The woman slowly removed her sunglasses.
Her blue eyes traveled over his face, then his suit, then the boarding pass.
“There's no mistake.”
She leaned back and deliberately crossed her legs.
One pointed black heel extended into the aisle, blocking his path.
“This is first class.”
“I know.”
“Not the economy cabin.”
“I know that too.”
She smiled cruelly.
“Then perhaps you should go find where you're supposed to sit.”
Two rows behind them, an older white businessman lowered his newspaper.
A younger passenger wearing a navy suit glanced toward the flight attendant stationed near the galley.
The attendant had stopped arranging glasses.
Her name was Lena Ortiz, and she'd worked in aviation for eleven years.
She recognized the beginnings of a confrontation immediately.
She approached with a professional smile.
“Good afternoon. Is there a problem with the seating?”
The blonde woman turned toward her.
“Yes. This man is bothering me.”
Evan held out his boarding pass.
“I've been assigned seat 2A.”
Lena examined it.
The number was unmistakable.
She glanced toward the woman in the seat.
“Ma'am, may I see your boarding pass, please?”
The blonde woman rolled her eyes.
“Seriously?”
“I'm just checking the seating assignment.”
“You know who I am?”
Lena kept her voice pleasant.
“I still need to verify the seat.”
The woman gave an irritated sigh.
Then she reached into her burgundy clutch and removed her phone.
She tapped the screen several times and held it out.
Lena studied the reservation.
Her expression became careful.
“Thank you. Your assigned seat is 3A.”
The woman lowered her phone.
“And?”
“And this gentleman has seat 2A.”
A few passengers exchanged glances.
The blonde woman stared at Lena.
“You're not seriously asking me to move?”
“I'm asking you to take your assigned seat, ma'am.”
The woman looked back at Evan.
Her expression hardened.
“I'm not moving because some random man walked in here waving a boarding pass.”
Evan spoke quietly.
“You've already confirmed the reservation.”
She ignored him.
“Do you know how much I spend with this airline?”
Lena nodded politely.
“I understand you're a valued customer.”
“Valued?”
The woman laughed.
“Sweetheart, I practically keep half these airlines in business.”
Evan watched her for a moment.
Then he looked toward the flight attendant.
“Is there someone who can help her move to her assigned seat?”
Lena nodded.
“Of course, sir.”
That should have ended the matter.