"Emma, what do you think about this one?"
Emma shrugged, flaunting her contempt, her voice as slow and sharp as a blade.
"You see, Jason, if she really were a VIP, wouldn't one of us have recognized her immediately? I think she's just trying to sneak onto a luxury jet."
Their cutting words struck at Olivia's pride, but she remained composed.
Again, she drew her documents from her bag and held them out to Jason with unwavering resolve.
"Here are my boarding pass and ID. I don't want to repeat myself."
Jason accepted them grudgingly, glancing over them dismissively before bursting into laughter to draw attention from the crowd.
"Emma, look at this. There's a legitimate boarding pass and a Black corporate card. Impressive. But honestly, anyone can buy phony documents these days."
Emma shot Olivia a look of pure disdain.
"A Black card, please. Anyone can fake that stuff. Do you really think that scares us?"
Jason and Emma's forced laughter rippled around them, and other staff chuckled awkwardly, but no one dared defend Olivia.
The wary glances from bystanders only underscored the egregious discrimination she was enduring right here in the airport she'd spent years building.
Outside, the rain intensified, each icy drop bearing witness to the mounting tension.
Olivia stood her ground in silence, not out of weakness, but because she was waiting for the perfect moment to respond decisively.
Emma, losing patience, leaned toward Jason and spoke low enough for Olivia to hear.
"If security doesn't arrive soon, we'll have to handle this ourselves."
Jason nodded in agreement, his tone threatening.
"You'd best leave now. Don't make us take stronger measures."
Olivia remained still, her gaze piercing both of them.
When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but carried formidable authority.
"Are you absolutely certain you want to see this through? Because once I finish this call, there's no turning back."
Emma burst into mocking laughter.
"Oh, how scary. Jason, did you hear that? She's threatening us."
Jason joined in smugly.
"Yeah, you'd better make that call quick so we can see what else you've got planned."
Unfazed, Olivia raised her phone to her ear and spoke each word with crystal-clear authority.
"Lauren, connect me to Ethan and the executive team immediately. We have a serious situation at Westchester Airport that needs urgent attention."
Her icy, commanding tone made Emma and Jason freeze for a heartbeat, a premonition of trouble flashing in their eyes.
But by the time reality sank in, it was too late to turn back.