Chris drove Bella to the airport, carrying her box as if it weighed nothing. Before she rushed off, he bent close.
"I'll pick you up tonight," he promised. "Fourteen hours or not, I'll be here."
Bella nodded, heart steadying at his words, before hurrying inside.
The conference hall was already filled when she arrived. Her colleagues were seated in a straight row, faces tight with nerves.
"Hi guys," Bella whispered as she slipped into her seat.
They murmured greetings back, but Tracy's glare was sharp enough to cut glass. Beside her, Ria was tugging at her sleeves, legs bouncing under the table.
Minutes later, the panel committee entered: three men, four women, every step echoing against the walls. Everyone stood in respect.
The chairperson spoke briefly before the first videos flickered to life on the projector. Footage after footage showed Tracy's sharp tongue and cruel smirks as she bullied junior staff. One clip even caught Ria joining in. Gasps filled the room; disgust painted every face.
Then the door swung open.
Everyone shot to their feet.
"Mr. Hampson." The greeting rang out in unison. Heads bowed slightly.
Chris nodded, taking a seat at the head of the table. His presence shifted the atmosphere immediately—authority thickened the air.
"Replay the last section," the chairperson instructed, but Chris raised a hand.
"I've watched the evidence enough times," he said coolly. "Continue from where you stopped."
The videos rolled on. By the time the lights came back up, Tracy's face had gone pale beneath her painted confidence.
The chairperson cleared his throat, but Chris's voice cut across the room.
"It is beyond reasonable doubt that Miss Tracy Xavier is a habitual narcissistic bully. And Miss Ria Singh your silence and complicity make you equally responsible. FAA does not tolerate this culture."
He paused, letting the weight of his words linger.
"Miss Singh, you are suspended without pay for one month. Miss Xavier, you are terminated effective immediately and referred to the authorities. FAA is not a shelter for animals. Both of you will submit written apologies to your victims before the end of the week."
The room fell silent. Then Chris stood, and everyone else followed suit automatically. The dismissal was clear.
The police officers waiting outside stepped in. Tracy stiffened as they placed her in cuffs.
She jerked her head toward Bella, eyes blazing.
"I'll be back for you, bitch. That's a promise."
A chill swept down Bella's spine.
"Aisssh, goosebumps," Alexia whispered.
"I thought it was just me," Nadia muttered.
"Ella, are you okay?" Lilian asked.
Bella forced a steady smile. "I'm fine. Really."
Liam spoke up. "Looks like we're all on the same flight today."
"What?!" Bella, Nadia, Alexia, and Lilian said together.
"Schedules are synced till the end of the year," Liam added with a shrug.
Bella sighed dramatically. "That's terrible timing. My mum's getting married next Saturday."
Gasps and laughter erupted.
"No way!" Alexia said.
"Are you for real?" Lilian asked.
"Aww, that's so sweet," Nadia chimed.
"Congrats, Ella," Liam added.
Bella's grin softened. "Thanks, guys. Honestly, I'm just happy for her."
The moment didn't last long Mrs. Henshaw's sharp voice echoed down the corridor, reminding them it was time to prep.
"Let's move," Bella said quickly, and they hurried to the aircraft.
While checking seatbelts and polishing trays, Bella's AirPods buzzed. She tapped to answer.
"Hi, angel," Chris's voice warmed her ears.
"Why didn't you tell me you'd be at the meeting?" she asked in a hushed, annoyed tone.
"Because if I had, you'd have begged me not to attend. And Bella" his voice lowered "it wasn't only about you. She's tormented others too."
Bella exhaled. "Even so, you wouldn't have come if I wasn't involved. Don't do that again. I don't want... special treatment."
"Understood, ma'am," Chris teased lightly. "Forgive me?"
She softened despite herself. "Fine. Are you back in the office?"
"Heading to inspect one of the new plants."
"Oh. Did you eat breakfast?"
"You know I usually don't," he said with a shrug in his tone. "Coffee only."
Bella groaned. "Chris, at least take breakfast. Even if you skip everything else."
He chuckled. "You sound exactly like my mum."
"Well, maybe your mum's right about that one thing."
"What time does your flight leave?" he asked.
"Five minutes."
"Then I'll let you go. As much as I want to keep hearing your voice, I don't want to distract you."
Bella smiled despite the chaos of the morning. "My boss's boss is considerate after all."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Fly safe, babe."
"You too. Take care," she said before the line ended.
Barely seconds later, Chris's phone rang again. He sighed when he saw the caller ID.
"Good morning to you too, Mum," he said flatly.
"Don't play smart with me, Christian. Who were you talking to just now? That's not your business line." Cassandra's voice was sharp, accusing.
"I was talking to Bella. And why are you so worked up?"
"How many times must I tell you to stay away from that girl? I don't like her."
Chris's jaw tightened. "Mum, I'm not a child. You don't get to control who I love."
"Love?" Cassandra scoffed. "That girl is a slut. Keep her if you must for your pleasures, but don't you dare think of bringing her home as your fiancée, let alone your wife."
"Mum," Chris said firmly, "I love her. And that's not changing."
"Love is not enough, son. You have better options everywhere. Girls who are polished, wealthy, suitable. Not some low-life distraction. I won't allow it."
Chris pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't want to argue about this now. It's too early."
"Don't you dare hang up on me."
He drew a long breath. "Why did you call?"
"Mr. Leonard told me you refused to see his representative. Even after I asked you to. How dare you embarrass me like that?"
"Because the woman he sent was unprofessional," Chris snapped. "I had to send her away."
"She's an A-list model, Chris. You can't expect her to dress like a secretary."
Realization dawned on him. "So you knew he sent his daughter?"
"Of course I knew. Thelma is the kind of daughter-in-law any family would die for. Treat her with respect."
Chris's disgust was audible. "Mum, we'll talk later." He cut the line before she could reply.