Victoria’s expression hardened.
“I said I thought you were in the wrong queue.”
“Based on what?”
No answer.
Marcus waited.
Victoria looked away first.
Then toward Kelsey.
“I’d like a supervisor.”
Kelsey’s stomach dropped.
A supervisor request from an ordinary traveler could become paperwork.
A supervisor request from Victoria Ashford became a loyalty escalation.
The airline’s internal customer profile displayed an orange marker beside her name.
SIGNATURE SOVEREIGN
CORPORATE ADVISORY MEMBER
EXECUTIVE RELATIONS CONTACT
Kelsey had seen the flag when Victoria checked in.
She knew exactly what it meant.
Avoid service failure.
Escalate early.
Protect relationship.
Those phrases were printed in internal training.
They sounded professional.
At a gate, they felt like pressure.
“I can call my station manager.”
Kelsey said.
“Please do.”
Marcus looked toward Kelsey.
“You don’t need to.”
Victoria turned.
“I asked for him.”
“I know.”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
Marcus smiled without humor.
“That is an interesting interpretation.”
Kelsey radioed.
“Luis, can you come to B17?”
A voice answered.
“On my way.”
The gate announcement chimed overhead.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Aurelia Airways Flight 482 to Dallas will begin preboarding in approximately five minutes.”
Marcus stepped slightly away from Victoria.
Not out of line.
Just space.
Victoria checked her watch.
Then looked toward him again.
“You know, none of this would have happened if you had simply said you were in First.”
Marcus stared.
“I did.”
“No.”
“You said you were in the right line.”
“That is the same answer.”
“It isn’t.”
“To you?”
She stopped.
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Exactly.”
Luis Ramirez arrived less than two minutes later.
He was fifty-one, Mexican American, with twenty-six years in airport operations and a talent for identifying crises from thirty feet away by the way employees stood around them.
He approached briskly.
“Kelsey?”
Then he saw Marcus.
Luis stopped.
His face changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Marcus noticed immediately.
So did Kelsey.
Victoria did not.
Luis looked from Marcus to Victoria.
Then back.
“Mr. Ellison.”
Marcus gave him the smallest possible nod.
“Morning, Luis.”
Victoria’s eyebrows drew together.