swung open. The Captain, a seasoned pilot with silver hair and a stern
expression, stepped into the cabin. He had been monitoring the
situation through the purser and had finally decided to intervene.
"What exactly is going on here?" the Captain demanded, his
authoritative voice echoing through the quiet cabin.
The flight attendant rushed forward. "Captain, this passenger is
refusing to move for Mr. Sterling, and she's refusing to leave the
aircraft."
The Captain pushed past the flight attendant and the security
officers to get a look at the "disruptive passenger." When he saw Maya
sitting in seat 2A, the color completely drained from his face.
He didn't look angry. He looked terrified.
"Dr. Linwood?" the Captain gasped.
Maya offered a small, crisp nod. "Hello, Captain Miller."
The Captain turned to the flight attendant, his eyes wide with fury.
"Brenda, do you have any idea who this is?"
The flight attendant stammered, "S-she's a passenger..."
"This is Dr. Maya Linwood," the Captain barked. "She is the newly
appointed CEO of Global AeroHoldings—the conglomerate that finalized
the purchase of this airline yesterday. She practically owns the plane
you are standing on."
A collective gasp rippled through the first-class cabin. Richard's
smug smile vanished, replaced by an expression of absolute horror. He
sank back into the aisle seat, trying to make himself as small as possible.
The two security officers looked like they wanted the floor to open up
and swallow them whole.
"And you," the Captain turned to the officers, "were about to forcibly