Chapter 10 - First Class, True Priority
Two weeks later, rain was once again falling over New York, turning the morning asphalt into dark, gleaming glass.
Amelia Clare walked through the sliding automatic doors of JFK Terminal Seven, holding a slim black laptop bag. This time, she was headed to Chicago for a different portfolio meeting.
She walked down the jet bridge of Northstar Flight 412, stepping into the first-class cabin.
Standing near the galley was a new flight attendant—a young man with a warm smile and a crisp uniform, checking boarding passes with polite efficiency. As Amelia approached, he scanned her digital pass on his handheld device.
The green confirmation flashed brightly.
The flight attendant looked at the screen, then looked up at Amelia with genuine courtesy. "Welcome aboard, Ms. Clare. Seat 1A is all yours. Can I get you some fresh coffee before we push back?"
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Amelia smiled back, settling comfortably into her window seat, pulling her charcoal cashmere hoodie slightly closer around her shoulders. "Black coffee would be wonderful. Thank you."
As the cabin doors sealed and the engines began their low, steady roar, the plane taxied smoothly out toward the open runway. Outside, the gray clouds parted just enough to let a streak of golden sunlight break across the New York skyline. Amelia opened her laptop, ready for the next challenge, knowing full well that true authority never had to shout to be heard.
