Victoria had not looked back once.
Denise turned to Clare.
"Miss Donovan, where is the meal tray?"
Clare swallowed.
"It was cleared."
"Where?"
"In the galley cart."
"Do not remove or discard it."
Clare nodded.
Denise looked at Ethan.
"Mr. Cole, your report says the passenger refused reasonable meal alternatives. What alternatives?"
Ethan glanced at Clare.
"Standard dinner. Courtesy credit. Available snacks."
Lena picked up the peanut packet from Maya's tray table.
"This was the available snack."
Denise stared at it.
"After the passenger reported a peanut allergy?"
No one answered.
That silence did more damage than any confession could have.
Maya slowly unbuckled her seat belt.
Lena stood with her immediately, one hand near Maya's elbow, but not touching without permission.
"I'm okay," Maya said softly.
"I know," Lena replied. "I'm still standing here."
Maya gathered her laptop, phone, confirmation email, and boarding documents.
She left the peanut packet on the tray table until Denise photographed it.
As Maya stepped into the aisle, Clare looked at her for the first time.
There was no arrogance in her face.
Only fear.
"Maya," Clare began.
Then stopped, as if using her first name had suddenly sounded too familiar.
Maya paused.
"Miss Williams," Clare corrected.
Maya waited.
Clare said nothing else.
Maya walked past her.
In the jet bridge, the air felt cooler.
Airport sounds reached her all at once.
Rolling suitcases.
Cleaning carts.
Distant announcements.
Footsteps echoing against the walls.
Naomi called again.
This time, Maya answered.
Naomi did not say hello.
"Tell me you are safe."
"I'm off the plane."
"Thank God. The videos are everywhere. Crestline's board is in emergency session. Douglas Whitman's office has called three times asking whether you are still attending tomorrow."
Maya stopped halfway down the jet bridge.
Behind her, Lena, Samuel, Margaret, and David followed at a respectful distance.
Ahead, Denise Harper was speaking into her phone, words clipped and urgent.
Maya looked back through the open aircraft door.
Clare stood near the galley.
Ethan was speaking to the officer.
Captain Mallerie had appeared at the cockpit entrance, reading something on his tablet with a face that had gone gray.
Naomi's voice sharpened.
"Maya, do they know?"
Maya looked at the Crestline logo painted beside the aircraft door.
"No," she said. "Not yet."
There was a pause.
Then Naomi understood.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Preserve every contract file. Notify legal to prepare a termination review, but do not send it. I want the board packet, the partnership agreement, the due diligence notes, and every complaint analysis we prepared on Crestline ready tonight."
"Maya, they're going to try to settle this before morning."