The first letter arrived two days later.

Then another.

Then eleven more.

Olivia hadn’t released a public statement identifying herself as the passenger on Flight 617.

But the company’s independent oversight office had begun examining complaints involving premium-seat reassignment.

Employees and passengers were invited to submit relevant information.

The responses were troubling.

One passenger described being told her clothing was unsuitable for first class after receiving a complimentary upgrade for a medical emergency.

Another reported losing a prepaid seat to an unidentified corporate guest.

A third claimed an attendant threatened to label him disruptive when he asked for the reason.

Olivia sat with Rebecca reviewing the submissions.

“Were these complaints investigated?”

Rebecca looked down.

“Some were closed after the passengers accepted travel credits.”

“Were the original seat records preserved?”

“Not consistently.”

Olivia closed her eyes.

“Then we’re missing evidence.”

“We can reconstruct some of the transactions.”

“Do it.”

Rebecca turned another page.

“There is someone who wants to speak with you.”

“Who?”

“Eleanor Ellis.”

Olivia smiled faintly.

“The woman across the aisle?”

“Yes.”

“She witnessed the incident.”

“She also has something else to tell us.”

That afternoon, Eleanor arrived at headquarters wearing a navy coat and carrying a small handbag.

Olivia greeted her personally.

“Mrs. Ellis.”

“Olivia!”

They shook hands.

Eleanor smiled.

“So you really are the woman everyone’s been whispering about.”

Olivia laughed softly.

“Apparently.”

“I’ve been flying this airline for forty years.”

“Then thank you for your loyalty.”

Eleanor’s smile faded.

“That’s part of why I came.”

She sat down.

“My husband was an aircraft mechanic for Aster Airways.”

Olivia looked surprised.

“Really?”

“Thirty-two years.”

“What was his name?”

“Robert Ellis.”

Olivia’s eyes widened.

“I remember him.”

Eleanor stared.

“You do?”

“He helped my father during the early expansion.”

Eleanor smiled through sudden tears.

“Bob always said your father treated the mechanics like they mattered.”

Olivia lowered her eyes.

“I wish every employee still felt that way.”

Eleanor opened her handbag.

“That’s why I brought this.”

She handed Olivia an old envelope.

Inside was a complaint filed eighteen months earlier.

Eleanor had purchased two first-class seats for herself and her granddaughter.

The seats were reassigned shortly before boarding.

They were separated during the flight.

And when Eleanor questioned the change, she was told her loyalty status wasn’t high enough to challenge the decision.

Olivia stared.

“Was there a refund?”

“After six weeks.”

“An apology?”

“A standard email.”

Eleanor looked toward the window.

“My granddaughter was nine. She cried because she’d never flown without sitting beside me.”

Olivia’s face tightened.

“I’m sorry.”

Eleanor nodded.

“I know.”

Then she continued.

“But what bothered me most was what the employee said.”

“What?”

“That the passengers taking our original seats were more important to the airline.”

Olivia closed her eyes.

Eleanor looked directly at her.

“Your father never spoke that way.”

“No.”

“He believed the airline needed all of us.”

Olivia nodded.

“Yes.”

Eleanor took her hand.

“Then remind them.”

After Eleanor left, Rebecca approached.

“Olivia, there’s a pattern.”

She placed several spreadsheets on the table.

The disputed seat changes disproportionately benefited a small group of corporate guests.

In some cases, the original passengers were refunded.

In others, complaints were closed with limited compensation.

And several internal records used the same phrase.

Premium suitability concern.

Olivia stared at the words.

“What does that mean?”

Rebecca shook her head.

“There’s no formal definition in the published passenger policy.”

“Then who invented it?”

“We’re tracing the internal communications.”

Olivia leaned backward.

Premium suitability.

Two words that allowed someone to judge whether a passenger looked wealthy enough to occupy a seat they’d already purchased.

She looked toward her father’s photograph.

Then quietly said:

“I want to know who decided a person’s appearance could become a reason to take away something they’d paid for.”