A small reference to the navy stripe on the aircraft where the confrontation occurred.
But also a reminder that the industry could offer new possibilities to people who had never imagined themselves belonging there.
The launch event was scheduled inside the same enormous hangar.
The billionaire was invited.
So were technicians, pilots, educators, employees, and students.
The CEO chose to wear her blue denim couture dress again.
When her mother saw the photograph, she laughed.
“Not that sofa dress.”
The CEO grinned.
“The very same.”
Her mother shook her head.
“You really are determined.”
“Yes.”
“And the billionaire?”
“He's attending.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
“Are you going to make him stare at it again?”
The CEO laughed.
“No.”
Then she smiled.
“But I'm certainly not hiding it.”
The hangar looked different on the morning of the launch.
The magnificent white jet with the thin navy stripe stood in its familiar position.
Its boarding stairs were extended.
Sunlight poured through the enormous windows.
The polished floor reflected the aircraft's fuselage.
But instead of a closing monitor displaying hundreds of millions of dollars, the hangar contained educational exhibits.
Aviation diagrams.
Maintenance training displays.
Information about technical careers.
And supervised demonstrations prepared by qualified personnel.
Groups of students moved between stations.
Some were fascinated by the aircraft.
Others asked about engineering.
A few wanted to know how private aviation businesses made money.
The CEO smiled when she heard that question.
It reminded her of herself as a teenager.
She stood near the jet wearing the same extraordinary blue denim dress.
The sculptural skirt formed enormous rounded loops around her hips.
Her long, silky black hair fell below her waist.
Her silver sunglasses rested against her face.
And the massive gold cuff gleamed beneath the hangar lights.
Several students recognized her.
One young Black girl approached hesitantly.
She was fifteen, with curly hair pulled into a ponytail and a notebook clutched against her chest.
“Excuse me.”
The CEO turned.
“Hello.”
The girl looked toward the dress.
Then toward the aircraft.
“Are you really the CEO?”
The woman smiled.
“Yes.”
The girl stared.
“You don't look like the CEOs on television.”
The woman laughed softly.
“That's probably true.”
The girl looked embarrassed.
“I didn't mean—”
“It's okay.”
The CEO tilted her head.
“What were you expecting?”