Chapter 7
Before Elena could speak another word, the sharp chime of the call button echoed through the cabin, followed immediately by the heavy footsteps of the flight attendant walking briskly down the aisle. Elena instantly straightened up, sliding back into her window seat and assuming the posture of a detached corporate traveler, while Maya quickly pulled her knees back into her hoodie and lowered her gaze. The flight attendant stopped beside Maya’s row, her expression polite but carrying a distinct note of professional curiosity. “Everything alright back here?” the attendant asked, her eyes darting between Maya’s tense shoulders and Elena’s rigid posture. “We had a bit of turbulence earlier, just checking on the passengers,” she added smoothly, though her gaze lingered on the pink backpack on the floor. Elena offered a cool, practiced smile, the kind she used during high-stakes client meetings to defuse an awkward negotiation. “Apex Logistics, risk management,” Elena said smoothly, flashing her corporate ID badge with practiced ease as she tilted it toward the aisle. “Just reviewing some travel documents with the young lady. Her father is a colleague of mine at the Seattle port office; I’m keeping an eye on her during the flight.” The flight attendant’s posture softened visibly at the mention of a corporate title and a familiar local employer, the natural deference to authority doing its quiet work. “Of course, Ms. Vance. We just want to ensure everyone is comfortable before we begin our descent into Seattle,” the attendant replied, offering a reassuring nod before continuing down the aisle toward the galley. Once the attendant was out of earshot, Elena let out a long, slow breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her heart hammering against her ribs. She looked across the aisle and caught Maya’s eye; the young girl gave a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk, a flash of shared mischief that briefly lightened the heavy atmosphere. But the interruption served as a harsh reminder that they were not alone, and that the corporate network they were both trying to navigate had long arms and watchful eyes everywhere, even inside a commercial airplane cabin.
