Janet, can you double check this? Janet examined Victoria's boarding pass like it might burst into flames. Seat 1A, Hayes, Victoria, purchased 3 weeks ago. See, Victoria said, "No mixup." Richard handed back her boarding pass with obvious reluctance. "Well, I guess everything checks out.
I guess it does." Victoria walked away before Richard could think of another reason to question her. Behind her, she heard Janet whisper, "These upgrade scams are getting more sophisticated." She found a quiet corner near the window and opened her tablet. Email after email about the London acquisition. Her team was nervous. The British company's board was traditional old school skeptical of American technology.
Victoria's presence would close the deal, but only if she could get there on time. Excuse me, miss. Victoria looked up to see a security officer standing beside her chair. "Is that your bag?" He pointed to her duffel bag. "Yes, it's mine.
I need you to open it for inspection. I already went through security. Random additional screening. New TSA protocol." Victoria looked around. She was the only passenger being randomly screened in a gate area full of travelers, but she unzipped her bag anyway.
The officer rummaged through her belongings. T-shirts, jeans, laptop, phone chargers, nothing remotely suspicious. You traveling for business or pleasure business. What kind of business? Technology consulting.
Consulting. He said it like the word tasted bad. What company? Skylink Dynamics. The officer had never heard of it, which wasn't surprising.
Most people didn't know the company that powered their flights, their GPS systems, their digital lives. Where's your laptop bag? Business travelers usually have proper equipment. Victoria pulled out her tablet. This is my equipment.
That's it. Just a tablet. It's all I need. The officer finished his inspection and walked away without apology. Victoria repacked her bag and checked her watch.
Boarding would start soon. Across the seating area, Isabella Fairmont observed the entire exchange. Isabella was everything Victoria wasn't perfectly coiffed blonde hair, tailored Chanel suit jewelry that cost more than most people's cars. She sat in the first class waiting area, a glasswalled section that separated premium passengers from the masses. Isabella was on United Airlines board of directors.
She'd fought against the Skylink Dynamics contract two years ago. Too risky, she'd argued, too much power in the hands of a single company. But the CEO had overruled her. The technology was too good to ignore. Now she watched this casual woman get hassled by security and felt satisfied.
Standards were important. First class meant something. You couldn't just let anyone sit anywhere. The gate agents voice crackled over the intercom. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning the boarding process for Flight 847 to London.