Leo returned to his seat, dazed, a strange new stillness in his shoulders. He caught Julien's eye and mouthed two words: "Thank you."

Julien knelt beside her. "That's the destination, mademoiselle. Not New York. This."

Across the aisle, in 3B, was Leo, a young Wall Street trader. He was all nervous energy, bouncing his knee. He’d booked the "Initiation Suite," a service for those who knew what they wanted but didn't know how to ask.

The seatbelt sign clicked off. Julien’s voice, a warm, authoritative baritone, purred over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Midnight Service. Our cruising altitude is 38,000 feet. The temperature is set to 23 degrees Celsius, but I suspect you will find ways to generate your own heat. Please feel free to… explore the amenities."