David reached for his radio on his belt. "That's it. I'm calling ground security—"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Eva said softly.

She reached into the structured pocket of her bag and withdrew a sleek, black encrypted satellite smartphone—a device issued only to executive officers of Johnson Global.

Chapter 4: The Phone Call

Eva swiped the screen, unlocking the device. She opened her direct contacts and tapped a single icon marked JGE-EXEC-HOTLINE. She hit speakerphone.

The call connected almost instantly. After a single ring, a sharp, authoritative voice boomed through the high-definition speaker of the phone, crisp and clear in the quiet aircraft.

"Executive Office, Johnson Global Enterprises. Vice Chairman Sterling speaking."

David and Chloe blinked, the name 'Johnson Global' hitting them like a sudden drop in cabin pressure. David paused, his hand frozen on his radio handle.

"Arthur," Eva said, her voice echoing off the walnut veneer panels. "It's Eva."

On the other end of the line, the Vice Chairman's tone transformed instantly from professional firmness to utter, subservient deference.

"Madam CEO! Good evening. We were expecting your arrival in Geneva tomorrow morning. Is everything on schedule with Flight 472?"

The words "Madam CEO" hit the forward cabin like a thunderclap.

Chloe's smug expression instantly melted into a mask of sudden, paralyzing confusion. David's face turned a pale, chalky white. Vance stopped mid-sip, his glass frozen halfway to his mouth, his eyes widening in sheer terror as he realized who was standing before him.

"There is a severe operational failure aboard Flight 472, Arthur," Eva said, her tone smooth, measured, and entirely devoid of emotion. "I am currently standing in the forward cabin. The lead attendant, Chloe, and Cabin Supervisor David have refused to honor my seat assignment in Row 1A. They have verbally harassed me, attempted to surrender my seat to an unverified third party, and threatened me with police arrest."

"They... what?" Sterling’s voice on the phone cracked with disbelief, followed immediately by an explosion of absolute fury. "Board Chairman and CEO Eva Johnson is being threatened on a charter flight funded by our subsidiary?!"

"I am holding Aetherius Charter Services accountable," Eva continued coldly. "As you know, Johnson Global was scheduled to finalize the four-hundred-million-dollar acquisition of Aetherius Aviation Holdings at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Madam CEO. The contract documents are currently on my desk awaiting your final signature."

"Tear them up," Eva commanded sharply. "Cancel the acquisition effective immediately. Furthermore, execute Clause 9 of our current master service agreement. Terminate all corporate service contracts between Johnson Global Enterprises and Aetherius Charter Services with zero notice due to gross breach of conduct."

"Understood, CEO Johnson. It will be done within two minutes."

"And Arthur?" Eva added, her hazel eyes locking onto David's trembling gaze.

"Yes, Eva?"

"Issue an immediate executive order blacklisting Cabin Supervisor David and Flight Attendant Chloe from every commercial, private, and corporate aviation fleet under the Johnson Global umbrella globally. Revoke their security clearances and cancel their operating licenses immediately."

"Consider it done, ma'am. Ground dispatch is taking control of the flight manifest right now."

Eva tapped the red icon on her screen, ending the call. The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating, and absolute.

Chapter 5: The Aftermath in the Sky

The color had completely drained from David’s face. His hands were shaking so violently that he dropped his radio, which clattered loudly against the carpeted floor.

Chloe looked as though she had been struck by lightning. She clutched the bulkhead for support, her lips parting in a silent gasp as tears of sheer panic began to well in her eyes. "M-Madam... CEO Johnson... I... I didn't know... the manifest didn't—"

"The manifest did," Eva said, her voice cold as ice. "You simply chose not to look because you judged me based on your own shallow arrogance."

Before Chloe could speak again, the main cabin intercom chime echoed three times—a priority alert from the cockpit. The door to the flight deck flew open, and the Captain rushed out, sweat visible on his brow, holding an iPad displaying an urgent red alert notification from airport operations.

"David! Chloe! What on earth is happening out here?!" the Captain shouted, his voice laced with panic. "Headquarters just scrubbed our flight clearance! Our service contract was revoked, our operating permits are frozen, and ground dispatch is ordering us to cut engines immediately! Who is—"

The Captain froze as his eyes landed on Eva. He looked down at the high-priority executive profile image flashing on his flight deck tablet: EVA JOHNSON — CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, JOHNSON GLOBAL.

The Captain turned ghost-white, immediately coming to attention and lowering his head in profound terror. "C-CEO Johnson... Ma'am. I had no idea... I deeply apologize for—"

"Save it, Captain," Eva said smoothly. "Ensure your crew collects their personal belongings and vacates this aircraft within five minutes. Ground security will be boarding to escort them off the airfield."

She turned her gaze to Richard Vance, who was cowering against the bulkhead, clutching his scotch glass with both hands as if trying to shrink into the wall.

"Mr. Vance, isn't it?" Eva asked softly.

"Y-yes, Ms. Johnson... I... I had no idea—"