Chapter 7 - The Descent of Holloway Capital
Grant Holloway remained standing in the galley, completely isolated.
With Marlene gone, he was the only foreign element left on the plane. He looked around the cabin, searching for a sympathetic glance, but every passenger had their eyes fixed on him with cold disdain.
“Mr. Cole,” Grant said, his voice entirely devoid of the swagger he had carried ten minutes earlier. “I know I was out of line. I was arrogant. I let my temper get the best of me. Please... call my father. Tell him this was a personal misunderstanding. If Cole-Vanguard pulls its liquidity facility, Holloway Capital’s credit rating will be downgraded by morning. We have five hundred employees whose livelihoods depend on those funds.”
I looked at him for several seconds.
“You didn't care about five hundred employees when you were bullying people in airports, Grant,” I said evenly. “You cared about showing off your status. You cared about your dinner in Malibu.”
“I’ll pay for your ticket,” Grant pleaded, reaching frantically for his wallet before remembering his cards had been frozen. “I’ll donate a million dollars to whatever charity you choose! Just don't destroy my family’s firm!”
“I’m not destroying your firm, Grant,” I answered. “Your family's firm destroyed itself by creating an internal culture that rewards entitlement and punishes integrity. For years, Holloway Capital has operated under the assumption that rules are for ordinary people and money buys immunity from consequences. Today, the bill arrived.”
Victor Sterling stepped up beside me, signaling to the gate agents waiting by the boarding door. “Mr. Holloway, under the airline's passenger code of conduct, your verbal threats directed at Captain Evans constitute grounds for immediate denial of transport. You are being removed from Flight 614.”
Grant looked horrified. “What? You’re kicking me off the flight?”
“You are not only kicked off this flight,” Victor said with crisp, unyielding authority. “As Chief Executive Officer, I am placing you on Horizon Global Airlines’ permanent no-fly list. You will not board another Horizon aircraft for the rest of your life. And given our joint-venture partnerships across the SkyAlliance network, I will recommend that every carrier in North America adopt the same restriction.”
Grant looked at Captain Evans, hoping for an ounce of mercy.
Captain Evans simply pointed toward the open jet bridge door. “Off my aircraft, Mr. Holloway. Before I have the Port Authority officers cite you for interfering with flight operations.”
With his head hung low, his expensive suit rumpled, and his broken pride trailing behind him like smoke from a downed engine, Grant Holloway turned and walked off the plane.
As he stepped through the door, a sudden wave of applause broke out in the cabin.
May you like
The passenger in 2B clapped enthusiastically. The woman in 1K cheered into her phone screen. Down the aisle, passengers in comfort class who had witnessed the standoff joined in, their cheers echoing through the fuselage.
Grant flinched at the sound, speeding up his pace until he disappeared down the jet bridge into the cold airport terminal.
