But instead of admitting uncertainty, he said something reckless.
"I doubt she's traveling personally. Probably some executive delegation."
Richard accepted the speculation.
Then Charles made an offer.
A large fee described as a consulting payment for aviation coordination.
Richard knew what it really represented.
Personal compensation for arranging use of an aircraft he didn't own.
He should have ended the conversation.
Instead, he agreed to investigate the schedule.
Over the following days, he submitted communications that suggested the Columbus trip might be canceled.
He also prepared an alternative aircraft movement described as an operational positioning flight.
The paperwork was incomplete.
The passenger authorization was missing.
And the proposed destination didn't match the owner's confirmed itinerary.
Those discrepancies should have prevented the arrangement from proceeding.
But Richard believed he could resolve them before anyone noticed.
He planned to have Charles and his guests board the aircraft shortly before departure.
If questioned, he would claim they were authorized company guests whose information had not yet been entered into the system.
He had used similar explanations before.
This time, however, Naomi's executive office confirmed her travel personally.
The confirmation reached flight operations the evening before departure.
Richard should have stopped.
Instead, he assumed the message referred to a company representative who might not ultimately appear.
He told Charles to remain ready.
He instructed Olivia to prepare the cabin for high-profile guests.
And he began treating the actual owner reservation as an inconvenience.
When Naomi arrived at Teterboro, Richard wasn't expecting her.
At least, he wasn't expecting the woman who walked into the cabin.
He imagined Naomi Ellis as an older executive.
Perhaps a man.
Perhaps someone accompanied by assistants and security.
Not an elegant thirty-five-year-old Black woman who boarded quietly, greeted the ground staff, and settled into the forward cream leather seat without announcing her position.
Richard saw her white dress.
Her understated jewelry.
The absence of an entourage.
And the fact that Olivia had been preparing refreshments.
He made an assumption.
A foolish one.
Then he acted on it.
He decided that she must be part of the catering team.
And because Charles's guests were expected shortly, he wanted her out of the seat before they arrived.