"Dr. Bennett."
"Which Bennett?"
Daniel glanced at his tablet.
"Naomi Bennett."
Richard frowned.
"Never heard of her."
Daniel looked surprised.
"The owner of Bennett Aerospace?"
Richard waved dismissively.
"Probably somebody from the corporate office."
Daniel hesitated.
"The flight release lists her as the principal passenger."
"Fine. As long as she's ready to leave on time."
Richard continued walking.
Daniel said nothing.
He would later regret that silence.
A few minutes later, Richard entered the aircraft.
He immediately noticed Naomi sitting in the forward cabin.
She was reviewing her phone.
Her blue suit stood out against the cream leather upholstery.
Richard stopped.
He had expected to see an older executive, perhaps a wealthy businessman surrounded by assistants.
Instead, he saw a woman sitting alone.
He looked toward the rear of the aircraft.
Then back at Naomi.
His expression hardened.
"Excuse me," he said.
Naomi looked up.
"Good morning."
Richard did not return the greeting.
"Are you supposed to be sitting there?"
Naomi blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"This is the forward executive section."
"I know."
Richard glanced at her handbag.
"Are you traveling with the principal passenger?"
Naomi lowered her phone slightly.
"I am the principal passenger."
Richard gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Right."
Naomi studied him.
"Is there a problem, Captain?"
He appeared surprised that she knew his position.
"That depends. Who authorized you to sit here?"
Naomi felt a familiar sensation.
It was not fear.
It was the exhausting recognition of a conversation she had experienced in different forms throughout her life.
At university.
In corporate boardrooms.
At luxury hotels.
Inside financial institutions.
And now, apparently, aboard her own aircraft.
"My reservation is on the manifest," she replied.
Richard folded his arms.
"That wasn't my question."
Naomi remained seated.
"What exactly are you asking?"
"I'm asking who told you that you could occupy the owner's seat."
For a moment, Naomi wondered whether she had misunderstood him.
Then she realized that she had understood perfectly.
"No one needed to tell me."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Listen, I don't have time for games."
Neither of them noticed Olivia approaching from the rear galley.
She had heard the captain's raised voice and was immediately concerned.
"Captain Whitmore," Olivia began, "is everything all right?"
Richard raised one hand without looking at her.
"I've got this."
Olivia stopped.
She glanced at Naomi.
Naomi gave her a subtle signal to remain calm.
Richard leaned closer.
"This aircraft is not a commercial shuttle. You don't just pick whatever seat you like."
Naomi placed her phone on the armrest.
"Captain, I suggest you check the passenger manifest."
"I already know who's supposed to be here."
"Then you should know who I am."
Richard's expression shifted from irritation to open contempt.
"Don't start acting important because somebody let you through the terminal."
Olivia's face changed.
"Captain—"
"I said I've got it!"
His voice was loud enough to make Daniel look out from the cockpit.
Naomi took a slow breath.
"There's no reason to speak to anyone that way."
Richard stepped closer.
"Then stop making this difficult."
He pointed toward the rear cabin.
"Get up. Move to the back."
Naomi remained still.
"Please verify my name."
Richard's patience vanished.
"GET UP! MOVE TO THE BACK!"
His shout filled the cabin.
Olivia flinched.
Daniel stepped out of the cockpit.
Naomi looked directly at Richard.
"You should verify my name."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP!"
The words came out with such force that the cabin fell completely silent.
Richard was breathing heavily.
His face had turned crimson.
His finger remained pointed toward Naomi's seat.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Naomi stood.
She straightened her jacket.
Her expression was no longer merely patient.
It was resolute.
"Call operations," she said, "and tell them the woman who owns this jet is sitting here."
Richard stared at her.
Then he laughed.
It was an ugly, dismissive sound.
"That's ridiculous."
Naomi did not respond.
Richard shook his head.
"Do you have any idea how many people claim to own these airplanes?"
"Call operations."
"You're seriously expecting me to believe—"
"Captain Whitmore."
Her voice was sharp enough to interrupt him.
"Call operations. Now."
Something about her tone unsettled him.
For the first time, he noticed that Olivia was not looking at Naomi with confusion.
She was looking at him with alarm.
Daniel, meanwhile, had gone pale.
Richard glanced between them.
"What?"
Daniel swallowed.