"Those were service issues."
"You closed complaints without investigation."
"We had thousands of complaints."
"Then build a system capable of handling them."
"I was trying to keep operations moving."
Rachel leaned toward him.
"You were deleting friction from reports by making the people creating it disappear."
Robert looked toward Ethan.
"Chairman, please."
Ethan's expression remained flat.
"The investigation will give you an opportunity to respond."
Robert looked relieved for half a second.
Then Ethan added:
"But you will not control the evidence while it does."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Robert Cain, your system credentials and terminal-management authority are suspended effective immediately."
Robert stared.
"Marcus."
"Hand me your badge."
"This is insane."
"Your badge."
Robert looked at Ethan.
Ethan did not intervene.
Slowly, Robert unclipped his identification card.
Placed it in Marcus's hand.
Clare watched.
She knew what came next.
Rachel said, "Clare Donovan, your cabin authority is suspended pending investigation."
Clare began to cry again.
"I've worked here fourteen years."
Rachel nodded.
"Which means you understood exactly what the voluntary code meant."
Clare wiped her face.
"I made one bad decision."
Rachel looked toward the complaint files.
"We don't know that yet."
Clare turned to Ethan.
"Please."
Emma looked away.
Ethan said quietly, "This is not mine to personally punish or forgive."
Clare stared.
"Compliance will investigate you."
"I didn't know who you were."
Ethan's face changed.
Clare immediately realized the mistake.
Ethan said, "Neither did my daughter."
Clare lowered her head.
Vanessa had been silent longer than anyone expected.
Then she stepped forward.
"This has become completely disproportionate."
Rachel looked at her.
"Ms. Sinclair."
"No."
Vanessa pointed toward Ethan.
"He's angry because his daughter was embarrassed, which I understand, but suspending an entire flight and interrogating employees in public is outrageous."
Ethan looked at her.
"You're right about one thing."
Vanessa paused.
"My daughter being present makes this personal."
She seemed ready to capitalize on that.
Then Ethan continued.
"It does not make it more serious."
Vanessa's expression shifted.
"The false record would matter if the passenger were traveling alone."
He pointed toward the boarding system.
"The favoritism would matter if I were a mechanic."
He nodded toward the gate.
"A teacher."
A few passengers watched.
"A college student."
Then toward Vanessa.
"Someone without money."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"You are making me sound prejudiced because I expected premium service."
"No."
Ethan's voice remained calm.
"I'm allowing your own words to explain what you expected."
Her face tightened.
"Sinclair Global is prepared to sign a corporate travel agreement worth more than twenty million dollars over three years."
Marcus looked at Ethan.
Vanessa continued.
"Your board will hear if you destroy that relationship over this."
Ethan almost smiled.
"Which board?"
Vanessa blinked.
"The airline's."
"I chair it."
"I know that now."
"Then you understand I don't need you to explain what the board will hear."
Her assistant stared at the floor.
Vanessa's voice dropped.
"Business is business."
"Agreed."
"Then be rational."
"I am."
"You would throw away twenty million dollars?"
Ethan looked at Emma.
Then at Vanessa.
"For a contract that requires employees to decide some passengers matter less?"
Vanessa scoffed.
"Don't dramatize it."
"You told my daughter people dressed like us belonged in economy."
Vanessa's eyes moved toward Emma for the first time since the reveal.
Emma met her gaze.