Her eyebrows rose.
“Your reservation is confirmed.”
She looked at Officer Miller.
“Did you verify this before placing her in restraints?”
He shifted his weight.
“The flight attendant reported that she was occupying a seat without authorization.”
Rachel turned back to me.
“May I ask why you were removed?”
I looked at her.
“That’s the question everyone should have asked before handcuffing me.”
Chapter 7: The Call from New York004
Daniel called again.
This time, Rachel permitted me to speak with him privately.
“Vanessa, the acquisition closed successfully,” he said.
“I know.”
“The ownership documents are being finalized through the agreed corporate process.
Your voting control is established under the transaction documents.”
“Good.”
“There’s another development.
Meridian Atlantic’s board has been informed of the incident.”
I closed my eyes.
“Who informed them?”
“Your transaction counsel received a call from the airline’s corporate secretary.
They were trying to confirm whether the new controlling shareholder was involved.”
I almost laughed.
“Apparently, I am.”
Daniel paused.
“Vanessa, the board wants to speak with you.”
“Not yet.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am sitting in an airport security office because someone decided my clothes made me suspicious.
I am not going to turn this into a corporate performance before the facts are established.”
Daniel understood.
“Then we’ll proceed through counsel.”
I looked through the glass wall.
Officer Miller was speaking with Rachel.
Megan had arrived at the office entrance.
Her confident expression had disappeared.
She seemed to be waiting for someone to explain why the situation was no longer going according to plan.
I knew that feeling.
The truth had finally entered the room.
Chapter 8: The Name on the Documents004
Rachel returned with another airport official.
“Dr.
Hamilton, we have confirmed your reservation and identity.”
“Thank you.”
She hesitated.
“There’s something else.”
I waited.
“Your name appears in a corporate notification we received this afternoon.”
I didn’t respond.
Rachel looked at the screen.
“You’re connected to Pinnacle Equity Group?”
“I founded it.”
“And the Meridian Atlantic acquisition?”
“I am the CEO of the acquiring company.”
Her expression changed.
Officer Miller looked up sharply.
Megan’s face went pale.
Rachel lowered the tablet.