And finally, the sentence that had been whispered loudly enough for the lounge to hear.
“They should sit in the back.”
Her father's voice became very quiet.
“Did she say that?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone challenge her?”
“No.”
Maya glanced toward Susan.
“Not really.”
Her father exhaled.
“Put me on speaker.”
Maya hesitated.
“Dad—”
“Put me on speaker.”
She did.
“Hello?”
Susan's face changed.
The voice on the phone was familiar.
Not because Susan knew him personally.
Because she had heard it before.
On business news.
At industry conferences.
In interviews.
Maya's father was Daniel Sterling.
Founder and chairman of Sterling Capital Partners.
A private investment firm with holdings in aviation, technology, logistics, hospitality, and financial services.
He wasn't the CEO of Majestic Airlines.
He wasn't even its largest shareholder.
But his firm was one of several institutional investors with significant interests in the airline's parent company.
More importantly, Daniel had served on advisory committees connected to Majestic's corporate governance.
He knew people.
But Maya hadn't called him to threaten anyone.
She simply wanted him to know.
“Mr. Sterling,” Susan said cautiously.
Daniel's voice remained calm.
“Who is speaking?”
“Susan Pfizer. I'm the lounge supervisor.”
“Good. Susan, I want to make one thing clear.”
“Yes, sir.”
“My daughters do not need special treatment.”
Caroline rolled her eyes.
Maya glanced at her.
Daniel continued.
“They purchased first-class tickets. If your policy says those tickets are valid, they should be allowed to use them.”
Susan swallowed.
“Yes, sir.”
“And if there is a legitimate reason they cannot use them, I expect someone to explain that reason.”
Susan nodded even though he couldn't see her.
“Understood.”
Daniel's tone sharpened.
“But if the reason is that another passenger believes she deserves their seats more, that's not an airline policy.”
Silence.
Caroline stepped forward.
“Who is that?”
Maya looked at her.
“My father.”
Caroline's face changed slightly.
Daniel continued.
“Maya, don't let my name influence how you handle this.”
“I won't.”
“Good.”
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“I don't want anyone fired because of me.”
Daniel paused.
“That's not your decision.”
“I know.”
“But if there is misconduct, it should be investigated.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel's voice softened.
“Enjoy London.”
Maya smiled.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
She ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Caroline laughed.
It was brittle.
“This is ridiculous.”
Maya slipped her phone into her handbag.
“What is?”
“You think your father can intimidate an airline?”
“No.”
“Then why call him?”
“Because I wanted advice.”
Caroline shook her head.
“You young people think having powerful parents makes you important.”
Nia stepped forward.
“No.”
She looked Caroline directly in the eye.
“We think buying a first-class ticket makes us passengers.”
That landed harder than anything else.
Susan finally spoke.
“Mrs. Harrington, I'm going to review the seating assignment.”
Caroline stared at her.
“What?”
Susan's voice was firmer now.
“The seats belong to Ms. Sterling and Ms. Sterling.”
“But—”
“No.”
Susan looked at Tom.
“Do not offer them compensation for voluntarily giving up confirmed seats unless they ask about alternative arrangements.”
Tom nodded immediately.
Caroline's face turned red.
“This is unbelievable.”
Susan remained calm.
“Your husband is in 1C. You will be seated according to the ticket you hold.”
Caroline glared at Maya.
“This isn't over.”
Maya smiled faintly.
“I didn't think it was.”
Boarding began twenty minutes later.
Maya and Nia were among the first passengers called.
As they walked toward the gate, Nia whispered:
“Do you think she knows?”
“Knows what?”
“That she's already lost.”
Maya shook her head.
“This isn't about winning.”
“You always say that.”
“Because it's true.”
They boarded.
Seat 1A.
Seat 1B.
Their luggage went into the overhead compartment.
They sat down.
For the first time in an hour, Maya exhaled.
Nia fastened her seatbelt.
“London.”
Maya smiled.
“London.”
A few minutes later, Caroline and her husband boarded.
Caroline stopped when she saw the twins in their seats.
Her husband, Robert, looked confused.
“What happened?”
Caroline whispered something to him.
He looked at Maya.
Then Nia.
Then at his wife.
“Caroline.”
“What?”
“They have the seats.”
She glared.
“I know.”
Robert sighed.
“Then sit down.”
She did.
Seat 1C.
Exactly where she had been assigned.
The irony seemed almost unbearable.
The woman who had insisted that the twins move was now sitting beside them.
For the entire flight.
Turbulence
The plane climbed above Atlanta.
The city disappeared beneath the clouds.
Maya opened her laptop.
Nia put on her headphones.
For several minutes, everything was quiet.
Then Robert leaned slightly toward Maya.
“I'm sorry.”
Maya looked at him.
“For what?”
“My wife's behavior.”
Caroline turned.
“Robert.”
He ignored her.
“She gets stressed when traveling.”
Maya nodded.
“I understand.”
Robert smiled awkwardly.
“You girls are headed to London for the summit?”
Nia looked up.
“Yes.”
“What do you do?”
“Kismet.”
Robert's eyebrows lifted.
“I've heard of it.”
Nia smiled.
“Really?”
“My company uses your platform for employee financial education.”
Maya looked at him.
“What company?”
Robert told her.
Nia and Maya exchanged a glance.
It was a significant company.
A major corporate client.
One of the companies Kismet had recently been trying to expand with.
Robert looked impressed.
“Your company is doing great work.”
“Thank you.”
Caroline looked uncomfortable.
Robert turned toward her.
“Did you know they run Kismet?”
Caroline didn't answer.
Nia looked at Maya.
Maya said nothing.
That was important.