“I know.”
“You sound tired.”
“I am.”
“Call Mom?”
“She needs rest.”
“She’d want to know.”
“She’ll know tomorrow.”
Marcus sighed.
“Good luck with that.”
Their mother, Denise Carter, believed motherhood gave her permanent jurisdiction over information.
Marcus was correct.
By 7 a.m., Denise had already seen the video.
She called screaming.
Not at Amara.
At Charles.
Then at Amara for not calling.
Then again at Charles.
Amara held the phone away from her ear.
“Mom.”
“He poured water on my grandbaby.”
“Yes.”
“Cold water.”
“Yes.”
“On her head.”
“Yes.”
“What is wrong with that old fool?”
“I’m investigating.”
“Investigate him into unemployment.”
“Mom.”
“What?”
“That is not how governance works.”
“It should be.”
Amara laughed despite herself.
Denise heard it.
Her voice softened.
“You okay?”
Amara swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Don’t lie to your mother.”
“I’m angry.”
“Good.”
“I also feel guilty.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“No.”
“I brought her.”
“You took your daughter on a plane.”
“That is called transportation.”
“You did not pour the water.”
Amara closed her eyes.
Denise continued.
“Do not take responsibility because another adult behaved badly.”
Amara whispered:
“I know.”
“No.”
“You know with your head.”
“Learn it with your heart.”
Mothers.
Amara smiled.
At 8 a.m., the board meeting began.
Fourteen directors.
Outside counsel.
Corporate secretary.
Amara at the head of the table.
Charles three seats away.
No cameras.
No press.
No viral audience.
That mattered.
Governance needed less theater.
Amara’s appointment became official.
Nine votes.
Four abstentions.
One opposition.
Charles.
Expected.
Then the second agenda item.
Governance review.
Charles’s counsel immediately requested postponement.
Amara recused herself from voting on any disciplinary finding arising directly from the flight.
Several directors were surprised.
Charles looked relieved.
Too relieved.
Amara noticed.
Then outside counsel presented the preservation order.
Not conclusions.
Scope.
Five years of passenger-removal records.