Victor Ashland stared up at her. Every ounce of color drained from his face like water from a cracked glass.
Captain Derek Greer stood two feet to her left, mouth open, hand still frozen in a half gesture from escorting Ashland down. His brain was doing the math: the woman, the seat, the guards, the canvas bag, the words he'd said. All of them. Every single one.
Simone adjusted her glasses, shifted her tote to her left shoulder, and walked down the stairs, one step at a time.
Nolan West straightened his tie. Patricia Hayes squared her shoulders. Garrett Cole tucked his clipboard under his arm. All three stepped forward as Simone's feet touched the tarmac.
"Ms. Fletcher, welcome back," Nolan said in the way soldiers greet a commanding officer, respect baked into every syllable. He handed her the tablet. "Your briefing for this morning: board meeting at 10:00, Hangar 6 inspection at noon, legal review at two."
"Thank you, Nolan." Simone took the tablet, scanned it for three seconds, and handed it back. "Push the board meeting to 11:00. I have something to handle first."
Behind her, Victor Ashland hadn't moved. He stood on the tarmac like a man whose parachute had just failed. His right hand, the one he'd extended to Nolan moments ago, hung at his side. His mouth opened, closed, and opened again.
"I'm sorry... did you say Ms. Fletcher? As in Fletcher Aeronautics?"
Patricia turned to him, no smile. "Simone Fletcher, founder and CEO. Yes."
Ashland's eyes darted from Patricia to Simone, to the cardigan, to the canvas tote, to the reading glasses. His brain was rewinding the last two hours: every joke, every laugh, every sip of champagne in seat 1A—the seat that belonged to the woman standing in front of him.
"Ms. Fletcher, I had no idea. I didn't—"
"You didn't know." Simone's voice was level. No heat, no tremor, just facts. "That's evident, Mr. Ashland."
Simone turned away from Ashland slowly, deliberately, like a judge turning from a witness who had already convicted himself. She walked toward the aircraft stairs, toward Captain Derek Greer.