Page 4 of Switched

I stare at her, sure I must have misheard what she just said to me.

The room feels like it’s spinning.

“You want me to fly somewhere?” I ask.

She nods slowly. “We’re partnered with Cressidan Travel now, Saph. All of our writers are going to be expected to go out as and when required, as part of that partnership. The features editor job and my own will be the only two positions here that won’t require regular travel. Do you get what I’m saying?”

I can’t believe this. My boss knows I’m terrified of flying.

She knows, and she’s still giving me a chance to get the job I’ve been wishing for.

All I have to do is get over that fear for one flight. Just one single flight.

If I don’t do it, I’m completely screwed.

My old comfortable job is no longer going to exist.

I swallow the lump that’s rising in my throat.

She’s asking me to face my worst nightmare.

“I get it,” I tell her, sounding like I mean every word.

If she needs me to do this, and I’ll have my dream job afterwards with no expectation of further travel, I’m going to have to find a way to do it.

She looks at me and nods. “Okay. I realize you might need some time to prepare. So, why don’t you tie up any loose ends this morning, and take the next few days off work to get ready?”

“Sure,” I tell her. “Where will I be going?”

“You’ll be travelling to a beach resort in Golden Palms on Saturday afternoon. It’s only a two-hour flight. The band are willing to give you some time at the resort as well as during the flight to ask them questions, so you can do the interview where you see fit. I’ll email you all the details. You’ll have a whole week to spend time with them and relax at their resort, before you’ll be expected back.”

“Does it matter how I get back?” I ask, hoping a rental car might be acceptable.

She gives me a wry smile. “You’ll be flown back. Anything less would make your appointment questionable to the higher ups.”

I nod. “Okay.”

She nods back. “You can go. If you change your mind, let me know tomorrow at the latest.”

“I won’t change my mind,” I tell her, before I get up and leave her office.

My legs feel shaky as I head back to my desk.

I’m landing my dream promotion as long as I can make myself get on a plane. Twice.

My stomach churns at the thought of it.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been afraid of flying.

Maybe it’s an irrational fear, but the phobia is very real.

When my parents tried to help me get over it as a kid, I freaked the hell out and started yelling about bombs in the overhead luggage until we were kicked off our flight and questioned for hours by airport security.

I’m pretty sure we only got released after that because my father’s lawyers threatened to sue the airline for detaining an overly imaginative child over some nonsense she spouted.

Julie looks up from scrolling on her phone when I step back into the office.

She double-takes and lowers her cell.

---