Laughed with wealthy friends.
And told a journalist that Whitmore & Vale was preparing for “the most exciting international expansion in its history.”
She had not read the email informing her that the company had just completed a change-of-control transaction.
Her executive assistant had attempted to call.
Darla declined the call.
A board secretary sent a follow-up message.
She ignored it.
Her financial adviser left a voicemail.
She didn't listen.
At one in the morning, Darla returned to her hotel suite and ordered room service.
She fell asleep believing that the company remained securely within the influence of the family whose name appeared above every boutique entrance.
By eleven the next morning, she'd changed into her striking black-and-white polka-dot dress, styled her platinum hair, and prepared for the flight to New York.
She intended to attend a private dinner that evening and a fashion-industry reception the following day.
The airline had originally assigned her seat 3A.
She disliked it immediately.
She preferred the second row.
Seat 2A offered the location she wanted, near the front of the first-class cabin but not directly beside the galley.
It also happened to be occupied in the airline's reservation system.
Darla learned that when she checked in.
Instead of accepting her assigned seat, she complained to the gate agent.
She claimed she was an exceptionally important customer.
She demanded that the airline rearrange the cabin.
The agent explained politely that the requested seat was occupied.
Darla asked whether the other passenger had checked in.
The agent confirmed that he had.
She wanted to know his name.
The agent declined to disclose another passenger's information.
Darla became irritated.
She finally boarded and walked directly to seat 2A anyway.
She placed her clutch beside the armrest.
Adjusted her dress.
Crossed her legs.
And waited.
She assumed that whoever owned the seat would eventually be persuaded to move.
If not, she planned to complain loudly enough that the crew would find a solution simply to avoid further disturbance.
She had used similar tactics in restaurants and hotels.
Most employees gave in.
Most customers avoided confrontation.
And most managers preferred appeasing an angry wealthy guest rather than risking a complaint.
Darla expected the same result aboard the aircraft.
Then Evan Cole stepped into the aisle.
And everything began to unravel.
Darla stared at the email on her phone for so long that the flight attendant began wondering whether she had stopped breathing.