“Great.”
Cassandra frowned.
“Great?”
Daniel nodded.
“If you believe anyone is violating your rights, an attorney is the right person to talk to afterward.”
She stared at him.
He continued.
“Right now, we need payment or a clear explanation from the restaurant about what they want to do.”
Cassandra looked at her phone.
She opened her banking app.
Face ID failed.
She tried again.
Failed.
She entered a password.
Incorrect.
Her fingers were beginning to tremble.
Daniel noticed.
“How much have you had to drink?”
Cassandra looked up.
“What?”
“How much alcohol have you had?”
“That is irrelevant.”
“It may be relevant.”
“Two glasses of wine.”
Lena said quietly, “Three.”
Cassandra snapped toward her.
“You don’t know what I drank before I came here.”
“I served you three.”
“One was barely half full.”
“You finished it.”
Cassandra pointed.
“This is exactly what I mean.”
Daniel stepped between their lines of sight.
“Cassandra.”
She froze.
“How do you know my name?”
“You told the restaurant.”
“I didn’t tell you.”
“Your server did.”
“Oh.”
Daniel looked at her carefully.
“Have you taken any medication today?”
“That is none of your business.”
“It becomes relevant if we’re trying to determine whether you’re okay to travel.”
“I am fine.”
“Can you unlock your banking app?”
“That has nothing to do with whether I’m fine.”
“You’ve tried several times.”
“Because I’m stressed.”
“That may be true.”
Cassandra looked at the man in red.
He was still nearby.
“What are you looking at?”
He raised his hands.
“Nothing.”
“Then go.”
Daniel said, “Leave him alone.”
Cassandra turned.
“Don’t tell me who I can speak to.”
“I’m asking you not to involve other passengers.”
“He involved himself.”
“He offered to help.”
“I did not ask him.”
“No.”
Daniel took a slow breath.
“Let’s simplify everything. Can you pay?”
“Yes.”
“Do it.”
Cassandra stared.
“Excuse me?”
“Pay the restaurant.”
“I’m trying.”
“Then call your bank.”
“My flight boards in eighteen minutes.”
Daniel looked toward C17.
“Then you have eighteen minutes to solve it.”
Cassandra became still.
“You are intentionally making me miss my flight.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t order your food.”
The sentence caught her off guard.
Daniel continued.
“I didn’t give you the cards. I didn’t cause them to decline. I didn’t create the Apple Pay issue. I arrived because the restaurant called.”
“So you’re taking their side.”
“I’m not taking sides.”