Chapter 03

--- Four months later ---

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain, Avery Foster, speaking. Thank you for taking Serene 7897. We will soon arrive at Serene Airport.”

 A little pause and Avery continued.

“Heavy showers await. The ground temperature at Serene is 11 degrees Celsius. Thank you for your co-operation on our flight from Australia to New Zealand. Welcome to New Zealand!”

“Avery, you’ve been flying for the last fifteen days. Aren’t you tired at all?”

Her co-pilot, James asked, looking at her and just then her observer interrupted.

“Have you ever seen her being tired? Like ever?”

The four pilots, including Avery, broke into laughter as Avery shook her head and looked at James.  

“This is what I love, James. I’ve always wanted to be a pilot since I was a kid and now that I have the dream in my hands, why would I be tired of going through it?”

“I wish I had the courage like you to go to my dreams. I’ve wanted to become an engineer but my family wanted me to become a pilot to carry the family’s legacy.”

James replied and Avery’s smile faded as she looked at the cloudy and unclear sky in front of her. It reminded her of the atmosphere every time she went home. The sky is her comfort place but when it is cloudy and dark, the comfort slides deep down and replaces with somberness.

It was the same at her house. Once it was her comfort place but after she became a pilot, it was no different from a dark sky. How she wished her mother would support her dreams. All Avery wanted was for her mother to be proud of her because she exerted a lot of effort in climbing up to be a captain.

“You’re lucky… I wish my family supported this job.”

She turned to James with a painful smile and suddenly the cockpit fell silent.

It was not a secret to anyone in their airlines that the family of the most talented female pilot in their country was against her job. And her colleagues always tried their best to not bring up “family” in front of her.

“I’m sorry Avery. I know it hit too close to home for you.”

“That’s okay. It’s my problem. Let’s prepare for descending.”

She announced after a deep breath and everyone nodded in silence.

“Serene 7897, approach control report. The previous plane is going around due to bad weather. Confirm approaching and landing in Serene.”

The ground station says through the ACARS.

“We’ll continue approaching, Serene 7897”

The observer responds and the ground station gets back.

“Roger, Serene 7897. Descend to 6000 meters.”

“Descend 6000 meters, Serene 7897.”

The observer communicates in the cockpit and the co-pilot checks it with the chart and confirms.

“Descend to 6156 meters.

“Confirm.”

Avery says.

“Altitude to 6156 meters”

James says again and Avery confirms.

“6156 confirm.”

“Changing throttle level”

“Throttle down the engine. Maintain speed.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen. We are descending now. We’ll arrive at our destination in 30 minutes. It’s a pleasure to fly with you.”

The plane landed safely at the airport despite the bad weather, and the crew dissolved as soon as they were taken back to the headquarters of Serene Airlines. Avery, James, and Violet, who was a stewardess and has been on the same plane with Avery, headed to the cafeteria.

“Gosh. I’m so hungry. It feels like it has been ages since I last ate.”

Violet complained as she sat along with them on a table and James laughed.

“Don’t be such a drama queen. We’re here to eat now, aren’t we?”

“By the way, Avery, aren’t you going to be promoted to Deputy Minister of the Flight Department soon?”

Violet asked just as she munched down a piece of the bun she had just bought.

“Of course she is. She deserves it for her dedication to our airline over the past six years. It’s just a matter of another few days.”

Avery didn’t reply as the conversation felt distant to her and she zoned out, knowing very well it wasn’t going to be easy for her to become the Deputy Minister. There were a lot of facts concerning her about it and two of them were her competitor for the position being the brother-in-law of the assistant CEO and that same assistant CEO being against female pilots.

He was a man with an old mindset and he believed female pilots weren’t as capable as male pilots. She had tried her best to convince him over the years through her performance but even when the whole country acknowledged her ability, he refused and called it upon her luck.

“Miss. Avery Foster.”

She was startled from her thoughts when a person from the Administration unit approached her. Violet and James exchanged happy looks, knowing very well what it is all about.

“The CEO, Mr. Billiard, expects you at the board meeting. Would you mind following me?”

“Sure.”

She replied with a smile as she got up and then looked at her colleagues as she said,

“Guys, I have to go now. See you later.”

“See you, Avery!”

“Good luck!”

James and Violet said simultaneously as she went away with the officer to the administration unit.

The walk to the meeting room was nerve-wracking. With no one to speak to her and locked in her thoughts, Avery tried her best to come to terms that whatever will happen, she will take it with pleasure. But knowing about herself, she knew it was going to be hard. After all, six years of service and dedication to Serene Airlines only have ended her in disappointment.

