Something changed in Malcolm's face then.
Still no anger.
But the warmth disappeared.
"Your aircraft?"
Steven heard the emphasis.
"It becomes my responsibility once the doors close."
"The doors haven't closed."
"They won't if I decide they don't."
Luis suddenly stepped closer.
"Captain."
Steven waved him away.
"Not now."
"Captain, you need to see this."
"I said not now."
Luis swallowed.
"It's about Mr. Reed."
Steven's eyes flicked toward Malcolm.
"What about him?"
Luis lowered his voice.
"Please."
Steven took the tablet.
His irritation lasted exactly three seconds.
Then vanished.
On the screen was an internal corporate designation:
MALCOLM E. REED
CHAIRMAN, REED CAPITAL AVIATION HOLDINGS
MAJORITY VOTING CONTROL — NORTHSTAR AIRWAYS
BOARD PRIORITY: EXECUTIVE LEVEL ONE
Steven read it twice.
Then a third time.
The color slowly left his face.
Malcolm watched him.
No satisfaction.
No smile.
That somehow made it worse.
Steven returned the tablet.
"That doesn't change anything."
Luis looked stunned.
"Captain—"
"I said it doesn't change anything."
Denise stepped closer.
"Steven, this has gone far enough."
His eyes snapped toward her.
"Don't use my first name in front of passengers."
"Then stop giving me a reason to."
A murmur traveled through the cabin.
Malcolm glanced at Denise.
She immediately regretted saying it aloud.
But she did not retract it.
Steven looked trapped now.
And trapped men often made dangerous decisions.
"I am still captain of this flight," he said.
Malcolm nodded.
"Yes."
"You don't control cockpit authority."
"No."
"You can't buy your way into operational decisions."
"I haven't tried."
Steven pointed toward the door.
"Then prove it."
Denise stiffened.
"Captain."
Steven kept his eyes on Malcolm.
"If you want this flight to depart, get off."
Someone gasped.
Malcolm stared at him for several seconds.
Then he stood.
At six-foot-two, he was nearly level with Steven.
The energy changed immediately.
Steven seemed to expect confrontation.
Malcolm simply buttoned his jacket.
"Mr. Parker, are you ordering a ticketed passenger off Flight 418 without alleging any safety violation?"
Steven's mouth tightened.
"I'm exercising my authority."
"On what documented basis?"
Steven said nothing.
Malcolm continued.
"I want the answer recorded."
At that moment, a passenger in row two lifted her phone higher.
"It's already recorded."
Steven turned sharply.
"Stop filming."
"No."
"This is private airline business."
"It became public when you humiliated him in front of us."
Steven took a step toward her.
Denise immediately moved between them.
"Captain, don't."
He stopped.
For the first time, Malcolm saw fear in Denise's eyes.
Not fear of him.
Fear of Steven.
Malcolm filed that away.
He picked up his phone.
"What's your name?" Steven demanded of the woman filming.
"Rachel Bennett."
"You may be removed too."
Rachel gave a disbelieving laugh.
"For filming discrimination?"
"I didn't say anything discriminatory."
"No," Malcolm said quietly. "You were very careful not to."
Steven turned back toward him.
Malcolm continued.
"But everyone here understood you."
The captain's nostrils flared.
Then Malcolm's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
NORTHSTAR BOARD COUNSEL:
We were notified of a disturbance on 418. Are you involved?
Malcolm looked at the screen.
He typed only:
Yes.
The reply came almost immediately.
Stay where you are. We are escalating.
Steven saw him texting.
"Are you contacting corporate?"
Malcolm slipped the phone into his jacket.
"Yes."
Steven laughed once.
Short.
Nervous.
"Of course you are."
"You've created a corporate issue."
"I've created nothing."
Malcolm looked around the cabin.
Nobody agreed.
Steven saw that too.
His confidence began to crack.
Denise spoke quietly.
"Captain, we need airport operations."
"No."
"We absolutely do."
"I can handle it."
"This stopped being a normal captain-passenger dispute several minutes ago."