“You have no idea who you’re threatening.”
The Air Marshal said:
“I know who you are.”
The billionaire smirked.
“Then you know I can have your career reviewed before we land.”
The Air Marshal’s expression did not change.
“Hands visible.”
The billionaire muttered something under his breath.
The Air Marshal took one step closer.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
The Air Marshal reached toward his radio.
The Black woman interrupted.
“Marshal.”
He looked toward her.
She nodded toward her handbag beneath the opposite seat.
“My phone.”
The flight attendant moved immediately.
“I’ll get it.”
She retrieved the handbag and handed it over carefully.
The Black woman opened it.
The billionaire watched.
“So now she’s calling her lawyer?”
The woman ignored him.
She unlocked the phone.
There were seventeen notifications already.
She tapped one number.
The line answered almost instantly.
A voice came through loud enough for only her to hear.
She said:
“This is the Chairwoman.”
The Air Marshal looked away deliberately.
The billionaire rolled his eyes.
The woman continued:
“I am aboard Flight 417.”
Pause.
“No.”
Another pause.
“Do not contact the crew directly.”
She looked toward the Air Marshal.
“Federal security is already involved.”
The billionaire’s expression shifted slightly.
She continued:
“I need immediate suspension of tomorrow morning’s executive review.”
Now he stared.
The woman listened.
“Yes.”
“Entire file.”
Another pause.
“No provisional signature.”
“Nothing moves until I say otherwise.”
The billionaire’s mouth opened.
She ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he asked:
“What executive review?”
The woman placed the phone on her lap.
“You’ll find out.”
He laughed.
But his face had changed.
The Air Marshal looked toward her.
The woman nodded once.
Permission.
The Air Marshal reached inside his jacket.
Removed a secure phone.
Opened a protected briefing file.
The flight attendant leaned close.
The screen showed a photograph.
The same woman.
Different clothing.
Dark business suit.
Hair pulled back.
Standing beside a row of aircraft with several executives.
Under the photograph:
CONFIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE TRAVEL
CHAIRWOMAN AND MAJORITY OWNER
The flight attendant’s face went white.
She looked from the screen to the woman.
Then back.
“You own the airline?”
The Black woman’s expression remained composed.
“Controlling interest through the parent group.”
A passenger whispered:
“Oh my God.”
The billionaire froze.