A priority emergency chime sounded over the concourse PA system.
Before Eleanor could utter another insult, the frosted double doors of the VIP Executive Suite slid open.
Sprinting down the central terminal concourse in full view of hundreds of stunned passengers came the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Aviation Safety, and six senior board directors of Harold Airlines.
Eleanor beamed with misguided arrogance, stepping forward to intercept them: "CEO Sterling! Perfect timing! I was just handling an insubordinate custodial worker and an unauthorized loiterer who hijacked emergency equipment—"
CEO Sterling brushed past Eleanor so forcefully that she nearly lost her balance.
In front of the entire gate concourse, the CEO and all six directors dropped to one knee before the man in the wheelchair, bowing their heads in deep, terrified reverence.
"Chairman Harold Vance!" the CEO gasped, trembling with panic. "Sir! We received your audit confirmation signal! We had no idea you were conducting the ground-level customer vulnerability inspection personally!"
Chapter V: The Final Reckoning
Eleanor froze solid. The blood drained from her face until she was completely ashen, her hands shaking uncontrollably as her clipboard clattered to the floor.
Harold Vance.