“I don't know.”
Charles paused.
“But if someone is willing to use a business relationship to pressure an airline employee into discriminating against paying passengers, I would pay attention.”
Maya looked toward Caroline.
She was laughing with another passenger.
Unaware.
Unconcerned.
Nia lowered her voice.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do?”
Charles smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Not yet.”
Then he ended the call.
Nia stared at the blank screen.
Maya sighed.
“You know that look.”
“What look?”
“The look Dad gets when he's about to ruin someone's afternoon.”
Nia smiled.
“He learned from Mom.”
The First Call
Boarding began twenty minutes later.
Maya and Nia walked toward the aircraft together.
Caroline was already at the gate.
She watched them pass.
Then she looked at Tom.
“You're really letting them board first class?”
Tom hesitated.
“They have valid tickets.”
Caroline's voice sharpened.
“Call your manager.”
Susan stepped forward.
“Mrs. Harrington, we've already addressed this.”
“I haven't.”
“Your husband remains in 1C.”
“I know.”
“And the other passengers remain in 1A and 1B.”
Caroline stared at her.
“You're making a mistake.”
Susan's expression remained professional.
“No, ma'am.”
Caroline leaned closer.
“You don't understand who my husband is.”
Susan replied:
“I understand exactly who your husband is.”
“Then you understand the consequences.”
Susan paused.
“I understand that all passengers are entitled to the seats they purchased.”
Caroline walked onto the aircraft.
Maya and Nia followed.
First class was quiet.
The cabin smelled of polished wood, citrus, and expensive coffee.
Maya took 1A.
Nia took 1B.
Caroline stopped at 1C.
Her husband wasn't there yet.
She looked at the twins.
Then sat down.
Nia whispered:
“This is going to be a long flight.”
Maya smiled.
“Maybe not.”
Five minutes later, Richard Harrington boarded.
He was a broad-shouldered man in his early sixties.
He wore a dark suit and carried himself like someone accustomed to being obeyed.
Caroline immediately whispered something to him.
Richard looked toward the twins.
His expression hardened.
He sat down.
“What happened?”
Caroline told him.
Richard stared at Maya and Nia.
Then he pressed the call button.
A flight attendant appeared.
“Yes, sir?”
“I need a seat change.”
The attendant checked the system.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Harrington. The flight is completely full.”
“My wife needs to sit here.”
“I understand.”
“Then move one of them.”
The attendant glanced toward Maya.
“I can't do that.”
Richard's voice became colder.
“Do you know who I am?”
The attendant looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“Then you understand.”
Maya finally turned.
“Sir.”
Richard looked at her.
“These are our assigned seats.”
“I wasn't speaking to you.”
“I know.”
Nia smiled.
“But you're talking about us.”
Richard stared at her.
Caroline whispered:
“See?”
Richard turned back to the attendant.
“I'll be contacting your corporate office.”
Maya's phone vibrated.
She looked down.
A message from her father.
Call me when you land.
She put the phone away.
The aircraft doors closed.
The flight departed.
For several hours, nothing happened.
Then, somewhere over the Atlantic, Richard received an email.
His expression changed.
Caroline noticed.
“What is it?”
Richard read it again.
“I don't know.”
“What?”
“Majestic is postponing the final review of our maintenance proposal.”
Caroline frowned.
“Why?”
“They're requesting additional documentation.”
“Why?”
Richard looked at her.
“I don't know.”
Neither of them connected the dots.
Not yet.
The Contract
London was cold.
The sisters arrived exhausted but energized.
The summit began the following morning.
Their keynote was scheduled for ten.
The room was packed.
Maya spoke first.
“Financial exclusion isn't always caused by a lack of money.”
The audience listened.
“Sometimes it is caused by a lack of information.”