The sheer disdain he suddenly felt, for Preston and for himself for bowing to him, was overwhelming.
"The passenger you forced me to remove from this aircraft was Desmond Hayes. He is the majority owner of the aviation leasing syndicate that controls this airline's fleet. He just grounded our entire global network because of your actions."
Preston stared at the pilot. A short, nervous chuckle escaped his lips.
"What? That's absurd. That guy in the cheap sweater? You're joking."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Mitchell snapped, his professionalism finally fracturing. "My CEO just called me on a secure line. We are bleeding millions. Because of you, I have likely lost my job. Because of you, 300 passengers on this plane are stranded."
Preston's arrogant facade began to crack, replaced by a creeping, defensive panic.
"Don't you blame this on me. You're the captain. You made the call. My family spends $20 million a year with this airline. We are your biggest account."
Right on cue, Preston's cell phone vibrated violently on the polished walnut console.
Preston glanced at the screen. The caller ID read: William Montgomery, Dad.
Preston's stomach plummeted. His father never called him at midnight unless someone was dead or millions were being lost.
With trembling fingers, Preston answered the phone and put it to his ear. "Dad?"
"What the hell did you do, Preston?"
William Montgomery's voice exploded through the earpiece, loud enough that Captain Mitchell could hear the tiny screaming.
"Dad, I don't..."
"Shut up and listen to me!" William roared. "I just got off the phone with Rick Halloway. He just terminated our corporate travel contract with extreme prejudice. He said you threw a tantrum and got Desmond Hayes kicked off a flight. Do you have any idea who Desmond Hayes is, you incompetent idiot?"
Preston slumped back in his plush seat, the color completely draining from his face. "He... he was in my seat."
"He owns the commercial real estate debt on three of our flagship properties in Manhattan!" William screamed, his voice thick with panic. "Hayes Capital holds the mezzanine financing for the Hudson Yards project. If he calls in those loans because of this, Montgomery Holdings will be bankrupt by Friday. Get off that plane, find that man, and grovel. Do whatever it takes, or don't bother coming back to this company."
The line went dead.
Preston sat frozen, the dial tone ringing in his ear.