“She knew who I was.”
Silence.
Amara looked toward him.
Then Chloe.
“What does that mean?”
Chloe’s hands tightened around the card.
Richard said:
“My company works with Apex.”
“I know.”
Chloe’s eyes lowered.
Amara asked:
“Were you aware of his vendor relationship during the flight?”
Chloe nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“Did that affect how you handled my complaint?”
“No.”
Too fast.
Amara waited.
Chloe corrected:
“I don't know.”
That was more useful.
Amara nodded.
“Thank you for the honest answer.”
Chloe looked surprised.
Amara continued:
“You will be interviewed.”
She handed the card back.
“Do not alter your notes.”
“I won't.”
“Do not create new notes pretending they were contemporaneous.”
Chloe’s face reddened.
“I wouldn't.”
“Good.”
Amara looked toward Richard.
“Same instruction applies to you.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You think I’m stupid?”
“No.”
“I think you are frightened.”
He stopped.
She added:
“Frightened people sometimes become creative.”
Richard stared.
Amara stepped into the aisle.
“Have a good evening, Mr. Halston.”
She walked away.
The jet bridge felt strangely quiet after the cabin.
Amara’s heels clicked against the floor.
For ten steps, she maintained perfect composure.
Then she stopped.
Her shoulder hurt.
Actually hurt.
She touched the spot.
Adrenaline had hidden more than she realized.
She breathed slowly.
A voice behind her:
“Ms. Bennett?”
Evan.
He approached cautiously.
“You okay?”
Amara smiled faintly.
“I'm fine.”
Then she caught herself.
Richard’s words.
You’re fine.
She corrected:
“My shoulder hurts.”
Evan nodded.
“Do you need medical?”
“Probably not.”
Then:
“Actually, yes.”
He looked surprised.
Amara was too.
Her instinct had been to minimize.
Professional women learn that early.
Don't seem dramatic.
Don't create inconvenience.
Don't make people uncomfortable.
She hated realizing how deep that training lived.
“Yes,” she repeated.
“I want it documented.”
Evan smiled slightly.
“Good.”
Amara looked at him.
“Thank you for recording.”
He became nervous.
“I wasn't trying to be creepy.”
“I know.”
“I just thought no one would believe how weird it was.”
Amara nodded.
“That instinct is part of the problem too.”
“What do you mean?”
“That you already assumed evidence might matter more than her word.”
Evan looked uncomfortable.
Amara softened.
“I’m not criticizing you.”
“You helped.”
“But systems become dangerous when people expect credibility to require video.”
Evan thought.
“Yeah.”
They reached the terminal.
Three Apex executives were waiting.
Thomas Aldridge was among them.
Airline CEO.
Sixty.