Chapter 20

**James pov**

The cherry on the top came at the end of that day to complete one of the disastrous days in his office. James put one step, just one single step, into his house when his phone started ringing. He wouldn't have answered if there was Brittany to handle things for him. After "working" half-day with Melanie, he decided he better take his calls unlike forwarding them to his secretary.

"James McKenzie", James said as a way of greeting the caller.

"Mr. McKenzie, I'm Roger from "The Seattle Times", what is your statement regarding the events taking place on plane Aon 3458?", asked the caller once he picked up.

James has no idea what he is asking about. But he wouldn't project himself as ignorant of the happenings on one of his planes to the media. Whatever it is, has been big enough to garner the media's attention. He didn't neglect the fact that they became aware of it before him. Some serious heads will be rolling once he cuts this call. James' mind started conjuring the worst-case scenario-the plane crashing somewhere...all those passengers' lives lost. He decided it's no use bringing the headache on thinking like this.

"We are currently analysing the crisis. We will get back to you once it is subdued. Aon airlines, Inc., is one of the top airlines of the United States for a reason. Our crew is given lessons to handle crises in all kinds of situations. Until then we hope the media refrains from spreading unnecessary panic among the people and not malign the airlines' name in any capacity", James replied with a calm he is far from feeling.

"Mr. McKenzie whom do you think is-", he tried to barge in.

James cut him off before he could finish the question, " We are currently under crisis as you seem to be well-informed, Roger. So, I would appreciate it if you let me get back to my work before it escalates. Aon Airlines, Inc., will release a private statement once it is sorted. Until then I must do my work as you are doing yours", James cut the call once he finished speaking.

"Tank! Get the jet ready. We are leaving for Seattle. Now!", James bellowed as he barged out of the main hall.

Hearing his voice, Agatha came rushing out of the kitchen. "Mr. McKenzie, is everything alright?", Agatha asked worriedly.

James took a long sigh before replying, "No Agatha. Something is going on at Seattle airport I was uninformed of. I'm afraid I must leave right now. It may take some time. I will try to get back by tomorrow evening considering the 10 hours of traveling time. Until then, why don't you go back to your place? I would feel better knowing you are safe at your home".

"No need to rush back. Take some rest before you board again, Mr. McKenzie. You will need the rest", Agatha requested as she followed him to the front door.

"Let's see what the crisis is and how it goes! I will see you tomorrow, Agatha. Stay out of trouble until then, will you?”, James teased her though he is not feeling the lightness of it.

"You take care of yourself...James", Agatha said worriedly, holding his hand to reassure herself.

"Yes, mam".

Tank drove his car to the front of his house and waited patiently as James assured Agatha's concerns. Behind this car, there is another one waiting that has the remaining security staff. As the matter appears to be bigger Tank ordered them to tag along. James dialled the number of Seattle's office once he got into his car and Tank started driving to the airport with the other car following behind.

The call was answered before the ring finished its blaring.

"What the fuck happened there?", James roared into his mobile.

Philip Wilson, the main head of the Seattle branch of Aon Airlines, gulped hearing his boss's voice on the phone. He thought he could diffuse the situation before it reached his boss's ears.

"Mr. McKenzie...I... how did you-", James cut off his stammering by questioning him in a commanding voice, "what happened to flight 3458? Why was I not informed when something happened to grab the media's attention? Why am I learning about one of my flights from the media, Philip? Care to explain that?"

Philip, fearing for his job started blabbering, " Mr. McKenzie, the police...the police got a call that there is a bomb on Aon 3458", Philip wrapped up the circus happening before his eyes in those two sentences. What else can he say? That his entire staff is running all around the airport like a headless chicken, with no proper guidance or instructions. Or that the media's attention is only increasing the panic among the people. Philip doesn't even dare to think what all this bad publicity will do to the company's reputation. Saying all these things, however, will surely get him fired.

Instead, Philip tried to assure his boss by saying, "we are trying to control the situation here sir. No doubt everything will be normal once the police find the bomb".

James expected a crisis, but this...this here is a nightmare. A nightmare his PR team couldn't slither him out of. All that bad publicity about the security of the airlines...Jesus! What a mess!

First things first, James asked, "well, what is the progress? Have they found anything yet?"

"About that Mr. McKenzie, well...", Philip stalled, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Tell me there is a bomb squad right there now checking for that fucking bomb?" James clenched his jaw.

" We are...we are escorting the passengers as we speak Mr. McKenzie ", Philip gave the excuse of why there was no physical activity happening.

"What the fuck is wrong with you! Were you sleeping when the training sessions were going on? Why wasn't the bomb squad already present?", James roared, tranquility lost in the wake of this disaster.

"I... I was about to", Philip stammered, admitting to himself that it's hopeless to save his job now.

"How long ago was the call made?" James pinched the bridge of his nose as he heard what was being said.

"About 15 minutes ago sir", Philip replied, checking his watch.

"How the fuck does media got a sniff out of this!", James scoffed at the absolute ridiculous of this situation.

"One of the passengers is from the media sir. He called his buddies before we became aware of the situation", Philip explained their failure to contain the situation.

"At least tell me the plane is parked in an isolated area", James asked hoping against hope for some fucking brain cells in his staff.

