Richard’s expression shifted.
Not yet fear.
Discomfort.
She looked toward the signature line partly visible beneath his hand.
Richard Halston, Chief Executive Officer
Below it:
Vendor executive certifies compliance with all passenger conduct, anti-retaliation, accessibility, and equal-service provisions contained herein.
Amara had written half that sentence herself.
Richard followed her eyes.
He closed the portfolio.
“Do we have a problem?”
Amara looked out the window.
For the first time all flight, her body relaxed.
“No.”
Richard frowned.
She continued:
“Not yet.”
He stared.
Then laughed awkwardly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Amara turned.
“You're right.”
“About what?”
“Nobody here seems to care yet.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
Amara reopened her laptop.
Not the implementation plan this time.
Incident notes.
She created a new confidential document.
Flight 611.
Seat 14C.
Time.
Initial contact.
Repeated armrest encroachment.
Physical contact.
Crew notification.
Crew response.
Second contact.
Witness.
Potential recording.
Vendor identity discovered through exposed contract documents.
She typed calmly.
Richard watched.
“What are you writing?”
“Notes.”
“About me?”
Amara did not answer.
He laughed.
“Are you an attorney?”
She kept typing.
Richard leaned slightly closer.
She looked toward his elbow.
He stopped.
Interesting.
“Yes,” Amara said.
Richard’s face shifted.
“What kind?”
“The kind that likes documentation.”
He leaned back.
Silence.
For seven minutes, he did not touch her.
Amara almost enjoyed the space.
Then Richard’s tablet buzzed.
He answered a message.
His confidence returned slowly.
People like Richard rarely remained uncertain if they could invent a reassuring explanation.
She was probably just some lawyer.
Maybe corporate counsel.
Maybe litigation.
Nothing related to him.
His company did business with people far more important.
Richard straightened.
“You know, if you plan to complain to the airline, I should save you some time.”
Amara looked over.
“How?”
“I’ve worked with Apex for twelve years.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“You know?”
“I saw the contract.”
“Right.”
He smiled again.
“My company is one of their largest service partners.”
“I know that too.”
“So whatever misunderstanding happened here, I’m sure the airline will understand context.”
Amara nodded.
“That sounds like something you've had reason to believe.”
Richard did not understand the sentence.
He continued:
“I know senior leadership.”
Amara almost asked which ones.
Instead:
“Good.”
Richard smiled.
“Good?”
“People should know the leadership of companies they contract with.”
He looked at her suspiciously.
Amara returned to the laptop.
Another thirty minutes passed.
Richard behaved.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
He stopped pushing.
Stopped stretching across.
Asked before reaching for anything.
Amazing.