Chapter 19

"Welcome aboard, Mr. Newman," the pilot said as Adam entered the Newman jet. He was supposed to spend the weekend with his son, but instead was flying to New York to meet with Ashland and a potential high profile client for Newman Media. His dad was going to take the meeting but called him a few hours ago to tell him that he couldn't go because Nicki's MS had flared up unexpectedly. With the nanny watching Connor at the ranch, Adam packed an overnight bag and headed to the airport.

"Hey, Gary," Adam responded. "I hope your co-pilot for this flight is more trustworthy than the last guy."

"He is, sir. Rob's been with us for years. You can trust him."

"We'll see," was all Adam said. This is the first time he needed to fly anywhere on the jet since Miami. The co-pilot who sold him out was a last minute temp who'd never worked for the Newman's before. Now, he'd never work for them again.

Adam stowed his overnight bag in the overhead container and then turned to enter the cabin, but was stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Sharon already seated. "Sharon, hi."

Sharon looked up from the magazine she was reading. "Adam. Hi. This is a surprise. I thought Victor was coming."

"Nikki had a flare up so he asked me to come instead. What are you doing here?"

"Noah has an art show in New York this weekend. I'm attending tonight."

Adam sat down in his usual seat and buckled himself in. "I thought he was working with you at Chance Comm?"

"He is. He's COO. But he had this on the books and didn't want to back out. He and Sally flew out earlier this week to prepare."

"Noah and Sally, huh? How's that going?"

Sharon grimaced. "I'm doing my best to keep an open mind about her, but she reminds me way too much of Phyllis."

"Are you in mama bear mode yet?"

"No. I'm really trying to stay out of it. Noah's an adult and can do what he wants. And I don't want to treat Sally the way Nikki treated me."

Adam knew it was killing Sharon not to interfere in Noah's life, but he understood her desire to be the polar opposite of Nikki. The stories she told him about Nikki's treatment of her back in the day made him cringe. She hadn't deserved that.

Adam and Sharon both fell silent after that as the plane prepared for takeoff. She resumed reading her magazine and he pulled out his briefing packet on the potential client. The silence was comforting, not awkward, just like back when they were a couple and in the same room doing their own things.

God, he'd missed this. Missed her. He hadn't seen her much since the night of the party. Her marriage blew up because she defended him. He didn't want people thinking she broke up with Rey to be with him, so he stayed away and only saw her a few times, accidentally, at Crimson Lights as he got his coffee.

The last time he'd run into Sharon at the coffee house, Mariah walked in just as Sharon left and proceeded to give him an earful about leaving her mom alone. Even though Rey had moved out and they signed the divorce papers, she hoped they'd work it out before it was final. Rey was good. He was bad.

Adam got the message loud and clear.

If only his heart would accept it.