"We were...we were about to-", Philip stuttered.

"Jesus Philip, what are you waiting for? The fucking plane to blow up! Look at the media. They too learned 15 minutes ago, yet they created a circus out of it and you couldn't do a single thing in the meantime? If this affects my company, I'm going to crush you", James threatened him.

"No, Mr. McKenzie. We will do as you say. I will contact the police force and move the plane. Give us a few minutes", Philip tried to reason with him.

"Time is what we don't have. If there really is a fucking bomb, that plane can blow up any second. Do you know what that means? Death. Disaster. The entire airport is at risk. Now move those gears and vacate the premises ASAP. Let our staff voluntarily guide the crowd", James fired his demands.

"Yes, Mr. McKenzie", Philip is relieved to throw the decision making to his boss. At last, some guidance.

"I'm on my way. Until then I want the security team who checked the passengers and the maintenance crew detained. Not a single fucking person leaves that place until I questioned everyone"

"Yes Mr. McKenzie "

"And Philip you better start doing the damage control your carelessness brought. If I see any bad media circulating because of this, you are finished. That means no illegal photo clicks", James bit out.

"Ye...yes, Mr. McKenzie"

James cut the call before he could chew Philip's head off. One stupid person's decision to plant a bomb in one of his planes...and look what's happening. This may cost him his company's reputation at best. At worst, lives. There are hundreds of people at Seattle airport. James prayed to god as never before. Please don't let an innocent die, god!

He needs to be practical right now. James quickly dialled the Seattle senator's number on his phone next.

"Senator, it's James McKenzie speaking".

"Yes, Mr. McKenzie. I just saw the news. What can I do for you?", Senator asked coolly as a cucumber.

"I want the premises safely taped, fire brigade and an ambulance ready at the airport. A couple of officers to keep the media from unnecessary clicks. Two units of bomb squads searching for that bomb ASAP. A separate police unit to investigate the call and trace. A couple of officers to check the security cameras along with my team", James ticked off his wants.

"You are asking for a lot of my police force Mr. McKenzie", the senator said softly. Politicians! People's lives are in danger and here he is playing word games.

"I'm giving you a lot of funds for the campaigning senator", James reminded him not in the mood to play their games.

"Yes, of course, Mr. McKenzie. Consider it done", the senator said, not wanting to poke a bear that's sleeping.

James then called his PR team. "Jason, you might know the situation. I want every fucking channel in this country to run our commercial on a loop. Telecast the happenings on the Seattle airport 'live' on Max's channel. I will talk to him".

"Live? But sir"

"Do as I say Jason. I want every person, especially the media to know how seriously we take such threats. On loop Jason. Now".

James then called Max, his friend, and media mogul. Max owns one of the largest global media, communications, and entertainment companies with multiple subsidiaries that include cable communications, studios, and networks, motion pictures, television productions, etc.,
In simple terms, he is a billionaire.

"Max, I need one of your news crew to cover Seattle airport live. Now"

"Ok. I will do what I can", that's Max for you. He is as closed off as James. No questions asked. James also returns the favour when Max asks him. No questions, no excuses. Their friendship is as simple as that.

"Good", James cut the call and then called the temp agency from where he recruited Melanie, the Wonder Woman.

"I want the phone number of Ms. Jackson", James stated as a matter of greeting.

"Is this to confirm her employment?", asked an old woman from the other end.

"Something like that", James said, not in the mood to play 20-20. The old woman rattled Melanie's phone number.

James then called Melanie, bracing himself for the stupidity overload.

"Yes, who is this?", asked a careless voice much different from the seductive siren's purr.

"James McKenzie".

"Mr. McKenzie! What a pleasant surprise. I was about to call you. When shall I meet you tomorrow, I mean, come to the office tomorrow?", the purr is back along with the murder of the English language.

"I'm leaving now for Seattle Ms. Jackson. I want you to hold all the phone calls coming from the media. Check the calls and forward the very important ones to me. Nothing else. Got it?"

"How would I know which one is important, Mr. McKenzie?"

" Just forward all of them to the PR team for now. Brittany must have written their phone extension somewhere. Did you contact Human Resources to allow you with a temporary mail?"

"Umm... I don't know I was supposed to do that Mr. McKenzie ", Melanie said in a fake innocent voice.

"Just message me your personal Gmail id. I will mail you if I need something", James cut off once he instructed her to message him.

James mentally calculated the flight time. Seattle is 3 hours behind Atlanta. So, by the time of 10:35 pm in Atlanta, he will be at Seattle's 7:35 pm. A good load of time to happen anything. He needed a break from this stress otherwise he feared he would combust. Suddenly, he pictured the "lavender girl" from last week. Her smell. Her almost nearness.

Do her friends still tease her? Or was she able to overcome her shyness and asked someone else? James doesn't like the idea of her with anyone else. In his mind, she was his. James frowned as he contemplated this new development. When did she become his lavender girl? For all he knew, she may be a teenager posing as a grown-up in the club. Jesus! All this pressure is making his brain sprout some silly nonsense. James determinedly tucked away from the thoughts of the lavender girl from his mind. He needs to focus on the current crisis at hand. At a fucking bomb.