Chapter 2 #2
From investors to reporters and content creators to their wives and kids—everyone is dressed in their finest attire as they gather around, admiring the planes as champagne glasses and hors d’oeuvres circulate.
Compared to what these events typically looked like, this setup was unconventional, but I liked it that way.
Tonight is a big deal for Archer Aviation, and I wanted to put on an equally big deal production.
It’s not every day that fully electric commercial airplanes are revealed.
Not to mention, we had someone major to impress.
A gentle hand lands on my shoulder as Melanie joins in on the sightseeing. “How are you feeling?” she asks.
“Nervous. Very nervous.”
There’s too much riding on this, and now that we’re minutes away from the grand reveal, every nerve ending in my body is firing at rapid speed.
She squeezes my arm in reassurance.
“Don’t worry about it. Staines loves you. Everything’s set up and in place. You’re dressed in the finest black suit, are freshly shaved, and not wearing some jackass-looking loafers. Take a breather. Enjoy this. You really did earn it.”
I smile at her attempt to ease my worries. I’d like to say it did a decent job of calming me down, but that would be a lie. Especially when I spot Everett Staines deep in conversation with Kamal Jameel—one of our key investors.
“Kamal scares me,” I admit.
Though brilliant, he’s a lot erratic. No one could ever anticipate what kind of crazy shenanigans he’ll say next. And that is scary when you have a reputation to uphold.
“Stop worrying, Nate. You’re stressing yourself out.”
I let out a long sigh—she could not be more right.
And while I fully intended to close the curtains and go back to being blissfully unaware of the influential people in the crowd, that’s thrown out the window when my eyes land on Adam.
Two girls stand in front of him as he talks animatedly, hands flailing to point out different parts of our hybrid aircraft.
While the redhead in white nods along enthusiastically to what he’s saying, it’s the brunette next to her in a dashing shade of red who captures my attention.
She seems distracted and almost distraught as she looks off in the distance, but that isn’t it.
There’s an unwavering sense of familiarity about her. Like our paths may have crossed in the past. I’m just not sure where. I have no time to think about it when a hand clasps my wrist, pulling me back in.
“It’s showtime,” Melanie announces.
Before I can blink, I’m handed a microphone and shuffled to stand in front of a sea of bodies packed like sardines. Loud applause surrounds me, and a wide smile plasters itself onto my face like it has countless times.
“Good evening, everyone.” The crowd cheers loudly, clapping unlike anything I’ve experienced. “And welcome to the Archer Aviation Voltage Jet unveiling.”
The energy spikes the moment a sharp whistle cuts through the air. My gaze follows the sound to make out the redhead who was with Adam earlier.
I scan the crowd, hoping to catch sight of another familiar face. Staines. My brother. The brunette in the red dress. But to no avail, the place is too packed.
“As you may know, one of our core goals at Archer is to break the mold of the aviation industry. The focus, you may ask? Pushing the limits of aesthetics, design, and innovation, but most importantly, renewable energy,”
More clapping. More cheering. More energy.
This is what I feed off during moments like these.
“If you’ve followed our journey from the very beginning, you’d know we began with a focus on traditional jet-powered aircraft before moving on to our hybrid models. However, it’s been our intention all along to transfer that foundation to something fully electric.”
A spotlight clicks on behind me, illuminating the star of the evening.
I smile and raise an arm toward the Voltage Jet as a contagious buzz rises from the crowd.
Pride unfurls in my chest, and I can’t help but look back. It isn’t the first time I’ve seen this plane in person. Hell, we’ve been working on this for the past four years. Yet the novelty of seeing our simulations, calculations, and hours of work come to life never wears off.
“First, I’d like to thank the engineers at Archer Aviation for the hard work they’ve put into this project. None of this would have been possible without each and every one—”
“Spark!” a high-pitched voice calls out as a stubby little finger points behind me. The father, holding the child on his hip, quickly hushes him as he lowers his hand.
I want to brush off the interruption and go on with the presentation as if nothing happened, but there’s a shift in the crowd’s expression. Wide eyes. Parted mouths. More cameras in my direction. I follow their gaze, shock rippling through me as I see sparks.
Bright white sparks burst from the side of the plane, zaps of energy shooting out before hitting the ceiling. A light bulb shatters on impact, casting a shadow across the room that triggers panic in my mind—and, most importantly, in the crowd.
They all take a step back as screams of shock and horror echo through the room. And there’s nothing I can say to reassure them when another zap shoots out.
“I swear this was working yesterday.” I let out a dry laugh, hoping to lighten the mood.
The attempt is useless when the crowd is already in a panic.
Movement at the side of the stage catches my attention. I look over to see Melanie motioning for me to wrap it up, while Adam and the rest of the crew stand behind her, concern etched on their faces.
“Thank you for your time, everybody.” I wave once into the stunned crowd before walking off.
Within seconds of making it out of public view, I’m surrounded by the team, whose voices overlap each other in a chaotic rush of apprehension. My ears are ringing. My mind is spinning. Nothing is making sense anymore.
The words. The spark. The plane.
What the fuck happened?
I’m pulled into some darkened corner by my wrist. It takes a second for my pupils to adjust to the lack of light, but when it does, all I see is Melanie looking up at me in desperation.
“Please tell me that was supposed to happen. That this was all for show and part of some plan to have more people talking about Archer Aviation.”
I stare blankly at her—the words not making their path out of my mouth.
Fuck. What just happened?
Everything was fine. It was running as we’d intended, and within moments…
“You need to get back out there, brush it off as a shock factor, and continue with the presentation.”
Two hands settle on my back, pushing me in the direction of the stage—the same stage where the project we’ve worked on for the past four years has gone to shit.
I resist the force, staying rooted in place.
Melanie’s plan isn’t going to work. No matter what I say. No matter what I do. I know this industry like the back of my hand, and the repercussions this will have on the company are inevitable.
I shake my head in refusal. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“We can play it off.” Determination fills her eyes. “It’s not too late.”
I reluctantly turn to see out into the showcase space, but none of it is salvageable. The crowd, now sparse, is still as scared as it was when I left. Some stand still, and others are making their way out of the hangar. There’s no real way to smooth this over, not after an incident like this.
“I’m going to walk this one off. I’ll deal with the consequences and investors later.”
Melanie narrows her eyes in my direction, tilting her head ever so slightly to reveal the sharp point of the pencil that sticks through her bun.
“That may work on Adam, but it doesn’t on me.”
My cousin frowns, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I’ll try my best to clear the air. Just promise me nothing else will happen tonight,” she says before jutting out her pinky finger.
I lock mine with hers like we have so many times as children.
“Promise,” I murmur, even though they always find a way to be broken.