"I've already reviewed the manifest."
The woman looked up.
"Have you?"
Richard turned toward her.
His jaw tightened.
"Excuse me?"
She spoke calmly.
"You said you've reviewed the passenger manifest."
"Yes."
"Then perhaps you should tell me whose name appears on it."
Richard stared.
For several seconds, he didn't answer.
Then he leaned closer.
"Listen carefully. I don't care who hired you, who you think you know, or what you're trying to prove."
He pointed toward the rear corridor.
"Get up, collect your things, and wait in the galley."
The woman slowly rose from the cream leather seat.
Her white dress remained perfectly smooth.
Her natural curls framed her face as she straightened to her full height.
Richard stepped backward.
A satisfied smile crossed his face.
"That's better."
But the woman didn't move toward the galley.
Instead, she reached into her handbag and withdrew her smartphone.
Richard frowned.
"What are you doing?"
She looked at the screen.
"Making a phone call."
He laughed.
"To complain?"
She smiled faintly.
"In a manner of speaking."
Then she raised the phone to her ear.
A man answered almost immediately.
"Good afternoon. Flight operations."
The woman's voice changed.
It remained soft and perfectly controlled, but now carried unmistakable authority.
"Julian, this is Naomi Ellis."
The man on the other end went quiet.
Then he straightened in his chair.
"Ms. Ellis?"
"Yes."
"Is something wrong?"
Naomi looked directly at the pilot standing before her.
"There's been a change in the flight crew."
Richard's smile disappeared.
She continued.
"Please arrange a replacement captain for my aircraft."
The pilot blinked.
"Your aircraft?"
Naomi didn't acknowledge him.
She spoke into the phone.
"Captain Vance is not flying me today."
A long pause followed.
Then Julian asked, "May I ask what happened?"
Naomi's expression remained perfectly calm.
"He boarded my jet, called me a waitress, and ordered me out of my own seat."
The silence on the phone lasted three seconds.
Then Julian spoke in a voice that suddenly sounded strained.
"Ms. Ellis, I'm terribly sorry."
Naomi looked toward the cockpit.
"Please notify the chief pilot. I also want the aircraft's dispatch authorization reviewed before we depart."
"Of course."