Jack Orren, Founder/CEO of a start-up airline dies falling down a marble staircase in what appears to be an accident. In a succession struggle to replace him at the airline, the COO, Roger Choate, prevails over the Founder's protege, Bart Eriksen. Eriksen learns from Choate himself, who is taunting Eriksen, that Choate had tripped Orren causing the fall down the stairs but there is no actual evidence. Eriksen tries going to the police but Choate denies he said anything and denies he was responsible. Eriksen tries to convince others, including Katherine, Orren's widow. Over time she comes to believe Eriksen and is faced with what to do about it. Eriksen too is faced with deciding how to act -- does he take action himself to seek revenge/justice for Orren and how would he do it? He is also conflicted by knowing that in any action against Choate he may benefit in his fight to lead the airline -- he thus questions his motive for revenge. His decision making is complicated further by his relationship with two women who are very different, but almost equally attractive to him. He must decide between them and whatever he determines to do about Choate will affect whichever woman he chooses. Concurrently, a drug cartel has started smuggling drugs on the airline and is working with the airline's head of maintenance, Pete Hayes. Pete was coerced by the cartel because of his need to pay off gambling debts. He is looking for a way out but feels trapped. Eriksen learns from Pete about the drug smuggling. Eriksen decides to help Pete and use the drug cartel to solve his problem with Choate. He convinces the drug cartel that Choate will work with them if they pay him $250,000. They pay him and then Pete and Eriksen make them think that Choate has double-crossed them. The cartel kills Choate. Eriksen becomes the President of the airline and chooses the woman who would be more of a corporate wife. She suspects but doesn't know for sure what Eriksen did about Choate.

Bill has been an attorney who has lead billion dollar financial transactions, a Partner in IBM's Business Consulting Services Group where he was a leader of its global travel and transportation practice. He was CEO of two travel technology companies, one of which was then the world's third largest provider of computer reservation systems for the travel industry. In 2005 he started up the ultra low cost Skybus Airlines. After that he started up the national car rental company Silverware -- which was sold to Audi. He also is the author of The Samurai Leader: Winning Business Battles with the Wisdom, honor and courage of the Samurai Code. That book is selling worldwide and has been published in eight languages. Fascinated by the latest theoretical physics, he wrote 'Quantum Times' , a highly regarded SyFy novel. His goal is to become the wise old man sitting under a palm tree at a beach offering advice on the meaning of life to anyone who'll pay him a dollar.