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CHAPTER ONE

“I’M A DOCTOR, you know” No, the flight attendant didn’t know, but Natalie Sterling was determined to make it on time to her presentation

She’d heard of airlines overbooking flights, but it had never affected her Until now

“A pediatric heart surgeon,” she added, hoping to gain e pulled that card before, but she wasn’t one to no-show a speaking coht doesn’t work”

The stewardess shook her head “There’s nothing I can do It was in the agreement when you purchased your ticket that if the plane is overbooked you would have to take a later flight”

Taking a deep breath, Natalie stared at the pretty thirty-so blonde in her crisp uniform It wasn’t the woman’s fault

“It’s urgent I go on this flight” She heard the alet to Miami this afternoon

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience, but you’re going to have to exit the plane” The forced su her patience

If only Natalie could have kept her flight the evening before, instead of having to delay her departure Still, she’d been needed for an eery, and her patients came first Always

“What if I refuse to give up my seat?”

The attendant’s obligatory smile disappeared “I would be forced to call Security” Her tone warned Natalie would regret such a decision “They would escort you off the plane Are you refusing?”

Visions of herself being dragged off the plane, kicking and screa Yeah, that splattered all over the neouldn’t impress Memphis Children’s Hospital’s board

Feelingpunished for a crime she hadn’t committed, Natalie closed her laptop, unclasped her seatbelt and pulled her case out fro, I just wondered if it was an option”

“It’s not,” she was assured, the stewardess’s eyes still narrowed

“Fine” Not really, but apparently she had no choice “But you have to get me to Miami this afternoon”

She gathered her things and pulled her carry-on bag back out from the overhead compartment