“Ms. Bennett.”
He stopped.
She continued:
“You believe your behavior would have been different if you knew my title.”
Richard said nothing.
“That is not a defense.”
Passengers near the aisle had slowed.
Amara lowered her voice deliberately.
“I am not going to terminate your contract on an airplane.”
Richard exhaled.
“But I am opening a formal review.”
His shoulders tightened.
“Based on this?”
“Based on everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means your company’s existing complaint history will be included.”
He stared.
“What complaint history?”
Amara noticed the genuine surprise.
Interesting.
Maybe Richard did not know.
Or had chosen not to know.
“That's what the review will determine.”
He stepped closer.
Amara did not move.
Richard said:
“You cannot weaponize your position because you don't like me.”
“I agree.”
That stopped him.
She continued:
“Which is why I will document the incident, disclose my direct involvement, recuse myself from any final factual finding about this flight, and maintain oversight only over process integrity.”
Richard stared.
Every avenue he hoped to accuse her of abusing authority was closing before he reached it.
Amara said:
“You should do the same thing I advised Apex executives to do all month.”
“What?”
“Trust the process you signed.”
Richard’s face hardened.
He stepped into the aisle.
Then stopped.
“Who recorded?”
Amara looked toward the college student.
Richard followed.
The student immediately held his phone tighter.
Amara said:
“Don't.”
Richard turned.
“What?”
“Do not approach the witness.”
“I was going to ask—”
“No.”
Her tone changed.
CEO tone.
Counsel tone.
Enough.
Richard stepped back.
Amara looked toward the student.
“What’s your name?”
“Evan.”
“Evan what?”
“Evan Miller.”
“Would you be willing to provide your video voluntarily to the airline’s independent review team?”
Evan nodded.
“Yes.”
Richard muttered:
“This is insane.”
Evan looked at him.
“No.”
The young man’s voice shook slightly.
“It was weird.”
“You kept doing it.”
Richard stared.
Evan continued:
“She asked you to stop like five times.”
Chloe approached.
“What’s happening?”
Amara looked at her.
“Perfect timing.”
Chloe saw the executive credential.
Her expression changed.
“Oh.”
Amara handed it over.
Chloe read.
Her face whitened.
“Ms. Bennett.”
Amara said:
“I need the name of the cabin manager.”
Chloe swallowed.
“That’s me.”
Another surprise.
Of course.
Amara nodded.
“Then I need you to preserve all cabin notes, crew communications, seat maps, service records, and any incident reporting associated with Seat 14C and Mr. Halston.”
Chloe looked toward Richard.
Again.
Amara saw it.
“You keep doing that.”
Chloe looked back.
“Doing what?”
“Checking his reaction before responding to me.”
The attendant’s face flushed.
“I’m sorry.”
Amara studied her.
“Why?”
Chloe hesitated.
Richard interrupted: