Then Victoria Hayes entered.
She carried a tablet and a small stack of passenger documents.
Her blonde hair was pulled into a tight bun.
Her navy uniform was immaculate.
Gold buttons ran down the front of her jacket, and a pair of polished pilot wings sat above her left breast pocket.
She walked through the cabin with the confidence of someone accustomed to controlling every detail.
Her eyes moved from passenger to passenger.
She stopped beside a woman whose handbag had been placed on the floor.
"Ma'am, please move that bag."
The passenger immediately picked it up.
Victoria continued walking.
She stopped near a young man wearing a baseball cap.
"Sir, hats should be removed during the safety briefing."
The young man nodded.
Isaiah watched quietly.
Victoria reached his row.
Her gaze fell on his hoodie.
She paused.
"Excuse me."
Isaiah looked up.
"Yes?"
"Are you in the correct cabin?"
He blinked.
"Yes."
"May I see your boarding pass?"
"Certainly."
He handed her his phone.
Victoria scanned the screen.
Her expression changed slightly.
"Seat 2A?"
"That's right."
She examined the ticket again.
Then she looked at him.
"How did you obtain this reservation?"
Isaiah kept his expression neutral.
"I purchased it."
"Personally?"
"Yes."
Victoria looked at his clothing again.
"Do you have identification?"
"Is there a problem with my boarding pass?"
"I'm asking a simple question."
"And I answered it."
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"Sir, I need to verify your identity."
Isaiah handed her his driver's license.
She examined it for several seconds.
"Mr. Carter."
"Correct."
"Do you travel with us frequently?"
"Sometimes."
"Then you should know that we maintain standards in this cabin."
Isaiah looked around.
"What standards?"
Victoria seemed irritated by the question.
"Professional standards."
He glanced at his hoodie.
"Is there a dress code I missed?"
"Passengers are expected to dress appropriately."
"Is my clothing prohibited?"
Victoria hesitated.
Then she returned his identification.
"Just settle in."
She walked away.
Isaiah watched her disappear into the galley.
He made a note on his phone.
Time: 8:17 p.m.
Initial interaction: Unnecessary identity questioning despite valid boarding documentation.
He did not consider it a major incident.
He had experienced worse during his early business career.
But he knew how small moments could reveal larger problems.
He decided to continue observing.
At 8:40 p.m., the aircraft doors closed.
The captain welcomed passengers aboard.
The safety demonstration began.
Isaiah listened while scrolling through the airline's latest operational report.
The flight attendants moved through the cabin, checking seat belts and overhead compartments.
Victoria passed his seat once.
Then twice.
On her third pass, she stopped.
"Sir."
Isaiah looked up.
"Yes?"
"Would you like champagne?"
"Water would be fine."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Champagne is complimentary in first class."
"I understand. Water is fine."
She gave him a brief, dismissive smile.
"Very well."
She continued toward the next passenger.
Isaiah returned to his phone.
A few minutes later, the aircraft began taxiing.
The city lights outside the windows gradually moved away.
The aircraft accelerated down the runway and lifted into the night sky.
The cabin lights dimmed.
Passengers settled into their seats.
For the first twenty minutes, nothing unusual happened.
Then the service began.
A junior flight attendant named Emily Parker approached Isaiah.
She was twenty-six, with brown hair tied neatly behind her head.
"Mr. Carter, would you like something to drink now?"
"Still water, please."
"Certainly."
She placed a glass on the console.
"Would you like anything to eat later?"
"Maybe after we reach cruising altitude."
"Of course. Just press the call button whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, Emily."
She glanced at her name badge.
"You're welcome."
She returned to the galley.
A few minutes later, Isaiah noticed Victoria speaking to her.
Their conversation was quiet, but their expressions were not.
Victoria pointed toward his seat.
Emily shook her head.
Victoria said something sharply.
Emily looked uncomfortable.
Then Victoria approached him again.
"Mr. Carter, I need to speak with you."
Isaiah locked his phone.
"Go ahead."
"I have concerns regarding your reservation."
"What concerns?"
Victoria looked toward the surrounding passengers.
"Your ticket appears to have been issued through a special corporate arrangement."
Isaiah nodded.
"That is possible."
"Are you an employee?"
"No."
"Then why does your reservation have that designation?"
"Perhaps you should check with the reservations department."
"I am the senior supervisor on this aircraft."
"That doesn't mean you have access to every booking detail."
Her expression hardened.
"Sir, I don't appreciate your attitude."
Isaiah looked at her calmly.
"I've answered every question you've asked."
"Not adequately."
"What would an adequate answer look like?"
Victoria folded her arms.
"An identification document proving that you are entitled to sit here."
Isaiah gestured toward his phone.
"You already checked my boarding pass and identification."
"That doesn't establish that you paid for the seat."
He looked at her.
"Are you asking every passenger in first class to prove how they paid for their ticket?"
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Don't make this difficult."
"I haven't."
She leaned slightly closer.
"Listen carefully. We have procedures. I don't care how much you think you know about flying. If I suspect a fraudulent booking, I have the authority to report it."
Isaiah studied her face.
"Do you suspect fraud?"
"Yes."
"On what grounds?"
Victoria did not answer immediately.
Instead, she glanced toward the young flight attendants.
"Emily, bring me the champagne bottle."
Emily looked startled.
"Ma'am?"
"The champagne. Now."
Emily hesitated.
Victoria repeated the order.
Emily walked toward the galley.
Isaiah remained seated.
He could feel the attention of nearby passengers shifting toward them.
The businessman across the aisle stopped typing.
The elderly woman looked up.
A man near the rear of the cabin lowered his headphones.
Victoria turned back to Isaiah.
"Until we resolve this matter, I expect you to cooperate."
"Cooperation requires a legitimate request."
"Excuse me?"
"Tell me which specific rule you believe I've violated."
Victoria gave a short laugh.
"Your behavior is becoming a problem."
Isaiah looked at the empty glass on his console.
"Then perhaps we should involve the captain."
Her expression changed.