The CEO raised one hand.
“No accusations.”
Then looked at the Junior Flight Attendant.
“Facts.”
The younger woman nodded.
“She has worked sick.”
“Once with a fever.”
“She refuses deadheads.”
“She fights every reassignment.”
“She would never voluntarily leave Boston.”
The Senior Flight Attendant snapped:
“You have no idea what I would do.”
The Junior Flight Attendant flinched.
The CEO saw it again.
Control.
The Senior Flight Attendant looked toward the CEO.
“I’m being targeted because of what happened earlier.”
The CEO answered calmly.
“No.”
“You are being observed because you are part of the crew.”
“That is all.”
The woman’s breathing slowed slightly.
The CEO continued:
“If you know nothing, the facts will show that.”
The Senior Flight Attendant looked toward the manifest.
Then away.
The Captain noticed.
The CEO noticed too.
Still not proof.
The aircraft door remained open.
Boarding had stopped.
Passengers were whispering.
The gate agent stood at the doorway waiting for instructions.
The CEO asked:
“How many passengers onboard?”
The Junior Flight Attendant checked.
“Seventeen of twenty first-class.”
“Economy?”
“Boarding paused at ninety-six.”
The Captain looked toward the CEO.
“We need a decision.”
She almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because everyone had begun looking at her as though ownership made her the operational commander.
It did not.
The Captain commanded the aircraft.
That boundary mattered.
The CEO said:
“You are the captain.”
He nodded slowly.
“I know.”
“Then you decide whether this aircraft operates.”
He looked surprised.
She continued:
“My title does not override flight safety authority.”
That seemed to steady him.
He looked toward the cockpit.
Then at the Operations Executive.
Then the manifest.
“We deplane.”
The CEO nodded.
“Good.”
The Captain called the gate.
Passengers groaned when the announcement came.
A security issue.
Temporary deplaning.
No details.
The CEO remained seated until other passengers left.
She did not want the cabin filling with cameras.
Too late.
At least three videos already existed.
The older man across the aisle stood.
Before leaving, he looked at her.
“You have an interesting airline.”
She smiled faintly.
“Today more than usual.”
He hesitated.
Then:
“For what it’s worth, I saw the whole first thing.”
“The attendant.”
The CEO nodded.
“Thank you.”
“If somebody asks.”
“They may.”
He handed her a business card.
She accepted.
No promises.
No performance.