“What are you putting in there?”
Brianna closed the notebook.
“Things I should have known before today.”
His face tightened.
“You're going to destroy someone's career because you got wet.”
Brianna looked at him.
“No.”
“You're investigating the system that taught my employee to fear you.”
Garrett's expression changed.
He leaned closer.
“Careful.”
Brianna raised one eyebrow.
“Was that a threat?”
He immediately leaned back.
“No.”
“Good.”
Across the aisle, Tiffany whispered:
“Garrett, stop talking.”
He turned on her.
“You started recording.”
She looked stunned.
“What?”
“You made this worse.”
Brianna watched.
There it was again.
When consequences arrived, Garrett looked for somebody else to own them.
His wife.
Crew.
Airline.
Upgrade system.
Anybody except himself.
Tiffany’s face hardened.
“I didn't pour anything.”
Garrett whispered something Brianna could not hear.
Tiffany moved her phone into her handbag.
Then she looked at Brianna.
For the first time, embarrassment replaced amusement.
“I’m sorry.”
Garrett turned sharply.
Brianna said:
“For what?”
Tiffany hesitated.
“For recording.”
Brianna waited.
“And laughing.”
Brianna nodded.
“Thank you for saying that.”
Tiffany looked surprised.
Garrett stared at both women.
“This is unbelievable.”
Brianna looked at him.
“No.”
“It’s extremely believable.”
She reopened her journal.
When the aircraft began descending toward Los Angeles, Captain Mercer made the usual announcement.
Seat backs upright.
Tables stowed.
Cabin secured.
Brianna’s ruined laptop had been placed inside a protective bag.
Her dress remained stained.
She declined Denise’s offer of a blanket to cover it.
Garrett noticed.
“Why are you leaving it like that?”
Brianna looked down.
“So I remember.”
He stared.
“Remember what?”
She looked at him.
“How quickly a customer becomes powerful when a company teaches employees to tolerate behavior they would never accept from anyone else.”
Garrett shook his head.
“You're making this into some social crusade.”
Brianna looked through the window.
“No.”
“I'm making it operational.”
He did not understand.
He would.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the gate.
Passengers were asked to remain seated briefly.
Garrett stood anyway.
Captain Mercer’s voice came over the intercom.
“Mr. Coleman, please remain seated.”
Every head turned.
Garrett sat slowly.
Two airport police officers boarded.
A Skylark station manager followed.
Then an airline security representative.
Brianna stood.