Chapter 136 The Plane
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Zion said, “The CJ2 cabin and cockpit are far too cramped. Mr. Fullbuster hardly ever flies it. We’ll be taking the Airbus ACJ350 instead.”
He turned his head as soon as he finished, making it painfully clear he had no interest in speaking to Anneliese again.
Anneliese sat in silence, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
It felt as though Zion had something personal against her.
The car slowed to a stop. When Anneliese and Jessica stepped out, the enormous Airbus ACJ350 dominated their view.
It truly lived up to its reputation as the top plane.
Its polished silver frame gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight, radiating authority and wealth.
The stairway was already lowered. They began their climb, and as Anneliese lifted her head, she saw him.
Jonathan stood at the cabin entrance, no longer in the tailored suit he had worn that morning.
He stood with the crew, welcoming them as if they were heads of state.
His crisp white shirt and black tie framed his lean frame, his navy uniform pressed to perfection. The gold stripes on his shoulders gleamed against the sunlight, accentuating the hard line of his jaw.
The effect of the uniform hit like a punch. Even Jessica felt her chest tighten, and she forced herself to glance away quickly.
“Welcome aboard. I’m Jonathan, your captain for this flight. I’ll be at your service.”
When their eyes met, he inclined his head slightly. His voice carried a clear authority, his gaze steady yet softened with a faint smile.
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Chapter 136 The Plane
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Behind him, the first officer, the purser, and two flawless flight attendants bowed with polished precision.
“Welcome aboard. We’ll do our best to serve you.”
Anneliese felt her cheeks warm instantly. It was the first time she had ever seen Jonathan in uniform, standing as captain.
It felt different.
The sharp intensity she usually saw in him was deliberately tempered. He looked reserved, professional, and somehow even more magnetic.
“Thank you.”
The words escaped before she could stop them, pulled out by the sheer weight of the moment.
Regret struck almost instantly.
She was just a passenger catching a ride.
Saying something like that made it sound like she was some kind of dignitary. She was definitely not a dignitary.
Her face burned hotter, panic and embarrassment knotting inside her. And she looked at Jonathan.
Jonathan’s eyes stayed calm. His expression held steady as the corners of his lips lifted faintly.
“There’s no need to be formal. If you want any food or refreshments, let Mr. Harland know. I’ll be in the cockpit. We’ll be departing shortly.”
The crew behind him tried not to stare, but she could feel their glances brushing over her.
She nodded quickly. “Okay.”
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Chapter 136 The Plane
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Jonathan gave her one last look before heading for the cockpit, the first officer close behind.
The purser stepped forward with a flawless smile, already attentive.
Jessica clutched Anneliese’s hand, nearly bursting at the seams with screams. She felt like her feet weren’t even touching the floor.
She forced herself to breathe slowly, desperate not to make her friend feel more embarrassed.
Still, how could she possibly stay composed? This wasn’t just a luxury jet. The CEO himself was flying it. Who in the world could treat this like it was normal?
She wanted nothing more than to roll around in the plush cabin and take a thousand pictures.
But she held back.
At least, until she noticed Zion stretched out on the curved leather couch by the window. One leg crossed over the other, he ordered steak and wine with the ease of someone dining at home.
Her eyes widened. To anyone watching, it looked like he was the man in charge, not Jonathan.
The picture felt completely upside down.
As the flight attendant left, Zion noticed her staring and gave a lazy smile.
“Ms. Sweeting, Ms. Claude–care for a glass of wine? We’ve got some of Mr. Fullbuster’s rare Nikon Dee onboard. You’d regret passing it up.”
Jessica blinked. “Your boss is literally flying this plane, and you’re this calm?”
Zion shrugged. “What else can I do? I’m not the captain. I can’t fly it.”
The truth was, whenever his boss changed his plans, Zion was the one scrambling -rebuilding schedules, juggling crises, smoothing out problems.
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Chapter 136 The Plane
So, was it really so wrong for him to enjoy a rare moment of peace?
Jessica had no words.
But she had to admit, he made a point.
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She burst into laughter and shot him a thumbs–up. Then she whipped out her phone and turned to a flight attendant.
“Can I take pictures?”
“Of course. Would you like me to take some for you? I’m pretty good with a camera.”
Jessica’s head bobbed quickly. “Yes, please! Let’s start with a few shots of the two of
us.”
She wrapped an arm around Anneliese and tugged her into pose after pose. Before Anneliese realized it, Jessica had her smiling and shifting into angles across the cabin, capturing every corner in photos.
Meanwhile, inside the cockpit, the pale glow from the instrument panel traced Jonathan’s profile as he focused sharply on the controls.
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