The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 410

Chapter 182: Unseen Layers-2

She leaned into the camera, a smirk cutting through the grain of the video feed. “Glad to see comprehension finally kicked in.”

The jab landed squarely against the heavy silence, but instead of shattering it, the tension seemed to bleed out of the room just a fraction. Jamie, who had been quietly observing, let out a sudden, involuntary snort-the sharp, clumsy sound of a teenager trying, and failing, to maintain a

facade of seasoned calm. He quickly lowered his head, his shoulders tensing as he attempted to

conceal the lapse, keenly aware of the gravity of the conversation. The small, human sound

offered a momentary break in the intense focus of the room. It was the kind of irreverence they

needed to keep from suffocating under the weight of the plan.

On the monitor, Harper’s smirk didn’t fade. If anything, Jamie’s reaction was all the confirmation

she needed that her jab had hit its mark.

“It’s tight,” she added, her voice finally dropping the sarcasm for a moment of unfiltered honesty.”

But you missed one teeny, tiny detail.”

[Ashcroft’s brows knitted, his expression clouding with a sudden confusion. “What detail?”

Harper hedged, a small, uncomfortable laugh escaping her as she shifted in her seat. “Well… when you said you’ll catch a private line straight to Japan? That’s true. The bird is waiting and

fueled. But…”

[“But what?” The impatience in Ashcroft’s voice was a sudden, sharp crack.

“Geesh! Relax, soldier!” Harper snapped back, rolling her eyes at the screen. She blew a stray hair out of her face, her gaze flickering nervously between Damien and Ashcroft, but the snark didn’t move an inch.”””Umm…” She bit her

lip, a mischievous smile spreading slowly across her face as she let the bombshell drop. “One of you is going to have to fly it.”NNAshcroft exhaled, a long, controlled breath that signaled he was finally releasing the tension he’d been bracing against. He leaned back, his features smoothing into a look of quiet confidence; clearly, he viewed the news as if it doesn’t matter.But Maya didn’t share his ease. Worry etched its way across her face, shattering her earlier composure. Her eyes darted from the screen to everyone else in the room as if she’s expecting to see the same worry in their faces, her voice rising with an edge of unfiltered

anxiety.

“Wait, what?” she interrupted, her hands clenching at her sides. “One of them has to fly it? But… that’s dangerous. I mean, how are they even supposed to-“NNOn the monitor, Harper’s expression went flat, her head tilting in dumbfounded confusion. NN”Um, Maya… chill,” she said, her mischievous spark returning as she looked at Damien. “What exactly are you so worried about?”N”

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We 182 Unseen Layer

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What do you mean, what am I worried about?” Maya’s voice climbed an octave, her gaze darting between the screen and the stoic faces around her. “You just said one of them has to fly the plane. How is that even possible? Can’t we just find a pilot? Someone who actually knows what they’re doing? It’s a thousand times safer than-“She stopped. A low, dry chuckle started with Monroe and rippled through the men at the room’s edge. Even Harper on the monitor couldn’t help herself, burying a grin behind her hand.Maya’s brow furrowed, her confusion turning into a flash of heat. She looked from Ashcroft to the others, her hands gesturing at the laughter. “What? What’s so

funny? Why are you all laughing?” She turned to Damien, searching his face for an explanation, but even there she saw the ghost of a subtle smirk.”””Did I say something funny?” she pressed, her

voice dropping to a sharp, defensive whisper. “What’s going on? What am I missing?”””On the

monitor, Harper’s smirk widened until it was a full-blown grin. She leaned back, crossing her arms

with the supreme confidence of someone holding all the cards.”””You really don’t know?” she

asked, her voice dripping with mock disbelief. “Well… maybe you should ask your boyfriend.”}

Maya’s head snapped toward Damien, her brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Ask him what?”{\

Ashcroft let out a dry, knowing chuckle, leaning back in his chair to enjoy the show. “Yeah, D,” he

prodded, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Why don’t you tell her? Don’t leave the lady in the dark.

“Maya looked at Damien, her breath catching as she searched his face. The silence in the room

wasn’t heavy anymore; it was electric. “Tell me what, Damien?”Harper didn’t wait for him to

answer. She couldn’t help herself.”Your boyfriend is a licensed aviator, Maya,” Harper said, her

voice dropping into a register of pure, glossy prestige. “And I’m not talking about some weekend

private pilot certificate. We’re talking multi-engine ratings and a Type Rating for every long-range

jet in existence.”

She paused for effect, her eyes glinting with mischief. “The guy spent his twenties burning through flight hours in ex-military L-39 Albatros jets just for the hell of it. He’s got enough PIC time to make a commercial captain look like an amateur. He doesn’t just ‘fly, Maya-he’s a civilian fighter pilot

with a much better paycheck.”

Harper leaned back, looking thoroughly pleased with the bombshell she’d dropped. “Turns out, when you have that much money, you don’t just buy the plane-you learn how to tame it.”

[Maya turned back to Damien, her eyes wide as she tried to reconcile the man she knew with this new, lethal layer of his life.

“You’re a pilot?” she whispered. Damien finally let a small, self-deprecating smile reach his eyes. ” It’s a hobby that got out of hand. But yes-I can fly.”

“Maya looked from the screen to Damien, her face flushing a soft, telltale crimson. The weight of the room’s collective knowledge made her feel suddenly small.

“Oh,” she murmured, her voice dropping into a hushed apology. “I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

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