He told himself that she was a bitch and he had probably happened to catch her on a
bad day. But the next incident a week later convinced him that he was facing a serious
problem.
On Demiris’ orders Larry picked Noelle up in Oslo and flew her to London. Because
of what had happened Larry had gone over the flight plan with particular care. There was
a high pressure area to the north and some possible thunderheads building up to the east.
Larry worked out a route that skirted these areas, and the flight proved to be perfectly
smooth. He brought the ship down in a flawless three-point landing, and he and Paul
Metaxas strolled back to the cabin. Noelle Page was putting on some lipstick. “I hope you
enjoyed your flight, Miss Page,” Larry said politely.
Noelle glanced up at him a moment, her face expressionless, then turned to Paul
Metaxas. “I’m always nervous when I’m flown by an incompetent.”
Larry felt his face redden. He started to speak, and Noelle said to Metaxas, “Please
ask him not to address me in the future unless 1 speak to him first.”
Metaxas swallowed and mumbled, “Yes, ma’am.”
Larry stared at Noelle, his eyes filled with fury, as she rose and left the plane. His
impulse had been to slap her, but he knew that would have been the end of him. He loved
this job more than anything he had ever done, and he did not intend to let anything happen
to it. He knew that if he were fired, it could be the last flying job he would ever get. No, he
would have to be very careful in the future.
When Larry got home, he talked to Catherine about what had happened.
“She’s out to get me,” Larry said.
“She sounds horrible,” Catherine replied. “Could you have offended her in some way,
Larry?”
“I haven’t spoken a dozen words to her.”
Catherine took his hand. “Don’t worry,” she said, consolingly. “Before you’re
through, you’ll charm her. Wait and see.”
The next day when Larry flew Constantin Demiris on a brief business trip to Turkey,
Demiris came into the cockpit and took Metaxas’ seat. He dismissed the copilot with a
wave of his hand, and Larry and Demiris were alone. They sat there is silence, watching
the small stratus clouds slicing the plane into fluffy geometric patterns.
“Miss Page has taken a dislike to you,” Demiris said, finally.
Larry felt his hands tighten on the controls and deliberately forced them to relax. He
fought to keep his voice calm. “Did—did she say why?”
“She said you were rude to her.”
Larry opened his mouth to protest, then thought better of it. He would have to work
this out in his own way.