He slowed when he saw the crowd.
Then saw Nia.
His face went pale.
“Ms. Bennett?”
Nia turned.
Everyone else did too.
The man was Charles Reynolds, regional president for North America.
He had spent the previous two weeks preparing for the ownership transition.
He had met Nia through video conference three times.
Never in person.
Nia had told leadership she would visit New York Thursday.
It was Wednesday.
That had been intentional.
Charles hurried toward her.
“I thought you were arriving tomorrow.”
Nia looked at him.
“I changed plans.”
He glanced at security.
Melissa.
Evelyn.
The suitcase.
Phones.
“What happened?”
Nobody answered immediately.
Evelyn looked between them.
Then at Nia.
Then at Charles again.
Something began connecting.
Charles extended his hand.
“Welcome to New York.”
Nia shook it.
“Interesting welcome.”
His expression tightened.
He looked around.
“Is there a problem?”
The male security officer answered:
“We were responding to a passenger dispute.”
Charles looked toward Evelyn.
He knew her too.
“Mrs. Whitmore.”
Evelyn stared.
“Charles.”
Then she pointed toward Nia.
“You know this woman?”
Charles looked confused.
“Of course.”
The silence that followed seemed almost physical.
Evelyn’s face changed.
Nia could see calculation moving behind her eyes.
Possible title.
Possible investor.
Possible board member.
Possible executive.
She needed to know.
Evelyn asked:
“Who exactly is she?”
Nia did not answer.
Charles did.
“Ms. Bennett is the founder and chief executive of Bennett Crown Holdings.”
Evelyn’s expression remained blank for half a second.
Then recognition.
Bennett Crown.
One of the largest Black-owned investment groups in the United States.
Private aviation.
Infrastructure.
Hospitality.
Real estate.
Technology.
And, as of fourteen hours earlier, the controlling shareholder of Aurelia Atlantic Airways.
Charles continued before realizing perhaps he should not.
“Her company completed the ownership transaction last night.”
A passenger whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Someone else laughed under their breath.
Evelyn went white.
She looked at Nia.
“You own the airline?”
Nia finally spoke.
“My company owns sixty-four percent.”
Evelyn stared.
The gate agent’s eyes widened.
Melissa looked almost sick.
Not because she feared Nia.
Because she suddenly realized ownership had witnessed her hesitation.
Nia saw that too.
She hated that immediately.
Evelyn’s voice changed.
Completely.
“Ms. Bennett.”
The sharpness disappeared.
“My goodness.”
She attempted a smile.
“There has been a terrible misunderstanding.”
Nia looked at her.
“Interesting.”
Evelyn continued.
“If I had known…”
Nia interrupted.
“There.”
Evelyn stopped.
Nia stepped closer.