Chapter 2

When I got to the apartment, the smart lock had already been changed.

Delphine was inside, wearing my slippers, holding the mug Dad gave me. She flashed an innocent smile.

"Sis, I thought you were just bluffing. I didn't think you'd actually follow him all the way here."

I didn't bother with pleasantries. "Get out."

Her eyes went red immediately.

"I know you're mad that Garrett loves me. But a house is just a house. Sisters are forever."

I pulled out the contract.

"The apartment is tied to my employee ID. I can restore access and have any unauthorized persons removed."

This had been the pattern since we were kids.

She'd tear up my certificates, then cry and say she just wanted to write like her big sister.

She'd steal the birthday gift Dad gave me, then sob that I already had everything.

And I'd always be the one who got yelled at.

She video-called Garrett.

His face was hard as he demanded, "Delphine just got here. You want her sleeping on the street?"

"Then use your own place to house her."

"She has a job and a dorm. Why can't you let your sister stay?"

Delphine bit her lip and wiped her eyes.

"Don't blame my sister. She's always been scared I'll take her things. I'll just go."

With that, she set the mug down—carelessly, on the edge of her suitcase.

It shattered. A shard sliced my ankle. Blood welled up.

She gasped, covering her mouth, but I caught the flicker of a smile in her eyes.

"Sis, it's just an old cup. You're not going to blame me for that too, are you?"

Garrett's voice dropped. "She apologized. Don't make this into something it's not."

I swallowed the pain. Called building services and had her and her luggage escorted out.

That night, she posted a photo of herself sitting on a curb.

My sister kicked me out over a man. It's fine. I'll survive one cold night.

My mother called. "Her stomach is weak! If something happens to her, can you afford that?"

Just blame. That's all I ever got.

I hung up.

The next morning came the route coordination meeting. The main screen lit up, and I froze.

The route analysis and contingency plan I'd spent six months on—my name was gone.

Lead Pilot: Garrett Shaw

Special Assistance: Delphine Vance

The base manager beamed.

"Based on this plan, Delphine will be assigned to the tower coordination desk, dedicated to Captain Shaw's flights."

That position was supposed to be mine.

Garrett used to say, "You handle the ground, I'll handle the cockpit. We make the perfect team."

Now he'd used my work to place my sister right beside him.

I was shaking. I pulled up the original file on the spot.

"Every single risk assessment in that document was calculated by me! What right does Delphine have to her name on it?"

Delphine's eyes welled up.

"My sister taught me a lot. I thought what's hers is ours too."

She turned to the room, forcing a fragile smile.

"If it bothers my sister, I can withdraw. It's just that Captain Shaw has gotten used to having me around. I'd worry about swapping someone else in—it might affect his performance."

Garrett immediately pushed her back into her seat.

"Elara. You're already a full employee. Do you have to take this one opportunity away from her too?"

The manager jumped in. "The appointment's already posted. Let's keep family matters out of the workplace."

I projected the file's watermark onto the main screen.

"Then let Compliance investigate. Whoever accessed my files without authorization leaves the tower."

The meeting was cut short. Garrett cornered me in the stairwell.

"Once Delphine is settled, I'll get you back in."

"This was my spot."

"You're capable. You'll thrive anywhere."

He lost what little patience he had.

"Drop the complaint. She's not like you—she needs this chance more."

That night, my luggage arrived from home.

Dad's flight logbook—only half of it remained. The torn edge was uneven.

My breath caught. I called Garrett.

"Just some old paper, what's the big deal?"

Minutes later, Delphine posted a photo.

Our father's logbook pages, folded into paper airplanes, scattered across the operations room.

She was wearing my spare uniform, standing next to Garrett.

From now on, he flies the sky, and I wait for him in the tower.

Then a notification flashed on my screen:

[Your fixed coordination assignment with Garrett's crew has been terminated.]

[New dedicated operations coordinator: Delphine Vance.]