Chapter 2 - The Fall from the Clouds
Aaron stared at me as if I had spoken in a foreign language. His mother, Eleanor, pushed her way to the railing, her diamond-encrusted fingers gripping the metal.
"Have you lost your mind, Alyssa?!" Eleanor shouted down. "This is Aaron’s corporate jet! He has an international summit in four hours! If he misses this flight, the company loses billions! Stop throwinig this petty tantrum just because Aaron gave Jasmine a better seat!"
Jasmine stepped up beside Aaron, placing a gentle, trembling hand on his arm, looking down at me with feigned pity. "Mrs. Prescott, please don't let your personal jealousy ruin Mr. Prescott’s life's work. I can move to row five if it makes you feel better..."
I looked past Jasmine, directly into Aaron’s eyes.
"Aaron," I said calmly. "Who owns Vance Aviation?"
Aaron scoffed. "Some global logistics corporation! What does that have to do with anything? I lease this plane through Prescott Tech's corporate account!"
"No, Aaron," I replied, taking out a thin gold tablet from my purse. "Prescott Tech leased this plane from Aegis Holdings. And Aegis Holdings is a hundred percent subsidiary of Vance Global. My family's company."
Aaron’s face tightened. "What... what are you talking about?"
The lead pilot, Captain Miller, stepped out onto the top platform, stood at attention, and bowed deeply to me.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Vance," Captain Miller announced over the jet's external PA system, his voice echoing across the entire airfield. "As per your order, the aircraft's registration has been revoked for unauthorized corporate usage. Mr. Prescott’s lease is terminated immediately for breach of contract."
The tarmac fell deathly quiet.
Aaron froze. "Ms. Vance? What did he just call you?"
"My maiden name is Alyssa Vance," I said, my voice echoing clearly through the crisp air. "The sole daughter of Vance Global. The woman who funded your initial seed round, paid off your $200 million debt four years ago, and personally licensed the thirteen patents that power your entire company."
Eleanor gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Jasmine took two steps backward, her hand sliding off Aaron's arm as if he had suddenly caught fire.
"You... you lied to me?" Aaron stammered, his face draining of all color. "You said your family ran a small real estate firm!"
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"I told you my family managed properties," I corrected him with a cold smile. "I just didn't specify that those properties included half of Fifth Avenue, thirty private airfields, and the hardware infrastructure your entire life relies on."
I turned to the airport security detail. "Escort Mr. Prescott, his mother, and his secretary off my tarmac. They can take commercial."