Mr. Cole, perhaps we should discuss this privately. Adrienne shook his head. The humiliation was public. The facts do not need privacy.
Daniel Kim looked toward the other passengers. Several nodded quietly. The woman in the second row kept her phone lowered now, but the recording remained saved. Adrien turned to Emily. You tried to correct this before you knew for certain who I was.
Emily nodded. Yes, sir. That matters. Then he looked back at Gregory. You had the same opportunity.
You chose authority over verification. Gregory swallowed. I made a judgment based on what my crew told me. And when evidence contradicted that judgment, you defended the judgment. Adrien paused.
Then you told me to go back to Africa. The silence returned. Gregory looked toward Thomas Grant's name glowing on his phone screen. I should not have said that. No, Adrienne replied.
You should not have believed it. That sentence seemed to land harder than anything before it. Adrien picked up his briefcase but did not move toward the exit. There will be no closing tonight. Cole Meridian will begin an immediate leadership and culture review before we decide whether this transaction deserves another minute of consideration.
Gregory stared at him. You would put an entire airline at risk because of one conversation. Adrienne's expression remained controlled. No, I would put two for billion dollars at risk if I ignored what this conversation revealed. He glanced toward Heather and Derek, then back to Gregory.
You thought I was a passenger whose questions did not matter. You thought your authority made my dignity negotiable. Now you know my title and suddenly you want a private conversation. Adrien let the words settle. That is precisely why there will not be one.
Thomas Grant's voice came through the phone again urgently asking Gregory to hand it to Adrien. Gregory extended the device. Adrien did not take it. Tell Mr. Grant my legal team will contact his office.
Gregory lowered his hand. Adrienne looked around the cabin one final time. My title did not make what happened wrong. It only gave me the power to make certain your company cannot pretend it did not happen. If I had known who you were, I would never have spoken to you that way. " Gregory said it quietly, almost as if the sentence might repair what had already been exposed.
Instead, it changed the atmosphere again. Adrienne looked at him for a long moment. Heather closed her eyes. Emily stared at the captain in disbelief. Even Thomas Grant had gone silent on the phone.
Adrienne finally spoke. That is exactly why you should not be responsible for people. Gregory's face tightened. That is not what I meant. It is exactly what you meant.