Thomas continued.
“She claims panic.”
“I don't believe her.”
Daniel stood.
Now it was no longer a bad culture problem.
It might be concealment.
“Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“Freeze every device she used.”
“Done.”
“Preserve backups.”
“Done.”
“No one contacts Evans or Jensen except counsel and investigator.”
“Done.”
Daniel caught himself.
He was giving orders inside another CEO’s company.
Thomas noticed too.
Then said:
“Keep going.”
Daniel paused.
Thomas continued.
“You were about to tell me what else I should do.”
Daniel almost smiled despite everything.
“Bring in outside investigators.”
“Not internal HR.”
“Independent.”
Thomas answered, “Already called them.”
“Good.”
Then Daniel said:
“And separate the Apex deal.”
Thomas went silent.
“Daniel.”
“Separate it.”
“Do not offer contract concessions.”
“Do not tie remediation to our agreement.”
“If Meridian fixes this because you want our technology contract, you learned nothing.”
Thomas exhaled.
“You’re right.”
“I know.”
Alana looked at her husband.
There was the man she loved.
Not because he was powerful.
Because he could have weaponized power and chose structure instead.
Thomas said, “I’ll see you in three hours.”
Daniel looked at Alana.
She shook her head.
Daniel replied, “See your company in three hours.”
“We're going home.”
He hung up.
News reached the media before sunset.
Not their identities.
Only:
FIRST-CLASS COUPLE REMOVED FROM MERIDIAN FLIGHT AFTER TICKET DISPUTE.
A passenger video appeared online.
Poor angle.
Captain raising hand.
Alana holding phone.
Daniel speaking quietly.
Then Richard Coleman running.
Comments multiplied.
Some defended airline immediately.
“Probably more to story.”
“Captain has authority.”
“People act entitled.”
Others noticed something.
“Why did executive come running?”
“Who are they?”
“Guy looks familiar.”
By 7:14 p.m., someone identified Daniel.
Aviation journalist.
The headline changed.
MERIDIAN ATLANTIC REMOVED APEX ORBITAL CEO FROM FIRST CLASS DURING $2.3B PARTNERSHIP TALKS.
Then Alana.
WIFE IS APEX PRESIDENT AND NASA-LINKED SYSTEMS ARCHITECT.
The internet did what it always did.
Turned complexity into spectacle.
Memes.
Outrage.
Calls for firings.
Calls for boycotts.
People wanted punishment before evidence.
Daniel hated that too.
At home, he turned off television.
Alana was barefoot on sofa wearing his sweatshirt.
Their luggage still sat by front door.
Anniversary flowers they had planned to leave behind were beginning to droop on table.
Daniel brought two bowls of takeout noodles.
Alana stared.
“Paris.”
“Houston Thai.”
“Same emotional category.”
“Exactly.”
She took bowl.
For several minutes they ate without discussing Meridian.
Then Alana said: