Page 22 of The Tycoon

The uniformed pilotstood at the bottom of the stairs to the 737 jet.

“Good morning, Cole.Headed to Houston, correct?”The tall, fit man with brown hair held out his hand for Cole’s bag.

“That’s right, Paul.This is Ms.Regan Phillips.”Cole nodded toward Regan.“Regan, this is Paul Scofield, my pilot.”

“Ms.Phillips, happy to have you aboard.”Paul held out his right hand.

She shook it.“Please, call me, Regan.”

“Very good, Regan.I’ll take your bag and put it in the hold.”Paul held Cole’s bag in his left hand and extended his right hand for Regan’s bag.

She handed it over and followed Cole up the stairs into the plane.Just inside stood a woman in uniform.A beautiful woman.

“Hi, Cole.”

“Ava.”He turned to Regan.“This is Regan Phillips, my bodyguard.”

The woman was about Regan’s height and had blonde hair.That was where the similarities ended.Ava was model thin and if she had any muscles, Regan would eat her hat.Wait a minute.Why did she care if the woman had muscles?What is the matter with me?

“I’m happy to meet you, Ms.Phillips.”She held out her hand.

Regan shook it.“Pleased to meet you, Ava.And please call me, Regan.”

Ava smiled.“Very well, Regan.”

Cole turned and walked into the plane’s fuselage.

Regan followed him and then she widened her eyes as she looked around.A wide black sofa covered in leather was against one side, with four large, matching, swivel chairs next to it.In between the chairs was a small square table that matched the ones on either end of the sofa.In front of the sofa stood a coffee table.

Farther into the room was a desk with a computer monitor.Next was the dining table on the left side with a hall down the right, then the kitchen, followed by another hallway with two doors, one of which she assumed was the bathroom.

Cole opened the door on the left.“This is the bedroom.If you need to rest, the mattress is wonderful.You might not want to get out of bed.”He chuckled and moved farther down the hall to the last door.“This is the bathroom.It has a shower, tub, commode, and double sink.”He opened the door at the end of the hall.

She stuck her head into the bathroom.Comparing this bathroom to the bathrooms on the 737s she’d flown on was like comparing the Taj Mahal to a run-down one-room shack in the woods.

“Let’s go back up front and get buckled in.You can explore more after we’re in the air.”

Regan turned around and headed to the front of the cabin.

Ava was already seated and buckled in on one end of the sofa.

Sitting in one of the swivel chairs, Regan noticed it was bolted to the floor.“I suppose these recline?”

“They do.”Cole sat in another chair, across from her.

She noticed his eyes seemed to twinkle.He was clearly enjoying her wide-eyed, slack-jawed expression.She buckled her seatbelt.

Paul’s voice sounded over the speakers.“Ladies and gentleman.We are ready for takeoff.Please take your seats and buckle up.”

Regan held onto the armrests as the plane took off.Not that she was afraid of flying, just the takeoffs and landings.

Several minutes later, Paul’s voice came over the speakers.“We are at our cruising speed.Feel free to walk about the cabin.”

Ava was the first to stand.

Regan unfastened her seatbelt and stood.

Cole did the same.“Would you like something to drink and spiked or not?”