Page 28 of Billionaire's Fantasy
I can feel my heart start to race as I consider the offer. “Really?” I ask, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.
Olivia nods. “If you’d like. It’s totally up to you.”
Without hesitation, I sling my camera over my shoulder and follow Olivia to the cockpit. Jackson is sitting in the captain’s seat, his eyes scanning the various instruments and dials in front of him. He looks up when I enter, a warm smile spreading across his face.
“Hey there,” he says, gesturing for me to come closer. “Good to see you.”
“Thank you for having me.” I say, my eyes wide. “I don’t think I will ever get used to it.”
Jackson chuckles. “Glad you still like it. Do you want to sit down for a bit?”
I nod eagerly, taking the seat next to him.
I snap a few photos, trying to capture the moment as best I can. “Thank you so much for letting me do this,” I say, turning to Jackson.
He grins. “No problem. I’m just happy you’re enjoying it.”
“I am. It is a different perspective from up here.”
As I get comfortable in the cockpit, I feel a rush of delight mixed with a little bit of nervousness. Jackson takes me through the controls and explains more in detail how the Embraer works. It’s fascinating to learn about all the buttons, dials, and screens that control the plane.
I try my best to listen attentively and follow his instructions.
Finally, Jackson asks me the question I’ve been waiting for. “Amber, would you like to co-pilot with me?” I take a deep breath, feeling both exhilarated and nervous. “Yes, I would love to,” I reply with a grin.
I nod my head and he shows me how to operate the controls. “Okay, Amber. You see that lever there? Pull it.”
I do.
“That’s the engine start selector knob to start the left engine. Now, let’s do the same for the right engine. Suddenly the engines come to life. I can feel the plane shaking slightly beneath me. “Whoa,” I say, surprised.
“Whoa, indeed,” he chuckles.
As he checks through what he explained last time were the correct measures, I take the time to watch him. I admire how his brow rises in concentration and how his fingers move nimbly over the controls.
I am just about to ask him what the blinking sign on one of the screens means, when he also lifts his finger at the exact same moment, brushing it against mine.
My breath hitches at the contact and I take the time to stare into his blue eyes. He looks at me intently, staggering my heartbeat and thoughts.
“Sorry,” I whisper as I pull my hand away.
“It’s okay.” His voice comes out gruff. “What were you asking, Amber?”
A thrill rushes through me when he says my name. “That.” I glance at the screen.
“Oh! That screen just indicates fuel flow.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
As we take off, I watch in awe as the runway disappears beneath us, and we soar into the sky. The view from the cockpit is breathtaking with the endless expanse of sky stretching out before us, punctuated by fluffy clouds. Jackson shows me how to adjust the altitude and the speed, and I am surprised at how smooth and effortless the plane feels.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. But as we ascend higher and higher into the sky, I start to relax. The view up here is amazing. I can see the big city and long white sand beaches. We fly right over the hotel zone.
Jackson turns to me and smiles. “You’re a natural, Amber. Want to take us to Puerto Rico?”
I take a deep breath and nod my head, feeling thrilled. Jackson guides me through the process, telling me which buttons to push and when to adjust the throttle. It’s a little nerve-wracking but also exhilarating.
