Page 26 of Hating the Boss

There it was. And there was someone falling out of it, a tiny speck in the air. I shuddered and looked away.

“Please,” said Brad, interlacing his fingers at his chest to beg.

“Uh-uh.” I shook my head, finding it harder and harder to say no to him when he looked at me like that, his gray eyes dancing with a nervous excitement.

“You could conquer your fears…” he said.

I shook my head, more slowly this time to get the point across.

“And get a big, fat bonus,” he added, a sly smile crossing his lips. My eyes were immediately drawn there and I knew I couldn’t hold out on him much longer.

“Okay,” I said softly.

“What?” He cupped his ear.

“I said I’ll do it!” I said loudly, letting out a nervous trill of laughter.

Brad excitedly grabbed my hand and pulled me to the large domed building in the middle of the grassy field that surrounded us.

Thirty minutes later, I was suited up in a gray jumpsuit that matched Brad’s and was running through the training course we had just sat through. I had expected it to be longer. Hoped it would be longer. Maybe in that time, Brad would get cold feet and change his mind. But no, now we were walking toward a plane where an excited Trent Page practically danced outside the open door.

“Trent,” said Brad, turning to me. “This is Sarah.”

I held my hand out and he shook it firmly. His hair was a mess and his jumpsuit had grass stains, as he grinned at me.

“How was it?” I asked, gesturing to the sky.

“Amazing. Have you been?”

I shook my head. “Had no plans to until today.” I pointed my thumb at Brad. “But he can be quite convincing,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“How do you think he got me to sign with him?” laughed Trent.

“Are you ready?” asked an instructor as they jogged up beside us.

No. Not at all.

“Ready,” said Brad.

The instructor guided us onto the plane and my panic began to set in as we sat in folding chairs along the side of the plane. I gripped my legs tightly as the hum of the engine grew louder, vibrating against my tense body. Brad sat beside me, looking as equally terrified as I did, which only made me feel a little better.

He and Trent began talking about business, and I tried to strain my ear to listen. Should I be taking notes for this? I hadn’t thought to bring a notepad on a freaking airplane. I couldn’t believe they could even think about a new app or quarterly figures at a time like this.

Soon the plane began to roll down the runway and the instructors were shouting directions as they began strapping us up, tightening belts and hooking levers. My heart began to thud in my throat, the sound of it pulsing in my head as everything else seemed to fade away. I thought I was having a heart attack, watching as the grassy field below grew further and further away.

“Brad,” I said in a panic. I barely knew this man and looking to him for support right now was my only option.

“You’re okay,” he said, reaching over and taking my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. His eyes were so intent. My heart still thudded, but it was making its way back where it belonged in my chest. I was no longer choking on it.

I nodded, wide-eyed as the plane seemed to stall in mid-air.

“We’ve reached 10,000 feet,” yelled the instructor.

I really wished he would have kept that fun fact to himself.

“I think I hate you!” I yelled at Brad as the door to the side of the plane slid open, nothing but pale blue skies and fluffy white clouds outside.

He laughed, but I could tell his nerves were growing as his eyes took in the scenery. I watched as his throat bobbed.