“People like this create a scene and then act offended when somebody notices.”
The words silenced the cabin.
Jordan’s expression changed completely.
Nina stared at Riley.
“What exactly do you mean by ‘people like this’?”
Riley realized the danger.
She should have corrected herself.
Instead:
“Passengers who think money buys them special rules.”
Nina almost admired the speed of the recovery.
Almost.
“Interesting.”
Riley gestured toward Nina’s coat.
“You come aboard dressed like you own the cabin.”
Nina said nothing.
“You refuse simple instructions.”
“You’re argumentative.”
“And now you’re threatening some massive corporate emergency because a luggage seal got scratched.”
Nina looked toward the broken strip.
“It didn’t get scratched.”
“You broke it.”
Riley waved one hand.
“Fine.”
She stepped forward.
“I’m ending this.”
Jordan moved.
“Riley.”
Too late.
Riley grabbed Nina’s digital boarding pass from where the phone lay on the seat.
Nina reached instinctively.
“Give me that.”
Riley glanced at the screen.
“2A.”
She laughed.
“So the ticket is real.”
The humiliation in the sentence was unmistakable.
A woman in 3A gasped.
Nina’s face went perfectly still.
Riley slapped the phone lightly against Nina’s upper chest as she handed it back.
“Congratulations.”
Jordan’s voice sharpened.
“That’s enough.”
Riley ignored him.
She pointed toward the blue curtain dividing cabins.
“You want to behave like this, you can wait near the galley until security decides whether you’re staying on the flight.”
Nina looked at Jordan.
“Is she authorized to remove me from my assigned seat?”
Jordan answered immediately.
“No.”
Riley turned.
“I am the lead first-class attendant.”
“And I’m cabin operations supervisor.”
Her face changed.
Jordan continued.
“You are stepping away.”
Riley stared at him.
Then toward the watching passengers.
Her professional authority had just been challenged publicly.
That became the third and final trap she set for herself.
She reached toward Nina’s arm.
Nina moved backward.
“Don’t.”
Riley shoved her shoulder.
Not a hard shove.
Enough to force Nina one step toward the aisle.
The cabin erupted.
“Whoa.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t touch her!”
Phones rose everywhere.
Nina steadied herself against the seat.
Her handbag slipped.
The silver briefcase slid from between the seats.
Riley stepped sideways.
Her heel caught it.
The case shot several inches down the aisle.
The damaged seal tore completely away.
Nina looked at the case.
Then at Riley.
Something inside her shut down.
Not emotionally.
Operationally.
The transaction was over.
At least tonight’s version.
She picked up the case carefully.
Examined the clasp.
The lid had not opened.
But chain of custody was broken.
Jordan saw her expression.
“How serious?”
Nina looked at him.
“Very.”
Riley laughed bitterly.