Elliot’s jaw tightened. Gavin’s hand hovered midair, unsure whether to offer it. Lysandra didn’t sit.
She stood at the far end of the table, her backpack, cleaned but still old, on the floor beside her.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice calm, like she was greeting a neighbor.
“I’m Lysandra Vale, Chairwoman of Veil Arrow Holdings. I believe you’ve met me before.”
She let that sit, her eyes moving from face to face. Tanya’s hands gripped the edge of her chair.
Elliot stared at the table. Gavin forced a laugh, stepping forward. “Ms. Vale, what an honor. We had no idea.
Please, let’s talk.” Lysandra tilted her head just enough to make him pause.
“I’m here to see if your airline deserves to exist under our name,” she said.
The words were soft, but they hit like a hammer.
During a break in the meeting, Lysandra stepped into the hallway where a young janitor was mopping the floor.
