“Still don't trust them.”
“Not fully.”
“Yet you didn't veto.”
“Trust is not binary.”
Alana walked around conference table.
“Who are you and what have you done with my husband?”
Daniel pulled her closer.
“Careful.”
“HR.”
“You’re president.”
“Exactly.”
She kissed him anyway.
Meridian announced partnership with Apex Orbital Systems on a Tuesday morning.
Press wanted redemption story.
Daniel refused.
At launch event, reporter asked:
“Would this partnership have happened without the airport incident?”
Daniel answered honestly.
“Possibly sooner.”
Laughter.
Then he became serious.
“The incident did not qualify Meridian for partnership.”
“Their response kept them eligible.”
Another reporter asked Alana:
“Do you forgive airline?”
She paused.
“Companies are not people.”
“Some individuals apologized.”
“Some earned trust back.”
“Others didn’t.”
“What matters to me is whether systems make repetition less likely.”
Reporter asked:
“So this is happy ending?”
Alana smiled slightly.
“I’m an engineer.”
“I don't believe in endings.”
“I believe in monitoring.”
Room laughed.
Daniel looked at her with same expression he had sixteen years earlier when she corrected his propulsion model on their third date.
She still did that.
Tell truth in room where everyone wanted easier answer.
That evening they finally flew to Paris.
Different Meridian flight.
Alana had objected.
Daniel said:
“If we won't fly them after signing technology partnership, we shouldn't sign.”
Annoyingly logical.
They boarded.
Gate agent scanned passes.
“Welcome, Mr. and Dr. Harris.”
No recognition.
Just professional courtesy.
Inside first class, a young flight attendant smiled.
“Good evening.”
“May I help with your bags?”
Daniel said, “We’re fine.”
She nodded.
No second look.
No extra verification.
No interrogation.
Their seats were 2A and 2B.
Alana sat.
Daniel settled beside her.
Champagne arrived.
Flight attendant asked both passengers around them same question.
Equal tone.
Equal smile.
Small thing.
Huge thing.
Alana lifted glass.
“To Paris.”
Daniel touched his to hers.
“To finally taking vacation.”
She narrowed eyes.
“No email.”
“Reasonable.”
“No board calls.”
“Possibly.”
“Daniel.”
“Fine.”
“No work.”
They drank.
Aircraft pushed back.
As Houston lights moved beyond window, Alana reached for his hand.
“Do you remember what Jensen said?”
Daniel looked over.
“Which part?”
“That we didn't fit profile.”
“Yes.”
She watched runway.
“I kept thinking about that.”
“What?”
“Profiles.”
She turned back.
“People reduce uncertainty by sorting.”