Chapter 8 - The Cost of Inhumanity
Eleanor stepped toward Richard Vance. The manager flinched, instinctively taking a step back, but his heel caught the edge of a baggage cart, trapping him against the structural pillar of the terminal.
"You built a system here, Richard," Eleanor said, her tone devoid of anger, carrying only the absolute, cold finality of a judge passing sentence. "A system where cruelty is rewarded, where efficiency is used as an excuse for sadism, and where young people with genuine heart are crushed under the boots of mediocre men who wear gold bars on their sleeves."
"Mrs. Vance... please," Vance begged, his voice cracking into a high-pitched whine. "I was just enforcing corporate policy! Gate 22 was short-staffed! I have a duty to keep the flight schedules moving—"
"Corporate policy does not mandate that you treat human beings like refuse," Eleanor interrupted coldly. "You told Emily she lacked the 'killer instinct' required for this company."
Eleanor reached out her hand, holding her palm open in front of Vance’s chest.
"Give me her badge," Eleanor commanded.
Vance’s hands shook so violently he almost dropped the plastic card as he pulled it from his jacket pocket. He placed Emily’s identity badge and the silver wings into Eleanor’s waiting hand.
"Effective immediately, Richard," Eleanor said, closing her fingers around the badge, "your employment with North Atlantic Airways, and every subsidiary of Vanguard Global, is terminated."
Vance’s eyes dilated in pure horror. "Mrs. Vance! Please! I've been with this airline for nineteen years! I have a mortgage! My pension—"
"You made your choice, Richard," Eleanor quoted his own words back to him with brutal precision. "You are fired. Security will be notified that your clearance has been revoked. If you are on these premises in ten minutes, I will personally ensure you are escorted out in handcuffs for trespassing."
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Eleanor turned her back on him, dismissing his existence entirely.
Vance stood frozen for five seconds, looking at the surrounding passengers who were now staring at him, some even recording the scene on their phones. Broken, humiliated, and stripped of the power he had abused for decades, he turned and slunk away into the crowded terminal, his head bowed low.
