Chapter 15 - The Contract Nobody Read

Patricia called an emergency meeting of the independent directors. The airline's financing talks were paused, and the passenger-data arrangement was suspended pending a privacy review.

“Do you understand what this could do to our stock?” one director asked.

Patricia looked at the passenger complaint on her desk. “I understand what happened when people worried about the stock more than a child.”

Richard Vance appeared by video. He denied directing Elliot to claim the seat and said the consulting business provided lawful market analysis.

The investigators asked for records according to the contract and applicable law. Richard's attorney requested time to respond. Nobody called that an admission.

Meanwhile, Catherine submitted a written account that included every detail she wished she could erase. She had acted harshly. She had obeyed an unverified instruction. She had assumed an unaccompanied child would be easier to move than an adult passenger.

Selena read the statement twice and called David.

“She's asking to apologize directly,” Selena said. “No publicity.”

David glanced at Malik, playing cards with Evelyn at the table.

“I'll ask him. The decision is his.”

Malik considered it for a long time. “I don't want her to cry at me. And I don't want her to tell me she didn't mean it.”

“Then you can say no.”

“I want to know why she didn't believe me.”

They arranged a mediated conversation, with Evelyn present and no cameras. Catherine arrived carrying neither flowers nor excuses.

“I knew you had a ticket,” she told Malik. “I chose not to check it. I was wrong.”

Malik looked directly at her. “Would you have talked to a grown-up that way?”

Catherine's eyes filled. “Probably not.”

“Then that's the part you should fix.”

The room fell still.

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Afterward, an investigator called Marissa with an unexpected update: the suspicious verification link sent to Malik had been traced to a contractor who worked on passenger notifications.

The contractor had resigned that morning and vanished from the office.