Chapter 1The Seat War

Returning from a business trip, I scored a lucky upgrade to first class with my points.

I had barely settled in when a man in a sharp suit pointed a finger right in my face and told me to get the hell out and go to economy.

He claimed he’d been sitting in this exact seat for five years, that it was practically his, and as far as he was concerned, my ticket was worthless.

If I didn't move, he’d have me thrown off the plane. His arrogance was breathtaking.

A flight attendant hurried over, trying to placate me. "Mr. Place is one of our Platinum Elite members. Perhaps you wouldn't mind…?"

I stood my ground. On what planet was my ticket worthless?

Just then, the captain's voice crackled over the intercom.

"Will the passenger in seat 1A please come to the cockpit immediately."

* * *

Every head in the cabin swiveled to look at me.

Mr. Place and the deceptively sweet-looking woman clinging to his arm exchanged triumphant smirks.

The flight attendant let out a sigh of relief and gestured for me to go. "Ma'am, the captain would like to see you."

Her tone practically screamed, The party's over for you.

I took a deep breath, stood up, and followed her toward the front of the plane.

Mr. Place's taunting voice followed me down the aisle.

"Why are you even wasting time talking to her? Just have security drag her off."

He scoffed. "Do you have any idea how much money I lose for every minute you waste?"

My steps faltered. I turned and shot him a look of pure ice.

The cockpit door opened. The captain and co-pilot sat inside, their expressions grim.

"Ma'am, hello." The captain pointed to an empty jump seat. "Please, sit."

I sat, cutting straight to the chase. "Captain, my seat is 1A. My ticket is legal and valid."

The captain nodded, his face unreadable. "We're aware of that. However, Mr. Place is one of our most valued VIP clients."

"The revenue he generates for this airline annually is thousands of times the price of your ticket."

"Furthermore," he continued, "he has made it explicitly clear that if he cannot sit in 1A today, he will immediately terminate all of his contracts with our company."

I almost laughed out of sheer disbelief.

"So? So you're going to sacrifice the legitimate rights of an ordinary passenger to appease your corporate god?"

"Is this the official philosophy of your airline?"

The co-pilot frowned, his voice edged with impatience. "Ma'am, we're not negotiating with you."

"Right now, this entire flight is being held up because of you. You are wasting every other passenger's time."

"You have two options," he said, holding up two fingers.

"One, you accept our compensation package and voluntarily move to an economy seat."

"Two, we will be forced to remove you from the flight for 'causing a disturbance.'"

I stared at them, incredulous. "Causing a disturbance? Me?"

"That man is the one throwing a tantrum, and you're pinning the blame on me?"

The captain sighed, adopting a more conciliatory tone. "Ma'am, we're just employees trying to do our jobs. Please try to understand."

"Mr. Place is a very powerful man. We can't afford to cross him."

"How about this," he offered. "We'll refund you three times the price of your ticket and add fifty thousand miles to your account. How does that sound?"

"That's the most generous offer we can make."

Looking at his supposedly "sincere" face made my stomach turn.

I took out my phone and, right in front of them, turned on the voice recorder.

"Let me be clear. I am not changing seats, and I am not getting off this plane."

"If you attempt to remove me illegally, I will release this recording, along with a full account of everything that has happened today, to the public."

My voice was low and steady. "Then we'll see what's more important: your VIP client, or your company's reputation."

The captain's face turned to stone.

The co-pilot shot to his feet, pointing a finger at me. "Are you threatening us?"

I met his glare without flinching. "I am simply defending my rights."

The cockpit fell into a dead silence.

After a few tense seconds, the captain waved his hand, signaling the co-pilot to sit down.

He stared at me for a long time, so long I thought he was about to call security.

Finally, he picked up the intercom, his voice cold as steel.

"Inform Mr. Place to return to his assigned seat. We are preparing for takeoff."

The weight in my chest finally lifted.

When I walked out of the cockpit, Mr. Place and his companion were standing in the aisle, waiting to gloat.

The sight of me walking out, calm and composed, wiped the smug looks right off their faces.

A flight attendant scurried over, bowing and scraping to Mr. Place. "Mr. Place, I'm so sorry, but the captain said… could you please return to your seat for now."

His face was a thundercloud.

He glared at me, his eyes burning with a look that could skin a person alive.

"Fine. You win," he hissed, the words squeezed through his clenched teeth.

"But you just wait."

He spun around and slammed himself into seat 1B.

The plane finally took off.

I thought that was the end of it.

I had no idea it was only the beginning.

After we landed, I went to baggage claim.

I waited by the carousel for a full hour, watching as every other passenger retrieved their luggage. My own silver suitcase, however, never appeared.

My stomach dropped. A terrible feeling washed over me.