“No.”
The room stopped.
“We are here to determine whether there is still a deal to finalize.”
One director, Charles Wynn, frowned.
“Because of an incident with a passenger?”
Dante looked at him.
“Because of what the incident revealed.”
Wynn leaned back.
“With respect, Dante, we are discussing a $350 million transaction affecting twenty-eight thousand employees.”
“Exactly.”
Dante opened his folder.
“If leadership bends policy for one wealthy passenger in public, I need to know what it bends in private.”
Another director said, “That’s a leap.”
“No.”
Dante slid three documents across the table.
“This is a leap.”
Everyone looked.
Kane Capital communications.
Advisory memos.
Asset-sale proposals.
Dante continued.
“Bradford Kane’s affiliated firms stand to benefit if Platinum enters distressed restructuring.”
Montgomery's face tightened.
Wynn said, “That was disclosed.”
“Some of it.”
Dante tapped the papers.
“Not this.”
Apex counsel distributed copies.
The room quieted.
One document showed a lender group considering covenant acceleration.
Another showed Kane Capital advocating that acceleration privately while publicly advising Platinum to accept emergency asset sales.
Montgomery read twice.
“Where did you get this?”
“Apex legal obtained it from a lender source after I requested every Kane-related communication.”
Wynn looked up.
“This still may be ordinary advisory work.”
“It may.”
Dante nodded.
“That’s why I’m not accusing him of fraud.”
He leaned forward.
“I am accusing this board of being far too comfortable with conflicts it does not fully understand.”
Silence.
Dante continued.
“Bradford Kane walked onto your aircraft believing his commercial importance entitled him to override a seat assignment.”
“He believed your employees could be ordered around.”
“He believed your captain would protect him.”
“And he was right about one of those things.”
Montgomery looked down.
Dante said, “Culture is simply incentives repeated until they become reflex.”
No one interrupted.
“Williams did not wake up today and decide to mishandle a discriminatory confrontation.”
“He followed a reflex.”
“Protect the high-value customer.”
“Avoid delay.”
“Move the quieter person.”
“Reduce noise.”
Dante looked around the table.
“Those same reflexes destroy companies.”
One director said, “What are you proposing?”
Dante opened a second folder.
“New conditions.”
Wynn sighed.
“Of course.”
Dante ignored him.
“Independent review of high-value customer escalation policies.”
“Mandatory authority for lead pursers to enforce conduct rules without commercial override.”
“Board review of all Kane-affiliated engagements.”
“Conflict committee.”
“Employee retaliation protections.”
“Executive compensation tied partly to operational culture metrics.”
Wynn laughed.
“Culture metrics?”
Dante looked at him.
“Would you prefer bankruptcy metrics?”
The room went quiet.
Montgomery almost smiled.
Dante continued.
“And Captain Williams is not to be scapegoated.”
That surprised everyone.