He straightened.
"I could."
She studied him.
"Through which entity?"
He frowned.
"What?"
"Which entity would make the acquisition?"
Richard stared.
"That's none of your concern."
She smiled.
"Actually, as chairwoman, it would be a considerable concern."
Several passengers exchanged glances.
Richard looked toward the flight attendant.
The attendant remained silent.
He turned back.
"Who told you my name?"
The woman almost laughed.
"Your company purchases a substantial amount of travel from ours."
His eyes narrowed.
"Then you know how important my business is."
"I know the revenue associated with your accounts."
She paused.
"I also know the contractual terms."
Richard's expression changed.
She continued.
"And those terms do not allow you to remove passengers from confirmed seats."
He looked away.
"That's a technicality."
"No."
Her voice became firmer.
"That's the agreement."
Richard opened his mouth.
But she continued.
"Neither does your contract permit you to touch another passenger's property, intimidate cabin employees, or threaten to purchase the airline when someone refuses your demands."
The cabin remained silent.
A passenger several rows back quietly lowered his phone.
The woman noticed.
"Sir, if you're recording, please don't publish footage that identifies other passengers without their consent."
The man nodded.
She looked back at Richard.
"Now, Mr. Whitmore, I want to ask you something."
He crossed his arms.
"What?"
"Who told you seat 1A would be available for your associate?"
His expression tightened.
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Everything."
The flight attendant looked down.
The chairwoman noticed the movement.
She turned toward her.
"Did someone instruct you to reassign my seat?"
The attendant swallowed.
"Ma'am—"
"Take your time."
The young woman looked toward Richard.
He stared at her.
She looked away quickly.
The chairwoman's expression softened.
"You are not being asked to defend his behavior."
The attendant's eyes filled.
"I received a message this morning."
"From whom?"
"Our premium services director."
The chairwoman remained still.
"What did it say?"
The attendant hesitated.
"That Mr. Whitmore's party was to receive priority seating arrangements."
"Did it identify a specific seat?"
The attendant looked down.
"Yes."
"Which?"
"One A."
Richard shifted.
The chairwoman watched him.
"Was the passenger's existing reservation mentioned?"
The attendant nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
"What were you instructed to do?"
Her voice trembled.
"To persuade the passenger to move."
The chairwoman nodded slowly.
"Persuade."
The attendant swallowed.
"Yes."
"Not remove?"
"No."
The chairwoman looked at Richard.
He immediately spoke.