He sat.
Interesting again.
He could follow rules.
When delivered by someone he respected.
Amara filed that mentally.
Once parked, passengers stood.
Richard grabbed his portfolio.
Then his coat.
He looked toward Amara.
“Good luck with your complaint.”
She looked up.
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
“I mean that sincerely.”
“No, you don't.”
His smile faltered.
Amara stood.
She was slightly shorter than Richard expected.
Yet somehow the space around her seemed larger now.
She reached into her handbag.
Removed one card.
Not the general Bennett Strategic Legal card.
The executive credential issued that morning by Apex Continental.
She held it between two fingers.
Richard glanced down.
AMARA BENNETT
INDEPENDENT LEAD COUNSEL
EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY & VENDOR COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT
Apex Continental logo.
Authorized access classification beneath.
Richard stopped moving.
His face changed so quickly Amara almost felt the cabin temperature shift.
His eyes returned to the card.
Then her face.
Then the portfolio.
“No.”
Amara tilted her head.
“No?”
“You're…”
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
“The Bennett?”
She almost laughed.
“I’m not sure how many there are.”
Richard stared.
“You were in the settlement negotiations.”
“I led them.”
His mouth opened.
Closed.
Amara continued:
“I drafted the vendor compliance appendix in your briefcase.”
Richard looked down at it.
He had spent two hours pressing that same briefcase against her leg.
Amara said:
“Clause fourteen-point-three.”
Richard’s face lost color.
He knew it.
Of course he did.
Executive vendor conduct.
Material behavior by senior vendor representatives demonstrating disregard for passenger-treatment standards could trigger discretionary review.
Not automatic cancellation.
Review.
That distinction mattered.
Richard whispered:
“This wasn't business.”
Amara looked at him.
“No.”
“And that's exactly why it matters.”
His expression hardened defensively.
“I'm not one of your employees.”
“No.”
“You cannot regulate my private behavior.”
“Correct.”
Relief flickered.
Then Amara continued:
“But Apex Continental can evaluate whether a vendor executive who personally certifies conduct standards presents compliance risk.”
The relief vanished.
Richard lowered his voice.
“Come on.”
Amara stared.
He glanced around.
Passengers were still leaving.
Chloe stood near the galley.
The college student remained in his seat.
Richard said:
“We can handle this professionally.”
Amara’s eyes narrowed.
“Professionally.”
“Yes.”
“Now.”
He understood.
Too late.
Amara continued:
“For two hours, I asked you to handle this like an adult sharing public space.”
Richard’s voice dropped.
“I didn't know who you were.”
There it was.
The worst sentence.
Amara’s expression went completely still.
Richard realized immediately.
He tried to fix it.
“I mean, I didn't know the situation.”
“No.”
“You said exactly what you meant.”
Richard shook his head.
“Amara—”