47 missed calls from her assistant. 32 text messages from her board of directors. The London deal was worth $800 million. Her presence was required in exactly 9 hours. But Victoria had learned something over 20 years of building Skylink Dynamics.
The best way to understand your customers is to become one. She paid for her coffee with cash and walked toward gate G14. Behind her, three businessmen in expensive suits discussed the European markets. Their voices carried that particular arrogance of men who'd never been told no. The problem with these AI companies, one said loudly, is they're all run by kids who think they understand business, or diversity hires who check the right boxes but can't execute, another added.
Victoria smiled to herself. Skylink Dynamics had outperformed every competitor for six consecutive years. But these men would never believe that a black woman in a hoodie could run a company they probably invested in. She approached the gate area. Flight 847 to London showed on time on the departure board, but Victoria knew better.
Her weather algorithms predicted a 2-hour delay. She'd planned for it. The gate agent, Richard Steinberg, sat behind his desk, looking perpetually irritated. His name tag hung crooked on a wrinkled uniform. When he saw Victoria approaching, his expression soured further.
"Can I help you?" Victoria handed him her boarding pass. Richard scanned it and frowned. "First class? That's correct." Richard stared at her sweatshirt, then her jeans, then her sneakers. He scanned the boarding pass again.
Is this your ticket? Yes, it's my ticket. I mean, did you purchase this yourself? Victoria set her coffee down. I'm sorry.
What exactly are you asking? Sometimes people find tickets or, you know, there are mixups with the booking system. There's no mixup. That's my name on the boarding pass. Richard called over his colleague, a thin woman with severe glasses.
Janet, can you double check this? Janet examined Victoria's boarding pass like it might burst into flames. Seat 1A, Hayes, Victoria, purchased 3 weeks ago. See, Victoria said, "No mixup." Richard handed back her boarding pass with obvious reluctance. "Well, I guess everything checks out.
I guess it does." Victoria walked away before Richard could think of another reason to question her. Behind her, she heard Janet whisper, "These upgrade scams are getting more sophisticated." She found a quiet corner near the window and opened her tablet. Email after email about the London acquisition. Her team was nervous. The British company's board was traditional old school skeptical of American technology.
Victoria's presence would close the deal, but only if she could get there on time. Excuse me, miss. Victoria looked up to see a security officer standing beside her chair. "Is that your bag?" He pointed to her duffel bag. "Yes, it's mine.
I need you to open it for inspection. I already went through security. Random additional screening. New TSA protocol." Victoria looked around. She was the only passenger being randomly screened in a gate area full of travelers, but she unzipped her bag anyway.
The officer rummaged through her belongings. T-shirts, jeans, laptop, phone chargers, nothing remotely suspicious. You traveling for business or pleasure business. What kind of business? Technology consulting.
Consulting. He said it like the word tasted bad. What company? Skylink Dynamics. The officer had never heard of it, which wasn't surprising.
Most people didn't know the company that powered their flights, their GPS systems, their digital lives. Where's your laptop bag? Business travelers usually have proper equipment. Victoria pulled out her tablet. This is my equipment.
That's it. Just a tablet. It's all I need. The officer finished his inspection and walked away without apology. Victoria repacked her bag and checked her watch.
Boarding would start soon. Across the seating area, Isabella Fairmont observed the entire exchange. Isabella was everything Victoria wasn't perfectly coiffed blonde hair, tailored Chanel suit jewelry that cost more than most people's cars. She sat in the first class waiting area, a glasswalled section that separated premium passengers from the masses. Isabella was on United Airlines board of directors.
She'd fought against the Skylink Dynamics contract two years ago. Too risky, she'd argued, too much power in the hands of a single company. But the CEO had overruled her. The technology was too good to ignore. Now she watched this casual woman get hassled by security and felt satisfied.
Standards were important. First class meant something. You couldn't just let anyone sit anywhere. The gate agents voice crackled over the intercom. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning the boarding process for Flight 847 to London.
We invite our first class and platinum elite passengers to board at this time. Isabella gathered her Louis Vuitton carry-on and walked to the priority boarding line. Behind her, Blake Morrison appeared carrying a briefcase that probably cost more than most cars. Blake was late because Blake was always late. He operated on the assumption that planes like people would wait for him and they usually did.
Morrison Venture Capital had stakes in three airlines. Blake flew first class exclusively and made sure everyone knew it. "Isabella, darling," he called out. "Fancy meeting you here." Isabella turned and smiled. Blake was useful, rich, connected, and completely lacking in social awareness.
Perfect for board politics. Blake, I didn't know you were on this flight. Last minute business in London. You know how it is. They reached the gate together.
Richard Steinberg's demeanor changed completely when he saw Isabella's board member identification. Ms. Fairmont, so good to see you again. Hello, Richard. I trust everything's running smoothly. Of course, ma'am, though we did have a minor situation earlier with a passenger trying to use what might have been a fraudulent ticket.
Isabella raised an eyebrow. Really first class seat. The passenger didn't exactly fit our typical demographic. Blake laughed. People are always trying to game the system.
That's why we have professionals like you keeping an eye on things. Richard beamed at the praise. Just doing my job, sir. Victoria approached the boarding line behind a family with young children. The parents struggled with car seats and diaper bags while their toddler had a complete meltdown.