Page 15 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

“Me?” he said dramatically. “I would never.”

“So, youdidthink about it.”

The passenger area had single seats running down each side with an aisle in between. Peter and Hattie had taken a row toward the back of the cabin, while Stacy Lange—Billy’s personal assistant—sat across from Adriene Adele, the actor who had played Tessa’s sister inStorm’s Eye. The final passenger was Lizzie Franks, the Centurion Pictures PR person who would be riding herd on everyone throughout the trip. She was seated directly behind Stacy.

The seat across from Tessa was empty, so Billy gestured toward it. “May I?”

“I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”

Kyle climbed on board a few minutes later, closed the door, and approached Billy. “A mimosa before the flight?”

“It’s like you’re reading my mind. Thank you.”

The drink arrived as the pilot’s voice came over the intercom.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is Captain Chisholm. We’ve been cleared to taxi. If you haven’t already, please take your seat and buckle in.”

Takeoff was textbook, and in short order, Captain Chisholm’s voice came over the intercom again. “Folks, we’ve just reached cruising altitude. Feel free to move around, but for your safety I advise keeping your belt fastened when seated.”

The intercom had barely switched off when Stacy jumped out of her seat and knelt in the aisle, next to Billy.

“Here,” she said, thrusting a stack of papers at him.

He eyed the pages without taking them. “What’s all this?”

“Location reports, latest revised budget, and newschedule forThe Scapegoat.”The Scapegoatwas Peter’s next film, which would begin shooting in a few months.

Billy raised an eyebrow. “Are you familiar with email? It’s a very efficient way of sharing information without killing trees.”

“Bless your heart, trying to be the funny guy.” Stacy’s expression turned annoyed. “I did email them to you, butyoudidn’t respond.”

“When?”

“Yesterday morning.”

“I don’t recall seeing—”

“Before you finish answering that, tell me. Did you even check?”

Saying he hadn’t had time because he’d spent the last day prepping for the mission Lance had given him was not an option. So he chuckled and said, “It must have slipped my mind.”

Stacy studied him. “That is very unlike you. Are you sick? Should I arrange for a doctor to meet the plane?”

“I’m perfectly fine. I was just busy.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What were you doing that kept you so occupied? I know I blocked out plenty of time on your schedule.”

“Perhaps the things I was doing were none of your business.”

“Unlikely. Everything you do is my business. I’m your assistant, remember? But we can discuss that later.” She held out the papers again. “Lucky for you, I printed everything out. And since you’ll be sitting here with nothing else to do for a while, what better time to go over all of it?”

“You do remember that you work for me, not the other way around.”

“If I were your boss, you would have already dealt with all this to avoid my wrath.”

“Wrath?”

“What? It’s a perfectly acceptable word.”

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