Elena's expression did not change.
“Today you’re a passenger who refused instructions.”
Bradford looked at Dante.
“You think this is over?”
Dante sat down.
“No.”
He picked up the newspaper.
“That's the first accurate thing you've said.”
Bradford left without collecting the money.
Elena looked at the bills.
Then Dante.
“Would you like those returned to him?”
Dante glanced at them.
“Give them to the airport employee relief fund.”
Carmen almost smiled.
“If we’re allowed.”
“Then find a way.”
Elena smiled now.
“Yes, sir.”
The flight departed thirty-one minutes late.
Dante spent most of it working.
No victory lap.
No champagne.
No calls to reporters.
He opened the Platinum files and began reading again.
But now he read differently.
Bradford Kane's name appeared more often than he remembered.
Not dominant.
Adjacent.
Kane Capital served as advisor to one of Platinum’s commercial lenders.
A separate Kane affiliate had submitted a proposal months earlier to purchase maintenance real estate if Platinum entered restructuring.
Another affiliate had expressed interest in certain regional landing rights.
Individually, none of that proved wrongdoing.
Together, it deserved attention.
Dante opened a message from Apex general counsel.
We found something. Call when private.
He waited until landing.
Twenty-two minutes after the money first hit his lap, the rescue deal had frozen.
Six hours later, it became something else entirely.
The boardroom at Platinum headquarters overlooked Manhattan.
Dante arrived at 8:17 p.m.
Still wearing the sage sweater.
He had changed nothing.
That seemed to disturb several directors more than it should have.
Richard Montgomery met him outside the room.
Fifty-seven.
Experienced.
Tired.
A good operator who had inherited several bad decisions and made a few new ones himself.
“Dante.”
“Richard.”
“I heard the full cabin report.”
“From whom?”
“Vasquez.”
“Good.”
Montgomery rubbed his forehead.
“Williams is on administrative leave pending review.”
Dante nodded.
“Bradford called three directors.”
“Of course.”
“He’s claiming you manufactured the incident to gain leverage.”
Dante almost laughed.
“Did I manufacture the cash too?”
“No one sensible believes him.”
“Then why mention it?”
“Because three directors took his call.”
Dante looked at Montgomery.
That was the real problem.
“Let’s go inside.”
Twelve people waited.
Board members.
Counsel.
Chief financial officer.
Chief operating officer.
Two Apex representatives.
Dante sat at the far end rather than the head.
Montgomery began.
“We are here to finalize—”
Dante interrupted.