“I was moving it.”
“You slapped my phone against my chest.”
“I handed it back.”
“You shoved me.”
Riley became quiet.
Nina continued.
“And after learning who I am, your first explanation was that nobody told you.”
Silence.
Nina tilted her head.
“What exactly did someone need to tell you?”
Riley had no answer.
Henry stepped forward.
“Riley, you’re removed from duty effective immediately pending investigation.”
Her face changed.
“You can’t do that in front of passengers.”
Henry looked around the cabin.
“You made the conduct public.”
“I’m addressing it where it occurred.”
Riley stared at him.
Then Nina.
Her eyes filled.
For the first time, she looked frightened rather than angry.
Nina did not enjoy it.
That surprised her.
She had imagined, in other situations, that watching someone experience consequences would feel satisfying.
It rarely did.
Mostly it looked sad.
Riley whispered:
“I have two kids.”
Henry’s expression tightened.
Nina looked at her.
“That matters.”
Riley looked surprised.
Nina continued.
“It does not erase what happened.”
“I need this job.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
Riley’s voice broke.
“You can cancel billions with a phone call.”
“I can lose my entire life over ten bad minutes.”
Nina absorbed the sentence.
Several passengers shifted.
Riley wiped her eyes angrily.
“This is easy for you.”
Nina looked toward the damaged case.
“No.”
“It’s different for me.”
Riley laughed bitterly.
“Exactly.”
Nina shook her head.
“You’re misunderstanding me.”
She looked directly at Riley.
“I am not going to decide your employment in this cabin.”
“You will get process.”
“Representation.”
“Review.”
“Evidence.”
“The same things I expect when my company is judged.”
Riley stared.
Nina continued.
“But do not confuse process with immunity.”
Jordan stepped closer.
“Riley.”
She looked toward him.
“Come with me.”
For once, she did.
She left first class without another word.
Henry watched her disappear behind the curtain.
Then looked toward Nina.
“Can we speak privately?”
Nina glanced toward the passengers.
The aircraft door was still open.
Boarding had stopped.
A gate delay notice was already being issued.
She nodded.
They moved into the forward galley.
Claire joined them.
Jordan remained nearby.
Henry spoke first.
“I am sorry.”
Nina said nothing.
“Not corporate sorry.”
“Not because of the deal.”
“I’m personally sorry.”
Nina looked at him.
“How many complaints?”
His face changed.
“I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
“I will.”
“Tonight.”
“Yes.”