up on some paperwork," she replied, her voice betraying none of the turmoil raging within her.

Marcus' eyes narrowed as he studied her, a flicker of suspicion crossing his features. "Is that so?" he said, his tone laced with skepticism. "You seem tense, Ava. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Ava's mind raced as she searched for a plausible excuse, her thoughts a jumble of fear and uncertainty. But before she could respond, Marcus' phone buzzed with an incoming call, distracting him long enough for Ava to breathe a sigh of relief and compose herself.

Marcus read the caller ID on his phone and held it against his chest. Lifting his gaze, he looked at Ava again. He addressed her again before he took the call.

"I hope to see you at the dinner next week."

"Yeah, see you."

As Marcus turned away to answer the call, Ava seized the opportunity to make her escape, slipping out of the office with the weight of her discovery heavy on her shoulders. She knew that she had stumbled upon something far more sinister than she had bargained for, something that could have far-reaching consequences for Marcus and herself.