Or begging.
Maybe anger.
Something she could classify as difficult behavior.
Maya gave her none of it.
Jessica leaned slightly closer.
“You understand that if we determine you’re improperly seated, you’ll need to move.”
Maya looked toward the boarding pass.
“Did I print that?”
Jessica frowned.
“What?”
“Did I create that boarding pass myself?”
“No.”
“Did I alter your manifest?”
“No.”
“Did I bypass the gate scanner?”
“No.”
“Then if your systems made an error, explain how humiliating me in front of an aircraft full of people fixes it.”
Jessica’s cheeks reddened.
“No one is humiliating you.”
Maya looked down at the food covering her dress.
Then back up.
Nobody said anything.
Jessica’s jaw tightened.
Linda Parker looked away.
And then the cockpit door opened.
Captain Thomas Bennett stepped into the aisle.
He was fifty-three, silver beginning at his temples, uniform immaculate.
He held Maya’s boarding pass.
His expression was not what Maya expected.
The confidence had disappeared.
He looked at Maya.
Then Jessica.
Then back at the card.
“Ms. Washington?”
“Yes.”
The captain swallowed.
“I need to confirm something.”
Maya waited.
Captain Bennett glanced toward the phone resting on her lap.
The screen illuminated again.
ANDERSON CALLING
The captain saw the name.
His face changed.
“Is Anderson…”
He stopped.
The cabin became completely silent.
“Is Anderson the chairman of the board?”
Jessica looked sharply at him.
Maya’s eyes moved from the captain to her ringing phone.
Then back.
“Yes.”
The captain went pale.
Jessica laughed once.
A nervous reflex.
“I’m sorry, what board?”
Nobody answered her.
Maya’s phone stopped ringing.
Then vibrated with a message.
She looked down.
Maya, the board is waiting for your approval to proceed with the emergency CEO removal vote. Call me immediately. — Anderson