Not enormous.
Just enough that the physical dynamic changed.
He removed his sunglasses.
Bradford’s expression shifted slightly.
Recognition?
No.
Something else.
The realization that the man he had been speaking down to was not intimidated.
Dante folded the glasses and placed them in his pocket.
“Mr. Kane, you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life.”
Bradford smiled.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Dante reached for his phone.
“It’s a promise.”
Captain Williams stepped forward.
“Sir, let’s not escalate this.”
Dante looked at him.
“You already did.”
He unlocked the matte-black phone.
Bradford shook his head.
“Oh, please.”
Dante opened contacts.
Richard Montgomery.
Chief Executive Officer, Platinum Airways.
He held the phone where Bradford could see the name.
Bradford laughed.
Actually laughed.
“You saved the CEO’s name in your phone?”
Dante looked almost amused.
“Yes.”
“What, you think we’re supposed to believe he takes your calls?”
Dante's thumb hovered over the button.
“Last chance to apologize.”
Bradford spread his hands.
“To you?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
Dante looked around at the money.
Bradford smiled.
“No.”
Dante pressed call.
One ring.
Two.
Then a man answered.
“Dante?”
The cabin went completely still.
Richard Montgomery’s voice came clearly through the speaker.
“We’ve got the board assembled. Legal is here. Apex counsel just arrived.”
Bradford’s smile disappeared.
Montgomery continued.
“Are you still prepared to approve the three-hundred-fifty-million-dollar rescue tonight?”
Nobody moved.
Carmen’s mouth opened slightly.
Elena looked toward Dante with sudden understanding.
Captain Williams went pale.
Bradford stared at the phone.
Dante’s expression did not change.
“Richard.”
“Yes?”
“I’m currently sitting on Flight 447.”
A pause.
“I know. You wanted to see operations before the meeting.”
“I have.”
Something in Dante’s voice made Montgomery stop.
“What happened?”
Dante looked at Bradford.
Then Captain Williams.
“I’ve learned something useful.”
Montgomery waited.
Dante continued.
“Your liquidity problem may be easier to fix than your culture problem.”
Williams closed his eyes.
Bradford recovered enough to speak.
“This is ridiculous.”
Dante raised one finger.
Bradford stopped.
Not because commanded.
Because the entire cabin had changed sides.