"Ma'am, can you provide proof of employment?" Morrison asked when she hung up. "First-class tickets are expensive. We need to verify you can afford this."
The question hung in the air like smoke.
Several passengers in line exchanged glances.
An older white businessman shook his head visibly.
"I'm happy to comply," Sterling replied. "May I ask why other passengers weren't required to provide this documentation?"
Morrison's cheeks flushed.
"Standard security protocol."
Chen's live stream now showed 47 viewers.
Comments flooded in.
"This is discrimination."
"Call them out."
"Someone record this."
A business card fell from Sterling's wallet as she reached for her identification.
Chen zoomed in on his phone camera, catching the text.
Dr. Amara Sterling, Chief Executive Officer.
"CEO of what?" Morrison demanded, reading over his shoulder.
Sterling retrieved the card calmly.
"A holding company."
Two more passengers began filming openly.
The boarding line had stopped moving entirely.
Everyone was watching the unfolding drama.
Morrison's supervisor, Tom Bradley, approached after receiving her call.
Forty-five years old with 20 years at Delta, Bradley had handled his share of difficult passengers.
He sized up the situation in three seconds and sided with his employee.
"What seems to be the problem here?" Bradley asked Morrison, not looking at Sterling.
"Suspicious credit card activity and first-class boarding without proper verification," Morrison explained.
Bradley nodded.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to come with me while we sort this out."
"She hasn't done anything wrong," shouted a passenger from the back of the line.
"This is discrimination, plain and simple," added another.
Chen's viewer count hit 120.
Santos tagged Delta's official Instagram account in her story.
Sterling's phone showed 15 missed calls from the Atlanta office.
She declined another incoming call without looking at the caller ID.
"I'm happy to cooperate fully," Sterling told Bradley. "However, I do have a 4:30 meeting in Atlanta that I cannot miss."
"Well, that depends on how quickly we can resolve this situation," Bradley replied curtly.
The departure board updated.
FINAL BOARDING CALL.
GATE A7.
3:40 p.m.
Sterling opened her briefcase and removed a single document.
Several passengers craned their necks to see, but she held it close to her chest.
"Before we proceed further," Sterling said quietly, "there's something you should know."
Morrison rolled her eyes.
"Another fake document."
Chen's live stream had reached 210 viewers.
Delta discrimination began trending locally in Chicago.