“My associates?”
“The nurse, other passengers, whoever is amplifying this online.”
Lena sat forward.
“My name is Lena.”
Douglas gave her a tight smile.
“Miss Ortiz.”
Maya looked at the NDA.
“You want the videos taken down.”
“We want time to investigate responsibly.”
“No. You want time to breathe before morning.”
The room went quiet.
Douglas’s expression shifted.
“Miss Williams, tomorrow morning is extremely important for this company.”
“We have a critical $80 million signing with our strategic AI partner, Williams Meridian Group.”
“That agreement will modernize our customer-service systems and help prevent exactly this kind of unfortunate misunderstanding in the future.”
Maya slowly lifted her eyes from the check.
Douglas went on, still not understanding the danger.
“We cannot allow one small catering incident, however regrettable, to distract from the larger work we are trying to do.”
Lena turned toward Maya, stunned.
“Small catering incident.”
Maya did not look away from Douglas.
“That is what you think happened?”
“I think emotions are high,” Douglas said. “I think mistakes were made. I think the crew may have handled the matter poorly.”
“But I also think a public fight helps no one.”
“You are a young professional. I assume you understand reputation risk.”
Maya sat back.
“Yes. I understand reputation risk.”
Douglas seemed encouraged.
“Then you understand why we should settle this tonight. Quietly. Respectfully.”
“Respectfully,” Maya repeated.
“Yes.”
“Your flight attendant took coffee from my hand and threw it away.”
“Your crew gave my medical meal to a white VIP who had not reserved it.”
“Your supervisor threatened to have me arrested at JFK.”
“Your captain was told I had hypoglycemia and allergies and chose to document me as noncompliant.”
“I was offered peanuts after stating I had allergies.”
“Your passenger sat there eating my medical meal while I was shaking.”
Maya looked at the folder.
“And now you are offering me money to make the evidence disappear before your stock opens.”
Douglas’s face tightened.
“Miss Williams, I would caution against framing this in a way that assumes intent.”
Maya looked around the room.
At the faces on the screens.
The lawyers.
The communications team.
The people who had studied the public reaction before studying her pain.
“Intent is what people argue after impact,” she said. “I am talking about what happened.”
A board member on one of the screens cleared his throat.
“Miss Williams, perhaps it would be best if we all took a breath. Mr. Whitman is offering a generous resolution.”
Lena’s eyes widened.
“Generous?”
Maya lifted one hand slightly.
Lena stopped.
Douglas pushed the folder a few inches closer.
“This can protect everyone involved.”
Maya looked at the check one more time.
$100,000.
To a passenger they thought was alone.
To a woman they thought could be managed.
To a name on a boarding pass that had not yet become a boardroom title.
She thought of Clare’s hand around her cup.
Ethan’s tablet.
Captain Mallerie’s voice.
Victoria’s fork cutting into the meal labeled with her name.
She thought of Margaret’s juice box.