She entered the meeting room, which was filled with the officials in the presence of the CEO and assistant CEO. Just by the smirk on the assistant CEO’s face, she could say what she was expecting was right.

“Please have a seat, Miss. Foster.”

The CEO gestured and she bowed as she took her seat.

“Thank you, sir.”

The meeting carried on for a few hours, talking about various issues in different departments, and then finally came to the point. Avery was already exhausted and all she wanted was to finish this up, go to her apartment, and sleep.

“Minister Carlos.”

Mr. Billiard turned to the Minister of the Flight Department and the Minister nodded, letting the CEO continue.

“I appreciate the two recommendations you gave me for the position of Deputy Minister for the Flight Department because, as you already know, those two are the final candidates for this as well.”

“It was my pleasure, Mr. Billiard.”

“With the discussion among the executive board, we have concluded…”

Avery gripped her pants tightly under the table, telling herself to be calm.

“… that Pilot Samuel Vance is ideal for this position.”

Avery could feel her insides knotting. She expected it but when the moment really came, it was harder than she imagined. Especially knowing that the judgment is unfair.

“May I know why I was not chosen?”

She asked, opening her eyes that were tightly closed for the past few seconds but she made sure he didn’t let her voice waver nor did let anyone see how weak she was at that moment.

The whole meeting room fell silent while a few executives looked down guiltily, as if apologizing to her for not being able to stand on her side. Mr. Billiard took a deep breath but it was the assistant CEO, Mr. Leonardo, who spoke.

“Miss. Avery. The job you have done for our company is highly commendable and we’re not overlooking you. But as the board, we need to make the decisions that are best for the future of the company.”

“If my service is commendable and if you’re not trying to overlook me, please tell me, Mr. Leonardo, give me a valid reason why I’m not selected. What makes me not the best option for the company?”

She could feel her temper rising but if there is one thing she learned while working over the past years is that no matter how angry she was, she cannot let it take over. Not in a professional place like this.

“Miss. Avery. Are you getting worked up because you’re not chosen?”

Leonardo sounded kind but the underlying mock was evident and malice was expressive through his eyes. He is trying to bring the worst out of her and embarrass her. She knew. But she was not going to let him have his way.

“I’m not, Mr. Leonardo. But as a person who dedicated her life to this company and the aviation of New Zealand for six years, I would like to hear a clear reason.”

She replied more calmly than ever and that is when the man’s true self spoke.

“You see, Miss. Foster. You’re talented. In fact, impressive. But you are a woman. No matter how seriously you take this job, you will soon be occupied with marriage, you will get pregnant and then you will have to focus on your kids. The company can't afford to lose all the money it invested in you only to end up in that. We have to look at the long run. Hope you understand.”

He finished and then looked at Mr. Billiard. The CEO didn’t approve, neither declined and that was the last sign for Avery.  

“Alright.”

She claimed calmly.

“I understand. Then I have a decision to announce on my own.”

She said directly, looking at the CEO and the whole meeting room was in a pin-drop silence.

“I understand your concerns about me being a female and about your losses about investing in me. In that case, I believe, the investment you make in me when I remain as a pilot is also a waste.”

Everyone’s eyes widened as if they could feel what was coming and Avery continued confidently.

“Therefore, I resign.”

“Miss. Avery…”

This time the CEO spoke but Avery had already got up from her seat.

“Thank you for all the investment that you have made in me so far and I’m willing to compensate for any fair amount that you ask me for. In any case, I’m willing to take it to court if it is unfair to me. I’ll take my leave.”

She bowed to the members in the meeting room and left without heeding the calls she got from the CEO and the other members. She had already come up with a plan when she expected this situation and she had already written her resignation letter and even contacted a lawyer to get it through.

She applied to “Aurora Airlines” a week ago and she expected they would accept her because indeed, she is the best female pilot in the country. She was just not going to let this company suck all the energy in her. They’ve already taken advantage of her emotions several times and she wasn’t going to give them that satisfaction again.

Tears streamed down her face as she walked through the hallways of the company and reached the exit but she wiped them away the moment she stepped out of the building.

“I’m not going to give up. If Aurora doesn’t want me. I will apply to another company.”

She told herself as she called a cab and went to her apartment.

She had calmed down a little from her rage once she reached her place and she could feel some peace settling down inside of her after a few more minutes passed. Feeling overwhelmed about the whole situation, when she walked to the door of her apartment, she saw a letter in the letterbox.

She took it and walked into the house and keeping her bag away, she opened it. Her eyes widened and happiness surged through her as she threw the letter in the air and jumped in joy.

She has been accepted to Aurora Airlines.