"I've received a request from the airline's headquarters. They would like to confirm that you're comfortable and that everything is being handled appropriately."
Daniel looked at him.
"Who made the request?"
"The operations department."
"Did they say why?"
Richard hesitated.
"They mentioned that senior management had been informed of your presence."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That's fine."
"Would you like me to arrange anything?"
"Yes. Please ask the captain to keep the situation confidential until we land."
"Of course."
Daniel paused.
"And Richard?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Please make sure the crew knows they haven't done anything wrong by treating me like an ordinary passenger."
Richard smiled.
"I'll pass that along."
When he walked away, Daniel returned to his work.
He didn't want special treatment.
He wanted an airline where no passenger needed to own the company to be treated fairly.
At headquarters, Victor Harrington was becoming increasingly nervous.
He had just received another message from his assistant.
The cabin supervisor has confirmed Daniel is on board. Captain Anderson has spoken with him privately.
Victor read it and immediately called the operations director.
"What's happening on Flight 728?"
The director sounded confused.
"Everything is normal, as far as I know."
"Has the captain been informed about the situation?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Daniel requested a conversation."
Victor closed his eyes.
"Listen to me. I don't want this incident appearing in any internal report until we understand what happened."
The operations director paused.
"Why wouldn't we report it?"
Victor lowered his voice.
"Because we don't need another unnecessary investigation."
"But if a passenger was treated improperly—"
"Just follow the procedure."
The call ended.
Victor stared at his phone.
He had made a mistake.
He knew it.
He should have allowed the incident to be handled normally.
But he was afraid that Daniel would connect the events on the aircraft to the seventeen complaints.
If that happened, the investigation would no longer be limited to customer service.
It would reach his department.
It might reach his office.
And it could expose decisions he had spent months trying to keep hidden.
He walked toward the window.
Below him, the city continued moving as though nothing had happened.
But Victor knew something was changing.
Daniel Brooks was coming to headquarters.
And this time, the boy was not arriving merely to attend a meeting.
He was arriving to ask questions that Victor desperately did not want to answer.
For several seconds, Evelyn Whitmore couldn't move.
She stared at the digital announcement above the reception desk.
DANIEL BROOKS — CHAIRMAN AND MAJORITY OWNER OF BROOKS AVIATION.
The words seemed almost impossible.
She looked toward the executive terminal.
Daniel was walking beside Sarah Carter, the airline's chief operating officer. Two other executives had joined them, greeting the young chairman with genuine respect.
One of them was carrying a folder.
Another was discussing the afternoon meeting.
Daniel listened carefully, occasionally asking questions.
He didn't look like someone who had just won an argument.
He looked like someone who had a great deal of work to do.
Evelyn slowly turned toward the passenger standing beside her.
"Did you see that?"
The man nodded.
"I did."
"That can't be right."
He looked at her.
"Why not?"
"He's a child."
The man shrugged.
"Apparently, he's also the owner."
Evelyn swallowed.
Her mind began replaying the entire flight.
The gray sweater.
The simple backpack.
The calm voice.
The boarding pass.
The way he had politely suggested that she check her seat number.
And then her own words.
People like you don't usually sit in places like this.
She felt her stomach tighten.
She had not simply insulted a wealthy passenger.
She had publicly humiliated the person who owned the airline.
Her first instinct was to leave.
Perhaps if she walked quickly enough, nobody would connect her to the incident.
Perhaps the airline would forget.
Perhaps the boy would not care enough to pursue it.
But then she noticed Richard standing near the entrance.
He was speaking with Sarah Carter.
When he finished, Sarah turned toward Evelyn.
"Ms. Whitmore?"
Evelyn forced a smile.
"Yes?"
"Would you mind speaking with us for a moment?"
Her smile disappeared.
"Is something wrong?"
Sarah remained polite.
"We would like to clarify a few details regarding the incident aboard Flight 728."
Evelyn looked toward Daniel.
He had stopped walking.
He turned around.
Their eyes met.
For the first time that day, Evelyn could not find anything to say.