AUTHORIZED: A. BROOKS
LEVEL: EXECUTIVE OWNER
Nobody spoke.
Avery put the card away.
Vanessa tried again.
“I was following procedure.”
Daniel looked toward the handbag.
“Did procedure involve throwing her bag?”
Vanessa’s head snapped toward him.
Avery said nothing.
That silence was worse.
The general counsel, a woman named Elaine Foster, stepped down from the stairs.
“What happened?”
Vanessa’s breathing became shallow.
“It was a misunderstanding.”
Avery looked at her.
“You grabbed my bag.”
“I was trying to redirect you.”
“You threw it onto the ramp.”
“You were refusing an instruction.”
“You shoved me.”
That ended the attempt at ambiguity.
Elaine’s face changed.
The COO looked at Vanessa as though someone had switched off every professional relationship that had existed between them.
Daniel whispered:
“You shoved her?”
Vanessa turned to Avery.
“I barely touched you.”
Avery’s eyes hardened.
“That is your defense?”
“No.”
“I mean…”
Vanessa looked toward the employees.
Everyone had stopped working now.
Avery followed her gaze.
“Who witnessed it?”
Nobody moved initially.
Then Marcus raised one hand.
“I did.”
Another employee raised his.
“Me too.”
A third woman nodded.
“I saw it.”
Vanessa turned toward them.
“Think carefully.”
Avery looked at her.
Vanessa realized what she had just said.
Too late.
Elaine spoke quietly.
“Do not address the witnesses.”
Vanessa’s face went pale.
Avery glanced at her watch.
“I have eleven minutes before departure.”
The COO said:
“We can delay.”
“No.”
“Avery—”
“We leave on time.”
She turned toward Vanessa.
“Your tablet.”
Vanessa stared.
“What?”
“The tablet.”
Her fingers tightened around it.
Avery extended one hand.
Vanessa hesitated.
Then surrendered it.
Avery opened the registration database.
Typed Violet One’s tail number.
The screen loaded.
She rotated it toward Vanessa.
Registered Owner: Meridian Flight Holdings LLC.
Then another screen.
Majority Beneficial Owner: Avery Brooks.
A third.
Facility Operator: Skylark Executive Aviation.
A fourth.
Ultimate Parent: Brooks Meridian Group.
Avery handed the tablet back.
“Now tell me again who doesn't belong here.”
Vanessa could not.
Avery turned toward Daniel.
“Boarding?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She started toward the stairs.
Vanessa spoke.
“Ms. Brooks.”
Avery stopped.
Vanessa’s pride and fear fought visibly.
Fear won.
“I apologize.”
Avery looked back.